350 Legend

[Timinator]

I have a custom built Smokless muzzle loader that I use here in Ohio for both Shotgun and ML. It's just an amazing gun. I shoot 200gr SST's out to 300 yards with absolute certainity on where it's going to hit (without big wind). I really enjoy shooting this gun. A local guy here in Ohio builds them and he's more anal than a brain surgen on his builds. He'll build a ML's around the bullet you want to shoot too. That said, the new 20 gauge slug Savage bolt guns are pretty darn sweet. I have two buddies who have bought them and I've done some shooting with them here on my property. They shoot very nice and are very repetitive. I wouldn't hesistate in taking a 200 yard shot in light wind with these guns. If you're interested in a custom Smokless gun IM me and I'll give you his contact info.

 

[Telemark]

can confirm, its a killer...

Not super thrilled with the exit hole/etc, but i did kill one.

I think it'll be a good kids gun, If I need to carry a hammer into the woods, I'll probably take my 20 gauge

What didn't you like about the exit hole, etc.?

 

[roymunson]

it left the same size as it went in. Generally with a ballistic tip you'd get it blowing a hole in it.
Its a good gun, but I think it'll be a great youth gun, which I have a use for.

Either that or I'm not operating it quite right. I may sing a different tune if I'd smoked her. And that may be on me. I'll have to fiddle with it some more.

 

[TenPoint]

95 gr out of a 243 kills deer just fine?

I shoot 100 gr hornady out of my .243. Hasn't let me down in 24 years.

 

[roymunson]

sounds good to me. I'll make sure its accurate and go to town

 

[Telemark]

it left the same size as it went in. Generally with a ballistic tip you'd get it blowing a hole in it.
Its a good gun, but I think it'll be a great youth gun, which I have a use for.

Either that or I'm not operating it quite right. I may sing a different tune if I'd smoked her. And that may be on me. I'll have to fiddle with it some more.

My .308 often does that. And my slugs have always done that. Even the .45-70 dis that on the one doe I shot with it. It can, and often does mean that the round performed perfectly. It left most of the energy inside the deer, and the bullet was going fast enough to penetrate clear through, but slow enough to avoid blowing out the opposite side. In fact, the Nosler Partition bullet is designed to do exactly that. I don't think the size of the exit wound is necessarily a way to judge the effectiveness of a round.

How far did the deer travel after being hit? How was it hit? How fast did the bullet kill the deer? What organs were hit? How did the organs look? I think these factors are far more important than the size of the exit wound.

 

[roymunson]

My .308 often does that. And my slugs have always done that. Even the .45-70 dis that on the one doe I shot with it. It can, and often does mean that the round performed perfectly. It left most of the energy inside the deer, and the bullet was going fast enough to penetrate clear through, but slow enough to avoid blowing out the opposite side. In fact, the Nosler Partition bullet is designed to do exactly that. I don't think the size of the exit wound is necessarily a way to judge the effectiveness of a round.

How far did the deer travel after being hit? How was it hit? How fast did the bullet kill the deer? What organs were hit? How did the organs look? I think these factors are far more important than the size of the exit wound.

It was not a perfect shot. She was about 40-50 yards broadside. I hit her a little back, and when I gutted her, i'd obliterated the liver.

However, I was fortunate enough that she bedded down in the woods 40 yards behind me and gave me a shot to finish her off.
She was facing me and caught the final bullet with her head. That'll do the job.

Gonna go shoot the gun again and make sure I'm dialed in at 100 yards. The rest is on the ballistics chart.

By comparison, a 5 year old buck was shot that morning, quartering away and it was admittedly a better placed shot, but he didn't go anywhere.

I'm not knocking the gun, this deer in particular was more operator error than anything else, However, was just saying this gun won't be as forgiving as some of the heavier rounds.

 

[roymunson]

Well, I went and reshot it. i was off a touch, so that's probalby part of it. It'll make a great youth gun, and I plan on hunting with it from time to time, but it doesn't have the forgiveness that a harder hitting bullet does.

However, we're dialed at 150 yards now and that'll make it 1" high at 50 an 1.5" high at 100

That'll get the job done.

 

[Telemark]

It was not a perfect shot. She was about 40-50 yards broadside. I hit her a little back, and when I gutted her, i'd obliterated the liver.

However, I was fortunate enough that she bedded down in the woods 40 yards behind me and gave me a shot to finish her off.
She was facing me and caught the final bullet with her head. That'll do the job.

Gonna go shoot the gun again and make sure I'm dialed in at 100 yards. The rest is on the ballistics chart.

By comparison, a 5 year old buck was shot that morning, quartering away and it was admittedly a better placed shot, but he didn't go anywhere.

I'm not knocking the gun, this deer in particular was more operator error than anything else, However, was just saying this gun won't be as forgiving as some of the heavier rounds.

Hard to judge a round by that shot. But a liver hit that hard should be fatal in less than 20 minutes. The liver is very vascular, and a gunshot to the liver is a lot more serious than an cut from an arrow. I've hit a few deer in the liver with a gun, and none of them made it more than 75 yards.

I do agree that the round is less forgiving than many of the other options. But if you do your part, the round will do its part.

I talked to my dad this evening, and it turns out he and his brother have purchased Savage rifles in .350 Legend this year. My dad didn't shoot anything, but my uncle took two deer with his. Both deer went down no problem.

I think you have a winner of a rifle, but yes, shot placement will be a bit more important than the bigger wrecking-ball cartridges.

 

[Booner21]

I have a custom built Smokless muzzle loader that I use here in Ohio for both Shotgun and ML. It's just an amazing gun. I shoot 200gr SST's out to 300 yards with absolute certainity on where it's going to hit (without big wind). I really enjoy shooting this gun. A local guy here in Ohio builds them and he's more anal than a brain surgen on his builds. He'll build a ML's around the bullet you want to shoot too. That said, the new 20 gauge slug Savage bolt guns are pretty darn sweet. I have two buddies who have bought them and I've done some shooting with them here on my property. They shoot very nice and are very repetitive. I wouldn't hesistate in taking a 200 yard shot in light wind with these guns. If you're interested in a custom Smokless gun IM me and I'll give you his contact info.

Curious who built your gun? Don’t see many people still shooting the 200gr sst in smokeless builds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DJN]

it left the same size as it went in. Generally with a ballistic tip you'd get it blowing a hole in it.
Its a good gun, but I think it'll be a great youth gun, which I have a use for.

Either that or I'm not operating it quite right. I may sing a different tune if I'd smoked her. And that may be on me. I'll have to fiddle with it some more.

Felt the same with the doe my wife shot using the 150gr Winchesters. Right on through without much sign of damage/shock. And as mentioned, when shooting them into gel this spring, not the best mushrooming.

I found a copper monolith bullet that looks good so far in gel and water jugs. Hoping a good buck walks by before Sunday evening so I can get some real world results. If a good doe shows on Sunday, the temptation may be more than I can handle.

 

[roymunson]

Went out with a buddy yesterday. Didn't see much until 20-25 minutes before dark. Had a doe at 60-70 yards and he used my gun. Double punched the lungs and blew lung debris and blood all over the snow til she died. Good blood trail.

Then one of the other does didn't run off far enough for her safety after that, he had a frontal shot and put it under her chin. She never took another step.

Turns out, guns wildly effective if you put the bullets where they're supposed to go. Go figure.

hahaha!

 

[roymunson]

well, after a season in the woods with the 350, it kills deer when you use it properly.

Only now, I want a 444 marlin. Not need, just a want.
I like the flat shooting and the heavier bullet out to 200 yards. 45-70 or 450 bushmaster seem to start dropping a lot after 150. Anyone wanna talk me out of it?

 

[Talonted]

We purchased a Ruger 350 at the end of 2019 and shot the Winchester 180 grains through it this season. Our youngest daughter harvested her first deer at 140 yards and she dropped on the spot. Our oldest daughter killed a 135” 8 point at 104 yards, double lung and he made it 60 yards. I was so impressed with the little gun, the wife and I both killed does during our shotgun season with it, both at 50 ish yards and neither made it out of the field. First deer I have killed with a gun in 24 years.
It’s been a great addition for our girls, they love shooting it and are ready for next season already!
If you have a young one or even a girlfriend/wife that is new to hunting, this little gun is a great one to consider.

 

[chickenlittle]

This has been an interesting thread. My oldest turns 9 next month and I've been thinking for a while about what to start her with for deer hunting. I want a low recoil round with available bolt action rifles and ammunition. Where we hunt, 150 yards is a long shot. I have been leaning toward 6.5 Grendel. After looking up the 350 Legend, I found some info on 6mm ARC which looks good too. I'll see which are still around in a couple years and decide.

But first she wants a pink Savage Rascal .22 for her birthday.

 

[Gravel Road]

This has been an interesting thread. My oldest turns 9 next month and I've been thinking for a while about what to start her with for deer hunting. I want a low recoil round with available bolt action rifles and ammunition. Where we hunt, 150 yards is a long shot. I have been leaning toward 6.5 Grendel. After looking up the 350 Legend, I found some info on 6mm ARC which looks good too. I'll see which are still around in a couple years and decide.

But first she wants a pink Savage Rascal .22 for her birthday.

I'd pick the Grendel out of those choices, although you wouldn't go wrong with any of them.

 

[roymunson]

Don't know anything about the Grendel. But that 350 is what my soon to be 9 year old will be using next year. With a shooting pod or a shooting stick, he'll get the job done.


I just did the 22 thing with him about 3 weeks ago. Savage w/ a rimfire scope. He can drive tacks already. This is gonna be a lot of fun in the next couple years. Also, probably not cheap...

 

[bwoods11]

Any preference for Savage, Ruger, Winchester? And why?

 

[DJN]

Any preference for Savage, Ruger, Winchester? And why?

We have a Savage 110 and a Ruger American (full size, not Ranch). I would pick the Ruger between the two. Little better fit and finish. Can’t complain about either of them accuracy wise. Savage chamber was definitely a little rough, with some tooling marks as well as small issue with the magazine. And neither of them feel as good/well built as my old hand-me-down, 50 year old+, bolt rifles. Lol

 

[Gravel Road]

Any preference for Savage, Ruger, Winchester? And why?

If you are looking for something on the inexpensive side don't overlook the Thompson Center Compass. They action isn't the smoothest, but I've never heard of one that wasn't a shooter. I bought a 6.5 Creedmoor as kind of a joke, but it had a threaded barrel and I needed a suppressor host quickly. With a rebate and veteran discount it was $199. Put a Nikon scope on it and have $300 into it, LoL. It will shoot under 1/2"! Went 4 for 4 on deer with it too.

Second choice would be the Ruger. Other solid options would be Howa or Weatherby Vanguard.