could .308 rounds be fired in a 30-06 rifle?

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could .308 rounds be fired in a 30-06 rifle?
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In some cases yes. If the extractor is the type to hold the case, it will fire, but wont be very accurate.

Years ago I was running sniper school for both the NG and Regular Army. The guard was using M1C/Ds, the Reg Army, M21s.

For the M1s we had M72 and for the M21s we had M118, both came in white boxes.

The guys were working on zeros for the rifles and I started hearing complaints about flyer's. Looking on the ground I found brass that looked like 458 cases without the rims.

Some of the Alaska natives got the wrong box of ammo, shooting M118 (308) out of their Garands.

I had to add a guy to the supply point to make sure each guy got the right ammo.

None of the guns were hurt, just some poor accuracy and hurt prides.
 
could .308 rounds be fired in a 30-06 rifle?
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Like many have already posted it can happen. I know a couple of guys this has happened to. It's not the ka boom many would expect.

I was shooting a few of my Luger's one time and a friend asked if he could load and shoot one. I said sure and continued you shoot. He came up to the line, chambered and pulled the trigger, no bang. Before I could say a thing you rechambered and pulled the trigger, bang. By then I stopped him and checked the gun. He had loaded 7.62 in a 9mm Luger. No damage to the gun. Scared heck out of me.
 
You can't hardly chamber a .308 round in most 30-06 chambers. Notice on the picture of the two rounds the base of the .308 case is .009 larger than the 30-06.

The case may chamber but you got to FORCE it in.

On Garands using the "navy sleeve" they also opened up the rear of the chamber so the .308 round would fit.
 
Sorry correction needed. It is the part of the case up by the neck that is so much larger on the .308.

If you got 30-06 rifle try putting 308 round in the chamber. It will not go in very easy.
 
hmmm...

I was shooting a few of my Luger's one time and a friend asked if he could load and shoot one. I said sure and continued you shoot. He came up to the line, chambered and pulled the trigger, no bang. Before I could say a thing you rechambered and pulled the trigger, bang. By then I stopped him and checked the gun. He had loaded 7.62 in a 9mm Luger. No damage to the gun. Scared heck out of me.
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I'm not familiar with Lugers in the least bit... but how the #$%& did he do that?
 
It will not go in very easy.
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Actually, it looks to me like it would slide right in.
The diagram by Mehavey shows it perfectly. Case diameters are of course, identical- they're both 7.62 mm.

Follow the horizontal grid lines. The very top end of the .308 case is just very slightly longer that where the 30-.06 case even begins it's shoulder taper.
 
"Actually, it looks to me like it would slide right in".


But it will not unless you FORCE it in. You will not chamber a .308 round into a 30-06 chamber without using the bolt for leverage.

In fact if you try to force it in with the bolt you can"feel" something is not right.

In a semi auto such as a Garand you could possibly chamber a round without being aware of it but with a bolt gun you will know it.

If you have a 30-06 and a .308 round try it yourself and you will see.

But be advised you can get the round stuck in the chamber.
 
I just did a test with my 30-06/Model-70 using Lake City M118 7.62 ammunition.
It slid right in... smooth as glass.

(Ejected fine too) ;)
 
Here's one I found in the trash at the range the other day.

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Shooting 7.62 ammo in a .30 caliber Garand happend more than folks realize. Especially at the Camp Elliott rifle range just south of Miramar Marine Corps Air Station (was a Naval Air Station years ago) north of San Diego. Folks showing up for the monthly 11th Naval District matches in the mid to late 1960's with their 30 caliber Garands oft times though they had the rebarreled 7.62 NATO version. A few made it back to 300 yards rapid fire before they noticed their empty cases had no neck and were about body diameter all the way to their mouth. I know of no harm to people or rifles that happened because of this.

Regarding those chamber inserts, yes, the USN Small Arms Match Conditioning Unit (USNSAMCU) near Camp Elliott did put some in a few 30 caliber Garands. They were intended to be used for recruit training at Camp Elliott, but the inserts came out too often. And most were not very accurate. The USNSAMCU got all of their 7.62 NATO chambered Garand barrels from the Springfield Armory in Springfiled, MA in about 1964. They were normal 30 caliber contoured drilled blanks that were rifled with a 7.62 NATO 1:12 twist broach then chambered with a 7.62 NATO reamer. Air gaged at the USNSAMCU, the tight ones were set aside for top level USN and USAF Rifle Teams' competition rifles and marked with the last two digits of their measured groove diameters; those with larger groove diameters were assembled into USN trophy rifles and recruit training Garands.

The best of those 7.62 Garand barrels were built into the most accurate semiauto 30 caliber US service rifles made. With good commercial .308 Win. match ammo, they would stay inside 4 inches at 600 yards all day long. It took the USMC and US Army rifle teams a few years to get their M14 NM's shooting that well, but they finally caught up.
 
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Interesting stories about Garand high power shooters who shot M118SB when they mixed it up for M72 Match ball. The impact is low and left on the target, and the brass looks like rimless 45-70...
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I've heard these stories too. I have read an account where the author fired off a 308 in his bolt '06. Low and left is correct.
 
The above is all true... save for the notes about the so-called "Navy Sleeve'.

Willie, you may want to buy a copy of Jerry Kuhmhausen"s book, "The U.S. .30 Cailber Gas Operated Servie Rifles, A Shop Manual Volumes I&II". On page 182 through 184, he mentions that "Unless bushing are pressure formed into a grooved chamber, or chill/interference fit, most will come out." Further, he goes on to page 183 stating, "Because 7.62mm chamber conversion bushing in M1 rifles are a potential liability situation for all concerned- don't use them." He also goes onto describe the problems the Navy had with them ejecting inserts in 1963 and in 1964 were forced to develop a different design and installation methods. Just because you got lucky (so far) does NOT mean that this has not been an issue.
 
I tried to chamber a .308 round in both my Garand and my '03. I might be able to force it in my Garand but if I did I know it would be stuck and I would have a hell of a time getting it out.

On my '03 the bolt will not close on the round even if I use a lot of muscle. I suppose I could beat it closed with a hammer but my point is proven to me anyway.

If you can eaisly chamber a .308 round in your '06 chamber you have a much larger chamber than I have on my two rifles.

And a few more I have tried this on in the past.
 
I will go measure both (308/30-06) resized cases at the 308 shoulder location and compare -- as well as the shoulder of the GI/M118 7.62 ammo.
 
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