Learn More about the .350 Legend
History of the .350 Legend
Introduced by Winchester Ammunition in 2019, the .350 Legend cartridge was developed to meet the increasing demand for a straight-walled cartridge suitable for hunting in states with specific legal requirements. Many Midwestern states impose restrictions on bottlenecked cartridges for deer hunting, making the .350 Legend an ideal solution. This cartridge was designed to deliver effective terminal performance while maintaining low recoil and high accuracy.
Winchester marketed the .350 Legend as the world’s fastest straight-walled hunting cartridge, boasting muzzle velocities exceeding 2,200 feet per second. Its design allows for compatibility with modern sporting rifles (MSRs), particularly the AR-15 platform, providing hunters with a versatile and efficient cartridge. Since its introduction, the .350 Legend has gained popularity for its performance, affordability, and compliance with hunting regulations.
What Is a .350 Legend Good For?
The .350 Legend is a versatile cartridge that excels in several key applications:
Deer Hunting: Designed with whitetail deer hunters in mind, the .350 Legend delivers excellent terminal ballistics for medium-sized game. Its energy retention and minimal recoil make it particularly effective at ranges up to 250 yards.
Hog Hunting: With ample stopping power, the .350 Legend is effective for controlling feral hog populations. Its straight-walled design ensures legal compliance in many jurisdictions where bottlenecked cartridges are prohibited.
Home Defense: While not as common as traditional self-defense calibers, the .350 Legend's power and compatibility with AR-15 rifles make it a viable option for home defense in rural areas.
Youth and Recoil-Sensitive Shooters: The .350 Legend is an excellent choice for younger or less experienced shooters due to its low recoil compared to larger hunting calibers.
Overall, the .350 Legend offers a balance of power, accuracy, and compliance that makes it suitable for hunting and defensive applications.
.350 Legend vs. .300 Blackout
When comparing the .350 Legend to the .300 Blackout, several factors highlight their differences in performance and use cases:
Ballistics & Power: The .350 Legend produces higher muzzle energy and velocity, making it more effective for larger game and longer-range engagements. With a typical muzzle velocity of approximately 2,200 fps and energy around 1,800 foot-pounds, the .350 Legend provides superior stopping power compared to the .300 Blackout. The .300 Blackout, by contrast, has a lower muzzle velocity, generally around 2,100 fps for supersonic loads, with energy ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 foot-pounds. While effective for close-range applications, it does not offer the same range or power as the .350 Legend.
Application: The .350 Legend is ideal for hunting due to its superior energy transfer and legality in states with straight-walled cartridge requirements. It is particularly effective for medium to large game at moderate distances. The .300 Blackout is more versatile in tactical and home defense environments. It is optimized for use in suppressed firearms and excels in short-barreled rifles (SBRs), making it a preferred choice for close-quarters combat.
Recoil: Both cartridges produce relatively low recoil, but the .300 Blackout generates slightly less felt recoil due to its smaller case capacity and lower energy output. This makes it more suitable for rapid follow-up shots in defensive situations.
Compatibility: Though both cartridges are compatible with the AR-15 platform, they require different barrels. Magazines designed for .223/5.56 work with .300 Blackout, while the .350 Legend often requires specialized magazines due to its unique case dimensions.
Cost & Availability: The .300 Blackout has been available since 2011 and enjoys broader commercial adoption, resulting in a wider selection of ammunition and reloading components. The .350 Legend is newer but has quickly gained traction, with increasing options for factory loads.
Affordability
The price of .350 Legend ammunition varies depending on brand, bullet type, and intended application. On average, a box of 20 rounds costs between $20 and $35. Basic full-metal jacket (FMJ) rounds for target practice are generally more affordable, while premium hunting loads with bonded or copper bullets are priced at the higher end.
The .350 Legend is often more affordable than the .300 Blackout. Factory loads for .300 Blackout typically range from $25 to $40 per box of 20 rounds, especially for subsonic or specialty ammunition. This price difference makes the .350 Legend an attractive option for budget-conscious hunters and shooters.
Additionally, the availability of .350 Legend ammunition continues to improve, with major manufacturers like Winchester, Hornady, and Federal offering a growing selection of loads. For reloaders, the cartridge’s straightforward design facilitates easy and cost-effective handloading.
Why Order .350 Legend Ammo from PSA
Get the best deals on .350 Legend ammo at Palmetto State Armory, your trusted source for high-quality hunting and target shooting ammunition at unbeatable prices. Stock up today and enjoy fast shipping, great selection, and the reliability you need for your next hunt or range day!