.400 Legend versus….

[jagermeister]

I’ve been putting off the purchase of a straightwall-eating pew pew since they came on the scene, mainly because I have a dedicated slug gun already (Savage 220). However, my son is of the age now to hunt and that 220 is just gonna knock his socks off. Obviously I don’t want a bad experience for him, recoil-related.

I originally had my heart set on a .350 Legend, for the relatively flat trajectory and low recoil. I’ve seen hundreds of deer killed by .350’s and .450 Bushmasters. To me, the .450 seems to be overkill. Those deer are often times “blown up” and a lot of meat gets tossed out. The added recoil and the ugly-ass muzzle breaks the manufacturers put on them take the .450 out of my list of potential options. The .350, overall, does a fine job on whitetails, but the blood trails are generally pretty weak and knockdown power leaves a bit to be desired, in my opinion. I think some of that could obviously be a product of bullet selection, though.

All that being said, I’m looking hard at purchasing a .400 Legend. On paper, it appears to be a nice Goldy Locks compromise between the .350 and the .450.

 

[jagermeister]

The 190-grain .400 offering from Winchester hits harder and shoots much flatter than the 150-grain .350 Legend. (2” drop at 200 vs 9”).

I know we have some diehard firearm guys on the forum with a wealth of ballistics knowledge. I like the specs of the .400 Legend, but I’m curious… Is it really all that it’s cracked up to be? Are there comparable (or better) straightwalled options available? How to other rounds compare?… like uthe .357 Max, .444, or .44 Mag? Help steer me in an informed direction before buying a new rifle!

 

[brock ratcliff]

We’ve killed ~20 deer with the 450. I’ve not seen any evidence of overkill. No excessive meat loss and the deer is generally laying where it formerly stood. I’m not trying to convince you to give them a closer look but will say it by far is the best round I’ve personally seen a deer killed with. IMO, 350 legend is the biggest POS used since the .410 slug. The fact that thing is touted as an effective round in anything less than 180 grains is absurd. I base that solely on personal observation and requests for drone services. I’ve never had a call from a 450 shooter and countless calls from 350s.

 

[whitetailjunky3]

Check out the 360 buckhammer!

 

[TinyTucky]

I am not a firearms nor ballistics expert by any stretch stretch of the imagination, but I will say both deer I shot with my .450 did some extensive damage, more than I cared for. The 3 deer that I’ve shot with my .350 had minimal damage, but were in a pile in no more than 20 yards. I will say the .350 leaves a very little, if any blood trail at all in my experience. I will be considering a .400 if I find one for the right price. I can PM you pics of my .450 victims, pretty brutal.

 

[switchhitter]

I am also not a firearms expert not by a long shot. I bought a 44 when I thought my granddaughter was going to hunt. That never happened but I shot 5 deer with the 44 none went far but I kept shots under 60 yards.

2 years ago I bought a 350 because I was never happy with the accuracy of the 44. I have now killed 2 deer with the legend. The first one with a copper bullet made by Winchester. The doe went 100 yards in the fresh snow and couldn’t find blood. I tracked her from the prints in the fresh snow, the bullet hit where you would want it to but never opened up the exit was through a rib looked like a drilled 3/8 hole.

the following year I changed to an FTP type bullet like the lever revolution
Accuracy was amazing and I shot a doe at 110 yards a couple inches behind the shoulder she hopped and fell over

if I where to by a gun today it would be the 450 or the 400. I just would like to have a little more energy

ammunition might be an issue with the 400 I don’t know if it is readily available

just my 2 cents

 

[Mike]

The .350 does not create good blood trails in my experience. It does kill deer though. I shot a doe a few years ago and killed her, but it took me awhile to find the hole.

 

[giles]

I have not had any problems killing deer with my 350 in 180 grains. The horror stories have me looking around for another round tho. So I'm here for it.

 

[Bowhunter57]

I absolutely love my Ruger American in 450 Bushmaster w/ Vortex 4-12x40. I reload my own ammo for it and use a Hornady 240 gr. FTX bullet, loaded to 2550 fps. No tracking jobs required! I hit one deer on the shoulder that damaged some meat, but it dropped on the spot and I was happy. I replaced the factory muzzle break, which was an ear buster, with a linear compensator and it was the best $40 I've spent. I can't say it is light on recoil, because it ain't. I thought the 45-70 was way worse, but that may have been the straight stock that's on most lever-actions.

I've only killed 1 deer with a 44 Mag. lever-action, but thought it was extremely low on recoil, great for accuracy and the deer dropped within sight. I'll be hunting with my Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag. this year and I'll let you know how it performs. I don't think you could go wrong with one, especially for a young hunter. Light weight, light recoil and accurate....what more could you ask for in any rifle? Put a sling and a scope on it and I would think any young hunter would be in great shape for the season.

 

[giles]

I will also add that my 44 mag can do some damage to the meat. You gotta shoot them like you do with a bow. I will still carry it if I will be in the woods. Great gun inside 100 yards.

 

[jagermeister]

Good, good… So far, no one is talking me out of the .400 Legend. That’s reassuring.

I like the .350 as an affordable, kid-friendly firearm, but I’ve seen enough and tracked enough deer shot with it to be less than impressed with its performance. I think a heavy-ish Barnes expander in .350 would potentially solve some issues. I just don’t know that I’d like to own something that’s a finicky performer.

 

[Jackalope]

You didn't ask, but a CVA Optima Pro with 40-60 gr of powder and a 45 cal Hornady XTP. Added benefit of growing with your son, just pour more powder down its throat. One shot is plenty, teaches patience, marksmanship, and the pleasure of doing it yourself.

 

[jagermeister]

You didn't ask, but a CVA Optima Pro with 40-60 gr of powder and a 45 cal Hornady XTP. Added benefit of growing with your son, just pour more powder down its throat. One shot is plenty, teaches patience, marksmanship, and the pleasure of doing it yourself.

Very interesting idea. I hadn’t given any thought to that angle. I could use a new muzzleloader…

 

[CJD3]

(Just an old man talking out loud)

I like having a caliber that I can shoot out of a handgun and a rifle. In my case, 44 mag/44 spe.

 

[Hedgelj]

Calibers:
.357 – I’d pass there are better ones out there, max range in the 125-150 yards.

.357 Max – Great caliber if you reload, otherwise pass

350 Legend – Good to great caliber, ammunition will run in the $teens (fmj plinking ammo) through $40+ a box of 20. Many brand and style of bullet choices available. I WOULD NOT suggest this if you were going to do a deer drive. If you are stand hunting or still hunting its great with good shot placement. Some people complain about the lack of a blood trail but that’s a combination of shot placement and bullet choice. I’ve personally had no problems with mine and I’ve recovered every deer I’ve shot with it within 50 yards. My brother did have one that we couldn’t find and the blood trail petered out fairly quickly. Its good to 200-250 yards or potentially longer. Very low recoil and comparable ballistics to a 30-30. Able to be loaded in the AR platform.

44 mag – fun caliber to shoot, max range around 125-150 yards and not a very flat trajectory. Really fun if you also have a pistol in this caliber. Light recoil.

444 Marlin – A great choice, moderate recoil. Ammo is a bit more expensive at $40-50 a box. Think of it as a rifle version of a 44 mag but capable of 45-70 power (at lower bullet weights). I love mine and have taken deer at 260 yards with it without issue. I’d feel comfortable taking it on a hunt for any N American game (except the largest brown bear) at 200 yards or less.

450 Bushmaster – A great choice. Ammunition is $30-50+ a box. Another AR platform possible round. Its shooting the 45 caliber bullet many use in their muzzleloaders but at an increased velocity. It does a great job on deer. Its what I have for my son to shoot, my brother has one and we bought one for my dad to use. You can make up for less than ideal shot placement (over the 350 legend) with this round imo. FREAKING LOUD (most come with muzzle breaks) if you’re in a blind so be careful to not blow your ears out.

45-70 gov – Another good choice. Recoil can be moderate to heavy depending on the gun and bullet combination. Ammo is in the $40-50+ range for a box. Can handle anything that walks in N America. Capable of shooting as far as you’re capable of shooting it. Not the flattest trajectory but if you know your gun a 265-325 grain bullet has A LOT of energy to give down range.

Above this is from a post i did on here a few years ago.

To answer your question more specifically though.

350 legend suffered from crappy bullets initially and many people don't know how to shoot. The 150 deer seasons put deer down with too much meat damage for my preference. The 165s (hornady flex tip) i haven't shot yet but they have a strong following online especially prior to other offerings now available. I was very happy with the 170gr interlocks last season. One deer dropped in its tracks at 50 yards, the other was at 170ish yards across a harvested corn field and you could see the blood pumping out of it as it walked the 10 yards until it collapsed. My daughter shot hers with the 160 gr win bonded and it performed well and dropped the deer in its tracks at 30ish yards. The guys i hunt with have had issues (and I've read about it online) with the 180gr psp from win. In the right range they work well, outside of that they only poke .355 holes that don't bleed well. I've read nothing but good things about the barnes bullets effectiveness but i have a stockpile of other rounds to use up first. I've also read great things about the Maker brand bullets and or loadings.

450bm - i haven't noticed excessive meat loss or damage over a 20 ga slug or .50 muzzleloader bullet.

I still love my 444marlin but don't want to pay 45-50 bucks for a box of cartridges.

 

[at1010]

I’ve killed a good amount with my 450 and haven’t seen it as over kill - I shoot them in the ribs and not in shoulder - so that’s likely why. Family has had much success with the 350 as well. Id probably go for the 400. I think I will when I bite the bullet.

 

[Big_Holla]

Great that you posted this when you did! We were at an outdoor store over the weekend and I about fell in love with Mossberg's walnut stock bolt action. They had it in 450 Bushmaster, 400 Legend and 350 Legend and I instantly wished someone had information on the 400 Legend here. Talking with two guys working the gun counter and they both were sold on the 400 Legend. Not as damaging or as LOUD as the 450 Bushmaster and much better blood trail (though not really needed in their cases since only went a little ways on one deer) than the 350 Legend. They said the only downfall was one brand of ammo they carried but quickly reassured me it was a great round and the 350 Legend started out the same way, now there are many varieties a few years later. I absolutely fell in love with the walnut stock on those guns, I'm old school when it comes to that. This would be the only way I would upgrade to a new rifle, that or perhaps that 360 Buckhammer lever action I have seen. Looking forward to hearing more on this.

 

[Hedgelj]

Great that you posted this when you did! We were at an outdoor store over the weekend and I about fell in love with Mossberg's walnut stock bolt action. They had it in 450 Bushmaster, 400 Legend and 350 Legend and I instantly wished someone had information on the 400 Legend here. Talking with two guys working the gun counter and they both were sold on the 400 Legend. Not as damaging or as LOUD as the 450 Bushmaster and much better blood trail (though not really needed in their cases since only went a little ways on one deer) than the 350 Legend. They said the only downfall was one brand of ammo they carried but quickly reassured me it was a great round and the 350 Legend started out the same way, now there are many varieties a few years later. I absolutely fell in love with the walnut stock on those guns, I'm old school when it comes to that. This would be the only way I would upgrade to a new rifle, that or perhaps that 360 Buckhammer lever action I have seen. Looking forward to hearing more on this.

In the 350 legend Facebook group, the mossberg patriot (? their budget bolt action) seems to be the least accurate but still minute of deer vitals compared to the other brands. The other thing that some really complain about is flush fit or not magazines among the different options.

I know the Win XPR was offered at one time with a wooden stock.

 

[Big_Holla]

In the 350 legend Facebook group, the mossberg patriot (? their budget bolt action) seems to be the least accurate but still minute of deer vitals compared to the other brands. The other thing that some really complain about is flush fit or not magazines among the different options.

I know the Win XPR was offered at one time with a wooden stock.

Good to know. The salesmen talked about how accurate these were but they are salesmen too. Something to consider.

 

[Hedgelj]

Good to know. The salesmen talked about how accurate these were but they are salesmen too. Something to consider.

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