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.308 Winchester

.308 Winchester is a rimless, bottlenecked rifle cartridge introduced by Winchester in 1952 for the civilian market.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

.308 Winchester is a rimless, bottlenecked rifle cartridge introduced by Winchester in 1952 for the civilian market. It is widely used for hunting, target shooting, and other shooting sports, and it is closely related to, but not identical with, 7.62×51mm NATO.

History

.308 Winchester was introduced in 1952 and marketed for civilian use. Sources describe it as a commercial cartridge that later became closely associated with the military 7.62×51mm NATO family.

Design

The cartridge is rimless and bottlenecked, with a bullet diameter of .308 inch (7.82 mm). Published specifications also list a case capacity of 3.64 mL (56 grains of water).

Use

The .308 Winchester is widely used for hunting, target shooting, police work, military applications, and personal protection. It remains one of the best-known full-power rifle cartridges. It is used by Canadian hunters and target shooters and is commonly available in the Canadian commercial ammunition market.

Relationship to 7.62×51mm NATO

The .308 Winchester and 7.62×51mm NATO share very similar dimensions, but they are not identical. Sources note differences in pressure and chamber specification, so the cartridges should not be treated as perfectly interchangeable in every firearm.

Key facts

  • Introduced by Winchester in 1952 for the civilian market.
  • Rimless, bottlenecked case with a bullet diameter of .308 inch (7.82 mm).
  • Widely used for hunting, target shooting, police, military, and personal protection.
  • Closely related to 7.62×51mm NATO but not identical in specifications.
  • Maximum pressure of 415 MPa (60,191 psi) under CIP standards.
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Canadian context

It is used by Canadian hunters and target shooters and is commonly available in the Canadian commercial ammunition market.

Frequently asked questions

What is .308 Winchester?
It is a rimless, bottlenecked rifle cartridge introduced by Winchester in 1952 for the civilian market.
Is .308 Winchester the same as 7.62×51mm NATO?
No. They are very similar and closely related, but their specifications are not identical.
What is .308 Winchester used for?
It is widely used for hunting, target shooting, police work, military use, and personal protection.
When was .308 Winchester introduced?
It was introduced in 1952.
What is the bullet diameter of .308 Winchester?
The bullet diameter is .308 inch, or 7.82 mm.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.308_Winchester
    Supports: .308 Winchester type, introduction date, uses, case capacity, pressure, bullet diameter, and relation to 7.62×51mm NATO
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62%C3%9751mm_NATO
    Supports: Comparison between .308 Winchester and 7.62×51mm NATO, including similarity and specification differences
  3. Winchester Ammunition — https://winchester.com/Products/Ammunition/Rifle/USA/USA3081
    Supports: Winchester branding and commercial availability of .308 Winchester ammunition