The debate over the best caliber for hunting has raged on since the invention of firearms. The .350 Legend bullet is the newest addition to the world of caliber options and was designed with deer hunting specifically in mind. It has become increasingly popular because it produces more power than comparable calibers without much recoil.
The .243 Winchester bullet is considered by many to be one of the most efficient all-around cartridges available today – perfect for any discipline including long-range precision shooting, varmint control, and big game hunting.
Both cartridges have merits and drawbacks, but which one is right for your needs? To help you decide, we’ve brought forth an in-depth comparison between these two rounds to see which comes out on top.
Size and Weight
Regarding size and weight, both bullets measure up quite similarly.
| 350 Legend | 243 Winchester | |
| Length | 1.71″ | 2.55″ |
| Width | 0.427″ | 0.427″ |
| Height | 1.401″ | 1.401″ |
| Weight(in grains) | 141 | 154 |
For a perspective, here’s a picture of the .243 next to a 6.5 Creedmoor:
Desing and Appearance
In terms of visual characteristics both cartridges appear similar in shape, with tapered heads that form sleek points and long, conical bodies that feed into cylindrical bases with rims.
Both are designed to fit specific weapons models, making them visually distinct from one another but still operate similarly when used correctly inside firearms chambers.
Which Caliber Gun Should You Buy?
Sure the 350 legend rifles are a bit more powerful when compared with a similarly specced 243 Win rifle, but you really do not need all that much. For most users the flatter trajectory and the lesser recoil with the 243 would be far more important than a little extra juice.
Unless you are going for very large game, the 350 legend is not recommended for most users. I suggest you go with the 243 rifles.
As for the gun itself, FOXTROT MIKE MIKE-15 223 RIFLE is, in my opinion, th best 243 game rifle out there. It has the best handling out of its class and offers a good value for the bucks.
If your’e a bit short on budget, you can get the Tikka T3X Lite Compact, which as a bonus is a lot easier to carry around. Alternatively, get the plain old Ruger American, which costs well below the $500 mark, without compromising anything on the handling.
Material
Due mostly to its lighter weight composition, brass is often employed as the primary material used throughout casing construction found on both types of ammunition featured here.
The 350 Legend bullet is constructed with a zinc-jacketed brass casing, while the 243 Winchester bullet has a brass case with a cupro-nickel jacket.
Impact on Target
The initial velocity of 350 Legend is higher at about 3100 feet/second versus 2860 feet/second for the 243 Winchester. Both rounds can be lethal when fired at close range,but the increased velocity of the 350 Legend round allows it to penetrate deeper into targets than the 243 Winchester round (2400 foot-pounds of energy compared to 1940 foot-pos for the 243).
For this reason, hunters chasing larger animals like deer or elk often gravitate towards using 350 Legacy rounds since it has more stopping power than its counterpart.
Penetrative Potential
In terms of penetrative potential, both the .350 legend and .243 Winchester offer admirable performance. However, due to its much larger diameter, thicker jacketing materials, as well as its ability to retain more energy on target than other smaller calibers, the .350 legend makes for an excellent choice when hunting medium or large-sized game out to the medium range.
The .243 Winchester isn’t far behind either; its lightweight construction is ideal for small game pursuits such as coyote or varmint control out to extended ranges with equal effectiveness.
Destruction Potential
The bullet’s destructive capabilities depend largely on what type of loading you choose.
The 350 Legend has a much higher velocity which makes it more capable of inflicting greater damage than the 243 Winchester. On top of that, the larger diameter and heavier weight of the 350 Legend help it penetrate deeper than its counterpart, giving hunters a better chance at harvesting their target animal cleanly.
Ultimately, while both rounds are effective in their own right, those looking for maximum damage should choose the 350 Legend.
However, with standard loads being used for comparison purposes, the .243 bullet used in combination with particular powders may give a slight edge in terms of destructive potential over similarly loaded rounds from the 350 legend variety.
Overall Performance
While both cartridges offer excellent accuracy/performance when properly loaded into suitable platforms, perhaps one area where they differ quite significantly is recoil management.
The 350 Legend creates far greater felt forces (upon shooters) than the 243 Winchester, mainly due to the larger diameter case size plus faster rifling twist rates associated with chamber designs employing 350 caliber bores.
Which Bullet Befits Which Gun?
The most significant difference between these two bullets is the size of the guns they are used in – the 350 Legend works best in modern sporting rifles, or MSRs, while the 243 Winchester excels in bolt action rifles.
Differences in Usage
The .350 Legend and the .243 Winchester are two types of cartridges that are commonly used for hunting and shooting range practice.
The .350 Legend is a relatively new cartridge, designed to have optimal stopping power for big animals at close ranges without damaging the meat too much. It has become popular among deer or hog hunters who prefer to hunt with a semi-automatic rifle.
The .243 Winchester offers superior long-range accuracy and is an excellent choice for small animals like coyotes or varmints, as well as intermediate-size animals such as antelope or black bears. Its light recoil also makes it an ideal choice for target shooters in the firing range.
Both rounds offer a safe alternative when compared to larger calibers due to their lower noise levels and reduced damage potential while still retaining enough power to take down whatever you’re hunting in most cases.
Conclusion- Which Ammunition is Right For You?
The old folks and also the hunters that go after the bigger game may prefer the 350 legend, while those seeking to take down smaller animals prefer the .243 bullet. The .350 Legend offers superior energy transfer at close range with less recoil compared to its .243 counterpart.
Also, if you need greater accuracy across larger distances then the 243 will serve you better due to its higher ballistic coefficient providing greater stability while traveling through air resistance.
I, personally, would always choose the 243 Win. It feels more modern and refined in its approach and the rifles that use it reflect that. I’ll be discussing price in the next section, but the 350 costs more as well, which automatically gives the 243 Win a lead.
Price and Value for Money
Although both cartridges come at different price points based on the manufacturer and the grain, 350 legend tends to be slightly more expensive than its rival.
A 20-round box of hollow-point 350 Legend bullets will cost you close to $40, which is a bit higher than what I would have liked. The cheapest price I could find was on Guns.com and you can click here to buy it from them.
There are a lot of manufacturers and grains available in the 243 Win calibre, even more than the 350 legend. For perspective, my recommended Remington High Performance 80 gr 243 Win ammo costs around 25% less than the 350 legend. This automatically improves the value proposition.
I recommend buying ammo online from authentic retailers, like Brownell’s or Guns.com. For your convenience, I have provided links below for two most common grains for the 243 Win:
Hope this comparison helps!
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