7.62×51mm NATO

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7.62×51mm NATO
NATO 7.62x51.jpg
7.62×51mm NATO rounds compared to AA (LR6) cell.
Type Rifle
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1954–present
Used by United States, NATO, others.
Wars Vietnam War, Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War,Iran-iraq war ,Falklands Conflict, The Troubles, Gulf War, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War, Libyan Civil War, Syrian Civil War, Yemeni Civil War (2015-present), Saudi-led intervention in Yemen, among other conflicts
Specifications
Parent case .308 Winchester (derived from the .300 Savage)
Case type Rimless, Bottleneck
Bullet diameter 0.308 in (7.82 mm)
Neck diameter 0.345 in (8.8 mm)
Shoulder diameter 0.454 in (11.5 mm)
Base diameter 0.470 in (11.9 mm)
Rim diameter 0.473 in (12.0 mm)
Rim thickness 0.050 in (1.3 mm)
Case length 2.015 in (51.2 mm)
Overall length 2.750 in (69.9 mm)
Rifling twist 1 in 12 in (304.8 mm)
Primer type Large Rifle
Maximum pressure (NATO EPVAT) 60,191 psi (415.00 MPa)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
147 gr (10 g) M80 FMJ 2,733 ft/s (833 m/s) 2,437 ft⋅lbf (3,304 J)
175 gr (11 g) M118 Long Range BTHP 2,580 ft/s (790 m/s) 2,586 ft⋅lbf (3,506 J)
Test barrel length: 24 inches (61 cm)
Source(s): M80: Slickguns,[1] M118 Long Range: U.S. Armorment[2]

The 7.62×51mm NATO (official NATO nomenclature 7.62 NATO) is a rimless bottlenecked rifle cartridge developed in the 1950s as a standard for small arms among NATO countries. It should not be confused with the similarly named Russian 7.62×54mmR cartridge, a slightly longer rimmed cartridge.

It was introduced in U.S. service in the M14 rifle and M60 machine gun in the late 1950s. The M14 was superseded in U.S. service as the infantry adopted the 5.56×45mm NATO M16. However, the M14 and many other firearms that use the 7.62×51 round remain in service, especially in the case of various sniper rifles, medium machine guns such as the M240, and various rifles in use by special operations forces. The cartridge is used both by infantry and on mounted and crew-served weapons mounted to vehicles, aircraft and ships.

Although not identical, the 7.62×51mm NATO and the commercial .308 Winchester cartridges are similar enough that they can be loaded into rifles chambered for the other round, but the Winchester .308 cartridges are typically loaded to higher pressures than 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges.[3] Even though the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) does not consider it unsafe to fire the commercial round in weapons chambered for the NATO round, there is significant discussion[4][5][6] about compatible chamber and muzzle pressures between the two cartridges based on powder loads and wall thicknesses on the military vs. commercial rounds. While the debate goes both ways, the ATF recommends checking the stamping on the barrel; if one is unsure, one can consult the maker of the firearm.[7][8]

Overview[edit]

The 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge approaches the ballistic performance of the original U.S. military .30-06 Springfield M1906 service cartridge. Modern propellants allowed for similar performance from a smaller case with less case capacity, a case that requires less brass and yields a shorter cartridge. This shorter cartridge allows a slight reduction in the size and weight of firearms that chamber it, and better cycling in automatic and semi-automatic rifles. The .30-06 Springfield M1906 round weighed 26.1 grams (403 gr), and the 7.62×51mm NATO M80 round weighs 25.4 grams (392 gr).[9][10]

  • Example of a ballistic table for a given 7.62×51mm NATO load. Bullet drop and wind drift are shown both in mil and moa.

Development[edit]

Velocity comparison between the 7.62×51mm NATO, .30-06 Springfield, and .300 Winchester Magnum for common bullet weights.

Work that would eventually develop the 7.62×51mm NATO started just after World War I when the large, powerful .30-06 cartridge proved difficult to adapt to semi-automatic rifles. A less powerful cartridge would allow a lighter firing mechanism. At the time the most promising design was the .276 Pedersen. When it was eventually demonstrated that the .30-06 was suitable for semi-automatic rifles, the .276 was dropped.

Thus when war appeared to be looming again, only a couple of decades later, the .30-06 was the only round available, and the M1 Garand provided U.S. troops with greater firepower than their bolt action-armed opponents. The Garand performed so well that the U.S. saw little need to replace it during World War II, and the .30-06 served well beyond the Korean War and into the mid-1950s. The .30-06 was officially replaced by the 7.62 NATO M14 in 1957.

During the 1940s and early 1950s, several experiments were carried out to improve the Garand. One of the most common complaints was the limited-capacity 8-round en-bloc clip, and many experimental designs modified the weapon with a detachable box magazine. Springfield Armory's T20 rifle was a fully automatic version. Though not adopted, experience with a fully automatic Garand laid the groundwork for its replacement.

.50 BMG, .300 Winchester Magnum, .308 WIN (7.62 NATO), 7.62×39mm, 5.56 NATO, and .22 LR.

The test program continued for several years, including both the original .30-06 round and a modified .300 Savage (then known as the T65). In the end, the T65 cartridge demonstrated power roughly equal to the original .30-06, firing a 147-grain (9.5 g) bullet at 2,750 feet per second (840 m/s) but was approximately 1⁄2 inch (13 mm) shorter. The eventual result of this competition was the T44 rifle.

Designation Case Description Manufacturer Metric
T65 T65 Case [47mm] Steel jacket lead core 150-grain Flat Base bullet. Frankford Arsenal [7.62×47mm]
T65E1 FAT1 Case [49mm] Steel jacket lead core Frankford Arsenal [7.62×49mm]
T65E2 FAT1E1 [49mm – 30° shoulder] Steel jacket lead core Frankford Arsenal [7.62×49mm]
T65E3 FAT1E3 [51mm – 20° shoulder] Steel jacket lead core Frankford Arsenal [7.62×51mm]
T65E4 FAT1E3 [51mm – 20° shoulder] Steel jacket lead core 145-grain Boattail bullet with a #10 ogive point Frankford Arsenal [7.62×51mm]
T65E5 FAT1E3 [51mm – 20° shoulder] Steel jacket lead core Boattail bullet Frankford Arsenal [7.62×51mm]

When the United States developed the T65 cartridge, the British military took a different route. They had spent considerable time and effort developing the intermediate-power .280 British (7 mm) cartridge with an eye towards controllable fully automatic fire. The U.S. held to its desire not to reduce the effectiveness of individual aimed shots. The American philosophy was to use automatic fire for emergencies only and continue to use semi-automatic fire the majority of the time. After considerable debate, the Canadian Army announced they would be happy to use the .280 but only if the U.S. did as well. It was clear the U.S. was not going to use the .280. The British did start introducing the .280 along with the bull-pup Rifle No. 9, but the process was stopped in the interests of harmonization across NATO. The T65E5 [7.62×51mm] was chosen as the NATO standard cartridge in 1954.

Winchester Ammunition (a division of the Olin Corporation) saw the market for a civilian model of the T65 cartridge and released it commercially in 1952 as the .308 Winchester, two years prior to adoption of the cartridge by NATO. The dimensions of .308 Winchester are almost the same as 7.62mm NATO. The chamber of the former has a marginally shorter headspace and thinner case walls than the latter due to changed specifications between 1952 and 1954. This allows 7.62mm NATO ammunition to feed reliably in rifles chambered for .308 Winchester rifles but can cause .308 Winchester ammunition cases to rupture when fired in rifles chambered for 7.62mm NATO.

Comparison of 7.62mm NATO, 5.56mm NATO and 9mm NATO.

The T44 was adopted as the M14 in 1957. Around the same time Britain and Canada adopted the Belgian FN FAL (L1A1 SLR British) as the L1 followed by West German army as the G1. The Germans soon transitioned to a modified version of the Spanish CETME rifle by Heckler & Koch that was adopted as the G3. With all three of these firearms, it was clear that the 7.62 mm NATO could not be fired controllably in fully automatic because of recoil. Both the M14 and FAL were later modified to limit fully automatic selection through semi-automatic versions or selector locks. Efforts were also made to improve control with bipods or heavier barrels.

While this was going on, the U.S. Project SALVO concluded that a burst of four rounds into a 20-inch (51 cm) circle would cause twice the number of casualties as a fully automatic burst by one of these rifles, regardless of the size of the round. They suggested using a much smaller .22 caliber cartridge with two bullets per cartridge (a duplex load), while other researchers investigated the promising flechette rounds that were lighter but offered better penetration than even the .30-06.

When the M14 arrived in Vietnam, it was found to have a few disadvantages. The rifle's overall length was not well suited for jungle warfare. Also, the weight of 7.62×51mm cartridges limited the total amount of ammunition that could be carried in comparison with the 7.62×39mm cartridge of the Type 56 and AK-47 rifles, with which the Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army soldiers were equipped. In addition, the originally issued wooden-stocked versions of the M14 were susceptible to warping from moisture in tropical environments, producing "wandering zeroes" and other accuracy problems, which caused the adoption of fiberglass stocks.

Fighting between the big-round and small-round groups reached a peak in the early 1960s, when test after test showed the .223 Remington cartridge fired from the AR-15 allowed an 8-soldier unit to outgun an 11-soldier unit armed with M14s at ranges closer than 300 meters. U.S. troops were able to carry more than twice as much 5.56×45mm ammunition as 7.62×51mm for the same weight, which allowed them an advantage against a typical N.V.A. unit armed with Type 56-1s.

Rifle Cartridge Cartridge weight Weight of loaded magazine Max. 10 kilogram ammo. load
M14 (1959) 7.62×51mm NATO 393 gr (25.4 g) 20 rd mag @ 0.75 kg 13 mags @ 9.75 kg for 260 rds [11]
M16 (1962) .223 Remington 183 gr (11.8 g) 20 rd mag @ 0.32 kg 31 mags @ 9.93 kg for 620 rds [11]
AK-47 (1949) 7.62×39mm 252 gr (16.3 g) 30 rd mag @ 0.82 kg 12 mags @ 9.2 kg for 360 rds [11]

In 1964, the U.S. Army started replacing their M14s with the M16, incurring another series of complaints from the British. Regardless of the M14 having disadvantages in jungle warfare, 7.62×51mm NATO rifles stayed in military service around the world due to several factors. The 7.62×51mm NATO has proved much more effective than 5.56×45mm at long ranges, and has since found popularity as a sniping round. For instance, M14 variants such as the Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle and M25 Sniper Rifle were utilized in the United States military as designated marksman and sniper rifles. Shorter, easier-to-handle 7.62mm rifles like the Heckler & Koch G3 stayed in service due to their accuracy, range, cartridge effectiveness and reliability.

Specialized loadings were created for 7.62×51mm NATO-chambered sniper rifles. They used heavier and more streamlined bullets that had a higher ballistic coefficient than standard ball rounds, meaning they shed velocity at longer ranges more gradually. Loss of velocity is important for accurate long-range shots because dropping from supersonic to transonic speeds disturbs the flight of the bullet and adversely affects accuracy. The standard M80 ball round weighs 147 gr and has a muzzle velocity 200 ft/s (61 m/s) faster than the M118LR 175 gr sniping round. However, the M80 drops to subsonic velocity around 875 m (957 yd), while the initially slower M118LR is supersonic out to 950 m (1,040 yd) due to its low-drag bullet.[12]

The 7.62×51mm NATO and 5.56×45mm NATO cartridges compared to an AA battery.

The 7.62×51mm NATO round nevertheless met the designer's demands for fully automatic reliability with a full-power round. It remained the main machine gun round for almost all NATO forces well into the 1990s, even being used in adapted versions of older .30-06 machine guns such as the Browning M1919A4 from the WWII era. The .303 British Bren gun was also subject to conversion to fire the 7.62×51mm NATO round. the converted weapon being reclassified as the L4 Light machine gun. These have been replaced to a considerable extent in the light machine gun role by 5.56×45mm NATO weapons, such as the widespread use of the M249 SAW, but the 7.62 round is still the standard chambering for most general-purpose machine guns such as the M60E4, the M240 and the German HK21 and MG3, and flexible mountings such as helicopters, jeeps, and tanks. It is also commonly found in coaxial mount applications such as found in parallel with the main gun on tanks.

The U.S. Army has developed an improved version of the M80 ball 7.62mm round, called the M80A1. The M80A1 incorporates changes found in the M855A1 5.56 mm round. Like the M855A1, the M80A1 is expected to have better hard-target penetration, more consistent performance against soft targets, and significantly increased distances of these effects over the M80. The bullet is redesigned with a copper jacket and exposed hardened steel penetrator, eliminating 114.5 grains (7.4 g) of lead with production of each M80A1 projectile.[13] The M80A1 began fielding in September 2014.[14]

The U.S. Special Operations Command plans to begin fielding of the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge in early 2019 to replace the 7.62 NATO round in semi-automatic sniper rifles. Tests determined that compared to the 7.62 NATO, the 6.5 Creedmoor doubles hit probability at 1,000 meters, increases effective range by nearly half, reduces wind drift by a third and has less recoil. The same rifles can use the new cartridge, as their similar dimensions allow the same magazines to be used and the weapon only requires a barrel change.[15][16]

Military cartridge types[edit]

Three recovered 7.62×51mm NATO bullets (next to an unfired cartridge (Tracer ammunition), showing rifling marks
7.62mm, NATO, Orange-tipped tracer ammunition, M62: 142-grain (9.2 g) tracer cartridge.
The 7.62mm M118 long range cartridge.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Ball, M59 (United States): 150.5-grain (9.8 g) 7.62×51mm NATO ball cartridge. A further development of the initial T65 cartridge. It had a long heavy bullet with a Semi-Armor-Piercing iron or mild steel core and a gilded steel jacket. It was replaced by the M80 Ball cartridge as the standard round.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, High Pressure Test, M60 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO test cartridge. The cartridge is not for field issue, but is used for proof firing of weapons during manufacture, test, or repair. The cartridge is identified by a stannic-stained (silvered) case.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Armor Piercing, M61 (United States): 150.5-grain (9.8 g) 7.62×51mm NATO armor-piercing round, black cartridge tip.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Tracer, M62 (United States): 142-grain (9.2 g) tracer cartridge, orange cartridge tip.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Dummy, M63 (United States): The cartridge is used for practice in loading 7.62mm weapons for simulated firing to detect flinching of personnel during firing and for inspecting and testing the weapon mechanism. The cartridge is identified by six longitudinal corrugations (flutings) on the cartridge case. There is no primer and no vent hole in the primer pocket.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Grenade, M64 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO grenade launching blank. The cartridge is identified by a rose-petal (rosette-crimp) closure of the cartridge case mouth and sealed with red lacquer. The cartridge provides pressure upon functioning to project rifle grenade to a desired target when using a grenade projectile adapter and dragon missile launch effect trainer (LET).
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Ball, M80 (United States): 147-grain (9.5 g) 7.62×51mm NATO ball cartridge. The U.S. Army's Ballistic Research Laboratory measured a ballistic coefficient (G7 BC) of 0.200 and form factor (G7 i) of 1.105 for the M80 ball projectile.[17] Another source mentions a slightly higher ballistic coefficient (G7 BC) of 0.209.[18]
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Ball, Enhanced Projectile Round, M80A1 (United States): 130-grain (8.4 g)[19] M80 Lead Free (LF) 7.62×51mm NATO ball cartridge.[20] 114.5-grain (7.4 g) of lead eliminated per M80A1 projectile.[13]
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Blank, M82 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge is used in rifles and machine guns equipped with blank firing attachments to simulate firing in training exercises and for saluting purposes. The cartridge is identified by its double tapered (bottle nose) neck and absence of a bullet.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Ball, Silent, XM115 (United States): Little is known of this round, but it was an attempt to quiet the round. Never adopted.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Match, M118 (United States): 173-grain (11.2 g) 7.62×51mm NATO Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail round specifically designed for Match purposes. The round was introduced as the XM118 match in 1963 and was produced at both Frankford Arsenal and Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. It was standardized as M118 match in mid-1965. It used the same bullet as the .30-06 Springfield M72 Match Ball round, match-grade brass cartridges, and used fitted No. 43 primers. Production ceased at Frankford in 1965 but continued at Lake City until the early 1980s. Lake City used dedicated equipment to produce the ammo up until the mid-1970s and during that time the quality of the ammunition was quite good. When they ceased using dedicated machinery the quality of the ammo had a very noticeable decline.[21]
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Ball, Special, M118 (United States): 173-grain (11.2 g) 7.62×51mm NATO Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail round specifically designed for match purposes. Produced by Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. This is an interim match round which utilized standard M80 ball brass cartridges with the 173-grain (11.2 g) Full-Metal Jacketed Ball Boat Tailed (FMJBT) bullet and staked No. 34 or No. 36 primers. During this period in the early to late 1980s the performance of the round declined. Powder, primer, and brass were the same as standard ball rounds; bullets and powder charges varied in weight due to worn machinery and poor quality control. Since it couldn't be called "Match" due to its erratic trajectory, it was renamed "Special Ball". Snipers used to test shoot batches of ammo, find a batch that shot well (or at least consistently), then zeroed their weapon to that batch and tried to procure as much of that ammo as possible.[21]
Linked belts of Lake City 7.62 mm M80 Ball ammunition.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Ball, Special, M118LR (United States): 175-grain (11.3 g) 7.62×51mm NATO Match-grade round specifically designed for long-range sniping. It uses a 175-grain (11.3 g) Sierra Match King Hollow Point Boat Tail bullet. Produced at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. The propellant's noticeable muzzle flash and temperature sensitivity led to the development of the MK 316 MOD 0 for Special Operations use.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Frangible, M160 (United States): 108.5-grain (7.0 g) 7.62×51mm NATO frangible bullet, upon striking a target, disintegrates, leaving a mark at the point of impact.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Dummy, M172 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge is inert and is used to test the mechanism and metallic link belts of 7.62mm weapons. The cartridge is identified by a black oxide finish over the entire round and has no primer. There is no vent hole in the primer pocket.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Ball, Overhead Fire, XM178 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO Overhead Fire Application (OFA) cartridge using a solid, turned, GM bullet. These were developed to supposedly make the OFA cartridges safer since there would be no small pieces of bullet that could separate and fall on the troops. Never adopted.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Tracer, Overhead Fire, XM179 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO Overhead Fire Application (OFA) cartridge using a solid, turned, GM bullet. These were developed to supposedly make the OFA cartridges safer since there would be no small pieces of bullet that could separate and fall on the troops. XM179/XM180 difference is the amount of trace mixture. Never adopted.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Tracer, Overhead Fire, XM180 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO Overhead Fire Application (OFA) cartridge using a solid, turned, GM bullet. These were developed to supposedly make the OFA cartridges safer since there would be no small pieces of bullet that could separate and fall on the troops. XM179/XM180 difference is the amount of trace mixture. Never adopted.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Blank, XM192 (United States): 7.62×51mm Short case rose crimped dummy. Never adopted.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Duplex, M198 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO duplex ball round with two 84-grain (5.4 g) bullets. The developmental designation was T314E3. It was meant to increase the M14's volume of fire by doubling the number of bullets it could fire per minute.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Ball, Low Recoil, XM256 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO Single 82-grain (5.3 g) bullet from M198 round. Another attempt to control the M14 in full auto mode or for small stature troops. Never adopted.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Tracer, M276 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO so-called "Dim Tracer" with reduced effect primarily for use with night vision devices, green cartridge tip with pink ring.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Match, M852 (United States): 168-grain (10.9 g) 7.62×51mm NATO Hollow-Point Boat-Tail cartridge, specifically designed for use in National Match competitions. It was dubbed "Mexican Match" because it was based on the International Match loading used at the Pan-Am Games in Mexico. It used standard brass, primer, and propellant, but used a match-grade bullet. It was later approved by U.S. Army JAG in the 1990s for combat use by snipers. It replaced the M118SB as the standard Match round. The bullet was very accurate at around 300 meters (competition match ranges) but suffered at longer ranges.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Saboted Light Armor Penetrator, M948 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO Saboted Light Armor Penetrator cartridge. Adopted in limited quantities only by U.S. Army.[22]
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Saboted Light Armor Penetrator Tracer, M959 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO Saboted Light Armor Penetrator cartridge with tracer element. Adopted in limited quantities only by U.S. Army.[22]
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Ball, Training, M973 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO SRTA ball training round. Has air brake to reduce the range the bullet will fly[23]
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Tracer, Training, M974 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO SRTA tracer training round. Has air brake to reduce the range the bullet will fly[23]
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Armor Piercing, M993 (United States): 126.6 grains (8.2 g) 7.62×51mm NATO armor-piercing round, black cartridge tip.
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm Special Ball, Long Range, MK 316 MOD 0 (United States): A 175-grain (11.3 g) round specifically designed for long-range sniping consisting of Sierra MatchKing Hollow Point Boat Tail projectiles, Federal Cartridge Company match cartridge cases and Gold Medal Match primers. The Propellant has been verified as IMR 4064 (per NSN 1305-01-567-6944 and Federal Cartridge Company Contract/Order Number N0016408DJN28 and has a charge weight per the specs of 41.745-grain (2.7 g).[24]
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Ball, Barrier, T762TNB1 MK319 MOD 0 (United States): 7.62×51mm NATO Enhance Behind barrier performance Enhance Function & casualty and muzzle flash requirements in short barrel carbines, 130 grains (8.4 g).[24]
  • Cartridge, Grenade, L1A1 (United Kingdom): 7.62×51mm grenade-launching cartridge with one subvariant (L1A2).
  • Cartridge, Ball, L2A1 (United Kingdom): 7.62×51mm ball cartridge, with three subvariants (A2-A4).
  • Cartridge, Tracer, L5A1 (United Kingdom): 7.62×51mm tracer cartridge, designed to last out to 1,000 metres (1,100 yd). Four subvariants exist, with brighter ignition (A2), tracer reduced to 750 metres (820 yd) (A3), with a pistol powder charge (A4), and with improved ballistics (A5).
  • Cartridge, Ball, L42A1 (United Kingdom): 7.62×51mm ball cartridge, 155-grain (10.0 g) round
  • Cartridge, Ball, L44A1 (United Kingdom): 7.62×51mm ball cartridge, 144-grain (9.3 g) round
  • Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Ball, F4 (Australia): 144-grain (9.3 g) 7.62×51mm NATO ball cartridge. Australian equivalent to U.S. M80 round. In service with the Australian Defence Force.
  • Patrone AB22, 7.62mm × 51, DM41, Weichkern ("Soft-core"), (West Germany): 7.62×51mm NATO ball cartridge; Berdan primed, copper-washed steel jacket. German equivalent to U.S. 7.62×51mm M80 round. Standard service round for the G3 battle rifle.
  • Patrone AB22, 7.62mm × 51, DM111, Weichkern, (Germany): 147-grain (9.5 g) 7.62×51mm NATO ball cartridge, cupronickel-coated steel jacket. German equivalent to U.S. M80 round. In service with the German military. Known for severe fragmentation in human tissue due to its thin jacket, particularly around the cannelure.[25]
  • Patrone, 7.62mm × 51, DM111A1, (Germany): Further development of the DM111. Retained "green" primer in place of lead acid primer and lead core capped with closure disc. Instead of steel jacket with gilding metal plating, the DM111A1 has a gilding metal jacket. Fragments in soft tissue, sometimes including the closure disc separating from the projectile base.[26]
  • Patrone, 7.62mm × 51, DM111A2, (Germany): Further low pollutant development of the DM111A1.[27]
  • Patrone AM31, 7.62mm × 51, DM28A2, Manöver ("Maneuver"), (Germany): Blanks, olive colored plastic with a brass base.
  • Patrone AM32, 7.62mm × 51, DM18A1B1, Übung ("Practice"), (Germany): 10-grain (0.6 g) 7.62×51mm NATO plastic training cartridge, plastic case cartridge colored light blue with an extraordinary light 10-grain plastic bullet which is fired with a high initial velocity. Extremely accurate (spot-on up to 300 meters or 328 yards), non-corrosive, steel base with lead free primer. Developed from the Norwegian NM8 and NM127 short range practice rounds made by Bakelittfabrikken. Non-reloadable due to the plastic case.
The IMI 7.62 × 51 mm Long Range Match was optimized for the M24 SWS in use by the Israel Defense Forces. The combined sniper weapon system achieves accuracy of 0.5 minute of arc.

Department Of Defense Identification Codes (DODIC)[edit]

This four-character alphanumeric code is used by the US Armed Forces and NATO to identify the cartridge, the cartridge type, and the packing method (cartons, clips, link belt, or bulk) used.

  • A111 (7.62mm Blank M82 Linked): 100-round M13 linked belt (M82 Blank) packed in a cardboard box. There are two boxes per M19A1 ammo can (200 rounds) and four M19A1 ammo cans per wire-bound crate (800 rounds). Used in M60 and M240 general purpose machineguns for training purposes.
  • A159 (7.62mm Dummy M172 Linked) 100-round M13 linked belt (M172 Dummy) packed in a cardboard box. There are two boxes per M19A1 ammo can (200 rounds) and four M19A1 ammo cans per wire-bound crate (800 rounds). The munition is designed to simulate a linked belt of M80 Ball ammunition. Used for weapon manufacturing testing to conduct belt-pull tests for automatic weapons and for environmental conditioning tests of weapons, mounts and ammunition. The M172 linked belt is also used for developing new and/or improved mount systems for the vehicles that contain the M240-series machine gun.
  • A165 (7.62mm Ball/Tracer Linked): 750-round M13 linked belt (4 × M80 Ball : 1 M62 Tracer). Used in 7.62 mm miniguns.
  • AA11 (7.62mm Ball M118LR): 20-round carton (M118 Long Range Ball). There are 20 boxes per M2A1 ammo can (400 rounds) and two ammo cans per wire-bound crate (800 rounds). Used in precision match, designated marksman, and sniper rifles.
  • AA11 (7.62mm Armour Piercing ): Used in sniper rifles.[30]
  • AB79 (7.62mm Ball M80A1 Linked): 100-round M13 linked belt (M80A1 Enhanced Ball) packed in a cardboard box in an M5 Bandoleer. There are two bandoleers (100 rounds each) per M19A1 ammo can (200 rounds total) and four M19A1 boxes per wire-bound crate (800 rounds). Used in M240 general purpose machineguns.
  • AB86 (7.62mm Ball/Tracer Linked): 100-round M13 linked belt (4 × M80A1 Enhanced Ball : 1 M62A1 Enhanced Tracer) packed in a cardboard box in an M5 Bandoleer. There are two bandoleers (100 rounds each) per M19A1 ammo can (200 rounds total) and four M19A1 boxes per wire-bound crate (800 rounds). Used in M240 general purpose machineguns.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "M80 data". slickguns.com. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ^ Long range sniper ammunition, U.S. Armor, archived from the original on 2009-01-27
  3. ^ SAAMI Velocity and Piezoelectric Transducer Pressure: Centerfire Rifle, 2013, p. 9, "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-01-02. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  4. ^ "FAQ: Difference between .308 & 7.62 X51 (NATO)". gunboards.com. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Sniper's Hide - Long Range Shooting, Precision Marksmanship, Gear Testing & Reviews - Scout". Scout.com. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  6. ^ "308 Win/7.62x51 compatibility". sksboards.com. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-16. Retrieved 2013-11-04.
  8. ^ "ATF Home Page - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives". www.ATF.gov. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  9. ^ "How Much Does Your Ammo Weigh? - The Firearm Blog". 9 April 2016.
  10. ^ "7.62mm (7.62 x 51 mm) Ammunition". www.inetres.com.
  11. ^ a b c Dockery, Kevin (2007). Future Weapons. New York, NY, USA: Berkley Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-425-21215-8.
  12. ^ Anthony G. Williams. "Cartridges for Long-Range Sniping Rifles". quarryhs.co.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  13. ^ a b Picatinny ammo goes from regular to unleaded – Army.mil, 1 July 2013
  14. ^ M80A1 7.62 mm Cartridge - Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation. 2014
  15. ^ SOCOM snipers will ditch their bullets for this new round next year. Military Times. 8 May 2018.
  16. ^ Homeland Security shooters are dumping .308 for this long-range round. Military Times. 7 May 2018.
  17. ^ "The Case for a General-Purpose Rifle and Machine Gun Cartridge (GPC) by Anthony G Williams" (PDF). quarryhs.co.uk.
  18. ^ Anthony G. Williams. "The 6.5×40 Cartridge: Longer Reach for the M4 & M16". Small Arms Defense Journal. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  19. ^ Army Eyeing 6.5mm for Its Future Battle Rifle - Kitup.Military.com, 13 October 2017
  20. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-30. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  21. ^ a b "History of the M118 Ammunition". Sniper Central. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  22. ^ a b M962 Saboted Light Armor Penetrator Tracer (SLAPT) - Globalsecurity.org
  23. ^ a b http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/images/srta.jpg 7.62MM M973 SRTA and M973 SRTA-T
  24. ^ a b U.S. Navy Small Arms Ammunition Advancements - 7.62MM Special Ball, Long Range, NAVSEA Warfare Centers Crane Archived 2010-10-11 at the Wayback Machine..
  25. ^ Martin L. Fackler (1989). "Wounding patterns of military rifle bullets". International Defense Review (1/1989): 59–64.
  26. ^ A Way Forward in Contemporary Understanding of the 1899 Hague Declaration on Expanding Bullets - SAdefensejournal.com, 7 October 2013
  27. ^ "7,62 mm x 51 Ball DM111 A2 Soft core data sheet" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
  28. ^ IMI Systems Small caliber ammunition and product brochure, IMI Systems website. Accessed: 2017-11-13.
  29. ^ An article about IDF snipers, Walla!News. See last image (in Hebrew), it reads "groups of 12 cm in a range of 800 meters".
  30. ^ Marines (14 October 2015). "How to Shoot Like a Marine - Sniper Edition" – via YouTube.

External links[edit]

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