O.K. this maybe a dumb question, but better to be safe than sorry.
7.62 is .30 cal, right? I'm setting up to load 7.62X39 rifle and 7.62X25 pistol.
I would purchase the .30 cal bullets right, or would this not be the case?

Mauser K98

This is NOT THE CASE !. .30 cal is .308" 8MM or 7.92X57 is K98 Mauser round is .323"

and early Mauser's were .318" I believe

7.62X39 is .311" or .310 ?. 7.62X25 is .310" if memory serves me .

When buying or building ammo one simply can't go by 7.62 anything Look at a Russian 7.62X54

bullet Dia. is .310". Yet our 7.62X51 is a 308 and uses a .308" Dia. bullet .

Ditto on our 30/06 is 7.62X63 yet it uses a .308" bullet as well !.

I own enough Russian stuff to definitely know .308" doesn't fit ANYTHING 7.62 Russian .

7.62= .308
7.65 I believe is 311, no?

Bullets for 7.62x39 are typically .311"

Those for 7.62x25 Tokarev are .310"

7.62 x 25 takes a .307 dia. bullet. Speer 30 caliber plinkers have been successfully used. roger

Bullet diameter 7.8 mm (0.310 in)
Neck diameter 8.4 mm (0.33 in)
Shoulder diameter 9.4 mm (0.37 in)
Base diameter 9.7 mm (0.38 in)
Rim diameter 9.9 mm (0.39 in)
Rim thickness 1.3 mm (0.051 in)
Case length 25 mm (0.98 in)
Overall length 34 mm (1.3 in)
Rifling twist 1:250 mm (1:10 inches)

If we are speaking of a Russian 7.62X25mm Tokarev



Not to be confused with the German 7.63X25mm Mauser ( All though some say ammo is interchangeable

I don't buy into the idea ) Please note bullet diameter differences for each gun ! yet are both

considered 7.62X25mm or 7.63X25mm



Parent case 7.65x25mm Borchardt
Bullet diameter 7.82 mm (0.308 in)
Neck diameter 8.4 mm (0.33 in)
Shoulder diameter 9.4 mm (0.37 in)
Base diameter 9.7 mm (0.38 in)
Rim diameter 9.9 mm (0.39 in)

There are two measurments to a bore, groove and land. The Europeans measure, one we measure the other. I believe that accounts for much of the variation we encounter with bullet size.

Mauser

You will find 7.62x39 rifles with both groove sizes - .308" and .311". So you use the bullet appropriate for your rifle. Many loading die sets will have expander balls for both sizes.

Many shooters with .311" rifles will use .308" bullets because they are more available. They seem to work with no problems (a 7.62x39 rifle is not exactly a Benchrest rifle). Likewise, some shooters with .308" rifles have used .311" bullets with no ill effects. Some shooters compromise and use .310" bullets. It's all up to you.

Ray