[Atlas Sneezed]

7.62 is .30 caliber. As in .30-06, .308, 300 magnum, etc.

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And the ubiquitous 7.62x51mm NATO caliber is essentially indentical and fully interchangeable with the the classic .308 Winchester civilian cartridge.

[GhostofWCooper]

Yep.

It's a shortened .30-06, which was developed to cycle faster in automatic rifles, and to allow the use of shorter bolt actions.

I prefer the '.06, but it's about obsolete in combat arms.

[Myrddin]

And the ubiquitous 7.62x51mm NATO caliber is essentially indentical and fully interchangeable with the the classic .308 Winchester civilian cartridge.

No it isn't. A chamber designed for 7.62X51 will handle a .308 fine. The converse is not true. My .308 bolt guns require real .308 made by Federal or Winchester. A 7.62X51 will not settle into the chamber. You haved lived (or nearly died) until you have a 7.62X51 NATO do a slam fire as you push the bolt forward.

[7.62 x 51mm]

Hey, hey, hey; gimme a ping before you start dissecting my lineage.

~~~My Class III (full-auto, silenced) AR-10 (& AR-15 w/50-round drum mags) weapons are legion. If you ever get out here to York County, PA, and can stop by for a while, you'll have some fun. Not to mention my new Barrett M82A1 .50cal BMG! Reach out and touch someone.~~~