Quote Originally Posted by Bruce_in_Oz View Post
.308 Win is the "commercialised" name for a variant of the early 7.62 NATO cartridge. It appears that Winchester worked out that a "sporting" version of the new service cartridge would be a seller. There are subtle differences in the internal and external dimensions of the case, and there is an ongoing "debate" about pressure differences, but I will leave that to the serious "anoraks".

7.5 x 54 was the Frenchicon answer to the 7.92 x 57, post WW1. However, given the diameter of the case, it seems to have also been influenced by the 7.5 x 55 Swissicon,with its larger than "standard" case diameter and slinky boat-tailed bullet.

The .300 Savage was introduced in 1920, in the ill-fated Savage Model 20 rifle. The Model 20 was an attempt to make a "sporter" that had more than a passing nod to the 03 Springfield. Remember that in 1920, there were millions of ex-servicemen who were familiar with the Springfield and Savage wanted to "cash in". It was a very short action and even had a cocking piece like a Springfield. The decision to use the trigger as the bolt catch, just like a smallbore / .22 rifle was part of its undoing. I had two if these rifles at one stage, and both had "issues" with bolt retention.

The .300 Savage was (briefly) touted as being a "compact '06": compact it was, '06 it was not.

The .300 Savage has a very short neck, not considered "a good idea" in military circles..........Then again, there's the 5.56 NATO............

Savage dropped the model 20 fairly quickly, but the .300 Savage cartridge soldiered on in the legendary Model 99 lever action series. Savage would occasionally do runs of the '99 in this calibre well into the 1970s at least, even though the '99 was also built in .308Win.

Hmmm.

So, is there any reason to believe that the 7.62x51mm NATO round was derived from the French 7.5x54mm round?

That is the claim that I was completely unfamiliar with.

Everything I have read indicates that the .300Savage was more of the parent cartridge for the 7.62x51mm NATO round.

I didn't know that about the Savage model 20 rifles.

I have a .300Savage Model 99 and a .308WIN Model 99 rifle, and enjoy the heck out of them, so I am familiar with the Savage model 99 connection.

Just trying to clear up 'the French connection'.
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