Youth 350 Legend Recommendations / Barrel length

[Timwinjr]

Good evening - I am in the process of purchasing a deer rifle for my 8 year old. I am going to buy a 350 Legend and have narrowed my search to a Gen 2 Ruger American. It seems like they are a great value for the stock adjustability, cerakote, threaded barrel, etc. My cousins son has one and it is pretty accurate.

I am trying to decide between the 16.5 inch ranch or a standard 20 inch barrel. I am planning to suppress this gun so I am leaning towards the shorter barrel. I can’t imagine this gun will be used to shoot past 100-150 yards.

Would I lose a lot of velocity at 100 yards if I got the 16.5 inch barrel vs a standard 20 inch? Any recs?

If there is another rifle out there with a short (12’) LOP that I’ve overlooked, I’m all ears.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Luke S]

Are you limited to 35 Caliber? I assume a 6.5 Grendal or 6mm ARC would have less kick and definitely more range. I'd go 16 inch with either of those. Available in the same rifles.

 

[big217boy]

I would go for the 16.5” since you’re shooting suppressed. It’ll be more maneuverable and you’re not giving up much speed by going short. This Youtuber did a cool review sawing his 350 Legend barrel from 25" down to 7" and showing associated velocities.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mjspeers]

I’ve been using 350 for kids for a few years now I’d go shorter barrel.

As much as I do not like an AR for deer hunting. Built right it will recoil less and actually more adjustability.

 

[juju]

Yeah, the gun you're overlooking for this is an AR. No need to change from 223 if you already have one and aren't required to by regs.

 

[juju]

Are you limited to 35 Caliber? I assume a 6.5 Grendal or 6mm ARC would have less kick and definitely more range. I'd go 16 inch with either of those. Available in the same rifles.

The 350 posts 243 level recoil numbers, but couldn't kill worse than 243. How far is an 8yo gonna shoot anyway?

 

[Timwinjr]

Thanks! I’m pretty sure I’ll stick with the 350. I have a few 243’s I am planning to give him when his LOP increases and he becomes a more serious shooter. We hunt primarily in the woods and at close (100 yards) ranges and I like the heavier bullet option. I don’t reload and 350 is readily available here locally. I agree, I think with it being suppressed the shorter barrel may be the way to go. As he grows, and starts to hunt more I doubt he will continue to suppress and I would assume the short barrel is not liability or more dangerous to carry and hunt with for an inexperienced hunter? Seems like it could be but obviously will do my part in educating him in proper gun safety, etc

 

[rookieforever33]

my single shot cva scout in 350 legend 20 inch barrel is 7 inches shorter than my ruger american 223 with a 20 inch barrel. Weights are very similar but the scout feels lighter since the weight is not hanging out farther. The compact version has a shorter length of pull. I decided on this because of the reasons you stated. Cost me $400 and mounted a scope I already had. Only problem is I like it so much I dont want to share with the kids.

 

[Dan in Alaska]

I have a Ruger Gen 2 American Ranch rifle in .350 Legend. It's very accurate, and the 16.5" barrel with a YHM R9 Suppressor makes for a very handy/manageable package. I would not be as happy with the 20" barreled version with a suppressor, especially for a young shooter.

Here are some groups I shot with mine. All are 5-shot groups at 50-yards. I've got some reloading notes and velocities (Garmin Xero) written on the targets, as well.

From my experiences with this rifle, I'm getting Hornady's published maximum velocities with my handholds, well before reaching maximum publish powder charges, so I'm not sure what would be gained by having a longer barrel. If you're going to run a suppressor, I say go with the shorter barrel.

 

[ddowning]

I live in Iowa. During most seasons we are limited to 35 cal. There is a late antlerless season when we can use normal calibers. A 223 with a tmk, eld, etc is going to be 1,000,000X better than a 350 legend. I can set a 350 legend up with hand loads and a PRS scope and hit targets at 500 yards. Bullet performance on deer is lackluster around 200-225 yards.

My daughters are 9 and 13. We have had a 350 legend since 2020. They both killed there first few deer with it. It has a brake on it and we hunt with muffs. They both choose to shoot the smokeless muzzleloader with reduced loads that has way more recoil and noise because it kills so much better than the 350 legend.

I rarely watch TV, but I have noticed at the in-laws there is a lot of marketing for the 350 legend. In my experience, bullet selection is critical and the effectiveness of the cartridge is far overblown. There is zero chance I'm choosing it over a 223 with a heavy plastic tipped match bullet. 6 arc, 6 creed, 243 all improve on that.

 

[mjspeers]

I concur with the others. I’m limited to 35cal. I have seen probably a dozen deer killed with a 350. It is very underwhelming. If I didn’t have to have straight wall I’d pick something else. Likely a 6mm.

I actually built a 358win and it is such a more potent killer. But 350 (if you have to have 35cal) is a good gun for really young recoil sensitive shooters. When my kids hit 8 or 50lbs or so they graduate to the 358.

 

[satchamo]

I live in Iowa. During most seasons we are limited to 35 cal. There is a late antlerless season when we can use normal calibers. A 223 with a tmk, eld, etc is going to be 1,000,000X better than a 350 legend. I can set a 350 legend up with hand loads and a PRS scope and hit targets at 500 yards. Bullet performance on deer is lackluster around 200-225 yards.

My daughters are 9 and 13. We have had a 350 legend since 2020. They both killed there first few deer with it. It has a brake on it and we hunt with muffs. They both choose to shoot the smokeless muzzleloader with reduced loads that has way more recoil and noise because it kills so much better than the 350 legend.

I rarely watch TV, but I have noticed at the in-laws there is a lot of marketing for the 350 legend. In my experience, bullet selection is critical and the effectiveness of the cartridge is far overblown. There is zero chance I'm choosing it over a 223 with a heavy plastic tipped match bullet. 6 arc, 6 creed, 243 all improve on that.

The increased marketing is due to straight wall only states like Illinois coming into the picture. Illinois only went straight wall 2 years ago. I admit the 350 is a huge step up from destroying yourself with slugs. Are they as effective? No… I’ve never seen another weapon take down a whitetail faster than 12 ga sst slugs. And it’s not even close.

But the lessoned recoil, wide ammo availability is a huge sell over slugs or ML in my opinion.

 

[mjspeers]

The increased marketing is due to straight wall only states like Illinois coming into the picture. Illinois only went straight wall 2 years ago. I admit the 350 is a huge step up from destroying yourself with slugs. Are they as effective? No… I’ve never seen another weapon take down a whitetail faster than 12 ga sst slugs. And it’s not even close.

But the lessoned recoil, wide ammo availability is a huge sell over slugs or ML in my opinion.

We have a seperate season for muzzleloader. My smokeless is an absolute hammer. That’s really starting to compare apples to cannons.

 

[BLJ]

Tikka T3x Lite Compact 350 Legend 16" 1:16" Bbl Rifle JRTXE313C

Tikka T3x Lite Compact 350 Legend 16" 1:16" Bbl Rifle JRTXE313C For Sale

www.eurooptic.com

I don’t k ow if this is threaded, but maybe worth considering.

 

[Huntsalot]

One of my main guns is a 350 Legend 16.25" TC Contender Carbine and I just bought a 16.5" 350 Legend Tikka from EuroOptics as a backup travel gun. I haven't shot the Tikka yet but my Contender Carbine is a killer. Regular rifle season buck was shot at 60yds, ran 30. The buck I shot in late season was at 122yds. The bullet was under the offside hide and the buck ran 20yds. I shoot Bear Creek Ballistics 160gr ammo.

I would definitely be taking a look at that Tikka compact at EuroOptics for $499.

 

[satchamo]

We have a seperate season for muzzleloader. My smokeless is an absolute hammer. That’s really starting to compare apples to cannons.

I’m aware of muzzleloader only seasons but OP is talking about using a 350 legend so we’re not talking about muzzleloader seasons…

my muzzleloaders accurate too but that’s about where it stops…. Way more recoil, way more of a pain in the ass to load clean and keep dry, no followups, no clue where you hit the deer if it doesn’t drop, etc.

Anyways back on topic

 

[awpk03s]

You’d be just fine with 16” barrel. I run 16” suppressed 350s for my kids here in Ohio, an AR and a TC Contender.

 

[ddowning]

I’m aware of muzzleloader only seasons but OP is talking about using a 350 legend so we’re not talking about muzzleloader seasons…

my muzzleloaders accurate too but that’s about where it stops…. Way more recoil, way more of a pain in the ass to load clean and keep dry, no followups, no clue where you hit the deer if it doesn’t drop, etc.

Anyways back on topic

In Iowa, it is legal to use a ML during the normal firearms season. I don't recall the op stating where he is hunting or what the regs are. I understand the regs are not the same everywhere.

After messing around a lot with the 350 legend, I stand by my assessment that I would choose 223 over it if legal. Since it is NOT legal to use 223 during the normal firearms season in Iowa, my kids choose to use the muzzleloader instead of the 350 legend for the normal firearms season.

 

[Rich M]

The 350 Legend will shoots accurately at 250 yards (bottom of soda can size groups).

I have a Ruger American and the 16 inch barrel seems a little short/loud for me - would prefer the 20 inch.

It is an easy cartridge to reload. Punch em thru the lungs - my experience has 50/50 chance of DRT and 50/50 chance of running 50-75 yards.

 

[CMF]

I was looking for the Ranch model for our son for xmas and couldn't find it, so I went with the Predator model(22") barrel. I'm definitely going to look for the shorter 16" barrel when they become more available. It's pretty front heavy with a 7" suppressor.
This is in 6.5 cm. No regrets going with the 6.5cm, we just took an oryx with it this past weekend.