Internal stresses and strains are created in the graphite over time as a consequence of exposure to thermal gradients, structural loads and fast neutron irradiation. However, there is no direct experimental evidence of the magnitude of the internal strains. We have conducted a series of laboratory experiments for internal and surface strain measurement on the nuclear graphite using deep-hole drilling [2], incremental centre hole drilling [3] and digital image correlation. In all cases the measured bulk strains were equal to the mechanically applied strains. In contrast, it is unclear how the strain is distributed within the graphite microstructure. The novel purpose of this work is to establish if, and how differences observed between the macro-strains measured by displacement/relaxation and those measured from the crystal lattice can be reconciled particularly for porous graphite.