Which 350 Legend for whitetail

[wesfromky]

...had after many hunting seasons with Ruger Americans in several calibers is that the bolt handle can be bumped up after chambering a round- resulting in a loud click and failure to fire. Easily remedied by paying attention

This actually happened to me last year - ended up with just a light primer strike on a doe. It is easy to fix if you pay enough attention though. Otherwise, I do like my compact ranch, but have been kinda eyeing the gunsite scout as an upgrade, since it has a 3 position safety.

 

[Fordguy]

I found the aftermarket magazine springs to be pretty stiff, contemplating pulling the springs and cutting a coil or two off.

Also saw some guy cut down a mag and made a 3 round mag that didn’t hang out much. Might do that too.

Now a short 3 round mag is something I could go for.

 

[hutty]

I have used the Savage in 350 legend for the last several years and have been extremely happy with the accuracy and results on deer. 4 of us (including crop damage) use the 350 and take between 4-50 deer a season.

 

[roymunson]

i put a 350 upper on my AR. a hawke 1x8 scope and away we go. I now have 2 guns my sons can hunt with.

had my 11 year old on a bench saturday and the kid rang steel out at 350 yards with the Legend. I was impressed. Out of a short AR barrel no less.
Not going to be hunting at that distance, but for 100 yards and in, its a solid kids gun.

 

[Pilarczyk85]

I've had to track more deer guys have shot with the 350 so far. It kills but I think shot placement is critical. I use a 450 BM or my 45/70. Haven't had to track one yet.

 

[roymunson]

400 Legend intrigues me as a good middle ground

 

[Rich M]

I had pretty good luck with the 160's, and have a couple boxes of the 140's to try this year.

Video looks pretty good - I just didn't like the Texas heart shot. He didn't show the tracking on that one.

 

[Teebs]

I have had Winchester XPR, Ruger American, Weatherby Vanguard, and AR15. Accuracy has been sub inch on all guns. The Ruger was the most accurate but didn't like the bolt didnt lock closed with safety and that the magazine hangs down. The Winchester was nice and no complaints. Sold the Ruger and Winchester and bought a Weatherby Vanguard and AR15. The Weatherby is the nicest of them all and will not get rid of it. The AR15 has minimal recoil and will be nice for kids with the adjustable stock. I would get Weatherby or Winchester for a bolt gun. CVA Cascades seem nice as well but I don't have any experience with them.

I'm thinking about buy a 350L Vanguard for myself. I'm not a fan of some of the design features on the Ruger, mostly the magazine. Is it much more accurate than the Vanguard?

 

[woodmaster0462]

I just bought a Ruger 450 Bushmaster for Illinois. from what I understand as long as you don't have the clip on you while hunting, you are legal.

 

[Narango142]

build on. Bear Creek Armory

 

[brianwagan]

I'm thinking about buy a 350L Vanguard for myself. I'm not a fan of some of the design features on the Ruger, mostly the magazine. Is it much more accurate than the Vanguard?

Not enough to matter. Vanguard is a much nicer gun.

 

[ddowning]

Not sure if legal in Illinois, but if Iowa was single shot only I would definitely be 100% smokeless muzzleloader. Our law states .45 caliber or larger and loaded from muzzle.

My entire family shoots a lot of prs style matches. I had my gunsmith do a savage prefit with a Hankins ignition. I have an 11 year old and an 8 year old daughter. The gun has a very aggressive muzzle brake on it to reduce recoil. We hunt with electronic muffs. With 65 grains of 4198 and a 300 grain bullet the thing is a hammer. It kicks about like a 20 gauge slug gun. My 11 year old daughter is 5 ft tall and weighs 75 lbs. She handles it no problem and used it to kill 3 does during youth season this year already. My 8 year old needs the load reduced to 35 grains of 4759 which still pushes the 300 grain bullet at 2050 fps. The deer still look like they were hit with a Mack truck and the recoil is nothing. (She weighs 55 lbs and loves to shoot it) The bullets expand really well and the gun will shoot sub 1/2 minute for 3 shots at distances I don't want to post. Iowa allows muzzleloaders during all firearms seasons.

Last year the girls killed a 4 year old 150" 9 point and a 5 year old 145" 8 point with a 21" inside spread. Both of those shots were around 190 yards with the reduced load. Several doe kills from 80 yards to 303 yards with the reduced load. Obviously, you need exposed turrets and the ability to call wind to make some of the longer shots, but the gun is capable.

We have a Ruger American in 350L. It is accurate enough, but it feeds like shit and the results with 180 Winchester factory have been pretty anemic. One buck at about 40 feet on the point of the shoulder DRT. Everything else has been broadside and low in the lungs or heart. They bleed but entry and exit are pinky size and they don't act like it's much trauma.

 

[peaches]

We have a Ruger American in 350L. It is accurate enough, but it feeds like shit and the results with 180 Winchester factory have been pretty anemic. One buck at about 40 feet on the point of the shoulder DRT. Everything else has been broadside and low in the lungs or heart. They bleed but entry and exit are pinky size and they don't act like it's much trauma.

Yeah, I mentioned before in this thread how poorly the Ruger feeds. I used the 180 PP on one deer and wasn't impressed. It's a pretty hard bullet but works well for subsonic loads.

 

[Rich M]

Not sure if legal in Illinois, but if Iowa was single shot only I would definitely be 100% smokeless muzzleloader. Our law states .45 caliber or larger and loaded from muzzle.

My entire family shoots a lot of prs style matches. I had my gunsmith do a savage prefit with a Hankins ignition. I have an 11 year old and an 8 year old daughter. The gun has a very aggressive muzzle brake on it to reduce recoil. We hunt with electronic muffs. With 65 grains of 4198 and a 300 grain bullet the thing is a hammer. It kicks about like a 20 gauge slug gun. My 11 year old daughter is 5 ft tall and weighs 75 lbs. She handles it no problem and used it to kill 3 does during youth season this year already. My 8 year old needs the load reduced to 35 grains of 4759 which still pushes the 300 grain bullet at 2050 fps. The deer still look like they were hit with a Mack truck and the recoil is nothing. (She weighs 55 lbs and loves to shoot it) The bullets expand really well and the gun will shoot sub 1/2 minute for 3 shots at distances I don't want to post. Iowa allows muzzleloaders during all firearms seasons.

Last year the girls killed a 4 year old 150" 9 point and a 5 year old 145" 8 point with a 21" inside spread. Both of those shots were around 190 yards with the reduced load. Several doe kills from 80 yards to 303 yards with the reduced load. Obviously, you need exposed turrets and the ability to call wind to make some of the longer shots, but the gun is capable.

We have a Ruger American in 350L. It is accurate enough, but it feeds like shit and the results with 180 Winchester factory have been pretty anemic. One buck at about 40 feet on the point of the shoulder DRT. Everything else has been broadside and low in the lungs or heart. They bleed but entry and exit are pinky size and they don't act like it's much trauma.

180 is too stiff for Legend. I load 165 and 170 cause no 150’s are available.

The 165 ftx will expand but the 170 interlock and 180 powerpoint not as much.

 

[z987k]

If you're thinking 450BM and not from an AR, I'd highly suggest 460SW instead. From a rifle barrel, it really picks up speed and outclasses the 357,358,400 and 452 straight walls considerably. This is because of the maximum operating pressure difference.
I think they messed up making the 360 buckhammer 50kpsi. Should have gone to 65k. It's not mean to be in a semi-auto.

 

[Bluefish]

I think they messed up making the 360 buckhammer 50kpsi. Should have gone to 65k. It's not mean to be in a semi-auto.

pretty sure existing design lever actions would not stand up to 65k. They wanted quick to market and in a lever. 30-30 is well known and designs exist. Just a rebarrel to bring to market. besides run it really fast and recoil becomes an issue in light guns.

 

[z987k]

pretty sure existing design lever actions would not stand up to 65k. They wanted quick to market and in a lever. 30-30 is well known and designs exist. Just a rebarrel to bring to market. besides run it really fast and recoil becomes an issue in light guns.

Ah that's true. I think the only lever that holds up to that is the Big Horn, which is just a stronger 1892. Can't for the life of me figure out why they cost what they do.

It's perfect in a single shot like the cva scout or encore though. Just what the OP is limited to.

 

[brianwagan]

I'm thinking about buy a 350L Vanguard for myself. I'm not a fan of some of the design features on the Ruger, mostly the magazine. Is it much more accurate than the Vanguard?

Switched scopes and after getting scope adjusted this was the group I got with the Weatherby Vanguard with Winchester 180.

 

[Teebs]

Switched scopes and after getting scope adjusted this was the group I got with the Weatherby Vanguard with Winchester 180.

I ended up getting a Vanguard Sportsman's Warehouse edition. I was interested in this specific variant for the rust protection provided by the cerakote finish. The action is very smooth and I like the two-stage trigger.

The gun shot well enough at the range producing ~1 inch groups at 100 yards with Winchester 145 and 150 grain ammo. Unfortunately, I noticed a few spots where the cerakote has already started chipping off of the bolt body and the bolt-face. I'm planning on processing an RMA after deer season.