30-30 Win or 350 Legend?

[35remy]

I like both, but still prefer my .35 Remington. I have a .350 legend Scout that is a tack driver (like sub-1/2 moa) and easy to carry. While the ballistics are supposed to be similar to the .35 Rem, I just haven’t dropped as many deer with the Legend. It is accurate and kills them just as dead, but I usually track them a little further. With my .35, they usually drop, and I always have an exit wound.

 

[Fordguy]

Similar range, similar recoil, 350 legend gives you a slightly bigger hole... I doubt you'd notice a difference in performance on deer though. I know people who swear the 350 legend has less recoil with the same bullet weight- comparing factory loads at similar speeds.
Why would you be able to use a revolver, but limited to single shot rifles? There are some 350 legend revolvers out there just fyi.

 

[Clearedhot1]

Similar range, similar recoil, 350 legend gives you a slightly bigger hole... I doubt you'd notice a difference in performance on deer though. I know people who swear the 350 legend has less recoil with the same bullet weight- comparing factory loads at similar speeds.
Why would you be able to use a revolver, but limited to single shot rifles? There are some 350 legend revolvers out there just fyi.

I live in this shithole too. Their rules don’t make sense. Currently, I can use a 300 blackout pistol for firearm deer season. Tell me how that is any “safer” than this new proposed rule??


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[XFrog]

I bought my daughter the 350L when it came out in hopes it did be better in the woods than her 243. 150 and under. The 243 made for difficult tracking in the rain. She dropped 5 that year (4 we're management does) without one taking the first step. They were not all perfect shots. She got her biggest buck bang flop with a buck fever high shoulder shot. So I bought my 8yo one to replace his 300 BLK. (Little guy 50lbs wet). He got his first 2 deer with it. One at 190yrds. Both bang flop. My wife was so impressed she had me barrel a 700 in it for her to shoot in the swamp because her 308 let them leave the lane on occasion. Hornady FTX 165gr. Academy and Walmart stock ammo 29$ a box for practice. 34$ for the FTX. All pass throughs with huge exits. On video you can see all the deer coming out of the far side on one of the 100yrd does.

 

[Squints08]

XFrog, may I ask what barrel lengths you and your family shoot? Your results and experience are what I’m looking for. Thanks!

 

[Wyobohunter]

30-30 Win hands down, especially if you aren’t allowed to use an AR. It has a long track record and I guarantee it’ll be around for a long time to come. 350 legend? Not so sure. Ammo availability is a no brainer.

Since an AR isn’t an option for you I would suggest skipping the 350. I believe the AR platform is the only significant advantage of the 350 over 30-30.

 

[Agross]

Here’s the bullet and result on a doe I shot this year with the 350.
it was the Hornady ftx 165 grain.

 

[wesfromky]

I have a ruger .350 and really like it - killed two does this year and was happy with the results. I use Bear Creek all copper ammo. https://bearcreekballistics.com/product/350-legend-ammunition/

One other advantage to .350 is you then have something you can use if you decide to hunt other "straight wall" states.

 

[Wyobohunter]

One other advantage to .350 is you then have something you can use if you decide to hunt other "straight wall" states.

I hadn’t considered that. I’ve also never been subject to such a ridiculous requirement so I was only looking at ballistics and availability. Good point.

 

[XFrog]

XFrog, may I ask what barrel lengths you and your family shoot? Your results and experience are what I’m looking for. Thanks!

Both the rifles are bolt action Ruger American 16". My daughter also has a CVA takedown single 16" for primitive season in Louisiana. It has a BERGARA barrel and is super accurate.

 

[XFrog]

May I ask which ammunition you shot your deer with? Distances? Barrel length? I have a solid pile of both calibers already and am leaning towards the 350 legend. Just need to decide if I want a 20” or 22” barrel. Thanks!

We used the factory 165 FTX. That is what I am loading also. Less drop past 125 than the 180 and fantastic terminal performance

 

[XFrog]

Man the 16" sure is handy. Not much velocity loss. We use a 9mm can with them. The does hopped around when my son dropped the buck then went right back to eating

 

[S-3 ranch]

I have a ruger .350 and really like it - killed two does this year and was happy with the results. I use Bear Creek all copper ammo. https://bearcreekballistics.com/product/350-legend-ammunition/

One other advantage to .350 is you then have something you can use if you decide to hunt other "straight wall" states.

These are multi state legal, I would do 350
or a CVA scout in something more potent Incase the weirdos in Montana or other elk states open and a elk permit

• 44 Remington Magnum
• .357 Magnum
• .454 Casull
• .45-70 Govt.
• .460 Smith & Wesson Magnum
• .500 Smith & Wesson
• .450 Bushmaster
• .444 Marlin
• .350 Legend

 

[Fordguy]

I live in this shithole too. Their ru

30-30 Win hands down, especially if you aren’t allowed to use an AR. It has a long track record and I guarantee it’ll be around for a long time to come. 350 legend? Not so sure. Ammo availability is a no brainer.

Since an AR isn’t an option for you I would suggest skipping the 350. I believe the AR platform is the only significant advantage of the 350 over 30-30.

Ammo availability depends a great deal on where you are. I haven't seen 30-30 on the shelf in over a year, though I did recently see it available for order through Cabela's. 350 legend has been available all through the ammo shortage in a lot of states. If you don't roll your own, 350 legend is usually less expensive. I'm still seeing fmj practice ammo for the 350 legend at 15$ for a box of 20, with new boxes showing up on the shelves regularly.

 

[Rich M]

The 350 Legend and 30-30 are similar. It is not necessarily "better" than a 30-30.

Did a little digging and am not seeing a lot of difference between the two except this:
The 160 gr FTX 30-30 advertised at 2,400 fps.
The 165 gr FTX factory loads for 350 Legend advertised at 2,200 fps.

As with @Fordguy, am seeing more 350 legend stuff than 30-30 and the prices for 145 gr target ammo is less than $20/box.

 

[Fordguy]

These are multi state legal, I would do 350
or a CVA scout in something more potent Incase the weirdos in Montana or other elk states open and a elk permit

• 44 Remington Magnum
• .357 Magnum
• .454 Casull
• .45-70 Govt.
• .460 Smith & Wesson Magnum
• .500 Smith & Wesson
• .450 Bushmaster
• .444 Marlin
• .350 Legend

If ammo prices don't phase you, the 450 bushmaster is legal in (I think) all the states that the 350 legend is (Straight wall cartridge and case length/oal restrictions). It's a thumper, but recoil isn't bad at all. It's also available in a few of the cva single shots and the Ruger ranch. There are a few ammo offerings that are probably elk capable if you keep your shots at reasonable ranges (should you want to head west and hunt elk). Everyone has a different opinion of what reasonable is, so ymmv.

 

[Wyobohunter]

Ammo availability depends a great deal on where you are. I haven't seen 30-30 on the shelf in over a year, though I did recently see it available for order through Cabela's. 350 legend has been available all through the ammo shortage in a lot of states. If you don't roll your own, 350 legend is usually less expensive. I'm still seeing fmj practice ammo for the 350 legend at 15$ for a box of 20, with new boxes showing up on the shelves regularly.

I was speaking toward long term availability. In 10-20 years 350 legend may have gone the way of the dinosaurs. Probably not the 30-30.

 

[Rich M]

I was speaking toward long term availability. In 10-20 years 350 legend may have gone the way of the dinosaurs. Probably not the 30-30.

30-30 is an old classic that will be around for a good long time. It is still illegal to hunt deer with it in the straight wall states tho. Go figure.

If you haven't shot a 350 Legend - take someone up on it next opportunity, you might be surprised - they have a lot going for them.

 

[Wyobohunter]

30-30 is an old classic that will be around for a good long time. It is still illegal to hunt deer with it in the straight wall states tho. Go figure.

If you haven't shot a 350 Legend - take someone up on it next opportunity, you might be surprised - they have a lot going for them.

I’m sure they do. I don’t own one or a 30-30. Not very useful cartridges for longer range shots on elk (IMO). I have a Marlin Guide Gun 45-70 that fills the close range thick woods niche. That rifle penetrated a Kodiak bear from shoulder to hip, breaking both. If I wanted to go to something in an AR I’d go with the .458 SOCOM. Very close to the 45-70 in a Marlin.

 

[Rich M]

I’m sure they do. I don’t own one or a 30-30. Not very useful cartridges for longer range shots on elk (IMO). I have a Marlin Guide Gun 45-70 that fills the close range thick woods niche. That rifle penetrated a Kodiak bear from shoulder to hip, breaking both. If I wanted to go to something in an AR I’d go with the .458 SOCOM. Very close to the 45-70 in a Marlin.

Think my father in law has a SOCOM revolver. All i know is hes too old to shoot it and likes to talk about how powerful it is.

Yeah, 30-30 and 350 Legend and 300 Blackout and…. Are short range guns for smaller critters than elk or big bears. Diff playing field.