12-14-2019, 12:30 PM
.350 Legend uses a .355" diameter bullet. SAAMI spec has the same bore and groove diameters as .357 Magnum but the throat has different dimensions. Very few factory chambers seem able to accept a .357" bullet, which is the SAAMI max allowed diameter bullet. Much of the confusion comes from Winchester who proclaimed it as a .357 diameter bullet and then proceeded to load all their factory ammunition with .3545-.3555" bullets.
My rifle seem to to dislike most of the factory ammunition options out there, but does seem to prefer my loads with Speer 180gr Hot-Cor .358 bullets resized to .356". I have only played with IMR 4227 to any real extent so far and with my two best grouping loads (different seating depts) I am pushing the 180gr to an average of 2126 fps (short) and 2196 fps (long) while keeping groups under an inch. Next year I plan on seeing what I can do with Lil'Gun as some load data is starting to become available and i might be able to use it as a guide along with Quick Load. I do know the data listed by Hodgdon for the Hornady 170gr is not a good idea in my gun.
The way I see it the .350 Legend has potential to push 180gr bullets to almost the same velocities as .35 Remington. It should make a decent 200 yard and under deer rifle. Where I nap in the woods I cam just about count on all potential shots being under 75 yards though.
The major downfall of the .350 is that it does not use standard .35 caliber rifle bullets. It was designed to use 9mm bullets and there are very few options that will work at rifle velocities. I will be building a .358x.171 using .223 basic brass. If it turns out that I have extraction issues due to a lack of case taper the chamber will be recut to become a .358-350 Legend.
My rifle seem to to dislike most of the factory ammunition options out there, but does seem to prefer my loads with Speer 180gr Hot-Cor .358 bullets resized to .356". I have only played with IMR 4227 to any real extent so far and with my two best grouping loads (different seating depts) I am pushing the 180gr to an average of 2126 fps (short) and 2196 fps (long) while keeping groups under an inch. Next year I plan on seeing what I can do with Lil'Gun as some load data is starting to become available and i might be able to use it as a guide along with Quick Load. I do know the data listed by Hodgdon for the Hornady 170gr is not a good idea in my gun.
The way I see it the .350 Legend has potential to push 180gr bullets to almost the same velocities as .35 Remington. It should make a decent 200 yard and under deer rifle. Where I nap in the woods I cam just about count on all potential shots being under 75 yards though.
The major downfall of the .350 is that it does not use standard .35 caliber rifle bullets. It was designed to use 9mm bullets and there are very few options that will work at rifle velocities. I will be building a .358x.171 using .223 basic brass. If it turns out that I have extraction issues due to a lack of case taper the chamber will be recut to become a .358-350 Legend.