Tell me what you think ...350 Legend hunting rifle

[Nathan]

So, it just came to me....

For a short range deer rifle.....Bolt Action controlled round feed, mechanical ejector, BDL trigger guard, manlicher stock, peep rear sight....or maybe a small RDS on the front receiver ring.

All in 350 Legend. Cool or am I full of hot air?

 

[kilotanker22]

Very cool indeed. I encourage this endeavor.

 

[44 AMP]

.Bolt Action controlled round feed, mechanical ejector, BDL trigger guard, manlicher stock, peep rear sight...

Unless you are restricted by some state law, there are many, many better rounds that can be put in a bolt action rifle.

And especially ones with commonly available brass/ammo (once the pandemic panic shortage declines).

 

[mulespurs]

At my house

My 350 legend lives in an ar-15 at my house
Not what you have to do it just worked for me.
My buddy has shot 3 inch groups at 300 yards repeatably with reloads and factory bullets.
Myself I went to cast and powdercoated bullets, some groups at 3/4" ar 100 yards.

Personal experience, 1 shot kill of a mature 155 class whitetail buck at 200 steps. It was a hi shoulder shot and completely took him off his feet.
Bullet was a lee 35cal 200 gr bullet cast medium soft gas checked and powder coated.

Powder charge was 21 gr H110.

I like the cartrige

 

[P Flados]

If you want a "medium" 35 cal dear rifle, it will do the job.

If your state wants you to use a straight wall cartridge, it is up near the top of the list.

Lots of folks in the straight wall states are real happy with the round.

If you want handload, be ready to deal with the need for 0.355" / 0.356" bullets and the "tricky" details associated with headspacing on the mouth.

 

[jmr40]

Unless you are restricted by some state law, there are many, many better rounds that can be put in a bolt action rifle.

This.

While I don't dispute that it will work, you're basically duplicating 35 Rem ballistics. But why handicap yourself with a short range cartridge unless required to by law. Or if you're trying to make it work in an AR rifle.

 

[Scorch]

A few problems jump out at me from a gunsmithing point of view. CRF actions are typically .470" or .535" bolt face, and they are typically long or intermediate length actions. If you are going to go full custom, a Kimber action with the bolt face opened up from 223 size to 350 L size would work, but typically these kinds of "cool projects" get a harsh reality check when it comes time to execute them and the prices start rolling in and stacking up. If you were using a push-feed action, a Remington Model 7 action would be ideal, but CRF adds a few twists to the road. Maybe it's just me, special purpose bolt action rifles sound really cool until you realize you spent an amazing amount of money on a rifle that is basically a 5-shot pop gun. Have I done it? Sure! Did it work out well? Well . . .

 

[Geezerbiker]

My 350 legend lives in an ar-15 at my house
Not what you have to do it just worked for me.
My buddy has shot 3 inch groups at 300 yards repeatably with reloads and factory bullets.
Myself I went to cast and powdercoated bullets, some groups at 3/4" ar 100 yards.

Personal experience, 1 shot kill of a mature 155 class whitetail buck at 200 steps. It was a hi shoulder shot and completely took him off his feet.
Bullet was a lee 35cal 200 gr bullet cast medium soft gas checked and powder coated.

Powder charge was 21 gr H110.

I like the cartrige

Did you buy a complete upper or did you assemble it yourself?

Tony

 

[jetinteriorguy]

Other than your specific requirements you could check out the Ruger American Ranch in .350 Legend.

 

[Txhillbilly]

The 350 Legend is a solution for a non-existent problem.

 

[stagpanther]

Get a cheap 350 legend rifle first and see if you really like the cartridge (it's one of the few I've come across that I think is ridiculous), otherwise a big exercise in gunsmithing for something that just isn't worth it.

 

[NoSecondBest]

It’s going on the pile of “used to be” cartridges like the 5mm rimfire. It is a flash in the pan. It’s not going to live up to the promises made concerning it. Pretty much every shortcoming has been covered in the answers so far....pretty good answers I might ad.

 

[natman]

The 350 Legend is a solution for a non-existent problem.

Not if you live in a state that requires straight wall cartridges for hunting.

Natman's law #23: If you see someone doing something that makes no practical or economic sense, there's probably a government regulation or tax involved.

 

[Txhillbilly]

Not if you live in a state that requires straight wall cartridges for hunting.

Natman's law #23: If you see someone doing something that makes no practical or economic sense, there's probably a government regulation or tax involved.

I've never understood those stupid laws in the few states that have them. And have also wondered why the citizen's (Hunter's) of those states don't protest or boycott those states Wildlife agencies to change those restrictions.

They make no sense!

 

[HiBC]

I've never fired a 38-55 or a 350 Legend,and I'm not looking up the ballistics to compare.
In its day,the 38-55 was a well regarded game cartridge. It made venison.

I'm making a wild guess that,for the purposes of our conversation ,the 350 Legend and the 38-55 are not so different.

Its not about paper numbers.Both cartridges will make venison at least to the limits of what most folks can use iron sights.

If the 350 Legend works out in an AR-15 package ,I can see it as a niche round.

Pursue whatever makes you happy!! Our guns are one place we ought to be able to select preferences "Just Because!!"

In a compact bolt gun to be built...cartridges
like the 35 Rem and .358 Win,and 338 Fed come to my mind.

Before I write about straight walled options, is that a a factor?

 

[7.62 man]

Well for me it's a great round & mine is not a bolt gun but it is what I have to use for hunting on public land because of the regulations in this state. I was using a .300 Blackout pistol but it has a very limited range so that's where the Legend steps in. Using Hornady 170gr I can reach 300yds at the range. My hunting Legend is on an AR platform.

 

[Shadow9mm]

I've never understood those stupid laws in the few states that have them. And have also wondered why the citizen's (Hunter's) of those states don't protest or boycott those states Wildlife agencies to change those restrictions.

They make no sense!

its that way here in Indina. The main reason that has always been explained to me is the population density and flatness of the land causing too high a risk of a round overshooting.

For years we were restricted to shotguns, muzzle loaders, pistol caliber rifles, pistols and rifle calibers in pistols. over the past couple years they have opened things up. straight wall rifle (with case size limitations so no 45/70) being allowed on public land. And bottle neck with case and caliber limitations allowed on private land.

So in short, government regulations created a niche.

With that said, due to 350 legend using proprietary formatted bullets makes it a no go for me. You can't just use any .357 bullet.

If your itching to get one really really bad I would get one of the ruger bolt guns and see what you think of the cartridge before you build a custom gun.

 

[stagpanther]

You can't just use any .357 bullet.

the 350 legend is nothing more than 9mm Luger in drag.

 

[taylorce1]

For a short range deer rifle.....Bolt Action controlled round feed, mechanical ejector, BDL trigger guard, manlicher stock, peep rear sight....or maybe a small rods on the front receiver ring.

Sounds like a cool rifle regardless of the cartridge it shoots. However, as Scorch eluded to the economics haven't been planned very well. Once you start putting together costs, a rifle like you described will not be a pratical build.

As Scorch said the only .350 Legend sized CRF action was built by Kimber. They don't make them anymore in regular production, so a used or NOS rifle commands a premium. You'll easily be around $2K in a donor rifle and installing a new barrel. You'll also want to work out any possible feeding, extraction, reliability issues at this point before moving on with the project.

Then you'll be $500+ in finding a blank to build your full stock out of. Not to mention, you'll want to build a pattern stock first so you get the dimensions right before you start carving on that nice blank you bought for your finished rifle. So now you've basically built two stocks for one rifle.

Then we haven't go into the other nickle and dollar stuff that drives up the costs. Like metal engraving, inlays, checkering, front and rear sights, sling mounts, butt plates or recoil pads, and metal finishes. I think a realistic budget would start north of $7K on the bottom end.

 

[mehavey]

Stag & I always see this elephant differently.

Get a 356 Lee sizer and pretty much any 35 caliber pistol/rifle bullet can be used.
(one of the best being Speer's 180FP Corlok)

(100yds/AR)


As to Taylorce... you didn't tell your wife you were in this gun-game to save money did you?



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