Thoughts on 350 legend ammunition?

[bucksanducks12]

Killed a few with my fathers 22” Ruger American using 180gr winchesters, all have fell sub 60 and had ok to good blood trails.

This is my first year hunting with my 350L AR build. Running 170gr American whitetail. Two does so far, one dropped instantly (my son was thrilled). Second was hard quartering to at 50yds, through chest cavity and out. Not a big exit hole but never hit any bone besides clipping a rib on way out. Plenty of blood, 40yd track.

Next year I look forward to mixing it up. I really wanna try the Bear creek 140 coppers as long as they feed good. Sounds like guys have been having good luck with them! Glad I stumbled onto this post. Good luck to everyone test of the season!

 

[Leaf Litter]

When I used one I shot 3 deer with the 150gr Deer Season XP. Very accurate, VERY fast expansion/fragmentation, very poor penetration through muscle and bone. Shoot lungs/heart only and you'll be great, but if you try angled shots or shooting through the shoulder or brisket, you will regret it.

If I were to do it again, I'd do the 140gr Bear Creek ammo or 160gr Cutting Edge Raptor ammo from Choice Ammunition

 

[Beorn]

My hunting group has been very happy with the Bear Creek 140s too (non-HV). Shot opportunities were close range, so complete pass through with good blood trails.

 

[Butcher44]

My kids use the winchester 180s. They kill but it almost seems like they are going too fast to expand. The blood trails have been less than stellar.

 

[Bets]

I have shot 22 deer with the 350L over the past 6 years. FTX bullets have been the best blend of penetration and grouping.

Winchester deer season XP have the best groups.

180 grain Power points (Winchester and Federal) seem to have the best penetration.

I have yet to lose a deer with the 350 legend, but that is more shot placement. I will say Deer Season XP have the worst blood trail due to the hollow point fragmenting on impact.

 

[bucksanducks12]

I killed 4 this year with Hornady American whitetails.

First one I don’t have pics. Hard quartering too, through and through, 35yds from tree stand. Entering just at shoulder crease between ribs, exit took out last rib. Exit wound wasn’t anything special, roughly size of quarter. Surprisingly good blood trail, made it 60yds.

Second deer was with my son. Had a group of 8 come in right under us, he got real excited and made some noise and they bailed. Shot her on a dead sprint at roughly 50 yds hard away. Bullet entered left cheek, destroyed pelvis just above the ball. Torqued her left leg enough to break femur 4” down from ball in two places. Bullet went through pelvis, snapped spine and exited front crease of opposite hind quarter. After getting down and over to her required a follow up shot to put her out. Pics are pretty self explanatory, beer can sided wound channel.



Entry

Exit

Third deer: saw a group behind the house an got the nod from the wife. Pulled the rifle out of the safe and snuck around back to the hedgerow. 210yd shot from the ground, held a little too much. Spined it right behind shoulders and folded it.
Required a finishing touch when I got across the field to it. Hit right at base of spine, blowing the ridges up through the hide and out. Looked like a slightly larger than golf ball rod went right through it. No pics.

4th deer was also from the ground, had a string of them come right to me. 25yds hard quartering too, through front shoulder right at the scapula to humerus joint. The entry from the leg into the chest cavity was pretty impressive, water bottle for size reference. Took out three ribs clean in half on the way into chest cavity. Bullet penetrated till front of tenderloins I’d assume due to bruising on the tips of the loins I had to cut out. Must have came out in the guts cause never found it.

Deer only ran about 30yds but hardly any blood. This makes sense with no exit and a frontal ground shot.


Inside of front shoulder (arm pit) and entry to chest cavity


This season was my first running these bullets. Have killed three with 180 winchesters prior to this. With the amount of deer around here figured it would be a good experiment in ballistics. The whitetails have ran well for me, recovered all 4 deer I’ve shot them with, but look forward to more experiments next year. Likely FTX’s and bear creeks from what this forum has deducted!