Ballistics are a wonderful thing, because they provide legitimate/scientific data to support estimations of cartridge effectiveness. Caliber Choice: Straight-Walled Cartridge Resurgence, Taurus Goes Large With Release Of The Full-Sized G3, CMMG Unleashes 10mm Banshee Pistol And SBR, Best 7mm Rem. Neckbone Armory is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Ill quickly cover what barrel length makes a firearm a rifle, SBR, or pistol and then cover the best barrel lengths for some of the most popular calibers and their different use cases. The .357 Magnum generally has a reputation as a fast and powerful round, at least for handguns, but Stopping Power WebThe 350 Legend is 10 percent more powerful and has 25 percent more velocity at the muzzle than 44 Magnum. This is a 150gr copper bullet with a ballistic coefficient G1 of .320 at 2450fps from my 20" barreled rifle with very little recoil, an honest 300+ yard deer round. Handgun and revolver type pistols most commonly have barrel lengths between 3 and 7 inches, while AR and AK style pistols will most commonly have barrel lengths between 7 and 16 inches. A carbine is most commonly any barrel length less than 18 inches and greater than 10 inches. The 30/30 has a slightly higher ballistic coefficient, so it should penetrate about 5 percent more. The speeds are also there. For close quarters or indoors, its really personal preference to sacrifice the muzzle velocity for ease of use and concealability. The velocity gains approach full rifle levels, and this .350 Legend seems to take that a little further still. If you sit the 350 Legend side by side with a 5.56 round, you'll notice they are roughly the same length. The Winchester factory round is rather anemic; it launches a 255-grain bullet at about 1,300 fps. It really boils down to max distance, drop, and how much the bullets are affected by a slight breeze. Compared to to .357 Magnum hunting loads, the 350 Legend tends to be faster, more powerful, and deliver straighter trajectories. Stop all AR-15 and AR-10 calibers with this RTS Tactical level 3+ Armor Kit. I have a contender pistol in 357 maximum and love it, but if the 350 legend had been available when I bought it I might have gone that route. The best barrel length for 45 ACP is 5 for use in most handguns. However, if using indoors or in close quarters, the difference between 3 and 5 inches is hard to notice. WebThe 350 Legend is arguably over twice as effective on deer-sized game than a rifle chambered in .357 Magnum. That means more muzzle energy and momentum than the .357 with a bigger hole, and with similar trajectory. Although, you will find the recoil to be similar. Some mistakenly consider it light for deer, but its an ideal short-range whitetail cartridge thatll shoot much more accurately than any slug. if you add to that the fact that you may have accidentally aimed 2 inches low (happens all the time), that means a gut-shot deer. But, you better not go beyond the practical limits or you will be an unhappy hunter. And actually, I've always maintained that if I had to choose a .357 Magnum or a .44 in a rifle, I'd choose .357 every-time. Some shooters prefer barrels as short as 12 for under 300 yard shots and 24 for out to 800 yard shots or further. The best barrel length for a 44 Magnum rifle is 16.5 to achieve good powder burn and velocity. In a single shot I would be happy with either. Sure .44 hits hard, but that's a lot to do with the mass of the bullet over how fast it's going. Barrels longer than 22 show no real improvement over the 18-20 barrels. For distances above 500 yards, a 22 or longer rifle barrel is best. I bought my 350 Legend specifically as a do-all cartridge here in Michigan. Examples of minimum length requirements in federal law [ATF-NFA] include: 16 inch barrel length for rifles, 18 inch barrel length for shotguns, and 26 inch overall length for both rifles and shotguns. .357 good 44mag better. With these shorter length barrels being advantageous for home defense, most people will opt for an AR pistol. The 350 Legend will shoot deer much farther and has better bullets available. The best barrel length for a 357 Magnum is 16 for maximum velocity, 20 for maximum accuracy, and 3 for maximum concealment and portability. After all, with modern loads, you can do just about anything with this old warhorse. You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers. Copyright 1996-2023 AR15.COM LLC. Hornadys 170-grain American Whitetail soft-point load, for example, managed 1,551 feet per second out of the Model 350 as compared to 2,200 feet per second from a rifle barrel. Once the powder is burned up in the barrel, any extra barrel length can decrease velocity at the muzzle. This is a revolver round that, from a rifle, will push a 270-grain bullet to similar velocities of around 1,800 fps. A pistol can have any barrel length under 16 inches, and will often be between 3 and 16 inches. However, 8 and even 7 barrels are very popular in 300 blackout pistols with the use of subsonic ammunition and a suppressor. Short barreled rifles can have any barrel length less than 16 inches to be considered an SBR. Latest: Pitchinwedge 3 minutes ago Fishing Chit Chat Thai curry fish cakes Latest: Cactus Chris 7 minutes ago Fishing and Hunting Cooking Recipes garmin gt52hw Latest: thesaltyhooker 7 minutes ago Classifieds Node Pay First However, for 2019, Marlin reintroduced the .444 in the Model 1895 rifle; and, as straight-wall cartridges go, this is a good one. Stopping Power and Caliber. I like the traditional .357 magnum. Interesting length choice as that is the case length of a 460 S&W, which the law at one point read "traditional straight wall pistol cartridge." Winchester designed the cartridge from the ground up. The name's Jordan, but friends call me Jordy. The best barrel length for a 300 blackout pistol is 9 to achieve maximum velocity and powder burn in the shortest length barrel. Barrels above 20 inches for 5.56 have diminishing returns and are not worth the extra barrel length. Anything above a 26 barrel for 6.5 Grendel doesnt make much sense statistically. However, for precision rifle shooting (PRS) 24 to 26 inch barrels will generate higher muzzle velocities. That extra 4 inches doesnt do as much youd think. I know no one likes that answer but I just wouldnt shoot 5.56 out of a 7 inch barrel, but 9mm I would. 14-16 barrels are generally considered best for an all purpose rifle chambered in 223. Judging from the ballistic coefficient alone, the 30-30 has a slight advantage. It's a little bullet with a decent velocity, but will it actually fill the freezer? When youre taking shots at just a couple hundred yards, 20 to 22 inch or 18 inch suppressed barrels are considered optimal for 6.5 Creedmoor. the biggest difference for me is that there is cheap fmj ammo available for the 350. Ruger and Mossberg are offering it in compact bolt-action rifles, and we are starting to see new ammunition being introduced. Theres a wide array of factory loads to choose from and, like the .357 Magnum, it will deliver better accuracy than slug guns. With a rifle length gas system, the 20 barrels do almost as well as the longer 24 barrels, and the 12 to 16 barrels using a mid-length gas system will be pretty similar as well. The 350 has a lighter kick than a 243 or 30-30! Of course, youll have a shorter effective range to use the firearm but for home defense youll rarely need to get past 50 yards. Different calibers will have different optimal barrel lengths for different scenarios. Stopping Power ( Should you buy one, I will earn a small commission). Initially loaded with a .458-caliber, 405-grain bullet and ahead of 70 grains of blackpowder, it generated more than 2,000 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. For longer range shooting, a 16 barrel or longer will be better to suppress depending on caliber and distance. Shooters that plan on using only iron sights often opt for a 20 or longer barrel on a 357 Magnum rifle because the increased sight radius gives the rifle greater accuracy at farther distances. A lot of people like to add a suppressor especially since the intended use is probably indoors. If you want a bolt action or AR15, or if your going to buy factory ammo, then 350 legend then 350 legend is it. That gives plenty of velocity and allows for longer range shots while still letting the rifle remain fairly portable. Anything above a 20 barrel in 5.56 isnt much of an improvement. The .357 Magnum generally has a reputation as a fast and powerful round, at least for handguns, but Don't miss a story! is more comparable to the .350 Legend, but youre losing power and velocity. All Rights Reserved. Using the same case head diameter of the .223 Remington at a length of 1.71-inch, the 350 Legend uses a .357-inch diameter bullet, for a combination that is very easy on the shoulder while being effective downrange. Winchester designed the cartridge from the ground up. Barrel lengths as short as 3 inches for 9mm are more popular for those who want to conceal the handgun in a purse or on their person. The 350 Legend will punch through it with every ammo available. The 350 Legend has a slightly higher Ballistic Coefficient which means it takes longer to slow down than the 44 Mag. comparing similar 180-grain bullets, it has more initial energy and more expected velocity in 16-inch barrels. (source). .350 Legend is 55,000 and headspaces on that tiny piece of metal we call case mouth. If you want a bolt action or AR15, or if your going to buy factory ammo, then 350 legend then 350 legend is it. The best barrel length for a 458 SOCOM is 16 to achieve maximum powder burn and muzzle velocity. Judging from the ballistic coefficient alone, the 30-30 has a slight advantage. Most 12 gauge shotguns are sold with 26 or 28 barrels, however, the velocity difference between a 22 and 30 barrel is negligible. Remember, the point is not to keep things at the lowest minimum, but to keep things reliable. Many AR-9 SBRs and 9mm pistols are between 7 and 10 inches. 10.5 is considered the shortest length you can go while retaining some reliability with a 5.56 AR pistol. 350 Ledgend vs 357 Rem Max | Bloodydecks Latest posts Sportboat anglers gearing up for new regulations? I give a lower figure as a more practical minimum energy. Therefore, bullets exit the muzzle at approximately .355 when fired from any of those three cartridges. Some even opt for shorter 6 inch barrels for really compact builds that will shoot subsonic ammo from a suppressed 22lr pistol. Now, the .450 Bushmaster is seeing a grand resurgence, and its all because of the straight-wall cartridge allowances. The nominal rim diameter is identical as well, but the 350 Legend does not use the 5.56 as its parent case like the 300 Blackout. After about 10 of barrel length, the velocity increase per barrel inch slows way down though. It can handle bullets that are more aerodynamic. The .350 Legend loads that normally reach 2,200 to 2,300 feet per second manage between 1,500 and 1,800 fps out of the Model 350s 7.5-inch barrel. How to Fix, Why Does My Glock Rattle? As you can see, there isnt a crazy difference between 20 and 24 barrels with 6.5 Grendel. It will shoot a bit flatter than the .45-70 Government or .444 Marlin. This is still allowed as far as I know at the time of this writing. The difference really is astounding when you compare the ballistic and energies in these two hunting rounds. This is partly because its essentially intended for just a smattering of states. The 44 Magnum has 100-yards less effective range than a 350 Legend. The best barrel length for 6.5 Creedmoor long range shooting is 28 inches, however, many shooters dont see much difference between 28 and 26 and will opt for the lighter, more popular, 26 inch barrel for precision rifle shooting (PRS). Sure .44 hits hard, but that's a lot to do with the mass of the bullet over how fast it's going. Based on in-field experience, thats the minimum impact velocity that will still create full expansion with hunting ammo 350 legend ammo. For .450 Bushmaster and .444 Marlin, youre looking at $41 to $49 per box, and .45-70 Govt. Federal sells their .350 Legend cartridges between $26 and $32 for a box of 20. Short barreled rifles are subject to the NFA and require a tax stamp, which costs about $200 right now. However, most 10mm ARs perform well with 8 to 10 barrels. For .450 Bushmaster and .444 Marlin, youre looking at $41 to $49 per box, and .45-70 Govt. This sounds very similar to an SBR because it essentially is except the SBR has a stock instead of a brace. The 350 has a lighter kick than a 243 or 30-30! I bought a barreled upper in 350 Legend for my AR. The Best Barrel Length for 350 Legend AR Pistol The best barrel length for a 5.56 for home defense is 10.5 inches, however, 11.5 and 12.5 inch barrels are also popular for this use. Besides, that is one of the most popular barrel lengths anyway. In general though, a majority of AR pistols are between 10.5 and 14.5 inches. It would be easily duplicated with the Winchester 350 legend. Common Causes and What Can be Done to Prevent It, Why a Glock Will Stovepipe: Failure to Eject Issues Resolved, Which Revolver Is Most Powerful? The best barrel length for a 12 gauge slug is 20 for 2 and 3/4 shells and 24 for some 3 shells to achieve maximum velocity. The best barrel length for a 338 Lapua is 26 for plenty of accuracy and power out to 500-700 yards. Winchester released the .350 Legend at the 2019 SHOT Show. It makes a good middle ground hunting rifle in my opinion. I recommend RTS Tactical for reliable, rifle-stopping options, Youre worth it. If youre interested, I have an article detailing the ballistics of 350 Legend with various barrel lengths. Both are 36 caliber bullets (listed as 0.357, with variance), but one has much higher powder volume, chamber pressure, and initial energy. I wont be so bold as to predict the future of the .350 Legend. Thats where it begins to hit a ballistic wall. -The 45 Colt is a slower moving round than the .357 Magnum, which makes it more effective at close range. It would be easily duplicated with the Winchester 350 legend. The best barrel length for 5.56 for long range shooting is 20 inches. WebThe 350 Legend is arguably over twice as effective on deer-sized game than a rifle chambered in .357 Magnum. Thats why I recommend the 180 grain for both cartridges. Safety mostly, but I do like the versatility range of the 45-70 vs the 450. But the SBR is also meant to be easy to use and carry around. Everything below is accurate at time of writing but is not a substitute for legal advice. The 44 Magnum has 100-yards less effective range than a 350 Legend. The best barrel length for dove, pheasant, quail, and bird hunting is 28 because hunting bird is rarely a close encounter scenario. For me the problem is that 350 legend headspaces on case mouth (as there is no rim like .357 or .41 mag) Normally, a cartridge that headspaces on case mouth does not see more than say 37,000 psi of pressure. see more at [ 1] This cartridge has become extremely popular for older hunters and youth hunters for that reason. The compact 16.38-inch barrel has a 1:16 rate of twist. Both cartridges can look similar to the eye, but they are most certainly not. If that happens, the .350 Legend will, in truth, be little more than a legend. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Barrels over 16 will not increase velocity significantly because the 458 SOCOM round was optimized for barrels as short as 9.5 and is popular in AR pistol builds. From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm. Many owners of a 357 snub nose will swear by the 3 inch barrel. Hornady's 165-grain FTX Customs are doing 2,200-fps and are hitting with 1,773-foot pounds of energy. It should be a hit in states previously allowing only shotguns. Firearms companies soon realized there was a real market for a low recoil straight wall option capable of a higher muzzle velocity than the other straight wall options out there. I tend to be a bit old school and would probably go with the .45-70 Govt. Enter the 350 Legend. The .350 Legend is no better. You do lose some accuracy at distances over 300 yards when compared to an 18 inch barrel, for example. WebThe 350 Legend has a BC that ranges between 0.186 to 0.264, which is not very impressive if you're a long-range shooter but remember this caliber maxes out at 250yds and performs best below 200 yards. Many 22lr rifles were intended to be shot with iron sights, so having an extra 10 inches between the front and rear sights made the shooter a lot more accurate. The 350 Legend has over twice the effective range of the .357. it was designed as a 250-yard rifle capable of taking Mule Deer, Cougars, and Mountain Sheep. While no modern rifles are chambered for the .375 Winchester, you can find them on the used market, and Winchester still offers a 200-grain Power Point load at 2,200 fps. I wasnt impressed, I think the difference was like 100 to 200 ft/sec. I'm not exactly a diehard with pistol-caliber carbines but I definitely enjoy them. Best 6.5 Creedmoor Barrel Length for Hunting, Best Barrel Length for 6.5 Creedmoor Long Range, Best Barrel Length for 6.5 Grendel Long Range, Best Barrel Length for 6.5 Grendel Hunting, Best Barrel Length for 6.5 Grendel Pistol/SBR, The Best Barrel Length for 350 Legend AR Pistol, Best Barrel Length for A 9mm Pistol AR/PCC/Carbine/SBR, Best Barrel Length for 357 Magnum Revolver, Best Barrel Length for 300 Blackout Pistol, Best Barrel Length for A Hunting Revolver, Best Barrel Length for Dove/Pheasant/Quail/Bird Hunting, Why is My Glock Not Accurate: Common Reasons and How to Fix, Why Does My Glock Shoot Low and to the Left? Enter the 350 Legend. comparing similar 180-grain bullets, it has more initial energy and more expected velocity in 16-inch barrels. WebThe 350 Legend is essentially a long pistol round using pistol powder so 16 tends to be optimal. the 180-grain bullet will give the best penetration from both the .357 and 350. Plus, the 30/30 is pretty much limited to a tube-fed lever gun, I can shoot 350 Legend in my AR-15. Bottom line: Pick the one you like the best. If shooting anywhere past 400 or 500 yards having a 20 inch barrel is beneficial. The low bullet mass is With almost every type of 9mm ammo I used, the percentage increase of velocity after 7 drops significantly. is more comparable to the .350 Legend, but youre losing power and velocity. The 350 has a lighter kick than a 243 or 30-30! The .357 Magnum generally has a reputation as a fast and powerful round, at least for handguns, but It's a true joy for hunters young and old to use.. At that point, it is equal to a 40 S&W in a short pistol. Fortunately, lawmakers and wildlife agencies have mostly come to their senses in the last decade or so. Any barrel length under 6 inches will suffer greater muzzle velocity loss, however, that loss is considered acceptable when concealment is a factor. Theres also some legal definitions around shorter barrels. After all, the military chose the 14.5 inch barrel for the 5.56 round for a reason. There are other firearm designations but the most. WebThe 357 mag made for an excellent self-defense round for many years, and countless people still carry it for self-defense today. Federal sells their .350 Legend cartridges between $26 and $32 for a box of 20. I will use the cheap fmj for small game and coyotes, and a good 180-grain load for deer hunting. A good place to start looking for barrels is Here at OpticsPlanet. Besides, that is one of the most popular barrel lengths anyway. The 350 is kind of a flash in the pan but its limited. A 5 barrel would give more velocity, but the drop from 4 to 3 is more significant than the drop from 5 to 4 is in terms of velocity loss. Is TC producing a 350 Legend barrel? The minimum impact velocity for the .357 Magnum is somewhere between 1,200 and 1,000 fps, depending on the particular bullet. The expansion threshold shows that both cartridges are a short-range choice. Knowing the weird laws above can help clarify a bit why some of the barrel lengths below have become so popular. The best barrel length for duck hunting is 28 because duck shots tend to be at a good distance. The best barrel length for the 7mm Rem Mag is 26 for maximum velocity and powder burn. However, many shooters prefer the portability of the 20 barrel since it doesnt sacrifice much in terms of distance and velocity. Of course, its compatibility with the AR-15 is tempting to a lot of deer hunters who were previously regulated to shotguns. Compared to to .357 Magnum hunting loads, the 350 Legend tends to be faster, more powerful, and deliver straighter trajectories. Deer hunters in the Midwest have long been stymied by antiquated deer hunting laws that heavily restricted the types of firearms they were allowed to use on whitetail deer. The longer barrels will help accuracy because the shooter will have greater sight radius. It makes a lot of sense in those scenarios, but some shooters would opt for the 357 Sig in that case. Sure, you can just adjust for bullet drop. It is a true joy to shoot, and you'll be more accurate because of it. The 350 Legend SAAMI bullet diameter is specified at .357-.003. The .350 Legend is no better. The best barrel length for 6mm ARC is 18 inches for a rifle with good velocity that is still relatively easy to transport. The velocity gains approach full rifle levels, and this .350 Legend seems to take that a little further still. Before buying a new firearm, many gun owners want to know what the best barrel length is for a certain application. Some people like to get a 14.5 barrel and weld on a muzzle device making the entire barrel length 16 compliant. Originally conceived by the late Elgin Gates and called the .357 SuperMag, the new round was very straightforward. Humans have a way of working around legislation: Give us a rule, law or guideline, and well find a way to circumvent it. Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2019 Shooter's Guide issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. Personally I prefer to conceal my 3.5 inch barrel 9mm single stack in my waistband. The best barrel length for a 270 WIN is 22-24 for the optimal ratio of length vs velocity. This site will have something for everybody! Barrel lengths between 10-14 are best for portability in close quarters, and 20 barrels are best if your goal is long range shooting. That being said, if you will be hand-loading and are choosing your barrel length for absolute accuracy at distance for PRS, then the 24 barrel is the way to go. if you look at a 180-grain bullet for both the 350 and .357, you will see that the .350 has a flat blunt nose, while the 350 is longer and pointed. A revolver has no safetys to manipulate during a VERY high stress situation such as a bear attack and not all 1911s have ambidextrous controls should your gun hand be injured. The 180-grain bullet will have more energy and penetration. For the most part, I dont recommend taking a shot beyond 200 yards with any 350 Legend ammo. A box of .357 Mag. The best barrel length for the 50 BMG is 32 for a good long range rifle. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. -The 45 Colt is a slower moving round than the .357 Magnum, which makes it more effective at close range. Cwlongshot Cast Bullet Guy Supporter Joined Jan 17, 2014 Messages 13,606 Likes 47,945 Location Jordan has taught marksmanship, woodsmanship, and self-defense classes. Winchester is even offering a more affordable non-hunting practice load in its USA line. Similar bullet tolerances also exist for 357 Magnum and 357 Maximum. Originally conceived by the late Elgin Gates and called the .357 SuperMag, the new round was very straightforward. Your family is worth it. The most popular barrel lengths range from 16 to 22 for 6.5 Grendel. There is a point of diminishing accuracy returns with barrel length. Its all due to the bullet shape. At those distances, both are at the minimum energy threshold for deer of 750 ft/lbs. Its unethical to shoot an animal if you know its not a sure shot. If you are wanting to use an expanding bullet for the .357, make note of that.

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