Thoughts on 350 legend ammunition?

[rem.ostrem]

I've used the Winchester 150gr deer season rounds for 3 years now. Last year I went 3 shots for 3 deer and every one of them dropped in it's place. The year before that I shot a doe and through my own error had a bad shot placement that broke her leg instead of hitting the vitals. Had a very good blood trail for 100yd where I was able to put a follow up shot into her. All shot out of 2 different Ruger American rifles with 16in barrels.

 

[Jack321]

Legit Q, anyone pushing their 350L out to 200 yds, or should I stick with 150yds max?

On my spot, a couple stands overlook fields and was wondering how far to legitimately push the 350L?

I'm old school and looking at the 1000 ft/lbs mark and most dont have 1000 ft/lbs at 200.

But it is hard to really believe some of these numbers because they'll shoot them out of 22" barrels, instead of more real world 16".

So if shooting out to 200yds, what ammo?

Im considering:

Fed Fusion 160g
Winchester XP 150g
Nosler 180 g
Underwood Barnes TSX 170g
Bear Creek pointed 140g
Browning 150g MaxPt
Hornady custom 165 FXT

 

[rookieforever33]

Every manufacturer has a different speed threshold for expansion. I would call and ask then find out what yardage your barrel drops below it. Personally I wouldn't shoot past about 75-100 fps per faster than manufacture lowest recommended speed.

 

[wesfromky]

Legit Q, anyone pushing their 350L out to 200 yds, or should I stick with 150yds max?

On my spot, a couple stands overlook fields and was wondering how far to legitimately push the 350L?

I'm old school and looking at the 1000 ft/lbs mark and most dont have 1000 ft/lbs at 200.

But it is hard to really believe some of these numbers because they'll shoot them out of 22" barrels, instead of more real world 16".

So if shooting out to 200yds, what ammo?

Im considering:

Fed Fusion 160g
Winchester XP 150g
Nosler 180 g
Underwood Barnes TSX 170g
Bear Creek pointed 140g
Browning 150g MaxPt
Hornady custom 165 FXT

The bear creek hv should be good out to 250ish, even with a 16" barrel.

 

[BIL0256]

I've been shooting the Hornady 170's (most accurate out of my rifle) and haven't been super impressed. Both deer only went about 50 yards, but not much expansion and little to no blood.

Probably going to give the 165 ftx or Bear Creek a shot next.

 

[Eship]

So, I’m bumping this thread because I’ve had inconsistent feeding with my 350 legend in an AR. I am very familiar with ARs and have been shooting and building them for years. It seems that some 350 rounds just do not feed well. So far I’ve tried the following: Winchester defender 160gr, Hornady 165ftx, fort Scott munitions TUI 125gr copper, and Hornady American whitetail 170gr.

I am not discussing their internal or external ballistics in this post, just their reliability during cycling. Of these four, Winchester defender and the 165ftx feed most reliably. Although I’d still estimate about 10-20% failure to feed or seat fully into battery. I did notice a good bit of unusual markings on most cartridges after feeding then ejecting. I have ruled out issues with over/under gassing. I have tried different magazines (dura mag and Winchester) with consistent feeding issues with both. The barrels I use DO NOT have M4 feed ramps which are known to have feeding issues with 350 legend. They have the wide open feed ramps.

My best guess is that it is a result from multiple issues compounding. For example, heavier cartridge weight, interference with feed lips or front of magazine, bullet shape, not using a ton of line on BCG.


Anyone had similar issues and found a solution or tricks to get them to run more reliably?

 

[Jack321]

The bear creek hv should be good out to 250ish, even with a 16" barrel.

Really?

The 140 Round Nose ones?

The tipped ones won't feed in normal bolt action rifles, right?

 

[wesfromky]

Really?

The 140 Round Nose ones?

The tipped ones won't feed in normal bolt action rifles, right?

I have been shooting the round nose and sorta feel like 200ish is about as far as I would like to shoot it out of my 16" tikka. The HV ones carry a couple hundred more fps out past 200, so i think they would be fine to 250.

I ordered a couple of the extended coal .223 mags, but they won't feed either of the bear creek in my tikka. So going to just go with the factory mags and the round nose to finish out the year. But, going to see if I can get these mags to feed the hv, or find some that will, over the next year.

 

[Jack321]

I have been shooting the round nose and sorta feel like 200ish is about as far as I would like to shoot it out of my 16" tikka. The HV ones carry a couple hundred more fps out past 200, so i think they would be fine to 250.

I ordered a couple of the extended coal .223 mags, but they won't feed either of the bear creek in my tikka. So going to just go with the factory mags and the round nose to finish out the year. But, going to see if I can get these mags to feed the hv, or find some that will, over the next year.

So what I read is correct, the HV rounds won't go in the magazine?

 

[wesfromky]

So what I read is correct, the HV rounds won't go in the magazine?

They fit just fine, and there are others that seem to get them to work, just the ones I got are not yet feeding reliably. They probably will not work in other bolts besides tikka though.