For that matter, hunters in other states might find it appealing, specifically because, like the .300 Blackout, its also subsonic-capable. One new winner* is announced every week! WebThe 357 mag made for an excellent self-defense round for many years, and countless people still carry it for self-defense today. This is partly because it was designed from the ground up for that purpose but also because its compatible with Americas Rifle, the AR-15. Humans have a way of working around legislation: Give us a rule, law or guideline, and well find a way to circumvent it. Now, lets take a look at these numbers. The best barrel length for the 7mm-08 is 22 to achieve maximum powder burn and velocity per barrel inch. The 450 marlin, gun and ammo were made for the abuse. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. It's a little bullet with a decent velocity, but will it actually fill the freezer? Truth About Straight-Walled Cartridge Ballistics - Gun Digest 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. It would be easily duplicated with the Winchester 350 legend. 10.5 is considered the shortest length you can go while retaining some reliability with a 5.56 AR pistol. Yes, those states have a lot of deer hunters, but it would not surprise me that if in a few years, those same states open up rifle season to more-traditional rifle cartridges. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. The .357 Magnum generally has a reputation as a fast and powerful round, at least for handguns, but While no modern rifles are chambered for the .375 Winchester, you can find them on the used market, and Winchester still offers a 200-grain Power Point load at 2,200 fps. Barrel lengths from 20-24 are popular for the 7mm-08 cartridge. The best barrel length for a 357 Magnum revolver is 8 and 3/8 inches because that length allows for decent velocity combined with portability. Jordan enjoys giving his time and resources to help others and has spent 15 years volunteering in a boy's mentoring program He is and will always be an American Patriot. Im talking the 147 grain, Winchester ammo. A box of .357 Mag. 350 Ledgend vs 357 Rem Max Going On With .350 Legend is more comparable to the .350 Legend, but youre losing power and velocity. 357 Maximum: Too Hot to Handle Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited. WebThe 350 Legend has a BC that ranges between 0.186 to 0.264, which is not very impressive if you're a long-range shooter but remember this caliber maxes out at 250yds and performs best below 200 yards. The best barrel length for 6.5 Grendel for hunting is an 18 or 20 inch barrel. 357 Max -v- 350 Legend Regardless of the cartridge/rifle combination you pick, you should experience better accuracy and reach than you have with your smooth-bore. Both work well within their effective range. 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. The best barrel length for 6.5 Creedmoor long range shooting is 28 inches, however, many shooters dont see much difference between 28 and 26 and will opt for the lighter, more popular, 26 inch barrel for precision rifle shooting (PRS). Truth About Straight-Walled Cartridge Ballistics - Gun Digest Federal sells their .350 Legend cartridges between $26 and $32 for a box of 20. Compared to to .357 Magnum hunting loads, the 350 Legend tends to be faster, more powerful, and deliver straighter trajectories. WebAssuming you can handle each equally well, A .357 Mag has more energy, better penetration and with the proper bullet better expansion. maxed out.. it looks like Buffalo Boar Heavy 158gr 357 out of an 18" shows 2153fps. For the most part, I dont recommend taking a shot beyond 200 yards with any 350 Legend ammo. Then Ill put a 5 inch barrel 9mm holstered on the hip if I feel like having more ammo capacity. Latest: Pitchinwedge 3 minutes ago Fishing Chit Chat Thai curry fish cakes Latest: Cactus Chris 7 minutes ago Fishing and Hunting Cooking Recipes garmin gt52hw Latest: thesaltyhooker 7 minutes ago Classifieds Node Pay First Hornady's 165-grain FTX Customs are doing 2,200-fps and are hitting with 1,773-foot pounds of energy. Most 350 Legend bullets have a higher sectional density which means more penetration than the .357 Magnum. The best barrel length for a 350 Legend AR pistol is 10.5 inches. The reason a lot of 22lr barrels are 22 to 26 inches is because the added sight radius and balancing is worth the extra weight of the longer barrels. It's a true joy for hunters young and old to use.. Neckbone Armory also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. I first was interested in .350 Legend (although I do not hunt), but no longer. 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. I'm not exactly a diehard with pistol-caliber carbines but I definitely enjoy them. Winchester's response was a whole new cartridge that did just that. The velocity gains approach full rifle levels, and this .350 Legend seems to take that a little further still. Any barrel longer than 22 for 350 Legend will have diminishing returns and is not typically considered when choosing a round for long range shooting. Bottom line: Pick the one you like the best. So, to get back to the initial question here, the .357 Mag can certainly work fine for you under the right scenarios. However, for precision rifle shooting (PRS) 24 to 26 inch barrels will generate higher muzzle velocities. A .45-70 is 2.105". Best 6.5 Creedmoor Barrel Length for Hunting, Best Barrel Length for 6.5 Creedmoor Long Range, Best Barrel Length for 6.5 Grendel Long Range, Best Barrel Length for 6.5 Grendel Hunting, Best Barrel Length for 6.5 Grendel Pistol/SBR, The Best Barrel Length for 350 Legend AR Pistol, Best Barrel Length for A 9mm Pistol AR/PCC/Carbine/SBR, Best Barrel Length for 357 Magnum Revolver, Best Barrel Length for 300 Blackout Pistol, Best Barrel Length for A Hunting Revolver, Best Barrel Length for Dove/Pheasant/Quail/Bird Hunting, Why is My Glock Not Accurate: Common Reasons and How to Fix, Why Does My Glock Shoot Low and to the Left? In fact some shooters report less performance out of 26 or longer 5.56 barrels. I wont be so bold as to predict the future of the .350 Legend. The best barrel length for a 410 shotgun is 20 to achieve great velocity and accuracy. 357 maximum vs 350 legend The low bullet mass is WebThe 350 Legend is essentially a long pistol round using pistol powder so 16 tends to be optimal. WebAssuming you can handle each equally well, A .357 Mag has more energy, better penetration and with the proper bullet better expansion. Theres also some legal definitions around shorter barrels. The compact size makes this a great brush gun for swamps and other areas where vegetation and branches are dense. But the self-contained centerfire cartridge advanced into the 20th century, and cartridge cases shaped like those of the .30-30 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield became the norm. There are two main metrics for measuring the effectiveness of a hunting cartridge. The 350 Legend is a fascinating cartridge. They're fun, handy, and can be very practical. Compared to to .357 Magnum hunting loads, the 350 Legend tends to be faster, more powerful, and deliver straighter trajectories. Thats what she said. You will still get more velocity out of longer barrels, as expected, just not as much of an increase. If you sit the 350 Legend side by side with a 5.56 round, you'll notice they are roughly the same length. The numbers tell us just what can be expected from this new kid on the block (see the chart above). This cartridge has become extremely popular for older hunters and youth hunters for that reason. It should be a hit in states previously allowing only shotguns. 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. Some people like to get a 14.5 barrel and weld on a muzzle device making the entire barrel length 16 compliant. 350 Legend vs .357 Magnum, which is more powerful The 350 is a great round for deer hunting, and shooters seldom report needing to use a muzzle brake on a 350 Legend rifle. The 350 Legend has a slightly higher Ballistic Coefficient which means it takes longer to slow down than the 44 Mag. 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. If youre interested, I have an article detailing the ballistics of 350 Legend with various barrel lengths. Best Straight-Wall Cartridge for Whitetail Hunting Winchester 350 Legend The 350 Legend will reliably kill deer between 200 and 350 yards, depending on the ammo used. Any additional barrel length over 15 actually hurts velocity. The 350 Legend is essentially a long pistol round using pistol powder so 16 tends to be optimal. Which one does NOT use pistol bullets? Not to good for hunting. My #1Ruger can use 400gr bullets at 2100 fps. Other calibers, such as the 300 Blackout, will maintain reliability with barrels as short as 7.5 inches. 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. Stopping Power I help equip people with knowledge and skills so they can be safe and effective with firearms. That should give you decent expansion out of all bullets. 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. However an 18 barrel is recommended for youth shooters which the 410 shotgun is popular with. Copyright 1996-2023 AR15.COM LLC. According to that, the .357 Mag should never be used. Advantages of the 45 Colt: -The 45 Colt has a larger bullet diameter than the .357 Magnum, which means it can create a larger wound channel. That shouldnt be much of a surprise. That means more muzzle energy and momentum than the .357 with a bigger hole, and with similar trajectory. If that happens, the .350 Legend will, in truth, be little more than a legend. Personally I prefer to conceal my 3.5 inch barrel 9mm single stack in my waistband. Its one of my favorite straight-walled cartridges and a nice deer gun in a rifle. Most 6.5 Grendel barrels shoot well with a 1:8 twist rate. 357 Magnum rifle versus .350 Legend SBR AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types. In states like Michigan, Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana, we've been regulated to using shotguns, muzzleloaders, or handguns only for decades now. In other words, it slows down and drops a lot. The best barrel length for a 270 WIN is 22-24 for the optimal ratio of length vs velocity. 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. The question is, Which straight-wall cartridge is best? is more comparable to the .350 Legend, but youre losing power and velocity. Some larger calibers with slower burning powder will do better with 28-32 barrels. So this section will mostly cover the best barrel lengths for hunting popular birds and game. Before buying a new firearm, many gun owners want to know what the best barrel length is for a certain application. The 350 Legend is 80 percent more powerful than a .357 Magnum and is effective on deer twice as far away. Those rounds can handle most big game in North America. The most popular carbine barrel lengths are 9 inches, 11.5 inches, or 16 inches depending on caliber used. I know no one likes that answer but I just wouldnt shoot 5.56 out of a 7 inch barrel, but 9mm I would. Ballistics are a wonderful thing, because they provide legitimate/scientific data to support estimations of cartridge effectiveness. Barrels as short as 10.5 are commonly used as brush guns or for close quarter scenarios using the AR platform. The caliber you choose depends on what you plan on hunting. This is a revolver round that, from a rifle, will push a 270-grain bullet to similar velocities of around 1,800 fps. You may gain another 50 fps with a 26 barrel but most shooters dont opt for the longer barrel. The .350 Legend is no better. The best barrel length for an AR pistol is 10.5 because the most popular round for AR pistols is 5.56. A box of .357 Mag. Barrel lengths above 20 inches will be more accurate at longer distances. The longer barrels will increase velocity until the powder from the round is burned up. How To eFile Using ATF eForms: Instructions and Examples. I would rather just keep with a 16 inch barrel. Besides, that is one of the most popular barrel lengths anyway. There is a point of diminishing accuracy returns with barrel length. I hardly even notice its there. Theres a wide array of factory loads to choose from and, like the .357 Magnum, it will deliver better accuracy than slug guns. The best barrel length for a hunting rifle is between 22-26 depending on caliber and powder burn rate. Examples of minimum length requirements in federal law [ATF-NFA] include: 16 inch barrel length for rifles, 18 inch barrel length for shotguns, and 26 inch overall length for both rifles and shotguns. You might call it a .357 Magnum on steroids. Winchester seems to believe the cartridge will be a hiteven in states without the straight-wall restriction, and they might be right. Thats why I recommend the 180 grain for both cartridges. -The recoil of the 45 Colt is much less than that of the .357 Magnum, making it more Eight major concealed carry insurance programs are now available to the millions of Americans who carry concealed. 350 Legend vs see more at [ 1] 350 350 Legend vs. .35 Remington The argument can be made that the Ruger American rifle is one of the most popular guns in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio right now. We have lots more on the site to show you. Everything I said up there about the .357 holds just as true for the .44 Magnum. You may see a little better performance but usually its not considered enough to offset the heavier barrel. Bullet selection might swing me toward the Max I would be getting an MGM barrel. The .357 Magnum generally has a reputation as a fast and powerful round, at least for handguns, but Winchester is offering five factory loads for the .350 Legend. Both work well within their effective range. The best barrel length for 350 Legend is 16 inches. Originally conceived by the late Elgin Gates and called the .357 SuperMag, the new round was very straightforward. For me the problem is that 350 legend headspaces on case mouth (as there is no rim like .357 or .41 mag) Normally, a cartridge that headspaces on case mouth does not see more than say 37,000 psi of pressure. Keep in mind, an 18 or 20 inch barrel will still deliver more foot pounds of energy at any range when compared to a 12 or 10.5 inch barrel. Originally loaded with black powder, the .38-55 is about as extinct as a cartridge can be, but ironically, several companies load ammunition for it. At 16 a 22lr reaches maximum velocity, however, many 22lr rifles are made with longer barrels to help with balancing the lighter firearms. Most 45-70 guns can explode as they are not ment for the pressure of hot 45-70. The cartridge is comparable in size to a .223 Remington yet has a case length that falls within most state's legal parameters. Even the most ballistically inept hunterssuch as those who will not accept or understand the advantages of the 6.5 Creedmoorare savvy enough to understand that just about any rifle cartridge has more reach and precision than a shotgun slug. Straight I give a lower figure as a more practical minimum energy. WebThe 350 Legend is 10 percent more powerful and has 25 percent more velocity at the muzzle than 44 Magnum. Winchester is even offering a more affordable non-hunting practice load in its USA line. WebThe 350 Legend is 10 percent more powerful and has 25 percent more velocity at the muzzle than 44 Magnum. The 44 mag was designed for hunting and self-defense purposes for big game, not 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. The best barre length for a 44 Magnum revolver is 6 for a good balance between weight and muzzle velocity. The manufacture remains the king of the extreme long range game. 350 Legend The 350 is a great round for deer hunting, and shooters seldom report needing to use a muzzle brake on a 350 Legend rifle. For .450 Bushmaster and .444 Marlin, youre looking at $41 to $49 per box, and .45-70 Govt. that means dont just read the ballistic charts, but get out there and shoot. 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. A 24 barrel will add an extra 120 fps compared to 16 but is not considered enough extra velocity to warrant the added barrel length. Heres what my 350 Legend shoots like up to 250 yards.distance (*zeroed at 100)drop(inches)velocity(fps)wind drift -inches(10mph crosswind)100 yards0017622.4125 yards1.216842.8150 yards *3.2*16093.5*175 yards6.015364.1200 yards9.814674.8225 yards14.614045.5250 yards20.513406.25. In closer quarters situations an even shorter barrel is advantageous, and when under 100 yards, the accuracy loss isnt noticeable at all. 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. For distances above 500 yards, a 22 or longer rifle barrel is best. This is understandable: The ability to launch a bullet of 250 grains or more at 2,300 fps was impressive. The best barrel length for 45 ACP is 5 for use in most handguns. At first, these rifles were relegated to pistol caliber rifles like .44 or .357 Magnum. The best barrel length for 17 HMR is 18 inches to achieve the best velocity per barrel length. 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. The best barrel length for duck hunting is 28 because duck shots tend to be at a good distance. For close quarters or indoors, its really personal preference to sacrifice the muzzle velocity for ease of use and concealability. Ill go with 1,100 fps as a middle ground. The 350 Legend is a fascinating cartridge. Going On With .350 Legend In short, your barrel has to be 16 or longer and the entire length of the rifle must be at least 26 to be a rifle. It really is all personal preference. Of course, its compatibility with the AR-15 is tempting to a lot of deer hunters who were previously regulated to shotguns. The longer barrel allows for more velocity and range from the shell as well as a better sight radius for the shooter. The 350 Legend is arguably over twice as effective on deer-sized game than a rifle chambered in .357 Magnum. Any barrel length above 18 will not significantly improve velocity. as the minimum energy for a bullet 30 to 35 caliber to reliably penetrate deep enough for deer hunting. A lot of people like to add a suppressor especially since the intended use is probably indoors. For me the problem is that 350 legend headspaces on case mouth (as there is no rim like .357 or .41 mag) Normally, a cartridge that headspaces on case mouth does not see more than say 37,000 psi of pressure. If sighted in at 100 yards, the bullet will be about 3 inches low at 150 yards. been pondering another cartridge comparison for The speeds are also there. Stopping Power The best barrel length for hunting depends on what caliber youre hunting with. In fact a majority of firearm related confrontations are at less than 50 yards. 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). Same parameters as above, gets around 2200 fps from the max case and around 2300 fps from a 350L case. 357 Maximum: Too Hot to Handle Best Barrel Lengths: Complete Guide If you are looking for a point-and-shoot gun, keep it to 150 yards. The best barrel length for 5.56 for long range shooting is 20 inches. The best barrel length for a 9mm AR type pistol caliber carbine (PCC) or SBR is 14 inches. The best barrel length for 6.5 Grendel is 16 for an all around decent rifle. The .357 Mag has enough energy to reliably take a deer at 75 yards with heavy ammo. Save my name and email to use for future comments. Longer barrels tend to be more accurate, but make the firearm heavier, while shorter barrels are more portable, but wont be as accurate at longer distances. Some mistakenly consider it light for deer, but its an ideal short-range whitetail cartridge thatll shoot much more accurately than any slug. 350 Legend Caliber Breakdown: What You Need Ironically, its once again becoming popular. Using the same case head diameter of the .223 Remington at a length of 1.71-inch, the 350 Legend uses a .357-inch diameter bullet, for a combination that is very easy on the shoulder while being effective downrange. 350 Legend vs. .35 Remington Here is a chart comparing 180 grain, deer loads in both calibers using data from a 16-inch barrel.180-grain bulletStarting EnergyStarting velocityExpansion ThresholdEnergy Threshold350 Legend1,763 ft/lbs.2,100 fps1,400 fps-250 yards1,000 @ 160 yards750 @ 240 yards.357 Mag960ft/lbs.1,550 fps1,100 fps-175 yards1,000 @ never750 @ 75 yards. Your family is worth it. This is a 150gr copper bullet with a ballistic coefficient G1 of .320 at 2450fps from my 20" barreled rifle with very little recoil, an honest 300+ yard deer round. The best barrel length for a 5.56 for home defense is 10.5 inches, however, 11.5 and 12.5 inch barrels are also popular for this use. In fact, after 14 inches, velocity started to decrease most of the time. 357 Magnum rifle versus .350 Legend SBR 350 legend vs You can get 44 magnums in rifles, carbines and pistols plus specials which are powderpuff loads and both can be used as self defense on two legged abs four legged animals. That puts the .357 back on the board. .350 Legend is 55,000 and headspaces on that tiny piece of metal we call case mouth. Doubletap offers a similar loading, and the LeverEvolution loads from Hornady shoot flat enough to make hitting at 250 yards uncomplicated. if you add to that the fact that you may have accidentally aimed 2 inches low (happens all the time), that means a gut-shot deer. That extra 4 inches doesnt do as much youd think. 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. 350 Legend vs Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time. The 350 Legend will punch through it with every ammo available. Heres a link to the setup I own. 350 legend or 450 Bushmaster The 350 has a lighter kick than a 243 or 30-30! The best barrel length for 6.5 Creedmoor is 24 inches, however a 22 inch barrel will also give similar results. This is a revolver round that, from a rifle, will push a 270-grain bullet to similar velocities of around 1,800 fps. Safety mostly, but I do like the versatility range of the 45-70 vs the 450. The best barrel length for a 1911 is 5 for the best concealability and velocity. If youll be hunting at distances less than 300 yards, a 14.5 or 16 inch barrel will work best. 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. The best barrel length for a 300 blackout pistol is 9 to achieve maximum velocity and powder burn in the shortest length barrel. When you get above three inches of needed elevation or windage adjustment, you can no longer just hold center and shoot. The best barrel length for turkey hunting is 22 for taking steady aim at stationary turkeys. You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. Not a bad idea for younger hunters with a smaller frame. Both work well within their effective range. It is a true joy to shoot, and you'll be more accurate because of it. The .357 Magnum generally has a reputation as a fast and powerful round, at least for handguns, but Stopping Power and Caliber. Many owners of a 357 snub nose will swear by the 3 inch barrel. If you think the deer is at 225 yards and its really at 250, you just made a gutshot. Its an ideal cartridge for states with straight-wall cartridge allowances.