Winchester ammunitions company is considered a titan in the ammunitions industry. They have manufactured firearms and ammunition for hunters and shooters for over 150 years and are dubbed “ The American Legend” by their faithful consumers: a moniker they have earned through decades of innovative products.
In this article we compare one of their all time great ammunition the 308 Winchester to a relatively new cartridge which has made waves in the hunting community; the 350 Legend.
So, let’s dive into it!
Dimensions and Specifications
| 350 Legend | 308 Winchester | |
| Case type | Rebated rim, Straight walled | Rimless, Bottleneck |
| Bullet Diameter | 0.3570- 0.0030 in (9.068-0.076 mm) | 0.308 in (7.8 mm) |
| Land Diameter | 0.3460 in (8.79 mm) | |
| Neck Diameter | 0.378 in (9.6 mm) | 0.3433 in (8.72 mm) |
| Base Diameter | 0.390 in (9.9 mm) | 0.4709 in (11.96 mm) |
| Rim Diameter | 0.378 in (9.6 mm) | 0.4728 in (12.01 mm) |
| Rim Thickness | 0.045 in (1.1 mm) | 0.0539 in (1.37 mm) |
| Case Length | 1.71 in (43 mm) | 2.015 in (51.2 mm) |
| Overall Length | 2.25 in (57 mm) | 2.800 in (71.1mm) |
| Primer Type | Small Rifle | Large Rifle |
| Maximum Pressure (SAAMI) | 55,000 psi | 62,000 psi |
The 308 Winchester has a well deserved reputation as a deadly game killer. It comes in weights ranging from 120 to 180 grains.
The 350 Legend is a modern cartridge that is very versatile and can be used in many ways. It comes in weights ranging from 125 to 280 grains.
Which Rifle Should you Buy?
If you are reading this article to help you decide which rifle you should get, I would recommend going for the 308 Win, This is because this caliber is compatible with all the popular rifle platforms as well as non-conventional firearms. Furthermore, you will be able to choose from a larger variety of manufacturers, grains and bullet types. A lesser price serves as a cherry on top.
A good budget rifle would be the Ruger American Vortex Crossfire. If you are looking for the best of both the worlds of value and performance, the Ruger Precision Rifle would be my personal pick.
Background
There aren’t many straight walled or straight cased ammo choices available for the hunters which is why the 350 Legend designed in 2019 is a good choice in places where a bottleneck cartridge might be banned because of state hunting laws.
The only other premium choice that you have is the 450 Bushmaster, and while that has amazing performance it is sometimes too powerful and costs too much for what it’s required to do.
The 308 Winchester is a smokeless powder rimless cartridge for rifles which was originally developed in 1952 for commercial use by using its parent case which was the 300 Savage.
Muzzle Velocity
The 308 has a muzzle velocity between 2800 feet per second and 2500 feet per second depending on the barrel of the gun and weight of the bullet.
The muzzle velocity of the 350 Legend is about 2300 feet per second for a bullet with a 160 grain.
Penetrative Strength
We checked the penetration of the 308 Winchester in 20% Ballistic Gelatin and found that with the Hornady 165 gr SST the penetration at 25 yards was 19.5 inches.
For the Winchester the best bullets to buy are the 168 gr load and it works great for moose, elk and deer hunting.
For the 350 Legend, it was again tested on 20% Ballistic Gelatin with 180 gr XP bullets and we saw that the average penetration was 11.7 inches. For comparison a 0.223 round penetrated about 7 inches.
Shooting Experience
When considering the recoil, we see that the 308 Winchester has less recoil than the 0.30-60 cartridge. It is very capable of shooting up to 1000 yards but for game animals its effective range would be 350 yards or so.
The 350 Legend is an excellent choice for those who prefer less recoil, since its recoil energy of 8.52 ft lb is less than that of the 450 Bushmaster, 243 Winchester and 12 Gauge. It has a maximum effective range of around 250 yards.
Even though the 350 Legend has a softer recoil, its range is comparatively less than the 308 Winchester.
Uses
The 308 Winchester is the most used and most popular cartridge worldwide. It is commonly used for game hunting, personal protection, metallic silhouette shooting, target shooting, sniping and sharpshooting.
The most common usage of this cartridge, however, is big game hunting. It is widely used for hunting mule and whitetail deer, bears, wild hogs and elks.
The 350 Legend was developed for use in places where certain other cartridges are not allowed for hunting and it was specially engineered as a straight walled, less expensive option for deer hunters. It is capable of killing wild hogs, coyotes and deer` and is also widely used for personal protection.
Conclusion- Which One to Buy?
The 308 Winchester is a more powerful bullet than its counterpart, on the basis of greater muzzle velocity and penetrative strength. It has better range and its uses are more widespread than the 350 Legend.
While the 350 Legend is almost exclusively used for hunting, the 308 Winchester can be used for various different purposes with generally better performance.
I’ll discuss the price in the next section but the 350 Legend costs more and the 308 Winchester offers even more more value for money. So, unless you are looking for ammo specifically for hunting large game, it is best to opt for the 308 Winchester to fulfill your needs.
Price
Price of ammunition is always very variable depending upon the manufacturer you go with. It also varies with the grain of the bullets.
If you ask me, you should go for Remington bullets. You can either go for the 165 grain or the 180 grain from among the numerous options to choose from. We recommend buying it from the reputable retailer Brownell’s. For your convenience, I have provided here the links to both of my recommended grains:
In terms of value, 308 Win simply outclasses the 350 Legend.
The 350 Legend is slightly more costly if you get the 180 grain from Winchester itself. This puts its value proposition even further down, in the grand scheme of things.
Hope this comparison helps. Happy hunting!
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