Tell me what you think ...350 Legend hunting rifle

[Drm50]

The .350 Legend is engineered for the AR platform. It also slides in as legal deer cartridge in the states with straight case restrictions. It is relative as far as accuracy, depending on gun it’s fired from. The cartridge itself is marginal power for deer size game.

[44 AMP]

The cartridge itself is marginal power for deer size game.

I completely disagree.

Not because I'm any kind of a fan of the .350 Legend, but simply because the power it delivers has been considered adequate for deer for well over 100 years.

The .35 Remington was introduced back in 1906, and has taken a LOT of deer in the nearly 120 years since. The .350 Legend, according to the listed specs is a .35 caliber bullet of the same approximate weight at the same approximate speed. It is entirely adequate for deer within its intended range.

Unless you also consider the .35 Remington "marginal" for deer. If that's your opinion, fine, but a lot of people think otherwise, and have for a very long time.

The .350 Legend is essentially .35 Remington performance from a case that fits in an AR and meets the "straight wall case" requirements of certain areas. IF either of those two matters to you, then its probably a good choice, for you. Neither one matters to me, so I'm not interested in it, other than as a spectator, not a user.

[stagpanther]

It's a non-binary cartridge (it's neither/both .357 nor/or .355)--the legend is transcaliber.

[MarkCO]

Originally Posted by 44 AMP

I completely disagree.
The .350 Legend is essentially .35 Remington performance from a case that fits in an AR and meets the "straight wall case" requirements of certain areas. IF either of those two matters to you, then its probably a good choice, for you. Neither one matters to me, so I'm not interested in it, other than as a spectator, not a user.

Agree, and I am not going to let my Marlin 336 sit in the safe for an AR based 350L. Also interested purely as a spectator now. I loaded and shot a few hundred, sold the upper and dies. But then someone heard me say that and said...Hmm, lets lure him in with a .40 caliber...he likes .40s.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/winchester-400-legend/

Still, I'll spectate on that one too.

[mehavey]

.35 Remington performance from a case that fits in
an AR and meets the "straight wall case" requirements

And if you already have the former and don't need the latter....
Nothing to see here...
Move on.


(But if you don't....)

[Buckeye!]

I owned a custom Enfield MK1 chambered in 444 Marlin it had a 20inch barrel and was crazy accurate… I picked it up cheap in a Pawnshop while on a business trip right outside of Nashville TN back in 1988-90 can’t remember the year exactly… probably one of the best bolt thumpers I ever owned besides a 9.3x62s I have owned in the past…

If I was getting a short range thumper today … Id look at two cartridges, 450 BM & the 400 Legend

Also the 350 Legend is a fine cartridge.. popular here in East TN .. and we are definitely not restricted … alot of woods deer stand hunting and a 16inch barreled 35 cal carbine is welcomed..

[rickt300]

Can't see why there is so much resistance to what in reality is a rimless improved version of the 357 Max which is a widely heralded cartridge. If a cartridge does it's job well in straight wall states then why not elsewhere. My testing shows it to be an excellent cast bullet carrier in an AR15. I have yet to find any problems associated with headspacing on the case mouth.

[mehavey]

...yet to find any problems associated with headspacing on the case mouth.

Just make sure y'all check/trim those cases.

NOTE my Log Bk Cover Note for the XPR.
(Ditto for AR Log Cvr)

(Nothing more frustrating than a bolt that comes to a complete dead stop before closing)

[44 AMP]

If a cartridge does it's job well in straight wall states then why not elsewhere.

The cartridge (and its rifles) will do the same job in any state, that's not the point. The point (for me, anyway) is the hype and the "buzz" around something that possibly deserves it in areas where the law limits you to it, but not in the rest of the country where better options exist.

[rickt300]

Define what better might look like in regards to hunting whitetails in timber and semi open areas for us.

[Pumpkin]

If we are talking bolt gun, I would rather have a 357 Maximum than the 350. Much better bullet selection (if you reload), head spacing and the ability to crimp the bullet to prevent setback. Ballistic difference is negligible.

[stagpanther]

The cartridge that conquered the dinosaurs!

[taylorce1]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin

If we are talking bolt gun, I would rather have a 357 Maximum than the 350.

It's much easier to find bolt guns that'll shoot .350 Legend than .357 Max. Are there any .357 Mag bolt guns with a magazine that can handle the length of the Max cartridge? Single shot rifles in .357 Mag make a lot of sense to rechamber to a Max with it being a rimmed cartridge. I can't imagine the cost involved in converting a bolt action rifle that'll function and feed .357 Max from a magazine reliably. While in comparison you can buy bolt rifles already chambered in .350 Legend or convert any .223 bolt face rifle for the cost of a barrel and installation.

[mehavey]

...bolt gun, I would rather have a 357 Maximum than the 350.

(But) why?

Any 357 Jacketed/Commercial cast bullet can be sized to 356/357 respectively, and the Legend far out performs the Max ballistically.

[stagpanther]

The real reason it's a legend is because to this day the definitive bore diameter remains a mystery.

[Pumpkin]

Originally Posted by taylorce1

It's much easier to find bolt guns that'll shoot .350 Legend than .357 Max. Are there any .357 Mag bolt guns with a magazine that can handle the length of the Max cartridge? Single shot rifles in .357 Mag make a lot of sense to rechamber to a Max with it being a rimmed cartridge. I can't imagine the cost involved in converting a bolt action rifle that'll function and feed .357 Max from a magazine reliably. While in comparison you can buy bolt rifles already chambered in .350 Legend or convert any .223 bolt face rifle for the cost of a barrel and installation.

I thought we were talking about a hypothetical rifle?
There have been a lot of bolt actions chambered for rimmed cartridges. 303 British, 30-30, 22 Hornet, 225 Winchester……. Should be able to make a dream gun work with the Max. I load 35 Remington bullets in my Contender, no shortage and matched almost perfectly for the velocity generated by the Max.

[taylorce1]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin

I thought we were talking about a hypothetical rifle?

Sure if money is no object you can build a bolt action rifle that shoots .357 Max cartridges. You'd best be prepared for sticker shock. There will be a lot of hand fitting of parts to make it work properly. You'll never get a current manufacturer to invest in tooling up to build you a bolt action for a rimmed cartridge like the .357 Max.

When you suggested a bolt gun in the Max cartridge, I start to think on what can I make it work in? The Ruger 77/357 isn't going to work, and I'm not familiar with other bolt rifles in .357 Mag. That leaves you with either building a whole new action specialized for rimmed cartridges or modifing an existing action.

[stagpanther]

Hopefully they'll figure out a way to reinvent the 444 marlin--maybe call it the 401 marlin.

[Pumpkin]

Originally Posted by taylorce1

Sure if money is no object you can build a bolt action rifle that shoots .357 Max cartridges. You'd best be prepared for sticker shock. There will be a lot of hand fitting of parts to make it work properly. You'll never get a current manufacturer to invest in tooling up to build you a bolt action for a rimmed cartridge like the .357 Max.

When you suggested a bolt gun in the Max cartridge, I start to think on what can I make it work in? The Ruger 77/357 isn't going to work, and I'm not familiar with other bolt rifles in .357 Mag. That leaves you with either building a whole new action specialized for rimmed cartridges or modifing an existing action.

Have you not heard of the Savage 340, Remington 788, M70 Winchester or CZ 527?
All available in either 30-30, 44 Magnum or 22 Hornet (not all available in each of these cartridges) and All Rimmed. The first two rifles were far from expensive rifles.

[Pumpkin]

I forgot, Gibbs 45-70 bolt gun and what about the Henry single shot or Ruger No. 1 and No. 3.
The No. 3 would be a great gun to bring back for straight wall cartridges.

[Pumpkin]

Originally Posted by stagpanther

Hopefully they'll figure out a way to reinvent the 444 marlin--maybe call it the 401 marlin.

You forgot to change the bullet diameter to .427.

[taylorce1]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin

Have you not heard of the Savage 340, Remington 788, M70 Winchester or CZ 527?

I'm familiar with the Rem 788 .30-30, as well as Krag and SMLE rifles that all shoot rimmed cartridges. I never said your .357 Max bolt actuon rifle couldn't be built, just that it isn't practical. Nor is there any reason for a manufacturer to try to make a rimmed cartridge work in a rifle, when a rimless case is easier to work with.

After looking at things, any bolt action that can shoot 6.5 Grendel would probably be the easiest to make work with the .357 Max case. The rim diameters are similar. However, some bolt face and extractor work would be needed to account for the thicker rim of the Max cartridge. Then all you would need to do is build a magazine that can feed the cartridge, and install a barrel.

[Pumpkin]

I’m not implying that the Max is needed in a repeating rifle and I am prejudiced about it having had a 10” Contender for about 25 years. I’ve never shot anything out of it but hand loads with rifle bullets designed for the 35 Remington. Speer’s 180 Hot Cor is my favorite, I personally think pistol bullets are a waste for my use.
Your comment about a Ruger 77 chambered for the Max seems very doable for a company like Ruger. Should involve some lengthening of the action and the magazine, kind like they did with the Blackhawk. My biggest concern would be that they would restrict the chamber and mag length for pistol type bullets. Such a gun would also great in 350 L, or 444 Marlin (especially since they own Marlin) I’m just partial to the Max.

[taylorce1]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin

Your comment about a Ruger 77 chambered for the Max seems very doable for a company like Ruger.

I said it wouldn't work in a 77/357.

[Pumpkin]

Not the current existing action but a longer version of it.