Best straight wall caliber for deer?

[rp672]

Straight wall cartridges are now legal for deer hunting in IL. I've hunted with a 20 gauge shotgun all my life, but I'm considering picking up a rifle such as a 350 Legend. Anyone have experience hunting with straight wall calibers? Pros/cons vs. shotgun hunting? Thanks!

 

[SBR Sarge]

I’ll weigh in on this. I’ve killed more whitetail deer than I can recall with straights, and lots with a 12 ga slug gun.

I used a .375 Win chambered Winchester Big Bore Model 94 to great effect for years up in northern Michigan.

In Southern Michigan I have used the 350 Legend with stellar success for 5 or 6 years now. I have a GSL Technologies can that stays on my Legend full time. Before this was legal, I used a 12 ga with Rem copper solid slugs.

If you go 350 Legend, get the faster twist barrels in case you want to hurl some subsonics. Even if just for some fun plinking, subs are a hoot.

Bear Creek Ballistics loads some great 140gr Legend ammo.


Pros/Cons……… I think I get less meat damage with my Legend as compared to the 12 ga copper slugs I used to use, and the critters seem to die just as fast. In the end, just pick the gun that you like and shoot the best, get good ammo, and go with it.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I can only tell you that from my experience, it’s not .45-70 or .50-70. We have some cool old rifles I’ve used during center fire cartridge season. While they are fun to carry if you want to feel like an old timer, I think they kick too hard and have too high a trajectory to be anything more than a gimmick. With that said, they are probably both more in keeping with the spirit of muzzleloader/primitive weapons seasons than my modern muzzleloader.

A Winchester 1886 in .45-70. I killed a nice buck with it, but it shoots about a six inch group at 150 yards.

An 1863 Sharps converted to .50-70 Government after the Civil War (center one). This was a rifle I coveted as a kid and spent about two years worth of savings on when I was 10 or 11. But I shot it once and decided I hated the recoil, so my Dad bought it off me. I used it to kill a doe about 30 years ago.

It really bothers me that this is legal for muzzleloader/primitive weapons hunting in Virginia, but the other two aren’t.

If Virginia opened up a straight wall season, I’d immediately get a Tikka in .350 Legend with a 16” barrel.

 

[HandgunHTR]

I would say it depends on what platform you want to shoot them out of.

If you want to use a gas gun (AR) or a bolt gun, then the obvious choice is 350 Legend mainly due to availability of firearms and ammo. You will get better performance (IMHO) than the .450 and as far as I know the .450 is only available in gas guns and single shots.

If you plan to go with a single shot (break open or rolling block), then your choices go up quite a bit. I am a fan of the .357 Max if you plan to use a break open single shot (Contender/Encore/Scout). With that cartridge you will get performance on par with the 350L, but have the ability to use .38 Special or .357 Mag ammo for plinking, small game, or short range big game. Using a single shot also opens up more of the "vintage" cartridges that fall into the "straight wall" category, such as the 38-55, the 375 Win, and the 32-40.

Of course you always use the .300 BO. It does a great job on deer in both the super and sub-sonic offerings, provided you keep the shots in the window of acceptable bullet performance.

 

[bigunit]

I would say it depends on what platform you want to shoot them out of.

If you want to use a gas gun (AR) or a bolt gun, then the obvious choice is 350 Legend mainly due to availability of firearms and ammo. You will get better performance (IMHO) than the .450 and as far as I know the .450 is only available in gas guns and single shots.

If you plan to go with a single shot (break open or rolling block), then your choices go up quite a bit. I am a fan of the .357 Max if you plan to use a break open single shot (Contender/Encore/Scout). With that cartridge you will get performance on par with the 350L, but have the ability to use .38 Special or .357 Mag ammo for plinking, small game, or short range big game. Using a single shot also opens up more of the "vintage" cartridges that fall into the "straight wall" category, such as the 38-55, the 375 Win, and the 32-40.

Of course you always use the .300 BO. It does a great job on deer in both the super and sub-sonic offerings, provided you keep the shots in the window of acceptable bullet performance.

With the single shots in 350 legend, you can shoot 9mm luger which is a real hoot for plinking and works great for grouse...

 

[coyotekilla]

I would say it depends on what platform you want to shoot them out of.

If you want to use a gas gun (AR) or a bolt gun, then the obvious choice is 350 Legend mainly due to availability of firearms and ammo. You will get better performance (IMHO) than the .450 and as far as I know the .450 is only available in gas guns and single shots.

If you plan to go with a single shot (break open or rolling block), then your choices go up quite a bit. I am a fan of the .357 Max if you plan to use a break open single shot (Contender/Encore/Scout). With that cartridge you will get performance on par with the 350L, but have the ability to use .38 Special or .357 Mag ammo for plinking, small game, or short range big game. Using a single shot also opens up more of the "vintage" cartridges that fall into the "straight wall" category, such as the 38-55, the 375 Win, and the 32-40.

Of course you always use the .300 BO. It does a great job on deer in both the super and sub-sonic offerings, provided you keep the shots in the window of acceptable bullet performance.

Pretty certain you can get a ruger g2 in 450bm

 

[Lvthntitall]

It’s hard to beat the 350 legend, have been using it the last couple years. I looked at the 450 Bushmaster but decided ballistics weren’t much different than my slug gun. Only thing I’m not crazy about is the blood trai.

 

[tt_johnsclist]

I have a 350L and a 450BM. “Best” is kind of subjective, but the 350 is really nice to shoot and plenty effective at killing deer. The 450 is a bear at the range, but an absolute hammer on deer. I’d take either over my old slug guns.

 

[arrow179]

Take a look at the .41 Great Lakes

 

[keystone112]

If I could have found ammo and reloading components when Ohio made SWCs legal, I would have gone with the 375 Win in a vintage Marlin. I now have a Winchester BB94 in that cartridge and like it.

Since I couldn’t find the ammo, I went with the 444 Marlin instead in a vintage Marlin lever gun. I’m getting 2325 fps with a 265 grain bullet out of mine. It’s a hammer. I’ve taken several deer with mine.

If I were buying today I would go with the 360 buck hammer in either the Henry lever gun or a single shot.

 

[hiker270]

Bought grandson a Ruger American 350 Legend. It is and absolute tackdriver with the 150gr. Winchester Deer Season ammo. 2 years in a row he has killed a buck. Both shots were in the 60-70 yd range and it absolutely dropped them. I was very impressed.

 

[rookieforever33]

Several of the straightwall cartridges offer longer range with less recoil and better trajectory. A couple other straightwalls are close to slug gun recoil with a much longer range and better trajectory. Under 100 yards it really wouldn't matter. 100-200ish I'll take a straightwall. I am in Illinois and bought a cva scout since our law is single shot only and I hunt ag field edges. If I was deep woods hunting I would stay with my 20 gauge 220 so follow up shots were quicker if needed.

 

[Bluefish]

As you are in Illinois and I believe they are single shot only, I would look at 360 buckhammer. It’s a little more case capacity than a 357 max, also saami approved with ammo at Walmart. Parent case is 30-30, so brass can always be made. Performance is on par with 35 rem and more speed with heavier bullets than the 350 L. Also rimmed so it works well in a single shot, not case mouth headspaced like the 350L and real .358 bullets not 9mm (.355).

41gl, offers more speed, but is a proprietary design, so you have to buy from a few builders. No commercial die sets yet, but a few boutique loaders offering ammo. It’s big advantage is it’s designed around a short action not the AR, so pressure is up to 65k which is why it offers more speed. While some loads may work in an AR, I am skeptical of bolt life due to pressure, if they do work, then similar performance to 400L.

450 BM, higher recoil and no real gain for it other than a big bullet. I have one and hate it. Built it before the 350L came out. Now I run a 358 socom, in Iowa so dont need sw.

400L, imho, why? Who asked for this? Also horrible roll out, ammo out and on clearance before rifles were available.

 

[Smith928]

I’m located in Iowa and we are a straight wall state, but the law actually reads anything over .35 cal. I’m not sure if other states have a similar law.

I’ve hunted with a .450 BM since the straight wall law was introduced in 2017. Im happy with the results, but I admit I struggle making hits past 150-170 yards. The only way I can describe it is inconsistent drop, and I’m guessing it’s from velocity changes from cold weather. My .450 happens to be a savage and it groups surprisingly well for a straight wall. Right at 1moa.

I recently had some struggles in the field with my 450. The temperature was sub zero. I missed a deer at 200 yards with two shots that impacted significantly lower than I’ve ever seen. The only thing I can figure is poor powder ignition or just temp sensitive powder. I checked my zero at 100 yards and it was dead on. I plan to do a test over a chronograph the next time we get some cold temps here to confirm or bust my theory on that…

Anyhow, that’s a long winded way to say that if you have the ability to reload your own ammo I would lean towards a bottleneck cartridge over 35 cal. I’m currently building a 375 raptor, and I’m kicking myself for not finishing it before season.

The 375 is a short action, simply a .308 necked up to 375. Since it’s a short action i can use my coyote rifle actions and aics or Aw mags and simply swap the barrel for deer season. I can’t speak to its results yet, but I haven’t been pleased enough with the 450 or 350 to want stick with them. For anyone that’s interested in the 375, I’ll follow up with how that turns out. I’ll also get some results from the 450 over the chronograph in cold temps

 

[coyotekilla]

I’m located in Iowa and we are a straight wall state, but the law actually reads anything over .35 cal. I’m not sure if other states have a similar law.

I’ve hunted with a .450 BM since the straight wall law was introduced in 2017. Im happy with the results, but I admit I struggle making hits past 150-170 yards. The only way I can describe it is inconsistent drop, and I’m guessing it’s from velocity changes from cold weather. My .450 happens to be a savage and it groups surprisingly well for a straight wall. Right at 1moa.

I recently had some struggles in the field with my 450. The temperature was sub zero. I missed a deer at 200 yards with two shots that impacted significantly lower than I’ve ever seen. The only thing I can figure is poor powder ignition or just temp sensitive powder. I checked my zero at 100 yards and it was dead on. I plan to do a test over a chronograph the next time we get some cold temps here to confirm or bust my theory on that…

Anyhow, that’s a long winded way to say that if you have the ability to reload your own ammo I would lean towards a bottleneck cartridge over 35 cal. I’m currently building a 375 raptor, and I’m kicking myself for not finishing it before season.

The 375 is a short action, simply a .308 necked up to 375. Since it’s a short action i can use my coyote rifle actions and aics or Aw mags and simply swap the barrel for deer season. I can’t speak to its results yet, but I haven’t been pleased enough with the 450 or 350 to want stick with them. For anyone that’s interested in the 375, I’ll follow up with how that turns out. I’ll also get some results from the 450 over the chronograph in cold temps

I bought a 358 hawkeye at an auction this year, 200 yds is no sweat for this caliber, loaded with 200 gr barnes, it hits like a hammer too. Its more than what I need for whitetail, but its got way more wallop than a 350 legend

 

[Bluefish]

I’m located in Iowa and we are a straight wall state, but the law actually reads anything over .35 cal. I’m not sure if other states have a similar law.

I’ve hunted with a .450 BM since the straight wall law was introduced in 2017. Im happy with the results, but I admit I struggle making hits past 150-170 yards. The only way I can describe it is inconsistent drop, and I’m guessing it’s from velocity changes from cold weather. My .450 happens to be a savage and it groups surprisingly well for a straight wall. Right at 1moa.

I recently had some struggles in the field with my 450. The temperature was sub zero. I missed a deer at 200 yards with two shots that impacted significantly lower than I’ve ever seen. The only thing I can figure is poor powder ignition or just temp sensitive powder. I checked my zero at 100 yards and it was dead on. I plan to do a test over a chronograph the next time we get some cold temps here to confirm or bust my theory on that…

Anyhow, that’s a long winded way to say that if you have the ability to reload your own ammo I would lean towards a bottleneck cartridge over 35 cal. I’m currently building a 375 raptor, and I’m kicking myself for not finishing it before season.

The 375 is a short action, simply a .308 necked up to 375. Since it’s a short action i can use my coyote rifle actions and aics or Aw mags and simply swap the barrel for deer season. I can’t speak to its results yet, but I haven’t been pleased enough with the 450 or 350 to want stick with them. For anyone that’s interested in the 375, I’ll follow up with how that turns out. I’ll also get some results from the 450 over the chronograph in cold temps

Having been working on several different loads this year for Iowa and working in 60’s to 20’s there can be decent swings in speed 50-100 fps. I had a 450 bm that had an over pressure with factory hornady loads, then switched to Winchester, they were 200 fps slower than the box speed.

I have been doing most of my development work in 35 cal and moving to lighter (160g) options to try and reduce recoil and increase speed for a little better point blank. The 35 whelen is great. 3k+ with the 160g. Might be cheaper to get a cva single shot than a second barrel. Have you looked at a 358 win? A 308 necked to 358.

 

[Smith928]

Having been working on several different loads this year for Iowa and working in 60’s to 20’s there can be decent swings in speed 50-100 fps. I had a 450 bm that had an over pressure with factory hornady loads, then switched to Winchester, they were 200 fps slower than the box speed.

I have been doing most of my development work in 35 cal and moving to lighter (160g) options to try and reduce recoil and increase speed for a little better point blank. The 35 whelen is great. 3k+ with the 160g. Might be cheaper to get a cva single shot than a second barrel. Have you looked at a 358 win? A 308 necked to 358.

Yes, it was a tough decision between the 358 win and the 375. I think the 358 is likely the better hunting cartridge. The 375 has some heavy bullets for messing around with sub or suppressed. Of course I have no real world experience on it yet

 

[Shraggs]

Straight wall cartridge development is moving fast and certainly more coming.

There really isn’t going to be significant range effective gains in distance - just poor BC and relatively low launch speeds generally.

Do yourself a favor and grab a 350L and enjoy low recoil for a spell

 

[sdupontjr]

CVA Scout 350 legend SS

Mine drive tacks with the 150xp's. I head shoot does with this from 75-100 yards in our hard woods. Put a Meopta R 3-15x50 on it with the illuminated dot . Handy little rifle that delivers. Here it is next to my sons old Red rider BB gun.

Also, Louisiana is a single shot state, thus having to go crack barrel VS bolt action.

 

[EdP]

The .444 Marlin is a great choice IMO. I took my first deer with one, and years later my best deer to date. I don't see anything the newer straight walls can do that the old .444 won't do as well or better. Va is not a straight wall state, we can use what we want during firearms season, but I think I will pull out the Marlin next year.