Just curious, .308 vs. .311

[RED]

In general terms, how well do .308 bullets perform when fired in a barrel manufactured for the Russian .311 bullets. That's only about .003" difference. Once upon a time, SP 7.62X39 and 7.62X54 ammunition was simply not available but the Moisins and SKS rifles were pouring into the U.S. I had a FFL and a basement gun shop that was legal back in the early 1980's. I pulled the .311 FMJ's and replaced them with the equal weight .308 SP's. None of the customers that shot them ever complained, and by the late '80's, you could buy factory rounds that were legal to hunt with.

Now there is the 6.5MM, .264 round vs. the 6.5MM M.C. that is actually .267 in diameter. I ran out of my 6.5 Carcano steel cored bullets pulled from Italian Milsurp and now can only locate .264 diameter 160 gr FMJ's.

I have shot both the .267 and the .264 bullets in my Carcano and the 2.67's do better. I never shot a .308 bullet in a .311 barrel

For the record, at the time, I had a letter from the ATF that stated that simply replacing bullets of equal weights was NOT "manufacturing," nor was it considered "reloading."

[lyman]

not tried the 6.5 vs 267/267,

however Graf shows some 267 in stock (midway has them at discontinued)

https://www.grafs.com/catalog/product/productId/6185

buffalo has them as well, but pricey

https://www.buffaloarms.com/267-160-grain-rn-sp-hornady-interlock-bullet-box-of-100-hor2645

re the 308,

only experience I have is second hand,
friend has a Colt 7.62 carbine, and he reloads for matches with a match 308 bullet,
shoots well with it, but he thinks (I did not verify) the barrel while chambered in 7.62x39 is a .308 barrel,
he has shot surplus thru it without any issue

[nf1e]

Pretty crappy. .311 bullets are readily available so I have been using them for awhile now.

[Allen]

On a similar note as Lyman's post I've read that the Ruger Mini 30 has a bore rifled for the .308 but chambered for the 7.62x39. I've read that the barrel gets a little warm after shooting a few of the .311 bullets thru it but otherwise everything is honkydory.

[Sunray]

"...how well do .308 bullets perform..." They don't. Nor do .308" bullets shoot well out of a Lee-Enfield. It's the wrong bullet diameter. 7.62mm is the nominal bore diameter for the Russian cartridges. Same as .300" is the nominal bore diameter for .308 Win and 7.62NATO.
"...the Ruger Mini 30 has..." Had, not has now. Ruger corrected the bore diameter when 123 and 125 grain .311" bullets became more common. Of course, the Mini 30 was just as over priced and inaccurate as any Mini, but the current 30's are .311".
6.5 Carcano uses a .268" bullet. Prvi makes a 139 grain FMJ. Graf's wants $22.99 per 100 for 'em.

[RED]

not tried the 6.5 vs 267/267,

however Graf shows some 267 in stock (midway has them at discontinued)

https://www.grafs.com/catalog/product/productId/6185

buffalo has them as well, but pricey

https://www.buffaloarms.com/267-160-grain-rn-sp-hornady-interlock-bullet-box-of-100-hor2645

re the 308,

only experience I have is second hand,
friend has a Colt 7.62 carbine, and he reloads for matches with a match 308 bullet,
shoots well with it, but he thinks (I did not verify) the barrel while chambered in 7.62x39 is a .308 barrel,
he has shot surplus thru it without any issue

Thank you I will call Graf in the morning. Some how I missed them... but have dealt with them for 20 + years.

[madsenshooter]

Thanks for pointing those out! I have a couple Arisakas that have been rechambered to 6.5x257. One of them would like a larger diameter bullet!