What is the history behind the development of the .308 Winchester and Nato 7.62x51mm standards? Why are they not identical?

by ikkeutelukkes
ikkeutelukkes

It seems highly inefficient to have two seperate calibres developed within 2 years of each that are almost interchangable but not quite. Why could the civilian market not simply adopt 7.62 and 5.56, rather than 308 Win and 223 Rem?

Summoning /u/Krywiggles and /u/Georgy_K_Zhukov. Thanks!