Thoughts on .350 Legend

[Airborneguy]

I’m considering a new AR for deer hunting and the .350 Legend currently tops my list. Apparently it is a perfect deer round, is legal is certain states during muzzleloader/shotgun season, and is very easy to reload.

Has anyone else researched this round? Before I jump I want to know more.

 

[C3D]

.350 Legend (35 Gunner?)

@meketrefe - It looks like the 35 Gunner concept has been commercialized. The Captain's Journal .350 Legend BY Herschel Smith 15 hours, 47 minutes ago While perusing this piece on new rifles from the SHOT show (most of which I find far too pricey), I ran across an ammunition type I hadn’t...

nygunforum.com

 

[Jaywmustang]

Looks like a interesting round.

 

[Airborneguy]

I wanted the Gunner so badly but was nervous about committing to a round with no commercial support.

 

[Airborneguy]

Can you use .357 dies for the .350 Legend?

 

[Jaywmustang]

Does ny allow this cartridge in shotgun only areas? Or r you planning a out of state hunt

 

[Airborneguy]

Does ny allow this cartridge in shotgun only areas? Or r you planning a out of state hunt

Possibly Ohio. I don’t hunt any shotgun areas in NY (do we still have that even?)

 

[Jaywmustang]

Possibly Ohio. I don’t hunt any shotgun areas in NY (do we still have that even?)

My buddy has a camp near Ithaca and it’s shotgun only, not sure what county it is.

 

[kev74]

Somebody had a 350 Legend upper for less than $200 on Friday. It took a lot of restraint to hold off on that one.

 

[Edwardteach72]

My buddy has a camp near Ithaca and it’s shotgun only, not sure what county it is.

Thompson

 

[meketrefe]

For a bore is great since you have access to affordable 9mm and 357 bullets.
The problem is that the cartrige, while much better than the infamous BarakObama is going to present a challenge in autoloaders due to the
straight case and rimless configuration. It doesn't mean it cannot be done but a lot of attention must be put into the reloading and
one might end up with feeding, cambering and/or headspace issues.
I considered this cat years ago and these were the main reasons I didn't make it.

 

[Robin]

I've been looking into this cartridge too. It seems Winchester and Hornady have put a lot into it as far as research, manufacturing and promotion. I haven't seen anything negative other than individuals on other forums that popped up during my search for information and they obviously didn't know what they were talking about.
I'm thinking a .350 Legend upper is going to be one of my winter projects. Mek, i believe I read the cartridge does have a taper to it.
Robin

 

[meketrefe]

I'm thinking a .350 Legend upper is going to be one of my winter projects. Mek, i believe I read the cartridge does have a taper to it.
Robin

The taper is minimum and helps a bit with the chambering but the cartrige headspaces on the mouth of the case.
Loading with care this might be a good round for many although personally I think this should be chambered in a 358 bore with
at least 5 flutes so this cartrige is not the ideal but there are new reamers (350 AR) and this way one can use 358, 357 and 356 and even 355.5 9mm bullets. In fact the 358 bore produces more speed than the 357 bore using 357 and 9mm bullets themselves w/o any measurable impact in accuracy.
There might be bullets that are a bit more forgiving than others but in general some of the most popular budget bullets have
softer jackets so this works really well for the 358 bore. with careful reloading one might pump this up to 60 even 62k psi and squeeze
up to 50 fps more but I do believe one should look into bullets that can preserve the speed at a distance and respect
those minimum impact thresholds that become more critical with this slow starting calibers. The main reason for the gunner
was to pump it up to achieve ideal impact speeds as you already know it hits harder than the 308 itself at the average hunting distances.



Look into the 358 winchester. IMO this is the do it all hunting round. Anything from White tail to the largest Mooose or Grizly on this continent all in a short action. Magnum like power in a very compact and versatile round. you can use all the bullets you can use with the legend and more.
308 brass can be formed in one quick stroke of the press and bullets are plentiful and well priced starting with 357 budget bullets to the
best solid or bonded premium hunting bullets for the largest game.

Think about it. One round to do it all. The 358 is not more popular becuse folks do not understand ballistics and obviusly there is no
marketing dollars with videos and tacticool mambo jambo behind it.

For the small AR and if you don't want to be forming brass the gunner would be the ideal but otherwise a 35 herret in a 358 bore but using
6.8 brass and bolts. you could also chamber it to use the 223 bolt using 22 Nosler brass, but that would be more complicated just because of the 22 nosler will eventually die.

 

[BDinPutnam]

Possibly Ohio. I don’t hunt any shotgun areas in NY (do we still have that even?)

Yes, I live in one.

 

[Airborneguy]

I just finished cleaning (way too many) guns. It got me thinking about my KS-47. I think I am going to switch the red dot out for a nice 2-7 scope and just stick to that rifle next season.

I have shot deer and pigs with 7.62x39 with no issues. I reload for it using Hornady bullets. With the matched Stoner barrel/bolt, it’s dead accurate at least to 100 yards (the limit at my range unfortunately).

 

[Twogunwilly]

It's no 458 SOCOM

 

[turbobike]

Waiting for a 10.5” pistol upper to be produced...

 

[meketrefe]

If someone is interested in this type of idea and given the limitation of the 355 bore I would suggest to get a custom barrel made in 358 bore and then enjoy the full bullet selection of the entire 35 bore from 355 to 358 bullets.
One more reason to avoid the 350 legend. One more reason to consider a 35 herret cat based on the 6.8 case.

PTGs 350 AR reamer might work for this type of project.

 

[@thewheels]

If someone is interested in this type of idea and given the limitation of the 355 bore I would suggest to get a custom barrel made in 358 bore and then enjoy the full bullet selection of the entire 35 bore from 355 to 358 bullets.
One more reason to avoid the 350 legend. One more reason to consider a 35 herret cat based on the 6.8 case.

PTGs 350 AR reamer might work for this type of project.

If you're not going to reload for this?

 

[meketrefe]

If you're not going to reload for this?

One can still shoot 350 legend factory ammo (get a chamber backwards compatible)
But if one is not reloadin One is loosing a huge opportunity IMO. Alll one needs fit in a shoe box.
But if one does not reload one more reason to stick to the 6.8 for hunting that is where it excels.
Or the 7.62x39 and buy the 154gr hunting ammo.
Much easier and cheaper.

The 350 Ar seems compatible. Just stay away from the blackhole weaponry barrels.
One can do better with a 6 grooves enfield style riflying as this provides a better seal for the budget .355" 9mm bullets.
Even a green mountain will work better here.

 

[@thewheels]

One can still shoot 350 legend factory ammo (get a chamber backwards compatible)
But if one is not reloadin One is loosing a huge opportunity IMO. Alll one needs fit in a shoe box.
But if one does not reload one more reason to stick to the 6.8 for hunting that is where it excels.
Or the 7.62x39 and buy the 154gr hunting ammo.
Much easier and cheaper.

The 350 Ar seems compatible. Just stay away from the blackhole weaponry barrels.
One can do better with a 6 grooves enfield style riflying as this provides a better seal for the budget .355" 9mm bullets.
Even a green mountain will work better here.

Maybe I'll just stick with the 6.5 Grendel. The plinking stuff is still cheaper than the 350 Legend FMJ from Winchester.

 

[tc556guy]

My buddy has a camp near Ithaca and it’s shotgun only, not sure what county it is.

Tompkins County approved rifle hunting towards the end of 2019 and the measure went to DEC for approval. I expect that for the 2020 season rifles will be authorized....

 

[Robin]

I do like my 6.8, but this Legend is a fun gun to reload for and seems to have an inherent accuracy to it. I'm using 147 gr. JHP's and can't keep them out of the bullseye. Water filled milk jugs at one hundred yards, Awesome!!!!!
Robin