I see some more strait wall rifles came out. Anyone acquired one yet? Been looking at 350 legends. But wondering if I should hold off for one of these other ones. All seem like a good whitetail gun. Just not sure which one.
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Anyone Purchased a 360 buckhammer or 400 legend?
- Thread starter MattMan81
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Love my 450 bushmaster savage bolt action. My dad has the 350 legend savage also. I prefer the 450. Couple friends of mine had lack of bloodtrail issues with the 350s. Maybe too far, not sure
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It's for sure an issue with 350L. I've also heard of and experienced a lack of expansion, which I blame for no blood trail. I've only shot one though, it was stretching it out.
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I would like to shoot the new models for sure. Im always leery when new size rifles come out. Hard as heck to find 44 mag ammo around our area. Bought it for my daughter for youth season. And wanna talk about lack of bloodtrail. Both ger bucks died within 60 yrds but very minimal blood.
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I'm curious about them, if I recall the stats aren't all that much different from 350L to 400L or 360BM are they? Since I have the 350 already I'm not curious enough to spend the money anyway but curious. I would share your concerns about ammo availability
Ben C
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I just bought a CVA Cascade in 350 legend. I'm hoping it's ready for pickup on Monday. Once I get it ready I'll let you know how it shoots. My buddy had a 40 yard shot on a doe last year with his 450 bushmaster. We saw the deer donkey kick like he hit her good. We found no blood with 3 guys looking. I'm no expert but some "kill" shots don't end up killing deer lol, no matter what caliber it is.
More interested in the 360 I think. Sounds like a little punch than the 350L, but not the kick of the 450BM. Which sounds like the 400Legend also can do.
I'm in the same boat kinda as you @Slabzilla73 I picked up a 44 mag few years ago. Nice little gun. 2 deer killed with it haven't gone far. My daughter shot hers with it. But Leary to shoot past 60 with it. I shot a buck at about 30 with it, and he dropped in his tracks. Her Doe ran about 60-70 yards and dropped. That was about a 55 yard shot if I remember.
350L ammo is everywhere. Which is a plus. But don't want to pick a rifle again until all the verdicts come in..
I'm in the same boat kinda as you @Slabzilla73 I picked up a 44 mag few years ago. Nice little gun. 2 deer killed with it haven't gone far. My daughter shot hers with it. But Leary to shoot past 60 with it. I shot a buck at about 30 with it, and he dropped in his tracks. Her Doe ran about 60-70 yards and dropped. That was about a 55 yard shot if I remember.
350L ammo is everywhere. Which is a plus. But don't want to pick a rifle again until all the verdicts come in..
BowhunterXC
Well-Known Member
The 450 Bushmaster vs. 350 Legend issue is the same thing as the 12 gauge vs. 20 gauge issue. They'll both get the job done, but with respect to the cartridge's capabilities. 
I want the knock down power and extended range that is afforded me by the 450 Bushmaster. That is at the cost of recoil and ammunition cost (except for me, I reload). Personally, I think the 450 Bushmaster recoils less than the 45-70, but a lot of that is felt recoil due to the straight stocks that are on most lever-action 45-70 rifles.
When I purchase any rifle, it's based on ballistics. Flat trajectory, bullet selection, bullet speed and attainable accuracy are my criteria.
I reload a 250 gr. Hornady FXT JHP bullet at 2550 fps and it will produce a 1 hole 5 shot group at 100 yards. I sight the Ruger American 22" barrel in at 100 yards, at 1" high. This gives me a 4" drop at 200 yards. I have killed every deer that I've shot at with this rifle and reloads, using a Vortex 4-12x40 Diamondback scope, out to 135 yards. No tracking jobs....dead within sight.
2019 at 135 yards!
2019 at 123 yards!
2020 at 60 yards!
2021 at 125 yards!
I want the knock down power and extended range that is afforded me by the 450 Bushmaster.
That is at the cost of recoil and ammunition cost (except for me, I reload). Personally, I think the 450 Bushmaster recoils less than the 45-70, but a lot of that is felt recoil due to the straight stocks that are on most lever-action 45-70 rifles.When I purchase any rifle, it's based on ballistics. Flat trajectory, bullet selection, bullet speed and attainable accuracy are my criteria.
I reload a 250 gr. Hornady FXT JHP bullet at 2550 fps and it will produce a 1 hole 5 shot group at 100 yards. I sight the Ruger American 22" barrel in at 100 yards, at 1" high. This gives me a 4" drop at 200 yards. I have killed every deer that I've shot at with this rifle and reloads, using a Vortex 4-12x40 Diamondback scope, out to 135 yards. No tracking jobs....dead within sight.
2019 at 135 yards!
2019 at 123 yards!
2020 at 60 yards!
2021 at 125 yards!
Coachschaller
Active Member
My sister has a downed doe with the 350, dropped it, but didn't kill it. I believe it was in the vitals. My daughter had a small 3 pointer with the 350 and also dropped it from close range. So, no idea about blood trails with it yet.
450 for me. My buddy has a 350, but to me it leaves a small hole. It definitely is a light shooter.
The 450 can be optimized beyond what I thought possible. A local guy builds handloads for the straightwall cartridges and there are many documented 300+yd kills.
The 450 can be optimized beyond what I thought possible. A local guy builds handloads for the straightwall cartridges and there are many documented 300+yd kills.
This definitely a compound issue.
I have a 450 but have had a 350 and 357 max.
The 450 is good, especially when handloaded. I use mono metal bullets feom bear creek ballistics 240gr@2375fps chrono from a 16” barrel. With the higher bc it is a bonafide 300 yard gun and lower minimum velocity for expansion. The cost is recoil.
The 350 is great for the recoil sensitive if keep under 150 yards or so. If you look in reloading manuals, at least Hornady, they are useing rifle velocities for bullet design. The minimum expansion velocity for the 350 bullets is typically 1800-1900. With the not really great bc and starting velocity of 22-2300 it easy to see why there are not great results and small holes, as was mentioned.
The 360 has potential to be great. Using a true .358 diameter bullet. But it would take a single shot to reach full potential. It’s designed for lever guns so bullet design is really not for long range. But it should put perform well because of the increase in powder capacity and better available bullets.
Just my observations.
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I have a 450 but have had a 350 and 357 max.
The 450 is good, especially when handloaded. I use mono metal bullets feom bear creek ballistics 240gr@2375fps chrono from a 16” barrel. With the higher bc it is a bonafide 300 yard gun and lower minimum velocity for expansion. The cost is recoil.
The 350 is great for the recoil sensitive if keep under 150 yards or so. If you look in reloading manuals, at least Hornady, they are useing rifle velocities for bullet design. The minimum expansion velocity for the 350 bullets is typically 1800-1900. With the not really great bc and starting velocity of 22-2300 it easy to see why there are not great results and small holes, as was mentioned.
The 360 has potential to be great. Using a true .358 diameter bullet. But it would take a single shot to reach full potential. It’s designed for lever guns so bullet design is really not for long range. But it should put perform well because of the increase in powder capacity and better available bullets.
Just my observations.
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Thanks for that. I like the idea of the lower recoil on the 350, but the 360 giving maybe a little more punch. But not sure if I am interested in a lever action. I like them, but not enough to pay the extra cost for a Henry for how little I would use it.
Wonder how much more recoil the 400 would have over the 350. I would like my kids to be able to shoot it. Worried the 450 might have to much thump.
I think the 360 would be great in a single shot, Henry is making one. I’m sure others will too. The rimmed case makes it less likely to go in a bolt gun. It has potential to be great but I’m not sold it will catch on. I have a feeling it will go the way of the 357 max. A sweet gun but a reloaders caliber.
I imagine the 400 will fall in between. Little more recoil and a little more range. But this too I’m not sold on. Just seems to be the modern 41 magnum. With the market saturated with 350 legend( aka 357 mag) and 450 bushmaster( aka 44 mag) I’m not sure the 400 will stick, but I could be wrong.
If the range was limited and using the right bullet, I feel the 350 would do fine. Can’t beat the light recoil and the ammo is cheap. This allows for more of the much needed practice.
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I imagine the 400 will fall in between. Little more recoil and a little more range. But this too I’m not sold on. Just seems to be the modern 41 magnum. With the market saturated with 350 legend( aka 357 mag) and 450 bushmaster( aka 44 mag) I’m not sure the 400 will stick, but I could be wrong.
If the range was limited and using the right bullet, I feel the 350 would do fine. Can’t beat the light recoil and the ammo is cheap. This allows for more of the much needed practice.
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Excellent info on the velocities, thanks
I thought u already had a 350L AR?
I bought the CVA 350L cascade. Love it. Can't say anything about blood trail because both does died within sight. It's way more accurate than my rugar 77/44 that I had, it definitely had trouble leaving blood trails. I live in Indiana where all state lands you must use a straight walled cartridge. Good luck on your decision.
Iron_llama
Well-Known Member
Got a .444 Marlin that hits deer like the wrath of Thor. 350 Legend, 450 Bushmaster, etc. are designed around an AR-15 magazine. If you're not shooting out of an MSR you have a wide range of options. Nothing wrong with .45-70, .45LC, .44Mag, .357Max, etc. If you're curious about handloading, this is a perfect opportunity to find something esoteric like a .351Win or .35 Remington and see what you can make it do out of a T/C Encore.
Your absolutely right many options available. In Michigan however 444, 45-70, etc are not options as we also have a case length restriction of 1.8”. Weird I know but it is what is is. Although fury custom bullets cuts a 45-70 brass to to 1.8” and loads a 405 grain bullet to factory length. So it feeds and shoots good because it’s rimmed. Similar principals could be applied to 444, 375 win, 450 marlin. But I would only recommend to experienced handloaders.
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Iron_llama
Well-Known Member
.460 S&W brass trims to 1.8". Chamber will fit that, .454 Casull, .45LC, etc. I've read some complaints regarding excessive recoil with the .460 in large-frame handguns, so in a levergun or single-shot it will probably have excellent terminal effect on a deer or bear. 20-100 pieces of brass is probably more than enough for a handloader; you can download it to cowboy-action levels for kiddos or practice, or up to neigh-.45-70 levels for bear.