Barrels shorter than 16 have significantly more recoil and are usually avoided. Even though a 20 barrel is best for long distance, really consider if thats all you want to use that rifle for. Its nothing more than a .223 Remington cartridge case with the shoulders blown out to form a straight-wall case that will accept a .358-caliber bullet. Of course, youll have a shorter effective range to use the firearm but for home defense youll rarely need to get past 50 yards. Generally, and more than most shooters can take in a revolver, the .44 Magnum makes an ideal straight-wall cartridge for deer hunters. Its essentially the same as .357 Magnumon steroidswhich means itll stretch out the range to about 100 or 150 yards (roughly the same as the .450 Bushmaster). A lot of people like to take a few inches off their barrel length because of the added weight and length to the overall weapon that a suppressor adds. After about 10 of barrel length, the velocity increase per barrel inch slows way down though. There are other firearm designations but the most. After all, the military chose the 14.5 inch barrel for the 5.56 round for a reason. This is a revolver round that, from a rifle, will push a 270-grain bullet to similar velocities of around 1,800 fps. Any barrel length above 18 will not significantly improve velocity. Barrels longer than 14 inches start to affect bullet velocity in a negative way in many cases. Both work well within their effective range. Federal sells their .350 Legend cartridges between $26 and $32 for a box of 20. The nominal rim diameter is identical as well, but the 350 Legend does not use the 5.56 as its parent case like the 300 Blackout. It really does depend what you plan on hunting. This gun features the Ruger Marksman Adjustable trigger, allowing for adjustments on the pull between three and five pounds. WebAssuming you can handle each equally well, A .357 Mag has more energy, better penetration and with the proper bullet better expansion. WebAssuming you can handle each equally well, A .357 Mag has more energy, better penetration and with the proper bullet better expansion. Originally conceived by the late Elgin Gates and called the .357 SuperMag, the new round was very straightforward. The best barrel length for a 5.56mm rifle is 14.5 to ensure full powder burn. The best barrel length for a 5.56 for home defense is 10.5 inches, however, 11.5 and 12.5 inch barrels are also popular for this use. This sounds very similar to an SBR because it essentially is except the SBR has a stock instead of a brace. Some mistakenly consider it light for deer, but its an ideal short-range whitetail cartridge thatll shoot much more accurately than any slug. Theres nothing wrong with hunting deer with a .357 Mag, just realize that although its a pretty potent pistol round, in a rifle, its still less potent and honestly, less effective on deer than a .223. You can get 44 magnums in rifles, carbines and pistols plus specials which are powderpuff loads and both can be used as self defense on two legged abs four legged animals. This site will have something for everybody! These are some of most common calibers but didnt seem as popular as the ones above. Originally conceived by the late Elgin Gates and called the .357 SuperMag, the new round was very straightforward. The best barrel length for a suppressed 22lr is 14 inches for a mostly clean burn of the powder or 10 inches for increased portability. see more at [ 1] According to that, the .357 Mag should never be used. For reference, a 450 Bushmaster has a case length of 1.7" and a 350 Legend is 1.71". Another popular barrel length for long range using 6.5 Creedmoor is the 24 barrel. I give a lower figure as a more practical minimum energy. the 170-grain bullets penetrate more and perform very closely to the 180 grain 350 legend ammo. Stopping Power Hornadys 170-grain American Whitetail soft-point load, for example, managed 1,551 feet per second out of the Model 350 as compared to 2,200 feet per second from a rifle barrel. WebThe 350 Legend is essentially a long pistol round using pistol powder so 16 tends to be optimal. The best barrel length for the 7mm-08 is 22 to achieve maximum powder burn and velocity per barrel inch. The 350 is a great round for deer hunting, and shooters seldom report needing to use a muzzle brake on a 350 Legend rifle. It makes a lot of sense in those scenarios, but some shooters would opt for the 357 Sig in that case. Same parameters as above, gets around 2200 fps from the max case and around 2300 fps from a 350L case. I wont be so bold as to predict the future of the .350 Legend. But, I recently bought a 350 legend and I am impressed. Advantages of the 45 Colt: -The 45 Colt has a larger bullet diameter than the .357 Magnum, which means it can create a larger wound channel. The 270 WIN doesnt have the powder capacity to warrant the longer barrels. If you are wanting to use an expanding bullet for the .357, make note of that. He grew up hunting, fishing, and trapping. Both work well within their effective range. Sure .44 hits hard, but that's a lot to do with the mass of the bullet over how fast it's going. [26 U.S.C. It can be used not only on deer, but elk and bears. A straight-wall, .452-caliber cartridge with a rebated rim, its capable of pushing a 250-grain bullet to 2,200 fps. That extra 4 inches doesnt do as much youd think. Heres a link to the setup I own. It was also partly because few rifle manufacturers got behind the cartridge. Andget thisit can be fired in any .375 Winchester rifle or any .38-55 designed to be used with smokeless powder. The reason a lot of 22lr barrels are 22 to 26 inches is because the added sight radius and balancing is worth the extra weight of the longer barrels. Hornady's 165-grain FTX Customs are doing 2,200-fps and are hitting with 1,773-foot pounds of energy. Sorry, no opinion on extraction other than I never had a problem with .223. The best barrel length for a hunting shotgun is 26-28 for a shotgun with a wide range of applications from wing shooting to slug hunting. The 350 Legend also uses the same .346 bore and .355 groove dimensions as 357 Mag and 357 Max. Everything I said up there about the .357 holds just as true for the .44 Magnum. The .350 Legend is no better. As for the ballistics, the longer the barrel, the more velocity youll get. the 180-grain bullet will give the best penetration from both the .357 and 350. Hornady (the designer of the cartridge) said the round will perform well in barrel lengths ranging from 12 to 26 inches and all in between. The best barrel length for 6mm ARC is 18 inches for a rifle with good velocity that is still relatively easy to transport. A box of .357 Mag. Both cartridges can look similar to the eye, but they are most certainly not. The best barrel length for a 12 gauge slug is 20 for 2 and 3/4 shells and 24 for some 3 shells to achieve maximum velocity. At first, these rifles were relegated to pistol caliber rifles like .44 or .357 Magnum. Introduced in 1978, Winchesters .375 was designed specifically for its Model 94 lever-action rifle. 12.5 barrels in 7.6239 are very popular for speed, time on target, and close quarters scenarios. The best barrel length for dove, pheasant, quail, and bird hunting is 28 because hunting bird is rarely a close encounter scenario. HOW FAR SHOULD YOU PRACTICE SHOOTING BEFORE YOU DEER HUNT. Judging from the ballistic coefficient alone, the 30-30 has a slight advantage. Winchester designed the cartridge from the ground up. Bullet selection might swing me toward the Max I would be getting an MGM barrel. The 350 Legend SAAMI bullet diameter is specified at .357-.003. However, many shotgun owners prefer a longer barrel for the improved sight radius and accuracy. If you want a bolt action or AR15, or if your going to buy factory ammo, then 350 legend then 350 legend is it. The vitals zone on a deer is about 8 inches wide. Neckbone Armory is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If you can shoot, it really wont matter all that much: Theyre all deer-killers. -The recoil of the 45 Colt is much less than that of the .357 Magnum, making it more 14-16 barrels are generally considered best for an all purpose rifle chambered in 223. That stuff is great for plinking and small game, and at velocities of 2400 fps or more, its a much more economical option for varminting or punching paper. That means more muzzle energy and momentum than the .357 with a bigger hole, and with similar trajectory. Many hunters will opt to add a suppressor to an 18 6.5 Creedmoor rifle or just go with a 20 inch rifle for hunting. Barrel lengths between 10-14 are best for portability in close quarters, and 20 barrels are best if your goal is long range shooting. Ironically, its once again becoming popular. Winchester designed the cartridge from the ground up. if you look at a 180-grain bullet for both the 350 and .357, you will see that the .350 has a flat blunt nose, while the 350 is longer and pointed. Ill go with 1,100 fps as a middle ground. Lever-action .357 carbine all day every day. If sighted in at 100 yards, the bullet will be about 3 inches low at 150 yards. And actually, I've always maintained that if I had to choose a .357 Magnum or a .44 in a rifle, I'd choose .357 every-time. WebThe 350 Legend is essentially a long pistol round using pistol powder so 16 tends to be optimal. AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own. This is a 150gr copper bullet with a ballistic coefficient G1 of .320 at 2450fps from my 20" barreled rifle with very little recoil, an honest 300+ yard deer round. Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. This is still allowed as far as I know at the time of this writing. The best barrel length for a 357 Magnum revolver is 8 and 3/8 inches because that length allows for decent velocity combined with portability. Making the 10mm vs 357 magnum argument interesting because many people thought the 10mm would make the 357 mag obsolete.. The rifle comes fitted with a picatinny rail for optics straight out of the box. The best barrel length for a 410 shotgun is 20 to achieve great velocity and accuracy. A former police ofcer and serviceman with the U.S. Army, Richard A. Mann is one of the most well-respected rearms authorities writing on the subject today. Doubletap offers a similar loading, and the LeverEvolution loads from Hornady shoot flat enough to make hitting at 250 yards uncomplicated. The 350 Legend SAAMI bullet diameter is specified at .357-.003. Judging from the ballistic coefficient alone, the 30-30 has a slight advantage. In fact, after 14 inches, velocity started to decrease most of the time. Don't miss a story! It is a true joy to shoot, and you'll be more accurate because of it. The 44 Magnum has 100-yards less effective range than a 350 Legend. It would be easily duplicated with the Winchester 350 legend. The best barrel length for 6.5 Creedmoor long range shooting is 28 inches, however, many shooters dont see much difference between 28 and 26 and will opt for the lighter, more popular, 26 inch barrel for precision rifle shooting (PRS). The nominal rim diameter is identical as well, but the 350 Legend does not use the 5.56 as its parent case like the 300 Blackout. A .45-70 is 2.105". The best barrel length for the 7.6239 is 16 which the barrel length most AK-47s are built with. The .357 Magnum generally has a reputation as a fast and powerful round, at least for handguns, but The .450 Bushmaster was designed specifically for the AR-15. That means more muzzle energy and momentum than the .357 with a bigger hole, and with similar trajectory. As you can see in the chart above, theres not much benefit to velocity with barrels above 16 to 18 inches. Change over to a 200 gr bullet, keep the 0.385" seating depth and QL predictions go from around 1770 fps for the magnum case, around 2100 for the max case and around 2170 fps for the 350L case. Most 350 Legend bullets have a higher sectional density which means more penetration than the .357 Magnum. With almost every type of 9mm ammo I used, the percentage increase of velocity after 7 drops significantly. You will still get more velocity out of longer barrels, as expected, just not as much of an increase. If you think the deer is at 225 yards and its really at 250, you just made a gutshot. With these shorter length barrels being advantageous for home defense, most people will opt for an AR pistol. The 350 is a great round for deer hunting, and shooters seldom report needing to use a muzzle brake on a 350 Legend rifle. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'guntradition_com-leader-2','ezslot_11',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-guntradition_com-leader-2-0');How do we measure effectiveness? that means that even if you could get the same velocities using 180 grain bullets, the 350 Legend would still noticeably outperform the .357 Mag after 100 yards. For .450 Bushmaster and .444 Marlin, youre looking at $41 to $49 per box, and .45-70 Govt. Its a middle ground between flatter shooting and penetration. The best barrel length for a 350 Legend AR pistol is 10.5 inches. The Winchester factory round is rather anemic; it launches a 255-grain bullet at about 1,300 fps. The .357 Magnum generally has a reputation as a fast and powerful round, at least for handguns, but Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time. Theres nothing wrong with shooting within 100 yards. The longer barrels will increase velocity until the powder from the round is burned up. But it has quickly evolved beyond that. .357 good 44mag better. Eight major concealed carry insurance programs are now available to the millions of Americans who carry concealed. Copyright 1996-2023 AR15.COM LLC. Basically, keep it under 100-yards. However the best barrel length for maximum velocity is 15 with the 45 ACP. The speeds are also there. Hornadys 170-grain American Whitetail soft-point load, for example, managed 1,551 feet per second out of the Model 350 as compared to 2,200 feet per second from a rifle barrel. Most 45-70 guns can explode as they are not ment for the pressure of hot 45-70. The best barrel length for a 12 gauge shotgun is 26 inches for a versatile and balanced shotgun. The 350 Legend has a slightly higher Ballistic Coefficient which means it takes longer to slow down than the 44 Mag. For reference, a 450 Bushmaster has a case length of 1.7" and a 350 Legend is 1.71". Some shooters prefer barrels as short as 12 for under 300 yard shots and 24 for out to 800 yard shots or further. It makes a good middle ground hunting rifle in my opinion. The caliber you choose depends on what you plan on hunting. The 350 Legend is arguably over twice as effective on deer-sized game than a rifle chambered in .357 Magnum. The best barrel length for 30-06 is 24 for a good compromise between velocity and portability. Ive talked about the 180-grain bullets, but there are other bullets. That'd be the one I would use. The best barrel length for a 357 Magnum is 16 for maximum velocity, 20 for maximum accuracy, and 3 for maximum concealment and portability. The minimum impact velocity for the .357 Magnum is somewhere between 1,200 and 1,000 fps, depending on the particular bullet. This cartridge has become extremely popular for older hunters and youth hunters for that reason. There is a Federal requirement of at least a 16 inch barrel length and 26 inch overall length for a firearm to be considered a standard rifle. You may see a little better performance but usually its not considered enough to offset the heavier barrel. Barrel lengths from 20-24 are popular for the 7mm-08 cartridge. With the .357, the most popular hunting bullet is a 157-grain bullet. Yes, those states have a lot of deer hunters, but it would not surprise me that if in a few years, those same states open up rifle season to more-traditional rifle cartridges. He has earned black belts in four martial arts and is a certified Krav Maga instructor. Barrels as short as 10.5 are commonly used as brush guns or for close quarter scenarios using the AR platform. You've only seen one page. The most popular barrel lengths range from 16 to 22 for 6.5 Grendel. Thats why I recommend the 180 grain for both cartridges. From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm. Now, many states are allowing straight-wall cartridges for deer hunting. A box of .357 Mag. comparing similar 180-grain bullets, it has more initial energy and more expected velocity in 16-inch barrels. If you hunt in one of the states now allowing straight-wall rifle cartridges for deer, it might be a good idea to pick up a new rifle. Savage 110 Apex Storm 350 Legend #savage #winchester. A dead round almost since the Marlin brand sale, lack of ammo and guns chambered in it- but mines sweet and I stocked up on ammo many years ago. In short, your barrel has to be 16 or longer and the entire length of the rifle must be at least 26 to be a rifle. I would rather just keep with a 16 inch barrel. The 44 mag was designed for hunting and self-defense purposes for big game, not Hornady's 165-grain FTX Customs are doing 2,200-fps and are hitting with 1,773-foot pounds of energy. Although some people prefer 10 or 12 inch barrels, the shorter barrels may require a faster twist rate to stabilize the bullet, where as the longer barrels dont. Most precision 50 BMG rifles have anywhere between a 30-36 barrel length. The best barrel length for 9mm is 7 inches based on percentage increases of velocity per barrel inch. The best barrel length for a 270 WIN is 22-24 for the optimal ratio of length vs velocity. You do lose some accuracy at distances over 300 yards when compared to an 18 inch barrel, for example. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'guntradition_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_5',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-guntradition_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Does that surprise you? Some even opt for shorter 6 inch barrels for really compact builds that will shoot subsonic ammo from a suppressed 22lr pistol. Any barrels longer than 14 inches will not produce much more velocity and may even reduce velocity of a 10mm. The best barrel length for 6.5 Grendel is 16 for an all around decent rifle. Jordan has taught marksmanship, woodsmanship, and self-defense classes. comparing similar 180-grain bullets, it has more initial energy and more expected velocity in 16-inch barrels. If you liked this article, youll probably be interested in this one too! Bullet selection might swing me toward the Max I would be getting an MGM barrel. Caliber Choice: Straight-Walled Cartridge Resurgence, Taurus Goes Large With Release Of The Full-Sized G3, CMMG Unleashes 10mm Banshee Pistol And SBR, Best 7mm Rem. Barrel lengths between 10-14 are best for portability in close quarters, and 20 barrels are best if your goal is long range shooting. The nominal rim diameter is identical as well, but the 350 Legend does not use the 5.56 as its parent case like the 300 Blackout. I help equip people with knowledge and skills so they can be safe and effective with firearms. ( Should you buy one, I will earn a small commission). Everything below is accurate at time of writing but is not a substitute for legal advice. This is partly due to the acquisition of Marlin by Remington Arms, along with the subsequent discontinuance of the lever-action rifle it was chambered in. Barrel lengths longer than 5 inches are generally less likely to be open carried or concealed. 10.5 is considered the shortest length you can go while retaining some reliability with a 5.56 AR pistol. The 350 Legend has a slightly higher Ballistic Coefficient which means it takes longer to slow down than the 44 Mag. For .450 Bushmaster and .444 Marlin, youre looking at $41 to $49 per box, and .45-70 Govt. This was partly because it was introduced at about the time of the AR-15 craze that hit the United States (at that time, everyone wanted an AR in .223 Remington). Sorry, no opinion on extraction other than I never had a problem with .223. And actually, I've always maintained that if I had to choose a .357 Magnum or a .44 in a rifle, I'd choose .357 every-time. However, 8 and even 7 barrels are very popular in 300 blackout pistols with the use of subsonic ammunition and a suppressor. You may gain another 50 fps with a 26 barrel but most shooters dont opt for the longer barrel. Bottom line: Pick the one you like the best. The 350 Legend will shoot deer much farther and has better bullets available. Learn how your comment data is processed. 24-26 barrels are also popular for the 280 AI, however, anything below 24 and you lose too much velocity and wont be making the most of the round. Yes, by modern standards, those numbers are anemic, but modern .45-70 loadsin modern .45-70 riflesturn the .45-70 into a cartridge of another order. Same parameters as above, gets around 2200 fps from the max case and around 2300 fps from a 350L case. Neckbone Armory also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. I know no one likes that answer but I just wouldnt shoot 5.56 out of a 7 inch barrel, but 9mm I would. The 350 Legend will shoot deer much farther and has better bullets available. One of my good friends has one in a modern 1873 Winchester, and during one season, he and a handful of other hunters used that rifle to take over a dozen deer, all with one shot each. Since I live in Lewiston, Idaho, I get the opportunity to use that rifle. The best barrel length for a 1911 is 5 for the best concealability and velocity. The 350 is a great round for deer hunting, and shooters seldom report needing to use a muzzle brake on a 350 Legend rifle. Hunters usually carry a revolver with at least a 6 barrel chambered in either 44 Mag or 454 Casull. Barrels longer than 22 show no real improvement over the 18-20 barrels. Firearms companies soon realized there was a real market for a low recoil straight wall option capable of a higher muzzle velocity than the other straight wall options out there. The best barrel length for 6.5 Creedmoor is 24 inches, however a 22 inch barrel will also give similar results. as the minimum energy for a bullet 30 to 35 caliber to reliably penetrate deep enough for deer hunting. The best barrel length for a 40 S&W is 4 in a handgun. Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more. Hunters felt the push when they pulled the trigger, and the deer felt the whack when the bullet hit home. A 16 barrel is the best length for a 40 S&W used in a carbine rifle. That gives plenty of velocity and allows for longer range shots while still letting the rifle remain fairly portable. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The best barre length for a 44 Magnum revolver is 6 for a good balance between weight and muzzle velocity. Enter the 350 Legend. If you sit the 350 Legend side by side with a 5.56 round, you'll notice they are roughly the same length. Of course, its compatibility with the AR-15 is tempting to a lot of deer hunters who were previously regulated to shotguns. The added velocity of the longer 26-28 barrels are only needed if the shooter has long arms and wants the extra length. The barrel is also threaded in case you want to add a suppressor or a muzzle brake of some kind to tame the recoil even more. The best barrel length for 5.56 for long range shooting is 20 inches. For reference, a 450 Bushmaster has a case length of 1.7" and a 350 Legend is 1.71". This cartridge has become extremely popular for older hunters and youth hunters for that reason. The .357 Mag falls quite short of that. Ruger and Mossberg are offering it in compact bolt-action rifles, and we are starting to see new ammunition being introduced. Using the same case head diameter of the .223 Remington at a length of 1.71-inch, the 350 Legend uses a .357-inch diameter bullet, for a combination that is very easy on the shoulder while being effective downrange. The best barrel length for an AR pistol is 10.5 because the most popular round for AR pistols is 5.56. is even more expensive. The 3 barrel loses too much velocity and energy but is easier to conceal. Theres a wide array of factory loads to choose from and, like the .357 Magnum, it will deliver better accuracy than slug guns. A pistol can have any barrel length under 16 inches, and will often be between 3 and 16 inches. The best barrel length for 6.5 Grendel for hunting is an 18 or 20 inch barrel. However, most hunting shots are taken at ranges that allow a lighter more manageable 18 to 22 inch barrel to be more practical. For the most part, I dont recommend taking a shot beyond 200 yards with any 350 Legend ammo. Barrel lengths above 20 inches will be more accurate at longer distances. If hunting at ranges less than 300 yards then a shorter barrel between 16-20 will work better. I need to point out that if you plan to get a suppressor for a 6.5 Grendel pistol or SBR, then a 12 barrel will be more than accurate to make 300 yards shots and is kind of a sweet set up. Many AR-9 SBRs and 9mm pistols are between 7 and 10 inches. In a single shot I would be happy with either.