7.62/.308 or 7.62x39?

[TRG-22]

I'll try to keep this as brief as poss.

First, big apology to Sim G - I replied to him, quoting him, but all the time I thought I was replying to Fedaykin. I've looked in my box of excuses to see if I have one for this, but all I could find was left it on the bus/the dog ate it/a big boy did it and ran away/it was already on fire when I got here, so I'll just have to say "sorry, my bad".

You’ve now confused yourself. I’ve never mentioned my FAC or accused anyone of dishonesty.

Indeed not - that's been Fedaykin. For the avoidance of any doubt, accusing someone of cheating is accusing them of being dishonest. (And as an aside, so is accusing them of being a troll.)

However, I do now think you’re nuts.

I made a mistake, is all.

Second, a few other points.

Re whether all 7.62mms are similar enough for it to make no difference to a risk assessment and decision to allow a purchase, it was a genuine question, and it was important to the argument about what is/is not contrary to "the spirit" of the law. Sadly I didn't see the reply which came before my epic post until after I'd made it. I had been thinking of rifles/ammunition described by the makers as "7.62 <whatever>", rather than anything and everything which uses a projectile in the size range that "7.62mm" spans, but ....

.22WMR? Yes, I do know that it's a very different round to .22LR, and I can see why people might say that it's not what was envisaged when the law was drafted to make certain semi-auto guns in .22RF S1. But ATEOTD it IS a .22" rimfire cartridge until they change the wording, and one can buy semi-auto rifles chambered for it.

Asking questions here rather than at a club? I had hoped for a wider audience, and a better/wider spread of opinions/knowledge/etc from members here than I'd get chatting to one or two people at a club. Look at the divergence in this topic alone, everything from full support and citing of much precedent to branding people who do it dishonest. I didn't expect asking questions on this forum to enrage people so much.


Third, yeah, sometimes my posts are a bit long.

[snayperskaya]

It would appear some Force areas will allow a wide spread of 7.62/.308 variants on a "7.62/.308" variation.....other Force areas don't and require a more specific request, I believe the broader interpretation will be tightened up on given the differences between the various 7.62/.308 chamberings that are out there.

Some RFD's will sell you, as an example, a rifle chambered for 7.62x39 or 7.62x54r etc if you have a spare 7.62/.308 slot......but a lot won't, one particular dealer that specialises in older military rifles springs to mind that insists that you have a variation for 7.62x54r in order to buy a Mosin Nagant for example.

There are differences in how different Force areas, dealers and shooters view the whole 7.62/.308 thing, the best thing to do is once you get into actually shooting and apply for your FAC is to speak to your FEO about it and see what your particular Force areas take is on it, that way you get it strsight from the horses mouth so to speak and you've covered yourself.

[Alpha1]

[Mattnall]

It would appear some Force areas will allow a wide spread of 7.62/.308 variants on a "7.62/.308" variation.....

The licensing departments have been asked to stop this practice and I believe it is now included in the guidance, I had guidance from both Essex and Herts about this, at the time I was registered in both counties.

[snayperskaya]

It would appear some Force areas will allow a wide spread of 7.62/.308 variants on a "7.62/.308" variation.....

The licensing departments have been asked to stop this practice and I believe it is now included in the guidance, I had guidance from both Essex and Herts about this, at the time I was registered in both counties.

Pretty much what I said if you read a bit further......

"I believe the broader interpretation will be tightened up on given the differences between the various 7.62/.308 chamberings that are out there"

Can this thread be knocked on the head now?, as its going round in circles......

[bradaz11]

To me the real issue would be ammo. I wouldn't sell 7.62 x39 ammo to someone who had 7.62/.308 on his ticket and didn't already possess a firearm chambered for it.

but would you sell 7.62 x39 ammo to someone who had a 7.62 x39 rifle on their ticket, and who had an ammo allowance for 7.62/.308, but no other rifles? IE ticket only has one gun on it, and only one ammo allowance on it.

I'd phone my friendly FEO first and get her opinion on it. To me, 7.62/.308 means 7.62 Nato, ie 7.62x51mm.

and I'd class that as a sensible approach

[Fedaykin]

Indeed not - that's been Fedaykin. For the avoidance of any doubt, accusing someone of cheating is accusing them of being dishonest. (And as an aside, so is accusing them of being a troll.)

You can knock that off right now TRG-22! I DID NOT ACCUSE YOU OF CHEATING OR BEING A TROLL! I said that using a broad calibre definition to buy rifles in multiple calibres is a cheat, that is not even remotely an accusation against you. I take an extremely dim view of being accused of such things when I have been taking time to respond to your questions. Considering you don't even have a FAC I don't quite see how you take it as a personal accusation against you and if you look back more than once I clearly stated that we or I are not accusing you of being dishonest. I think you owe me an apology.

[Mattnall]

So, what if you had the free slot to acquire "ONE .22CAL RIFLE"......

[Sandgroper]

So, what if you had the free slot to acquire "ONE .22CAL RIFLE"......

I didn't really want to comment on this thread but I've been there done that! Also had variations for .30 cal, .45, 6.5mm, 0.25, 22CF, 9mm and probably some others but and it's a big but...it was before Police Scotland when it was Grampian Police and I had FLO (and RFD's) who agreed that calibre meant a generic range and not a specific cartridge. He's long retired and I quickly discovered that Police Scotland wasn't going to play that game. So I now specify a cartridge which keeps everyone happy and the Police off my back. The only generic calibre I have left is the 9mm and that's only because I've had that rifle since the Grampian Police days.

It was great when I could get away with it but those days are long gone...

[J4mes]

My FEO suggested that if I wasnt sure what rifle I wanted to buy for my "bigger than .223" rifle, to put down 7.62/.308 and purchase a rifle in any of the cartridge sizes covered by 7.62 or buy a .308.

So I ended up with a 7.62x39.

My FEO suggested it
A dealer from another force sold me one over the internet
A dealer locally but from another force area recieved it for me and was happy I had authority to possess it on my slot before handing it over
An ammunition seller from another force area sold me plenty of ammo of that calibre against my 7.62/.308 ammo slot.


So I think it was more widespread than people would make out. Or I was very lucky.