The up and coming 350 Legend and 450 Bushmaster cartridges. Why?

I think they prefer the AR platform, as these rounds being designed to fit that platform is where their popularity has came from.

I do not live in a straight wall only hunting state, but I still hunt with a 450 bushmaster AR.

The 350 Legend is to fit the regulations in states that are opening up shotgun zones to rifle. At least thats what I've read. The 450 Bushmaster is getting the most power out of a AR platform.

peacebutready said:

I noticed the 350 Legend and 450 Bushmaster are up and coming. Has there been a large increase in areas that demand straight-walled cartridges to hunt with?

Do people who would purchase a straight-walled chambered rifle prefer bolt action instead of lever action these days?

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Yes, there has been a large increase, because areas that used to demand shotgun slugs now allow straight-walled cartridges. Slippery slope: Foster slug users turned into sabot slug users and sabot slugs are pretty close to straight-wall rifle cartridges, so why don't we allow those too...

Many straight-wall states also have a length requirement, so that lever-action .45-70 is a no-go. Some people might also want to use an AR. Lever-actions are more expensive than a budget bolt gun. And the typical pistol-caliber lever-actions have less power (.357), velocity and range (.357 and .44) compared to the .450 and .350.

.350 Legend might be up and coming but the .450 BM has been here awhile and has a track record.

I hunt in a straight wall state. MI. It has a length requirement. I have a 450 BM upper for my AR but I’m going hunting with my 44 mag rifle and 20 ha rifled slug gun this year.

A few of my family have a .450 BM Ruger Americans. There are so many deer up there it is boring so why make it more boring by using one of those. Really the 450 has similar MPBR to a 20 ga slug. Ammo costs a lot less though so that means something.

3 reasons,

Several states recently made straight wall rifles legal for deer hunting. Some of those also have restrictions on cartridge length that exclude 444 and 45-70 lever rifles.

Many people want to hunt with an AR15 and see these as a better option than some of the smaller bore cartridges available in an AR15 for deer or hogs, even in non straight wall states.

There are bolt actions and AR15 uppers available in these cartridges that are much more cost effective than the lever action rifles available and the offer much better ballistics than a 357 magnum or 44 magnum, and less cost and recoil than 45/70 or 444.

peacebutready said:

Has there been a large increase in areas that demand straight-walled cartridges to hunt with?

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Yes and with the deer seasons approaching sales will probably surge in the next few weeks.

peacebutready said:

Do people who would purchase a straight-walled chambered rifle prefer bolt action instead of lever action these days?

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My firearms dealer sells a lot of both. AR's are very popular as well, maybe the most popular.

The Bushmaster is a decade old. It has had a recent growth in popularity over the last ~3-4yrs as more states have created straightwall only regulations. The 350 Legend was announced in February this year, and is finding success in these straightwall areas.

Both are valuable hunting cartridges in areas which don’t require straightwall cartridges, but they have a leg up in the market from these particular niches.

As other have said the increase in the number of straight-wall cartridge states (many are former slug only states) and the increase in the popularity of an AR as a hunting rifle are two major causes for these cartridge.

I personally am having a lot of fun with my 450 Bushmaster. Hopefully I kill a deer with it this year instead of just a bunch of varmints.

Because some big bore fans like AR’s too. I can get big bore performance out of my AR. I don’t really need it. I have my big bore leverguns. And I don’t think I’ve ever had to shoot twice. Also, 450’s are just plain fun to shoot.

I don’t live in a straight walled cartridge state, but if I did I would definitely pick the 350 Legend over the 450 BM strictly for the less recoil. That’s the gap that I think they were trying to fill with the 350 Legend. You get to use a pointy, more aerodynamic bullet with significantly less recoil than a 450 or 45-70.

I noticed just this morning on Short Action Customs Instagram page where they featured a custom .350 Legend for a customer built on a trued 700 action. I have a .358 Win that fills my .35 caliber needs but if I was restricted to straight walled cartridges I'd give that some serious consideration

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4SEGToJbey/?igshid=1sp2tn8zjy3m6

@Nature Boy - I ALMOST copied and posted it here this morning when I saw it too. That thing’s a wicked kitten!

@Nature Boy & @Varminterror that's a very cool rifle, I'd like to see one on a mini action. A CZ 527 would be very cool, but I'm not holding my breath. I'd bet some interesting things could be done with the cartridge on a bolt gun versus an AR

I don't live in a straight wall state and I already own a 444 and a 45-70, but if I did I would probably add a 350 legend pistol to the roster. My ultimate straight wall deer cartridge would be a 375 winchester in an encore or handi rifle action loaded +P.

Varminterror said:

@Nature Boy - I ALMOST copied and posted it here this morning when I saw it too. That thing’s a wicked kitten!

View attachment 868672

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@Nature Boy @Varminterror

if it didn’t weigh almost 11lbs I’d be a little happier but yeah I was stoked to see it!


PS Hornady just announced a new FTX 165 grain bullet for the 350L and it is loaded in thier
“Custom” ammo line

horsemen61 said:

if it didn’t weigh almost 11lbs I’d be a little happier but yeah I was stoked to see it!

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Where did you find the 11lb spec? The barrel is heavier than it could be, and the NV mount and base adds something like 1/2lb, but 11lbs really surprises me for that rig.

peacebutready said:

I noticed the 350 Legend and 450 Bushmaster are up and coming. Has there been a large increase in areas that demand straight-walled cartridges to hunt with?

Do people who would purchase a straight-walled chambered rifle prefer bolt action instead of lever action these days?

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Accuracy through volume.
Spray and pray.

horsemen61 said:

00


PS Hornady just announced a new FTX 165 grain bullet for the 350L and it is loaded in thier
“Custom” ammo line

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I'm always excited to see some new bullet to use in my 357 maximum but the ballistic coefficient is pretty ho hum. The BC on the old 180 grain SSP bullet was listed at .248. Its not even as good as the 180 XTP. I wonder how it performs in the real world compared to both.

https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/35-cal-.355-165-gr-ftx#!/

@someguy2800 - are you still loading the 180 SSP-SP #3505? I have 280-300 left which I simply won’t use. I used to trim the meplat to use in my 357/44 revolvers, but don’t shoot them any more. Lemme know if you’re looking for any, they’re just getting dusty on my shelf.

Varminterror said:

Where did you find the 11lb spec? The barrel is heavier than it could be, and the NV mount and base adds something like 1/2lb, but 11lbs really surprises me for that rig.

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10.6lbs

The Manners stocks are also on the heavy side

Varminterror said:

@someguy2800 - are you still loading the 180 SSP-SP #3505? I have 280-300 left which I simply won’t use. I used to trim the meplat to use in my 357/44 revolvers, but don’t shoot them any more. Lemme know if you’re looking for any, they’re just getting dusty on my shelf.

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I am out of them since the supply dried up so I shoot 180 xtp's now. I'll send you a PM.

Jack Ryan said:

Accuracy through volume.
Spray and pray.

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Where is that idea coming from? That seems like an broad brush you are using. There has been no talk of spraying and praying here. Just because a cartridge is used in and popular in an AR does not mean it requires such derided tactics. I have killed 3 critters with my 450 Bushmaster and did it with only three rounds.

Jack Ryan said:

Accuracy through volume.
Spray and pray.

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Hmm ok
I live in a straight wall state that just changed its laws 2-3 years ago, I own a 450 bushmaster Ar-15.
Some people don't like bolt guns or lever guns. Can you custom tailor your bolt or lever to fit you and how you plan on shooting like I can with an Ar, I don't think so.