These rifles were not chambered for .308 winchester. They are chambered for the 7.62 CETME cartridge. The cetme round has identical OUTSIDE dimentions to the .3o8 but that's where the similarity ends. The .308 is much more powerful and dangerous to shoot in mod. 1916 mausers as they were only proofed to around 45,000 psi. The .308 is 52,000 or better. The CETME round fired a 118 gr. bullet at aruound 2300 fps. if my memory serves me correctly. It is of Spanish origin. More info. on the 7.62 cetme cartridge can be found in Cartridges of The World. Don't shoot .308 ammo in it as it won't stand it long. If you reload you can make ammo using 110 gr. .308 dia. bullets and a reduced charge of the appropriate powder. Call Seirra Bullets @ i-800-223-8799 and they will help with .308 reduced load data. I've had two of these rifles in the past, 0ne i never shot and the other locked up so tight using .308 ammo that i had to bear the bolt open with a board. the Spanish are'nt famous for thier metallurgy.