Cartridge comparison
.308 Winchester vs 5.56x45mm NATO
.308 Winchester and 5.56x45mm NATO are both in the reference; see the full spec comparison below.
Side by side
| .308 Winchester | 5.56x45mm NATO | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Rifle | Rifle |
| Introduced | 1952 | 1980 |
| Bullet diameter | 0.308″ | 0.2244″ |
| Case length | 2.015″ | 1.7598″ |
| Max pressure | 62,000 psi | 62,000 psi |
| Recoil | 15–20 ft·lb | 3.8–5.5 ft·lb |
| Effective range | 800 yd | 600 yd |
Highlighted cells hold the clear edge where both sides have a number. Every figure is a range maximum from the reference; typical loads run lower.
Case profiles, to scale
Drawn to the same scale, so the proportions are true. Physical size varies with your screen.