Lengths smaller than the Federal requirement must either meet the legal pistol definition or be registered as an NFA short barreled rifle (SBR). Barrel lengths under 28 will cause loss of unburnt powder. Its also spawned a new cartridge (humans will always find a way to use the law to their advantage). A pistol can have any barrel length under 16 inches, and will often be between 3 and 16 inches. Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. WebThe 357 mag made for an excellent self-defense round for many years, and countless people still carry it for self-defense today. 350 Legend or 357 Maximum If youll be hunting at distances less than 300 yards, a 14.5 or 16 inch barrel will work best. The velocity gains approach full rifle levels, and this .350 Legend seems to take that a little further still. Barrel lengths shorter than 22 will suffer velocity loss and increased felt recoil unless a muzzle brake is used. Once the powder is burned up in the barrel, any extra barrel length can decrease velocity at the muzzle. 357 vs is more comparable to the .350 Legend, but youre losing power and velocity. The cartridge cases were long and short but without shoulders. But you have to know exactly what distance the deer is at. If sighted in at 100 yards, the bullet will be about 3 inches low at 150 yards. Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2019 Shooter's Guide issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. In other words, its not as aerodynamic and it sheds energy faster. If youre interested, I have an article detailing the ballistics of 350 Legend with various barrel lengths. see more at [ 1] For longer range shooting, a 16 barrel or longer will be better to suppress depending on caliber and distance. Originally conceived by the late Elgin Gates and called the .357 SuperMag, the new round was very straightforward. This cartridge has become extremely popular for older hunters and youth hunters for that reason. 350 legend vs Also forgetting the .450 marlin. You do lose some accuracy at distances over 300 yards when compared to an 18 inch barrel, for example. The compact 16.38-inch barrel has a 1:16 rate of twist. Initially loaded with a .458-caliber, 405-grain bullet and ahead of 70 grains of blackpowder, it generated more than 2,000 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. Only, it is used quite successfully every year. Theres nothing wrong with hunting deer with a .357 Mag, just realize that although its a pretty potent pistol round, in a rifle, its still less potent and honestly, less effective on deer than a .223. This was partly because it was introduced at about the time of the AR-15 craze that hit the United States (at that time, everyone wanted an AR in .223 Remington). In fact, I only got one because of that. This newfound legal opportunity has brought back interest in old cartridges that were near teetering on extinction or just holding on due to nostalgia. Personally I prefer to conceal my 3.5 inch barrel 9mm single stack in my waistband. Best Straight-Wall Rifle Round for Deer Hunting The best barrel length for a 6.5 Grendel Pistol or SBR is 14.5 inches. The 350 Legend is a fascinating cartridge. With the .357, the most popular hunting bullet is a 157-grain bullet. 350 Legend Caliber Breakdown: What You Need 350 Legend Caliber Breakdown: What You Need And actually, I've always maintained that if I had to choose a .357 Magnum or a .44 in a rifle, I'd choose .357 every-time. HOW FAR SHOULD YOU PRACTICE SHOOTING BEFORE YOU DEER HUNT. Eight major concealed carry insurance programs are now available to the millions of Americans who carry concealed. A lot of people like to take a few inches off their barrel length because of the added weight and length to the overall weapon that a suppressor adds. This is partly because its essentially intended for just a smattering of states. (source). 350 Legend vs. .35 Remington A revolver has no safetys to manipulate during a VERY high stress situation such as a bear attack and not all 1911s have ambidextrous controls should your gun hand be injured. The best barrel length for dove, pheasant, quail, and bird hunting is 28 because hunting bird is rarely a close encounter scenario. I bought a barreled upper in 350 Legend for my AR. Common Causes and What Can be Done to Prevent It, Why a Glock Will Stovepipe: Failure to Eject Issues Resolved, Which Revolver Is Most Powerful? Yes, by modern standards, those numbers are anemic, but modern .45-70 loadsin modern .45-70 riflesturn the .45-70 into a cartridge of another order. For the most part, I dont recommend taking a shot beyond 200 yards with any 350 Legend ammo. Although some people prefer 10 or 12 inch barrels, the shorter barrels may require a faster twist rate to stabilize the bullet, where as the longer barrels dont. 350 Ledgend vs 357 Rem Max You may see a little better performance but usually its not considered enough to offset the heavier barrel. He serves as contributing editor for several magazines, including NRAs American Rieman and Shooting Illustrated, Varmint Hunter, and Combat Handgunner, and is the editor for Gun Digests Cartridges of the World 13th Edition. However, for an all around good hunting rifle, an 18 barrel is the most popular option for 6.5 Grendel. Stopping Power 350 Legend Caliber Breakdown: What You Need .350 Legend is 55,000 and headspaces on that tiny piece of metal we call case mouth. Stopping Power I have a contender pistol in 357 maximum and love it, but if the 350 legend had been available when I bought it I might have gone that route. The best barrel length for a 9mm handgun is 5 inches. If you want a bolt action or AR15, or if your going to buy factory ammo, then 350 legend then 350 legend is it. Designed by Marlin in 1964, it became a favorite cartridge for deer hunters and developed an almost cult-like following. However, for precision rifle shooting (PRS) 24 to 26 inch barrels will generate higher muzzle velocities. Federal sells their .350 Legend cartridges between $26 and $32 for a box of 20. I like the traditional .357 magnum. 350 Legend vs. .35 Remington Might be easier to pick up a used 357 Max barrel or convert a 357 Mag barrel. 350 Legend vs Its one of my favorite straight-walled cartridges and a nice deer gun in a rifle. Introduced in 1978, Winchesters .375 was designed specifically for its Model 94 lever-action rifle. Developed for the Springfield 1873, the .45-70 was potent for its time. Originally conceived by the late Elgin Gates and called the .357 SuperMag, the new round was very straightforward. The 450 marlin, gun and ammo were made for the abuse. Winchester 350 Legend comparing similar 180-grain bullets, it has more initial energy and more expected velocity in 16-inch barrels. Therefore, bullets exit the muzzle at approximately .355 when fired from any of those three cartridges. Might be easier to pick up a used 357 Max barrel or convert a 357 Mag barrel. As you can see in the chart above, theres not much benefit to velocity with barrels above 16 to 18 inches. The 350 Legend has a slightly higher Ballistic Coefficient which means it takes longer to slow down than the 44 Mag. At 16 a 22lr reaches maximum velocity, however, many 22lr rifles are made with longer barrels to help with balancing the lighter firearms. Different calibers will have different optimal barrel lengths for different scenarios. A good place to start looking for barrels is Here at OpticsPlanet. 350 legend or 450 Bushmaster The 350 Legend is essentially a long pistol round using pistol powder so 16 tends to be optimal. Yes, a 20 inch barrel will give slightly more muzzle velocity and accuracy at that distance, but not as much as youd hope. Everything below is accurate at time of writing but is not a substitute for legal advice. The best barrel length for a 357 Magnum is 16 for maximum velocity, 20 for maximum accuracy, and 3 for maximum concealment and portability. The added velocity of the longer 26-28 barrels are only needed if the shooter has long arms and wants the extra length. Many 22lr rifles were intended to be shot with iron sights, so having an extra 10 inches between the front and rear sights made the shooter a lot more accurate. Ammo: Elk, Deer And Everything Else, 10 Best Long-Range Cartridges of All Time (2023), 8 On-Target Concealed Carry Insurance Options (2022), 10 Affordable Double-Barrel Shotgun Options (2022), Best AR-15 Options For Any Budget And Buyers Guide (2022), Best Concealed Carry Handguns For Women (2022). The low bullet mass is 350 Legend How to Fix, Why Does My Glock Rattle? The 350 Legend is very much like the 30/30 in energy, velocity, and down-range ballistics. Ironically, its once again becoming popular. However, 7 is ideal based on velocity per barrel inch percentage increases. The best barrel length for a 357 Magnum Rifle is 16 for the round to reach maximum velocity. WebAssuming you can handle each equally well, A .357 Mag has more energy, better penetration and with the proper bullet better expansion. It really does depend what you plan on hunting. Neckbone Armory also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. The best barrel length for a 6.5 Creedmoor hunting rifle is 20 inches. In a single shot I would be happy with either. The best barrel length for 9mm is 7 inches based on percentage increases of velocity per barrel inch. Bullet selection might swing me toward the Max I would be getting an MGM barrel. Anything above 4 inches of barrel length, the 357 magnum would be preferred as the velocity is greater. The 350 Legend also uses the same .346 bore and .355 groove dimensions as 357 Mag and 357 Max. However, these barrel lengths are not recommended for shots past 200 yards. I worked as a 45B Small Arms Repairer in the Army and since then I've been enjoying the hobby. The cartridge is comparable in size to a .223 Remington yet has a case length that falls within most state's legal parameters. That gives plenty of velocity and allows for longer range shots while still letting the rifle remain fairly portable. The best barrel length for 6mm ARC is 18 inches for a rifle with good velocity that is still relatively easy to transport. The 3 barrel loses too much velocity and energy but is easier to conceal. The 44 Magnum has 100-yards less effective range than a 350 Legend. The .357 Magnum generally has a reputation as a fast and powerful round, at least for handguns, but -The 45 Colt is a slower moving round than the .357 Magnum, which makes it more effective at close range. WebAssuming you can handle each equally well, A .357 Mag has more energy, better penetration and with the proper bullet better expansion. The 350 Legend is arguably over twice as effective on deer-sized game than a rifle chambered in .357 Magnum. For .450 Bushmaster and .444 Marlin, youre looking at $41 to $49 per box, and .45-70 Govt. You forgot one, the 1895 .405 Winchester. Winchester 350 Legend The expansion threshold shows that both cartridges are a short-range choice. It would be easily duplicated with the Winchester 350 legend. 350 Legend or 357 Maximum vs A .45-70 is 2.105". Many owners of a 357 snub nose will swear by the 3 inch barrel. Shooters that plan on using only iron sights often opt for a 20 or longer barrel on a 357 Magnum rifle because the increased sight radius gives the rifle greater accuracy at farther distances. And actually, I've always maintained that if I had to choose a .357 Magnum or a .44 in a rifle, I'd choose .357 every-time. Winchester 350 Legend After all, with modern loads, you can do just about anything with this old warhorse. It's a little bullet with a decent velocity, but will it actually fill the freezer? If I swap out 170 grains a bullet weight of 180 grain in my ballistics calculator and adjust the velocity accordingly, the only difference at 250 yards is about an inch of drop. vs But, you better not go beyond the practical limits or you will be an unhappy hunter. Both work well within their effective range. Both work well within their effective range. This is partly due to the acquisition of Marlin by Remington Arms, along with the subsequent discontinuance of the lever-action rifle it was chambered in. For the most part, the straight-wall cartridge has been obsolete for more than 100 years. The 44 Magnum has 100-yards less effective range than a 350 Legend. COPYRIGHT 2023, WOMG. Many people even prefer using a barrel as short as 9 for 350 Legend since you only lose about 240 feet per second when compared to a 16 barrel. In closer quarters situations an even shorter barrel is advantageous, and when under 100 yards, the accuracy loss isnt noticeable at all. The best barrel length for 280 AI is 28 to accommodate the slower burning powder and heavier bullet. He grew up hunting, fishing, and trapping. The manufacture remains the king of the extreme long range game. [26 U.S.C. Best Straight-Wall Rifle Round for Deer Hunting 350 Legend vs It would be easily duplicated with the Winchester 350 legend. Handgun and revolver type pistols most commonly have barrel lengths between 3 and 7 inches, while AR and AK style pistols will most commonly have barrel lengths between 7 and 16 inches. I need to point out that if you plan to get a suppressor for a 6.5 Grendel pistol or SBR, then a 12 barrel will be more than accurate to make 300 yards shots and is kind of a sweet set up. It's a true joy for hunters young and old to use.. However, if deer hunting in a previously shotgun-only state were all I ever planned to ever do, a new Ruger or Mossberg in .450 Bushmaster might be the way to go; and the .350 Legend has a great deal of appeal, given its external ballistics, lesser recoil and subsonic capabilities. Hunters usually carry a revolver with at least a 6 barrel chambered in either 44 Mag or 454 Casull. It should be a hit in states previously allowing only shotguns. In other words, it slows down and drops a lot. The Barnes VorTx 300-grain TSX load generates 25 percent more energy than the original .45-70 load and is suitable for just about any critter anywhere. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. 357 maximum vs 350 legend It would be easily duplicated with the Winchester 350 legend. The velocity gains approach full rifle levels, and this .350 Legend seems to take that a little further still. However, the M2 is chambered in 50 BMG and has a 45 barrel. These are some of most common calibers but didnt seem as popular as the ones above. Same parameters as above, gets around 2200 fps from the max case and around 2300 fps from a 350L case. A .45-70 is 2.105". Barrel lengths between 10-14 are best for portability in close quarters, and 20 barrels are best if your goal is long range shooting. However, barrels as short as 22 can be used to hunt bird successfully. Judging from the ballistic coefficient alone, the 30-30 has a slight advantage. I bought my 350 Legend specifically as a do-all cartridge here in Michigan. Based on in-field experience, thats the minimum impact velocity that will still create full expansion with hunting ammo 350 legend ammo. Most 350 Legend bullets have a higher sectional density which means more penetration than the .357 Magnum. The best barrel length for a 50 Beowulf is 16 for the greatest velocity vs. length. as the minimum energy for a bullet 30 to 35 caliber to reliably penetrate deep enough for deer hunting. Everything I said up there about the .357 holds just as true for the .44 Magnum. The 350 Legend is a fascinating cartridge. A 5 barrel would give more velocity, but the drop from 4 to 3 is more significant than the drop from 5 to 4 is in terms of velocity loss. Some 22lr rifles are even made with unusually long 28 barrels to help make subsonic ammo even quieter. link to What is a Pistol Caliber Carbine? It makes a good middle ground hunting rifle in my opinion. Similar bullet tolerances also exist for 357 Magnum and 357 Maximum. You may gain another 50 fps with a 26 barrel but most shooters dont opt for the longer barrel. 350 Ledgend vs 357 Rem Max | Bloodydecks Latest posts Sportboat anglers gearing up for new regulations? 350 Legend vs The 30/30 has a slightly higher ballistic coefficient, so it should penetrate about 5 percent more. 357 Maximium & 350 Legend When you get above three inches of needed elevation or windage adjustment, you can no longer just hold center and shoot. 350 Ledgend vs 357 Rem Max | Bloodydecks Latest posts Sportboat anglers gearing up for new regulations? The M4 I used in the Army had a 14.5 inch barrel and that was considered a good compromise between accuracy and maneuverability of the weapon. The 350 is a great round for deer hunting, and shooters seldom report needing to use a muzzle brake on a 350 Legend rifle. Some people like to get a 14.5 barrel and weld on a muzzle device making the entire barrel length 16 compliant. Most 6.5 Grendel barrels shoot well with a 1:8 twist rate. 350 legend or 450 Bushmaster Although many like to argue that one cartridge is better than another, thats really not the case; they all have strengths and weaknesses and even appeal. Winchester's response was a whole new cartridge that did just that. 357 Magnum rifle versus .350 Legend SBR 10.5 is considered the shortest length you can go while retaining some reliability with a 5.56 AR pistol. At that point, it is equal to a 40 S&W in a short pistol. Some hunters say that the .357 Mag is good to 150 yards. Copyright 1996-2023 AR15.COM LLC. WebAssuming you can handle each equally well, A .357 Mag has more energy, better penetration and with the proper bullet better expansion. 357 Maximium & 350 Legend The Winchester factory round is rather anemic; it launches a 255-grain bullet at about 1,300 fps. This is still allowed as far as I know at the time of this writing. That stuff is great for plinking and small game, and at velocities of 2400 fps or more, its a much more economical option for varminting or punching paper. The 350 Legend will reliably kill deer between 200 and 350 yards, depending on the ammo used. Hornady's 165-grain FTX Customs are doing 2,200-fps and are hitting with 1,773-foot pounds of energy. Both cartridges can look similar to the eye, but they are most certainly not. However, most hunting shots are taken at ranges that allow a lighter more manageable 18 to 22 inch barrel to be more practical. The caliber you choose depends on what you plan on hunting. Both are 36 caliber bullets (listed as 0.357, with variance), but one has much higher powder volume, chamber pressure, and initial energy. It can handle bullets that are more aerodynamic. Barrel lengths above 20 inches will be more accurate at longer distances. Its nothing more than a .223 Remington cartridge case with the shoulders blown out to form a straight-wall case that will accept a .358-caliber bullet. This is understandable: The ability to launch a bullet of 250 grains or more at 2,300 fps was impressive. If you want a bolt action or AR15, or if your going to buy factory ammo, then 350 legend then 350 legend is it. Heres a link to it. However, most 10mm ARs perform well with 8 to 10 barrels. Both can handle good, 180-grain hunting bullets, but the 350 can handle them much better. With more than 3,500 foot-pounds of muzzle energy, the Buffalo Bore 430-grain, hardcast bullet is suitable for anything walking on four legs. I recommend RTS Tactical for reliable, rifle-stopping options, Youre worth it. Sorry, no opinion on extraction other than I never had a problem with .223. Cwlongshot Cast Bullet Guy Supporter Joined Jan 17, 2014 Messages 13,606 Likes 47,945 Location Interesting length choice as that is the case length of a 460 S&W, which the law at one point read "traditional straight wall pistol cartridge." The argument can be made that the Ruger American rifle is one of the most popular guns in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio right now. now, that in a 35 caliber bullet, even without expansion it will do some damage. If you can shoot, it really wont matter all that much: Theyre all deer-killers. Straight The 158-grain bullets have less drop at 100 yards because they are going about 200 fps more at the muzzle, but it has less penetration at 100 yards because the bullet has a lower sectional density and ballistic coefficient. 357 maximum vs 350 legend You might call it a 357 Maximum: Too Hot to Handle I either thought these were worth mentioning or got a couple questions about them in the past. Stopping Power and Caliber. It can be used not only on deer, but elk and bears. Compared to to .357 Magnum hunting loads, the 350 Legend tends to be faster, more powerful, and deliver straighter trajectories. Not to good for hunting. The 350 Legend has a slightly higher Ballistic Coefficient which means it takes longer to slow down than the 44 Mag. 14-16 barrels are generally considered best for an all purpose rifle chambered in 5.56. The best barrel length for a hunting revolver is 8 and 3/8 for many hunting calibers. Another popular barrel length for long range using 6.5 Creedmoor is the 24 barrel. Ill go with 1,100 fps as a middle ground. 350 Ledgend vs 357 Rem Max Same parameters as above, gets around 2200 fps from the max case and around 2300 fps from a 350L case. the 180-grain bullet will give the best penetration from both the .357 and 350. The best barrel length for a 223 rifle is 14.5 inches to ensure full gun powder burn. 10mm AUTO vs .357 Mag, Jordan Buck is an outdoor writer, a man of faith, and a family man. Sorry, no opinion on extraction other than I never had a problem with .223. I wasnt impressed, I think the difference was like 100 to 200 ft/sec. If you sit the 350 Legend side by side with a 5.56 round, you'll notice they are roughly the same length. 357 Maximum: Too Hot to Handle Firearms companies soon realized there was a real market for a low recoil straight wall option capable of a higher muzzle velocity than the other straight wall options out there. comparing similar 180-grain bullets, it has more initial energy and more expected velocity in 16-inch barrels. Sure, you can just adjust for bullet drop. Now, lets take a look at these numbers. WebThe 350 Legend is essentially a long pistol round using pistol powder so 16 tends to be optimal. Many people like to keep an AR pistol or SBR in their vehicle, so size does matter. The fact is, the 357 Magnum is considered a pistol round. The 350 is a great round for deer hunting, and shooters seldom report needing to use a muzzle brake on a 350 Legend rifle. That puts the .357 back on the board. The best barrel length for a 22lr is 16 for rifles and 10 for pistols. There is a point of diminishing accuracy returns with barrel length. The .357 Mag has enough energy to reliably take a deer at 75 yards with heavy ammo. Barrel lengths under 16 arent taking full advantage of this round. The longer barrel allows for more velocity and range from the shell as well as a better sight radius for the shooter. Hornadys 170-grain American Whitetail soft-point load, for example, managed 1,551 feet per second out of the Model 350 as compared to 2,200 feet per second from a rifle barrel. However, many shotgun owners prefer a longer barrel for the improved sight radius and accuracy. A 16 barrel is the best length for a 40 S&W used in a carbine rifle. Most professional hunters can cite 1,000 ft/lbs. Any barrel length above 18 will not significantly improve velocity. However, barrels as short as 22-24 are often used to hunt duck successfully. The minimum impact velocity for the .357 Magnum is somewhere between 1,200 and 1,000 fps, depending on the particular bullet. With these shorter length barrels being advantageous for home defense, most people will opt for an AR pistol. I have a contender pistol in 357 maximum and love it, but if the 350 legend had been available when I bought it I might have gone that route. Although, you will find the recoil to be similar. With a rifle length gas system, the 20 barrels do almost as well as the longer 24 barrels, and the 12 to 16 barrels using a mid-length gas system will be pretty similar as well. Hornady's 165-grain FTX Customs are doing 2,200-fps and are hitting with 1,773-foot pounds of energy. Truth About Straight-Walled Cartridge Ballistics - Gun Digest Some shooters prefer barrels as short as 12 for under 300 yard shots and 24 for out to 800 yard shots or further. In a single shot I would be happy with either. Hornady's 165-grain FTX Customs are doing 2,200-fps and are hitting with 1,773-foot pounds of energy. If the goal is less than 500 yards, an 18-20 barrel will work great for a 308.