Description
Winchester saw a market for a civilian model and introduced it in 1952, two years prior to the NATO adoption of the cartridge under the 7.62x51mm designation in 1954. Winchester branded the cartridge and introduced it to the commercial hunting market as the .308 Winchester.
Winchester’s Model 70, Model 88 and Model 100 rifles were chambered for the new cartridge. Although not identical, the .308 Winchester and military 7.62x51mm cartridges are similar enough that they can be loaded into rifles chambered for the other round, but the .308 Winchester cartridges are typically loaded to higher pressures than 7.62×51mm NATO service cartridges.
