350 Legend Ammo
Professionally Reviewed by:
Nathaniel Boos
Nathaniel Boos is a lifelong firearms enthusiast and shooter, renowned for his experience as a long-range shooter, ammunition importer/exporter, and firearms manufacturer. With years of hands-on experience, he is a trusted authority in the ammunition and firearms industry.
Credentials:
- • 2x Team Safari Competitor
- • KRG Training Level 1, 2, and Force on Force CQB certified
- • Licensed Texas Conceal Carry Holder
- • Kranz Firearms Training Group Advanced Carbine Certified
350 Legend: At a Glance
| Key Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Firearm Type | Rifle |
| Primer Type | Small Rifle |
| Used For | Hunting, Sport Shooting |
| Case Design | Straight-walled |
| Year Introduced | 2019 |
350 Legend: At a Glance: Pros and Cons
Pros
- ✔ Legal for deer hunting in straight-wall-only states
- ✔ Low recoil compared to other .35 caliber cartridges
- ✔ Effective for medium-sized game at moderate ranges
- ✔ Compatible with AR-15 platform rifles
- ✔ Good penetration due to bullet design
Cons
- ✘ Limited ammunition variety compared to established calibers
- ✘ Relatively new, so less field-proven than older cartridges
- ✘ Not ideal for long-range shooting
- ✘ May be overkill for small game
- ✘ Less readily available than more common calibers
350 Legend Ammo: In Depth
The 350 Legend is a straight-walled cartridge introduced by Winchester Repeating Arms in 2019. It was designed to meet the demand for a powerful, yet legal cartridge for deer hunting in states with straight-walled cartridge restrictions. The 350 Legend offers excellent performance for medium-game hunting, combining low recoil with high energy transfer and penetration. Its design allows for use in AR-15 platform rifles, making it a versatile option for both hunting and sport shooting.
History and Development
The 350 Legend was developed by Winchester Repeating Arms and officially introduced at the 2019 SHOT Show. It was created to address the need for a straight-walled cartridge that could be used in states with regulations prohibiting bottleneck cartridges for deer hunting. These regulations, primarily in Midwestern states, were aimed at increasing hunter safety by limiting the range of bullets in densely populated areas.
Winchester based the 350 Legend on a modified .223 Remington case, removing the shoulder to create a straight-walled design. This allowed the cartridge to comply with hunting regulations while still offering excellent ballistic performance. The cartridge was designed to be compatible with AR-15 style rifles, which increased its appeal to a broader range of shooters.
The 350 Legend quickly gained popularity among hunters and sport shooters due to its low recoil, flat trajectory, and impressive terminal performance on medium-sized game. It offers a significant power increase over traditional straight-walled cartridges like the .45-70 Government, while still maintaining manageable recoil.
Since its introduction, various ammunition manufacturers have developed loads for the 350 Legend, ranging from lightweight practice rounds to heavy hunting bullets. This variety has further increased the cartridge's versatility and appeal to different types of shooters.
Ballistic Performance
The 350 Legend offers impressive ballistic performance for a straight-walled cartridge. It typically fires bullets weighing between 145 and 265 grains, with muzzle velocities ranging from 2,100 to 2,350 fps for heavier bullets and up to 2,800 fps for lighter bullets. This combination of bullet weight and velocity results in muzzle energy between 1,800 and 2,250 ft-lbs, making it highly effective for medium-game hunting at moderate ranges.
Compared to other straight-walled cartridges, the 350 Legend offers a flatter trajectory and higher velocities, which can make shot placement easier for hunters. Its recoil is also notably lower than many comparable cartridges, making it more comfortable to shoot and allowing for quicker follow-up shots if needed.
Timeline of 350 Legend Development and Adoption:
350 Legend Performance
The 350 Legend offers excellent performance characteristics that have made it a popular choice for hunting and target shooting. Here's a breakdown of its key performance characteristics:
| Characteristic | Performance |
|---|---|
| Velocity | 2,100-2,350 fps (180-265 grain bullets)\n2,600-2,800 fps (145-160 grain bullets) Varies based on barrel length and load type |
| Energy | 1,800-2,250 ft-lbs at the muzzle Provides excellent performance for medium-sized game |
| Effective Range | 200-250 yards Optimal for deer hunting within legal straight-walled cartridge jurisdictions |
| Recoil | Low to moderate, less than .243 Winchester Manageable in lightweight rifles, suitable for a wide range of shooters |
| Accuracy | 1-2 MOA in quality rifles Suitable for hunting and recreational target shooting |
Bullet Weight vs. Muzzle Velocity
This chart shows how bullet weight affects muzzle velocity for common 350 Legend loads.
350 Legend: Effective Range for Different Applications
This table provides estimated effective ranges for 350 Legend ammunition in various applications. Ranges are based on typical bullet weights and velocities.
| Application | Effective Range (yards) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting (Medium Game) | 0-250 | Excellent for deer and similar-sized game |
| Target Shooting | 0-300 | Good accuracy for mid-range target shooting |
| Self-Defense | 0-100 | Effective for close-quarters defense with proper ammunition |
Note: Effective ranges can vary based on factors such as bullet selection, shooter skill, wind conditions, and specific firearm characteristics. The 350 Legend is known for its straight-walled case design, making it legal for hunting in some areas where bottleneck cartridges are restricted. Always prioritize safety and adhere to local laws and regulations.
Applications for 350 Legend
The 350 Legend's performance profile makes it suitable for several applications:
350 Legend Ammo Comparisons
To understand the 350 Legend's place in the rifle world, it's helpful to compare it to similar cartridges. Click on each comparison to see more details:
Recoil Energy Comparison
Compare the estimated recoil energy of 350 Legend with other popular rifle cartridges. (Based on a 7.5 lb rifle)
Ballistic Trajectory Comparison
This chart compares the ballistic trajectory (bullet drop) of 350 Legend with other popular rifle cartridges over distance.
Wind Drift Comparison
This chart compares the wind drift of 350 Legend with other popular rifle cartridges in a 10 mph crosswind.
Energy Retention Comparison
This chart compares the energy retention of 350 Legend with other popular rifle cartridges over distance.
350 Legend Ammo Sectional Density Comparison
The 350 Legend is a straight-walled cartridge designed for hunting in states with restrictions on bottlenecked cartridges. This table compares the sectional density of various 350 Legend loads.
| Cartridge | Bullet Weight (gr) | Sectional Density |
|---|---|---|
| 350 Legend | 145 | 0.164 |
| 350 Legend | 150 | 0.170 |
| 350 Legend | 160 | 0.181 |
| 350 Legend | 180 | 0.204 |
| 350 Legend | 200 | 0.226 |
Note: Sectional density is calculated as (bullet weight in pounds) / (bullet diameter in inches)². The 350 Legend has a bullet diameter of 0.357 inches. Higher sectional density generally indicates better penetration, but other factors like velocity and bullet construction also play significant roles in overall performance.