I been looking at 450 bushmasters for awhile now to hunt this year with to replace using my muzzleloader or slug gun. I narrowed it down to the savage 110 haymaker, but my friend bought a 350 savage axis and is trying to convince me that the 350 would be better. I have been looking at effective ranges and both seem to be capable of what I will be shooting. I'm thinking 200 yard max maybe 250 I doubt I could shoot 300 yards. I hunt mostly out of ladder stands, and home made brushed in ground blinds. Is there a real benefit going 450? or should I just buy a savage 350? I am not afraid of recoil either just want to get the most accurate weapon that will put the deer down.
Is 350 legend better for deer hunting than 450
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Jay Davenport
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Fwiw I know of only one other who has used the 350L on Black Bear. He used the Win 180 Power Point factory load at 2100fps to take a 275# bear over bait in PA last year.
The 180PP is quicker expanding than the 170 Hornady due to it’s large round nose of exposed lead making it a much better deer bullet than the Hornady’s 170SP smaller round nose spitzer type nose. It will expand but the smaller exposed lead nose delays and limits expansion to caliber size in order to ensure maximum penetration or maintain integrity if bone is struck. It is a very sturdy design and would be the perfect candidate if pushing beyond factory velocities. Will it hold up on a bear shoulder? I don’t know and don’t have time to test in media for something I would use once in this lifetime. The 450 with a mono is a surefire choice and gets the nod.
I’ve killed deer with a 140 Ftx at only 1100 fps impact velocity and watched then fall within 20 yds of being hit. Another one with the 180xtp out of a single shot 357 mag with MV of 1450fps at 100 yds and it dropped on the shot. Numerous deer taken wirh .357 Maximum at identical velocities of the factory 350L and they also drop just as quick.
The important thing is none of those bullets exited because they pistol bullets and designed to expand at lower velocities. Just like the 450 and the 250 ftx.
Now we essentially have a .357 Maximum repeating rifle with “rifle” bullets.
Sure you can resize the .357 pistol bullets to .356 and shoot deer with HP’s or you can shoot them with any 9mm bullet without sizing. But why?
Many said this caliber would fail...same as all the 450bm nay-sayers 5-10yrs ago...yet they go off the shelves as fast as they are pit on them..
The 180PP is quicker expanding than the 170 Hornady due to it’s large round nose of exposed lead making it a much better deer bullet than the Hornady’s 170SP smaller round nose spitzer type nose. It will expand but the smaller exposed lead nose delays and limits expansion to caliber size in order to ensure maximum penetration or maintain integrity if bone is struck. It is a very sturdy design and would be the perfect candidate if pushing beyond factory velocities. Will it hold up on a bear shoulder? I don’t know and don’t have time to test in media for something I would use once in this lifetime. The 450 with a mono is a surefire choice and gets the nod.
I’ve killed deer with a 140 Ftx at only 1100 fps impact velocity and watched then fall within 20 yds of being hit. Another one with the 180xtp out of a single shot 357 mag with MV of 1450fps at 100 yds and it dropped on the shot. Numerous deer taken wirh .357 Maximum at identical velocities of the factory 350L and they also drop just as quick.
The important thing is none of those bullets exited because they pistol bullets and designed to expand at lower velocities. Just like the 450 and the 250 ftx.
Now we essentially have a .357 Maximum repeating rifle with “rifle” bullets.
Sure you can resize the .357 pistol bullets to .356 and shoot deer with HP’s or you can shoot them with any 9mm bullet without sizing. But why?
Many said this caliber would fail...same as all the 450bm nay-sayers 5-10yrs ago...yet they go off the shelves as fast as they are pit on them..
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If you are curious on the effectiveness of a 350 Legend on game animals search out 357 Remington Maximum. It’s ballistically the same round. Bear and bull elk have been killed with the round.
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I am with you. I don't see the hype in the .350 or the .450, BUT I don't have limitations where I live/hunt so I can understand the desire IF I did.
Now, my buddy hunts Ohio and Michigan, he bought a .450 for taking down there. He loves it and it does shoot nice, but my God is it stupid loud. He took a doe with it last year on his property just to see how it does and get some meat and he said he is happy with it. He is a true hunter so I believe him, he wouldn't say it just because he owns one like a lot of people would.
My cousin won a .350 on a gun raffle. It is a cool little gun for smaller framed people and kids who can't handle more recoil. But I can't see a reason an able-bodied person would spend money on one. That is just me though, I am not going to fault someone for it and I have never shot a deer with one so there is that also. He does like the gun, but he said the same thing, he wouldn't ever go out and buy one on purpose.
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Thanks for all the input. I think I'm going to go with ruger ar 556 in 350. I like the idea of 16 in barell for maneuverability, semi auto for follow up or multiple targets and soft recoil. I do like xpr with wood stock as well costs less but I may pay extra for ruger ar for these couple benefits
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I was thinking of getting one to upgrade my 20ga slug gun and also let my daughter shoot.
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I'm looking to upgrade from my savage 220 as well.
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I suppose in place of a 20ga it would be adequate or even an improvement. Especially with less recoil for kids.
Idk why I feel that way about a smaller "rifle", because I think a 20ga is a badasss deer killer in the right application. These aren't any different.
Idk why I feel that way about a smaller "rifle", because I think a 20ga is a badasss deer killer in the right application. These aren't any different.
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A .350 will, at the very least, have less muzzle blast, less recoil, and likely be more accurate, than any 20GA slug gun. The ammo cost far less than much of what is out there for the 20GA.
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Do you see any benefits going with 22 inch bolt gun over 16 inch ar platform?
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Well, beyond the velocity, it's a matter of what you like.
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Jay I had the Ruger MPR in 350. It was a shooter. It was very soft. Ised for calling coyotes more than deer hunting. It was just as accurate.
Only problem was the mags. They wound the 10 rd mag’s spring solid to limit it to 5 round and this puts undue pressure of rounds against bottom of the bolt.
Easy fix. Stretch mag spring about 3-4 of the coils and clip it off. Throw rest of wound coils in trash and put back together. It will now hold 9 or ten rounds and cycle like nobody’s business.
Only problem was the mags. They wound the 10 rd mag’s spring solid to limit it to 5 round and this puts undue pressure of rounds against bottom of the bolt.
Easy fix. Stretch mag spring about 3-4 of the coils and clip it off. Throw rest of wound coils in trash and put back together. It will now hold 9 or ten rounds and cycle like nobody’s business.
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I had the Ruger Mpr iin 350 legend and it shot as well as the bolt guns within 50fps of the 18” bolt guns. Softer.. 22” barrels dont start to shine until you start handloading and then u can really see a difference.
In an AR I would only have the 16”, as it would not feel very balanced and heavy.
In an AR I would only have the 16”, as it would not feel very balanced and heavy.
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Thank you, I will not be handloading so I will probably just go with Ruger AR.
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My Ruger loved the Win 150 xp’s and literally had no muzzle rise as they are the softest shooting of the 350 factory loads.
The MPR has a 2 stage trigger which is nice if you like dual stage. I like single stage triggers but the Ruger’s so nice I left and learned to like it.
The MPR has a 2 stage trigger which is nice if you like dual stage. I like single stage triggers but the Ruger’s so nice I left and learned to like it.
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Well I just bought a cva scout .450 and I have to say the rumors are true. This is a tack driver for sure. If the .350 is anything like this I don’t think you could go wrong. I thought I missed the target on my second shot and I was all upset because it’s like 2’x3’ so I walked down just to make sure and looked close and sure enough that hole was just a little bit oval from just barely clipping the edge of the hole from my first shot. The groups continued from there and this is after I got it dialed in at 100 yards after shooting 30 rounds. The recoil isn’t bad at all but after 30 rounds you do feel it a little bit but definitely tolerable.
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In case that left any doubt in my mind this was 3 more shots at the same target because I had 3 more rounds to burn. 7 rounds in all.
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You will usually find that the folks that feel the .450 is better have usually already spent the money on it............................
The .350 is the one i will buy just because its a short range weapon and I would like to capitalize on that with less recoil. I just wish I could find a scout model with a real nice wood stock.
My friend has hunted with the Ruger .44 mag model for years and loves it. He killed a few nice bucks in side of 200 yrds with that model. The largest buck only went about 70 yrds.
What a nice handling rifle that is.
The .350 is the one i will buy just because its a short range weapon and I would like to capitalize on that with less recoil. I just wish I could find a scout model with a real nice wood stock.
My friend has hunted with the Ruger .44 mag model for years and loves it. He killed a few nice bucks in side of 200 yrds with that model. The largest buck only went about 70 yrds.
What a nice handling rifle that is.
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Move er left an inch
nice shooting. My brother's and myself had same issues with their 450s. Punching same holes and different shooters at that !
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The Winchester XP 150s shoot well out of my Savage 110
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I am not sure but in think CVA is part of that company Bargaua. I know they were know for some premium barrels and custom rifles. Maybe they are working the same magic on the New CVA rifles.
I need to check out the CVA rifles.
I need to check out the CVA rifles.
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