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How can you tell the difference between the 8mm barrel and the 308 barrel. I have three barrels and one is mark 7.63 x 51, and the other two are not. Is this normal?

Well of course the one marked 7.62 x 51 is the caliber for that barrel. Look at the others to see if they have waffenamt proof marks on the barrels. If they do, they're wartime barrels, and since the 7.62 wasn't developed until the 1950s, that means they have to be 8mm mauser barrels. Also, if you have an 8mm mauser cartridge, drop it into the chamber and see if it fits. If it falls into the chamber up to the extractor groove on the shell, it's a fit. The 8mm cartridge is longer than the .308.

It is assumed that you are aware that 7.62 x 51 is similar to .308. Do a search and you will find discussions on the compatibility between 308 and 7.62 x 51 and the interchangability for use in weapons/barrels marked one caliber or the other.

there are no MG42/MG3 barrels marked .308, but for all practical the .308 is the same cartridge as the 7.62 x 51. It's either one or the other, and if you have an 8mm cartridge, that'll tell the difference whether you can find the caliber markings on it (7.62 x 51), or whether it's a WW2 era barrel (8mm mauser).

The simple solution: Take a 8mm cartridge and drop it into the barrel chamber. If it fits all the way up to the rim, with only about 2mm" of the rear of cartridge still protruding from past the face of teh chamber, it's an 8mm barrel. If the cartridge sticks out about 1 cm, it's probably .308. The huge length difference between 8mm and .308 makes this check easy.

wayne wrote:How can you tell the difference between the 8mm barrel and the 308 barrel. I have three barrels and one is mark 7.63 x 51, and the other two are not. Is this normal?

but why is it marked 7.63 x51 ? is this a typo (hitlet?)

TC

jbaum wrote: Look at the others to see if they have waffenamt proof marks on the barrels. If they do, they're wartime barrels, and since the 7.62 wasn't developed until the 1950s, that means they have to be 8mm mauser barrels.

don't look at the locking piece, just the actual barrel. they reused a lot of wartime waffened locking pieces on .308 barrels.

Thanks guys..I will check the barrel using ammon. Also it was a typo on 7.61...Thanks again..