The 350 Legend Cartridge: Gunmagopedia

In the gun world, there’s always room for another hard-hitting cartridge, especially when it’s made for the AR platform. The 350 Legend is one such cartridge, offering terminal performance and versatile use, which gives it significant appeal to a wide range of shooters. It was designed by Winchester Ammunition in 2019 and has done nothing but increase in popularity since it was launched. If you’re interested in 350 Legend, this is the place for you to learn all there is to know about it. 

Contents

The History of Winchester Ammunition
350 Legend Background
Hunting With 350 Legend
Personal Defense With 350 Legend
350 Legend Specifications
Available Loads
How does 350 Legend compare to other cartridges?
Firearms Manufacturers That Make 350 Legend Rifles
Firearms Manufacturers That Make Bolt-Action 350 Legend Rifles
Manufacturers That Make 350 Legend Barrels
Firearms Manufacturers That Make 350 Legend Components
350 Legend Performance
Frequently Asked Questions

The History of Winchester Ammunition 

Many people think of Winchester Ammunition as the purveyor of all things cowboy shooting rather than AR-related, but the reality is the manufacturing giant does it all. They just happen to be known as the gun maker that created and produced the “gun that won the west,” the Model 1873, a lever-action rifle. Of course, that rifle would not have existed without the 44-40 Winchester Center Fire (WCF) to run it.

Winchester Ammunition is part of the Olin Corporation, a company with ties to Winchester firearms and Browning. The Olin Corporation can trace its roots back to 1892, when Franklin Olin founded the Equitable Powder Company in East Alton, Illinois. At that time, Olin’s goal was centered around the coal industry; he created his company to supply explosives to mines and quarries. Their foray into ammunition didn’t get going until 1898 when OIin founded the Western Cartridge Company, intent on competing with Remington and Winchester (yes, Winchester already existed as a separate entity).

It was a challenge for Franklin Olin and his sons to get the company going thanks to stiff competition from Remington and Winchester. But in the long run, Olin managed it. They acquired a paper manufacturer, primer and lead shot facilities, and businesses that made brass cases and shotgun wads. Eventually, they turned a profit, and in 1931 they bought Winchester, rebranding both companies as Winchester-Western.

Fast-forward past a series of business ventures and events, and the Olin Corporation was officially formed in 1969.

Here’s where it gets tricky. In 1980, Olin was forced to leave the gun-making business and sold Winchester firearms to their employees. This is when US Repeating Arms was formed to cover the firearms side of the Winchester empire. By 1989, US Repeating Arms had gone bankrupt and was promptly sold to a French holding company who then sold it to Herstal Group, the Belgian company that owns FN and Browning. Now the firearms arm of Winchester is known as Winchester Repeating Arms. Through all of this, Olin hung onto Winchester Ammunition and kept on designing and producing ammo.

Highlights of Winchester Ammunition’s 150-Years-Plus History

• 1873 introduction of 44-40 Winchester Centerfire (the company’s first centerfire cartridge)
• 1886 entry into the shotshell market
• 1895 design and launch of the first smokeless powder cartridges
• 1939 creation of Silvertip line
• 1921 Super-X shotshells
• 1952 branded 308 Winchester for the civilian market
• 1955 introduction of 243 Winchester
• 1963 introduction of 300 Winchester Magnum
• 1970 introduction of 270 Winchester
• 2019 introduction of 350 Legend

Today, Winchester Ammunition headquarters remain in East Alton, Illinois, with manufacturing facilities also located in Oxford, Mississippi.

350 Legend Background

Although Winchester officially launched the 350 Legend in 2019, its design and creation began long before. In fact, the legendary company got quite creative in the process. For example, there’s been some confusion about this particular cartridge because it does not technically have a parent cartridge, which is a matter of much debate on internet forums. This means the short answer to “does the 350 Legend have a parent cartridge?” is a resounding “no” but of course, there’s more to it than that.

At first glance, the cartridge does appear to have similarities to the 223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO, which is unsurprising considering it was made for the AR-15 platform. Among other reasons, Winchester designed the cartridge for use in states where there are more restrictive regulations on deer hunting with centerfire cartridges. Because it is a straight-walled cartridge (and has a larger bullet diameter), it can be used in states where .22-caliber centerfire rifles are not allowed for deer hunting.

Winchester Ammunition had this to say regarding their 350 Legend cartridge:

Winchester’s legendary tradition of innovation continues with the 350 Legend, the fastest straight walled hunting cartridge in the world. Built with hunters and sport shooters in mind, 350 Legend is versatile on the range and in the deer woods.

More energy than 30-30 Winchester, 300 BlackOut, and 223 Remington. Less recoil than 450 Bushmaster. Approximately 20 percent less recoil than 243 Winchester with 20 percent more penetration.

Hunting With 350 Legend

It is true that the cartridge was designed by Winchester Ammunition with deer hunting in mind. The creation of a straight-walled cartridge in 35-caliber makes it possible for deer hunters in states with cartridge and caliber restrictions to hunt using their AR-15. However, that doesn’t mean it’s only for deer, and certainly not only for whitetail.

A wide variety of game, varmints, and predators can be hunted with 350 Legend. Hunters can take everything from coyotes to feral hogs to deer with this cartridge. As for deer, you can hunt whitetail, blacktail, muleys, and Axis, for a start. Other similar-sized game such as pronghorn antelope and aoudad are also options with this cartridge.

The bottom line is that 350 Legend is a solid all-around hunting cartridge that will cover the needs of the average hunter. It isn’t the best choice for truly large game such as moose, but it can handle everything from deer size down. When considering its effective hunting range, which Winchester Ammunition states is 200 to 250 yards on deer, stop and take the time to find out what your specific rifle and ammunition choice can do. Every load is not the same, and neither is every rifle.

Personal Defense With 350 Legend

The cartridge has a bullet with a .357-inch diameter and is manufactured in quite a few defensive-type loads. Of course, it’s important to remember that ammunition designed for hunting isn’t exactly the same as defensive ammo. For one thing, defensive ammunition takes things like layers of heavy clothing into consideration, which is obviously not an issue when deer hunting. That doesn’t mean it cannot be used for personal defense, though.

AR-15s make good home defense weapons and truck guns. Especially with a carbine-length barrel, which works well with 350 Legend, an AR-15 is easy to maneuver around corners and offers greater velocity than most handguns. An AR-15 tends to be preferred by gun owners for tasks like clearing a house and is also a solid choice for defense from your truck.

When considering truck defense guns, remember you aren’t only going to think about attacks that take place while you are in your vehicle. A good truck gun is versatile enough to be used for personal defense in scenarios where you’ll need to step out of your vehicle, such as when an active killer is involved. (Before getting involved in trying to stop an armed, active killer situation, please take all legal and personal matters into consideration.)

It’s understandable to have some concerns about over-penetration with this cartridge. In reality, every cartridge on the market can over-penetrate given the right circumstances. Yes, some are more likely to over-penetrate than others, but it is wise to have a plan and always follow the four golden rules of gun safety:

• Treat all guns as if they are loaded.
• Never let the muzzle cover anything you aren’t willing to destroy.
• Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target (and you have identified your target).
• Know your target and what is beyond it.

You are responsible for the outcome of every bullet you send down range regardless of the situation. This is true no matter what gun you use for home defense or as a truck gun.

350 Legend Specifications

Available Loads

There are a number of manufacturers producing 350 Legend ammunition. Among them are popular ammo makers Winchester, Hornady, Browning, and Federal. To give you an idea of some of the loads currently on the market, we’ve compiled a list of some well-liked options.

Winchester Deer Season XP 150 grain Extreme Point

Features

• Streamlined for a flat trajectory
• Large diameter polymer tip
• Precision jacket and core
• Superior energy transfer

From Winchester: “The all-new 350 Legend cartridge is engineered for deer hunters to deliver massive downrange energy transfer with improved penetration from a modern straight-walled cartridge. The oversized impact diameter of the Extreme Point bullet offers bigger impact trauma for larger wound cavities and faster knockdown.”

Winchester Super X 180 grain Power Point

Features

• Alloyed lead core
• Power-Point bullet tip
• Strategic notching for reliable expansion
• Massive knockdown power
• Good weight retention

From Winchester: “The all-new 350 Legend cartridge is engineered for hunters to deliver massive downrange energy transfer with improved penetration from a modern straight-walled cartridge. Reliable expansion from the Power-Point bullet offers time proven performance with optimal retained weight for deeper penetration. Make every hunt legendary with Super X 350 Legend.”

Winchester 350 Legend 145 grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)

Features

• Approximately 20 percent less recoil than 243 Winchester
• Approximately 20 percent greater penetration than 243 Winchester
• High-velocity straight-walled cartridge
• Less recoil than 450 Bushmaster
• Produces greater energy than 30-30 Winchester, 300 BlackOut, and 223 Remington

From Winchester: “The all-new 350 Legend is a high-performing straight-walled cartridge that is ideal for hunters and sport shooters. Offering high velocity and low recoil, the 350 Legend is easy to shoot. Generations of legendary excellence, consistent performance and outstanding value continues with WInchester “USA White Box” 350 Legend.”

Winchester Super Suppressed 265-grain Open Tip

Features

• Encapsulated bullet base reduces fouling
• Modern straight walled case design
• Open Tip bullet for consistent performance
• Reduced noise due to producing lower decibels as a subsonic round

From Winchester: “The all-new 350 Legend is a highly adaptable straight-walled cartridge that is ideal for subsonic applications with suppressed firearms. Super Suppressed ammunition is engineered for noise reduction, decreased barrel/suppressor fouling and recoil mitigation.”

Winchester Power Max Bonded 160 grain 

Features

• Contoured jacket for superior performance
• Proprietary bonding process for maximum weight retention
• Notched, protected hollow point for rapid expansion

From Winchester: “The all-new 350 Legend cartridge is engineered for deer hunters to deliver massive downrange energy transfer with optimal penetration from a modern straight-walled cartridge. Reliable expansion and maximum retained weight from 350 Legend Power Max Bonded delivers the massive knock-down power needed to make every hunt legendary.”

Hornady American Whitetail 170 grain InterLock

Features

• InterLock bullets
• Carefully selected powders 
• High-quality case and primer

From Hornady: “Opening day of deer season comes only once a year. Make sure you’re ready when the big one steps out and load-up with Hornady American Whitetail ammunition. Loaded with our legendary Hornady InterLock bullets in weight that have been deer hunting favorites for decades, American Whitetail ammunition combines generations of ballistics know-how with modern components and the technology you need to take the buck of a lifetime.”

Hornady Custom 165-grain FTX

Features

• FTX bullets
• Excellent penetration depth
• Consistent, reliable expansion
• Ballistic efficiency, featuring a bullet “with a secant ogive design. This pioneering profile, developed by Hornady, creates the optimum blend of ballistic efficiency and bearing surface for flatter shooting and less drag.”

From Hornady: “Every round of Hornady Custom ammunition is hand inspected before packaging to ensure the highest levels of quality control. At Hornady we manufacture Custom™ ammunition to give shooters and hunters the advantage of handloaded accuracy in a factory load.

Federal Power-Shok 180-grain Jacketed Soft Point

Features

• Consistent, reliable overall performance
• Versatile design for varmints to big game
• Lead-core bullets for improved accuracy and one-shot, ethical kills on game animals

From Federal: “The only tag these loads won’t fill is the price tag. The traditional lead-core hunting bullets in Federal Power•Shok rifle loads provide solid accuracy and power at an affordable price. They feature reliable Federal brass, primers and powder and are suited to a wide variety of medium and big game.”

How does 350 Legend compare to other cartridges?

One of the strong points of the 350 Legend is that it does out-perform other cartridges in more than one way. For example, it produces more energy at longer distances than cartridges such as 300 BlackOut and 223 Remington. Take a look at the charts below to get a better idea of how it stacks up against other centerfire AR-15 chamberings.

The chambering is popular enough that a wide variety of firearms manufacturers are producing rifles for it. Those gun makers include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Winchester Repeating Arms
• Rock River Arms
• Great Lakes Firearms
• Franklin Armory
• Ruger
• CMMG

Firearms Manufacturers That Make Bolt-Action 350 Legend Rifles

• Winchester Repeating Arms
• Savage Arms
• Mossberg
• Howa
• Franchi
• Thompson Center
• Traditions
• CVA
• Ruger

Manufacturers That Make 350 Legend Barrels

If you’re looking to build your own rifle in this chambering, you need a barrel. There are numerous manufacturers making barrels for this cartridge, including:

• Ballistic Advantage
• Faxon
• Shaw
• CMMG
• Radical Firearms
• AR-Stoner
• MOS-TEK
• Bear Creek Arsenal
• Wilson Combat

Firearms Manufacturers That Make 350 Legend Components

The cartridge was made specifically for the AR-15 platform, and the only component you need to change out to convert your rifle over is the barrel. That said, it is a good idea to use magazines made for the cartridge because standard AR-15 magazines tend to be not quite right. Companies making magazines for the cartridge include:

• CMMG
• Wilson Combat
• C-Products
• DuraMag
• Ruger
• Lancer
• Savage
• Magpul

350 Legend Performance

The overall performance of the cartridge is not only good but surpasses that of other AR-15 chamberings. It’s capable of maintaining velocity at longer distances than many other chamberings for the AR-15 platform, which is a huge plus. Also, felt recoil is not significantly more than for rifles chambered in 223 Remington. The difference is nominal.

This cartridge is a heavier, harder-hitting cartridge than many others in its class. It’s effective on a wide range of predators, varmints, and medium-sized game animals. And if you prefer range work or personal defense, it can do that, too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I convert my AR-15 to 350 Legend?

Yes, you can. The only part that absolutely must be changed out is the barrel. However, it’s a good idea to use magazines made for the cartridge as well because standard AR-15 magazines tend not to feed as well.

How accurate is 350 Legend?

This is an accurate round overall although exactly how much accuracy you’ll get depends on your own shooting, the rifle used, and the ammunition. It is capable of excellent accuracy within its effective range.

Is it meant for close quarters?

No. Unlike 300 BlackOut, which is a cartridge made for close-quarters use like you would find in combat or in a home defense scenario, 350 Legend was not made to perform its best at extremely close ranges.  Winchester Ammunition created this cartridge for hunters with the longest effective range on deer between 200 and 250 yards.

Is the 350 Legend a wildcat cartridge?

No, it is not. It is an official SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers, Inc) cartridge. It was launched in 2019 by Winchester Ammunition.

Does the 350 Legend penetrate more deeply than 243 Winchester?

According to Winchester Ammunition’s testing, it penetrates 20 percent deeper than 243 Winchester.

Does the 350 Legend come in AR-10 platform rifles?

No, it does not. It was specifically designed for AR-15 platform rifles.

Are there 350 Legend bolt-action rifles?

Yes. In fact, there’s a broad selection of bolt-actions from a variety of manufacturers. If you prefer to own this chambering as a bolt-action rifle, you won’t have any trouble finding one that suits your personal preferences.

Are there 350 Legend lever-action rifles?

As of the time of this writing, no, there are not any lever-action rifles or carbines in this chambering.

What was the parent cartridge?

The 350 Legend does not have a parent cartridge. Winchester designed it themselves.

What company designed 350 Legend?

Winchester Ammunition.

Does it have a lot of felt recoil?

No, it does not. In fact, Winchester Ammunition has done testing that shows it recoils 20 percent less than 243 Winchester. Shooting a rifle chambered in 223 Remington and comparing it to one chambered in 350 Legend shows there is not a significant difference.

Could I build an AR pistol in 350 Legend?

Yes, you could. When doing so, make sure you follow state and federal laws and regulations.

Did Winchester make 350 Legend for hunters?

Yes, they did. It was designed to be a straight-walled cartridge that could be used in states where deer hunters are not allowed to use 22-caliber centerfire rifles. This cartridge circumvents that not only because it is straight-walled but because the bullet has greater dimensions.

What are the basic cartridge specifications?

The basic specifications for the 350 Legend cartridge are as follows:

• Bullet diameter of .357 inches
• Case length of 1.71 inches
• Overall cartridge length of 2.26 inches

Does anyone other than Winchester manufacture it?

Yes, several ammo manufacturers other than Winchester produce this cartridge. Those companies include Browning, Hornady, and Federal Ammunition.

Can I hunt with 350 Legend?

Yes, you can. In fact, Winchester created the cartridge with hunting in mind.

What animals can I hunt with it?

The 350 Legend is good for a range of game animals and predators including deer, bear, feral hogs, and other moderately-sized or smaller animals. Hunters simply need to be aware of its drift, drop, and capabilities for distance.

Is it good for home defense?

Over the years, AR-platform rifles have gained popularity as home defense weapons. AR-15s chambered in this cartridge could certainly be used for personal protection at home. Like with any gun and cartridge, be aware of its capabilities at the ranges it would most likely be used in your home.

Is 350 Legend a good performer for precision shooting?

It was not made for precision shooting, it was meant for hunting. It’s an accurate round and can be reasonably precise, but precision shooting is not its forte.

What is the recommended twist rate for rifles chambered in 350 Legend?

Yes. Winchester recommends a barrel twist rate of 1-in-16 for optimal performance.

What is the best barrel length for this cartridge?

Which barrel length suits you best for your 350 Legend depends on what you’re using it to do. 16-inch barrels perform quite well overall, but you can get a bit more velocity and a slightly flatter trajectory with a longer barrel (just like with any cartridge). Figure out what task your rifle will be performing most often and choose barrel length accordingly.

Can I reload it?

Yes, you can reload 350 Legend cases.

Is 350 Legend better than 450 Bushmaster?

Deciding which is better is somewhat subjective. These are both heavier rounds that lose velocity a bit faster than lighter-weight rounds do, and they do have fairly similar ballistic profiles. However, the 350 Legend maintains its velocity and energy at longer distances than 450 Bushmaster manages. It has a smaller bullet diameter than the 450 Bushmaster but still delivers stellar energy transfer and creates large wound cavities on target animals.

Can I build my own 350 Legend?

Yes, you can. There are many gun makers producing the components needed to build a 350 Legend, which is only the barrel.

What is the SAAMI maximum ressure?

The maximum pressure for the 350 Legend according to SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Institute) is 55,000 psi.

Can I make my own cases?

No. In order to reload or handload 350 Legend you’ll have to use existing brass from factory ammunition makers.

Is 350 legend better than 458 SOCOM?

You could certainly try to compare 350 Legend to 458 SOCOM, but they are different cartridges entirely because the 458 SOCOM is not straight-walled. However, it is worth noting that 458 SOCOM is a heavier round, meaning it does not have the same flatter, further-reaching trajectory as 350 Legend. Conversely, that does mean it has superior energy transfer within its capable ranges.

Is it better than 50 Beowulf?

Although they are both straight walled cartridges, they have significant differences in size. The heavier bullets of the 50 Beowulf all but guarantee it will drop faster than 350 Legend. This means the 350 Legend has a flatter trajectory and a longer effective range than 50 Beowulf. Each cartridge has its own use, but if you want a cartridge capable of deer hunting that maintains velocity and energy at greater distances, 350 Legend is the cartridge that meets those criteria.

I don’t hunt. Why would I want a 350 Legend?

Although the cartridge was originally created by Winchester for deer hunters, it’s great for anyone who loves the AR-15 platform. It’s fun for plinking and effective for home defense or as a truck gun.

Do I need new magazines for 350 Legend?

Yes, and no. Although many people will tell you standard AR-15 magazines work for this cartridge, that isn’t always the case. The best way to ensure proper feeding and reliable performance is to get magazines made for your 350 Legend because they are slightly different.

What’s so special about this cartridge?

Probably the most unique or important feature of the this cartridge is that because it is straight-walled and a larger caliber than 22-caliber, it can be used to hunt deer in states with cartridge and caliber restrictions.

What bolt face is 350 Legend?

It uses the same standard bolt face as 223 Remington/5.56x45mm NATO.

Who makes a bolt-action 350 legend?

Many companies make bolt-action rifles in this chambering including Savage, Ruger, CVA, and Traditions.

What caliber is 350 Legend?

It has a 35-caliber bullet.

What is it’s effective range?

The overall effective range is between 200 and 250 yards out of a 20-inch barrel, depending on the ammunition being used. It’s important to test and familiarize yourself with your ammunition prior to hunting.

Is there a 350 Legend handgun?

Not yet. It’s quite a large cartridge for handgun use and also would not perform as well without the barrel length to support trajectory and velocity.

Can you use 357 Magnum in a 350 Legend?

No, you cannot. Although they are both 35-caliber, they are not the same cartridge.

What does 223 Remington have to do with 350 Legend?

223 Remington was the inspiration for the cartridge, but still isn’t its parent cartridge. The 350 Legend case required major changes to make it work like the Winchester engineers envisioned.

What is the case capacity of 350 Legend?

36.5 grains

Is 350 Legend the ‘fastest straight walled hunting cartridge’ as Winchester claims?

Yes, when compared to the existing SAAMI-approved straight-walled hunting cartridge, this is indeed the fastest as of its creation in 2019. It was made for use in states with specific regulations for deer hunting with straight-walled centerfire cartridges. Those states may include, but aren’t necessarily limited to: Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, and Indiana.

Is the 350 Legend case like the 223 Remington case?

Not really. It uses the same .378 nominal rim diameter that 223 Remington does, but that is really where their similarities end. The case of the 350 Legend is an entirely new design invented by the engineers at Winchester Ammunition made to maximize terminal performance while optimizing reliable extraction from a wide variety of firearms platforms.

Can I reload with 223 Remington brass?

No, you cannot reload 350 Legend into 223 Remington brass. The cartridge was designed for superior effectiveness for a .357-diameter bullet loaded into a straight-walled case of Winchester Ammunition’s design. It has an overall cartridge length of 2.26 inches. This cartridge is unique and unlike other cartridges on the market, meaning you cannot size cases from other cartridges to fit it for reloading.