Browning BAR Safari 7mm vs 300 Win Mag

[Huntolive]

This post is not for the sole purpose of starting a big opinionated fight between 7 mm Remington Magnum and 300 Win Mag.
Although that would be both informative and amusing.
The story starts as such:
I traded a Dan Wesson revolver 4 a Browning BAR 300 Win Mag supposedly and something else I don't remember what it was for a Browning a bolt stainless stalker 300 WSM.
However I was so happy at getting what I saw as the better end of the trade and how pretty both rifles looked and their overall excellent condition that I did not inspect carefully the barrel inscription on the Browning BAR 300 Win Mag.
If you can see where this is headed you will now know that rifle was actually a Browning BAR 7mm Remington Magnum instead.
Although I was not looking to add a new caliber to my collection and already have rifles in 300 Win Mag, and at first was quite heated and embarrassed when I noticed this after the fact, I still know I got the better of the deal overall.

But my burning question is which is better?
A Browning BAR Safari 300 Win Mag or Browning BAR Safari 7 mm Remington Magnum?
Preliminary research suggests there is very little difference between the two and that I may even be better off having gotten the seven mm by chance.

Did I do better by goofing up or did I screw myself by not being careful?
Either way I learned a lesson.
Now what can you guys teach me?

 

[jmr40]

I like the 7 mag a little better at least in theory. Recoil is pretty much the same as 30-06. It shoots the same bullet weights to about the same speed as 30-06. But in the same weights the 7mm versions have better BC's and hold up better at long range.

But at the same time the 2 are close enough that it would be hard for me to justify owning both. There is nothing I'd hunt with one that I'd not hunt with the other. It's like comparing 30-06 to 280, or 308 to 7-08. On paper the 7mm version looks a little better. But I started with 30 caliber. I've experimented a bit with both 7mm and 300 mag as well as 280. And while the 7mm versions look better on paper I keep going back to 30 caliber. I have several 30 caliber rifles with too much history to sell and just can't justify both.

I'd shoot it some and see if you like it. You may find the recoil difference enough that you may like it better.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Since you have other .300’s, both WSM and WinMag, I’d say it’s a plus.
For the lower 48, I’d rate the 7mag as better.
If you don’t reload, the various Fed, Rem, Win, Hornady 145-150gr loads will serve 98% of what you’ll need. Biggest difference is the 7mm kicks a bit less...

A 7mmMag 150gr roughly corresponds to the 180gr .300mag. 3,000fps, similar bc and sd’s, and trajectory.
penetration, and expansion.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

The BARs in 7 Mag are very pleasant shooters. Like @jmr40 said, they don't kick much worse than a 30-06 to begin with, and the rifle's weight and gas system really help knock the recoil down.

It's magnum performance without magnum kick - the rifles are just a pain to carry.

 

[LoonWulf]

Just for shoots and giggle try dumping all 4 rounds the rifle carries as fast as you can align the sights.
It's both surprisingly easy and entertaining.....I've got a 7mm bm2 safari.

I think it's a better choice for two reasons.
The 300bars I've shot bounced enough that I don't think the semi auto and heavy weight of the rifle is really much of a benefit for a fast follow up. It does smooth out the .300s recoil some, but not enough to matter imo.

The bar is an 06 length action and .300wm rounds have to have bullets shoved pretty far back I side the case, especially when getting into the heavier bullets the big case really makes a difference with.

From my experience the 7mm will give you about 5% more velocity than the 06 from the same bullet weights with about 10gr more powder burned. But it does deliver bullets if a much higher BC, and is a good fit in 06 length actions.
So while it's not a huge step up in pure "power" it does deliver more performance farther out.
When housed in an accurate example of the BAR, i think it's nearly an ideal mid range hunting cartridge/rifle combination.

 

[climbnjump]

I traded a Dan Wesson revolver 4 a Browning BAR 300 Win Mag supposedly and something else I don't remember what it was for a Browning a bolt stainless stalker 300 WSM.

Well, if the other rifle you received in the trade was the 300 WSM, then I'd say be happy with the 7RM BAR as the .300 Win Mag would be pretty close in performance to the 300 WSM.

FWIW, I have a BAR in .30-06 and can verify the soft recoil from this design. I think it's more like a .243 bolt gun, maybe a bit more. The design not only reduces the recoil but lengthens the recoil pulse* so it feels softer than it actually is.

*Yeah, it "flattens the curve", to borrow a phrase from the current news!

 

[WisBorn]

The 7mm rem mag performance is close to the 300 wm. For medium size game at ethical ranges the 7mm has an advantage with a little less recoil. I like all 3 rounds, if you have a 300 wsm and 300 wm an auto loading 7mm is a great addition to your hunting rifles.

 

[EIB0879]

I use to have a 7mm Mag BAR and it was easy to shoot. My wife loved it.

 

[Huntolive]

Okay although I definitely have learned to check more detail when doing a trade despite how nice and shiny and pretty everything looks
It seems I kind of sort of lucked out.
My research confirms everything you guys are saying and I also have a 30 ought 6 bar and agree that it's a pussy cat to shoot.
Still I just I'm not a fan of picking up so many different calibers and I know I'll never abandon 300 Win Mag because I have two extremely nice bolt actions in that caliber.
I may get rid of thirty-ought-six all together in which I only have two rifles: the BAR and one nice old bolt-action.
I'm deep into 308, 300 Win Mag, and on the low end have 2 243s mostly for my kids but they come in handy for coyotes etcetera and are very respectable for deer & feel like shooting at 22 next to the others.
So I'm going to keep the 7 mm and not worry about tracking down the guy traded with although I could.
I like what someone shared about recoil even in the BAR from 300 Win Mag could mitigate the advantage of the semi-automatic future and that 7 mm will get back on target more quickly.

 

[Aletheia]

The biggest advantage the .300WM has over the 7mmMag is the ability to shoot 200 grain bullets with what is, for all intents and purposes, the same trajectory as a 7mm Mag shoots 160 grain bullets. If what you want to do needs a 200 grain bullet (or even a bit heavier) you're better off with the .300. IF you can't think of a single reason you need bullets that heavy, then the 7mm is enough and will be a bit easier to handle.

 

[edwardware]

I know nothing of the BAR, but your tale reminds me of standing at the counter at my FFL looking at the caliber stamped on my new Win M70 .375H&H. . . and realizing it said .338 Win Mag.

 

[Huntolive]

Even hunters don't catch everything the first time...

If I need a bullet heavier than 180 grains I can use my 375 Ruger or 375 H&H.
Or one of my bolt action 300 Win mags both of which have nice muzzle brakes

 

[troy fairweather]

7mm rem mag, every day of the week.

 

[LoonWulf]

7mm rem mag, every day of they week.

and twice on which ever day you please!

 

[Armorer 101]

I have all three chambering and you did yourself no hurt in the trade. They each have a place in a group of hunting rifles, all the owner need do is figure which one to take to the dance.

 

[redneck2]

In the real world, the difference is .016. Stack four sheets of paper together and tell me it makes a huge difference. The great divide is in the minds of those on the Internet that argue over the relative merits of a 23 versus 23 1/2 degree shoulder angle.

Since both the 7 Mag and ..300 Win Mag have the way cool performance and accuracy enhancing belt, I see no downside to either. The .300 mini mag (WSM) is belt deficit and therefore unsuitable for anything other than skunks and occasional rogue possum.

 

[Huntolive]

Well it definitely seems there is only a marginal difference between the real-world effectiveness of 7 mm versys 300 Win Mag
Many will argue that 300 WSM does just fine.
Why do you see the belt as such a decisive advantage?

 

[Elkins45]

There is no place in my world for a 7mm Remington magnum. When reloading manuals have to add notes about how they were unable to achieve advertised velocities I take them at their word.