.308 Winchester vs 7.62x54R
Part of our full caliber comparison chart — energy, drop and recoil for every rifle caliber side by side.
The .308 Winchester vs 7.62x54R comparison matches NATO's standard rifle cartridge against its Russian counterpart. The .308 Winchester (150gr Polymer Tip at 2820 fps) delivers 1049 ft-lbs at 500 yards, nearly identical to the 7.62x54R's (150gr SST at 2800 fps) 1091 ft-lbs at the same distance. Trajectory mirrors this similarity: the .308 drops 57.5 inches at 500 yards versus 57.0 inches for the 7.62x54R. The two recoil figures below are not directly comparable: the 7.62x54R is calculated in a 7-pound rifle at 18.9 ft-lbs and the .308 in a 6-pound rifle at 22.2 ft-lbs. Put in rifles of the same weight, the two kick within a fraction of a ft-lb of each other. The .308 offers better commercial ammunition variety, while the 7.62x54R provides access to affordable surplus loads. Performance varies with ammunition selection and rifle platform.
Ammunition Parameters
.308 Winchester Parameters (Reference Load)
7.62x54R Parameters (Reference Load)
.308 Winchester vs 7.62x54R Ballistics Chart
Comparing bullet drop at various ranges between .308 Winchester and 7.62x54R.
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.308 Winchester vs 7.62x54R Energy Comparison
Comparing the muzzle energy and energy retention at various distances between .308 Winchester and 7.62x54R.
.308 Winchester vs 7.62x54R Recoil
Comparing recoil energy and impulse between .308 Winchester and 7.62x54R.
.308 Winchester Recoil (Reference Load)
7.62x54R Recoil (Reference Load)
Notes:
- Recoil calculations based on bullet weight, velocity, powder charge, and firearm weight
- Recoil energy indicates the felt force when firing the weapon
- Recoil impulse represents momentum transfer during firing
- Actual felt recoil can vary based on grip, stance, and firearm design
.308 Winchester vs 7.62x54R Velocity
Velocity decay from muzzle to 500 yards for .308 Winchester and 7.62x54R.
.308 Winchester vs 7.62x54R Average Cost
Comparing cost per round and training affordability between .308 Winchester and 7.62x54R.