350 Legend vs 300 Blackout?

[Olympus]

I apologize if this topic has already been debated. I used the search function and didn’t find anything though. I’m essentially looking for small youth hunting round that would fit between the 223 and 243. My son got his first deer at 6 years old with one of my ARs using a Barnes TSX 70gr bullet and then again last year at 7yo, he got his first nice buck with the same gun and bullet. Both deer were very clean shots and the bullet did a great job. In the back of my mind, I’m always worried that I’m tempting fate by continuing to use the 70gr 223 round. My son is on the small side, so the collapsible stock of the AR is still the platform to use and he’s nearly big enough for even a compact size bolt action rifle.

That being said, I’m debating the 350 Legend and the 300 Blackout (supersonic) as a next step up from the 223 that I can still use in an AR platform that will also be light recoiling. Mostly I’m interested in ballistics out to 150 yards. With the 300, it would obviously be supersonic loads with a good deer bullet (always had good luck with Hornady SSTs). The 350 Legend seems like a good choice because it seems like factory ammo is always on the shelves locally and I do reload also. Just looking to learn how the two rounds compare to each other for hunting purposes. Thanks!

 

[gotboostvr]

Inside 150, I'd take the 350. Balistics are pretty close to the old 35Rem, and that cartridge has a pretty good thump on the receiving end.

 

[mcb]

Of those two I would lean towards 350 Legend though that recoil is going to be a fairly big step up from 223. I would also suggest looking at 300 Ham'r. Its a slightly lengthen 300 BO and utilizes a slower twist barrel to optimize its supper sonic performance with medium and light weight 30 caliber bullets.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I looked at changing over one of my ARs to 350 Legend and noticed the prices and availability of 35cal bullets. I'm thinking the 300hamr is looking better and better, lots of choices in 30cal bullets and better prices.

 

[horsemen61]

I have both and I am firmly in the 350 Legend camp something about that 165 grain FTX JUST GETS IT DONE! https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?attachments/fd8e4296-8e89-4281-8f0a-ea52bf7d98f8-png.1115827/

that shot was at 87 yards he went 12 yards

 

[someguy2800]

For hunting I would do a 7.62x39 over a 300 blackout, and a 350 legend over both. I have all 3.

 

[mavracer]

300 Blackout is definitely a nice deer round inside 150 with supers and good bullets. The 350 is gonna have a little more margin for error but that comes at the expense of more recoil.
I have both and would be perfectly fine with either. I also wouldn't overlook the 6 ARC, 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 SPC.

 

[mongoslow]

350 all day, every day and twice on Sunday

 

[Olympus]

I guess I didn’t realize there was a lot more recoil from the 300 Black to the Legend. The articles I’d read said there was not hardly enough difference to notice. I’m just trying to think about what the recoil would be like to a 65lb 8 year old boy.

 

[brewer12345]

350 is a better choice than the blackout. 6.5 Grendel is even lighter recoiling and effective to much longer ranges, although ammo is less widely available.

I don't know if 300 hamr is going to make it longer term and Grendel does a lot more than the Hamr, so I have decided I really am not all that interested.

 

[Olympus]

350 is a better choice than the blackout. 6.5 Grendel is even lighter recoiling and effective to much longer ranges, although ammo is less widely available.

I don't know if 300 hamr is going to make it longer term and Grendel does a lot more than the Hamr, so I have decided I really am not all that interested.

I kind of agree. The 300 Hamr hasn’t really gained the traction and I don’t see it doing much more. Like of like the 30 REM AR that came and went so quickly.

 

[beeenbag]

why not 6.5 grendel?

 

[Olympus]

why not 6.5 grendel?

Assumed there was more recoil than 300 BLK and 350 Legend.

 

[gotboostvr]

Of the two options given by the OP, I made my case for 350L already.

But if we're considering other options as well, I think the 6.5G would be my number 1 pick.

More bullet than the 5.56 offers, but isn't running out of case volume like the 300 or 350. Very well balanced cartridge. Shouldn't be bad for recoil, probably less than the 300 depending on loads chosen.

 

[brewer12345]

Assumed there was more recoil than 300 BLK and 350 Legend.

I feel less recoil from the grendel, but either is fairly modest and I am recoil sensitive.

 

[d2wing]

Nothing wrong with the .223 as a deer round. I have shot some big deer with one. But if you want to step up to a bigger round I would go 6.5 Grendel or similar. 30 caliber gets to be a short range cartridge in an AR. Any of them works close range. Recoil in an AR isn't going to be much in my opinion with any of them. My Grandson went from .223 to .243 in a youth stock.

 

[Varminterror]

My son wrestled 73lbs this season at 9, 64 and 67 last season at 8 - he's typically near the middle percentiles for his age at his doctor's appointments, but he's always been small compared to most kids in his grade, so there must be a colony of REALLY small kids out there, if he's "average." Dude's small. He has been shooting 6 Creedmoor since he was 6, and 6.8SPC since he was 4. I dropped my match rifle into a shorter stock for him to use last season, a 6 Dasher. He'd likely do just as well with a 6.5 Creed, at least for the last two years; ages 8 and 9. But he shot a relatively light 6.8SPC SBR for a few seasons until he could carry the LENGTH of a conventional bolt rifle.

Personally, I think you're trying to make the minimum too minimum... At 8yrs old, I'd be more tempted to kick the kid either a 16-18" 6.5 Grendel 0r 6 ARC, or just grab a standard 243win or 6 creed and stick it into a cheap chassis or cut down a Boyd's stock to ~11" LOP and let him party with a rifle he can use the rest of his life.

6.5 Grendel has less recoil - about 5% - than 350 Legend. 123's are just a lot less bullet than 165's. I started shooting the Blackout back when JD was calling it the Whisper, and never have warmed up to the cartridge - comparatively, I'd rather be pushing a 123 with an SD of .25 to 2550 instead of a 125 with an SD of .19 to only 2200 - better trajectory, better penetration, and less recoil... The only downfall is that I have to use special mags and bolts - a one-time pain.

Nothing wrong with the Legend or Blackout, but I don't think they get the most out of the rifle, or cartridge case.

Assuming the kid can shoot - which it seems he can, since he's dropped deer repeatedly - then you're not tempting fate by continuing to use a round that has been working for him.

 

[highlander 5]

Granted not the same but the Howa mini action I have have in 6.5 Grendel has virtually no recoil.. I'd guess the recoil difference between the 300 BLK and 6.5 Grendel would be negotiable in the AR platform.

 

[horsey300]

Another vote for 6 arc or 6.5 Grendel, I see no issues with your current setup, we've used .223, .224 valkyrie, and .22-250 here, 50 gr ttsx and 62 gr scirocco 2s though, on mules and pronghorn. The bigger cases just give us more yards but same results. Don't forget you can light load a creed or .243 etc, with Hodgdon data. H4895 iirc?? In ar platform though? The Grendel would be my 1st pick, why has already been stated, I only see one use for the blackout and it has nothing to do with hunting. The legend is cool, but still gonna come in behind the Grendel, spc, valkyrie, and .223 here. 6 arc is right in there with the Grendel but it'd be decided on what parts, ammo, and components you can get your hands on and just how much more "more" you really want...

 

[FL-NC]

I would pick the blackout. Plenty of after market support, along with the options of suppressing easily and using subs for other applications if desired at a later time.

 

[mongoslow]

my reasons for the 350L ,light recoil as efficient as a 300 in short barrels, cheap practice ammo, very effective hunting ammo in the Winchester Power max bonded and Hornady American Whitetail 170 gr interlock (reasonable prices on the Hornady)absolutel hammer inside of 200 yards, after 200 the Grendel will walk on it ,inside 200 they both deliver near identical energy on target but the 350L makes bigger holes, the 350L does use a standard AR BCG but like the Grendel it takes specific mags, in a standard size 20 round mag the 350L holds 20 rounds the Grendel will hold 15-17 depending on follower, 350L ammo is far easier to find than the Grendel.
Don't get me wrong I own a Ruger American Ranch 6.5 Grendel and I love it but my 350L MPR is a better all around choice and it can be used easier in a SHTF environment, truthfully I would grab it before my standard AR or my 308 Ruger Gunsight Scout as a do it all General purpose rifle, I know it's ballistics well enough to know on a torso target at 300 yards center of head POA is CM POI with my preferred ammo I also know that is the end of it's effective shooting envelope, so if you ate realistically shooting past 200 yards look to the Grendel or a .243

 

[DDDWho]

I go with what I got. Some years ago I was in my LGS asking if they had an AR in another caliber besides 223/5.56. He went in the back returning with a 300 B0. Having a Mini 14 in 223/5.56 I said “I’ll take it”. I have a safe full of stuff that will run the gamut in North America. I settled in with the 300 BO. I accept for what it is. I’ve killed critters with it off my front porch and sometimes load it for deer with no intention of killing one.

 

[tactikel]

My SIL Deer hunts with a BO. I carry a 350 Legend. He claims the low recoil and inherent accuracy makes it easy for him to bring a deer down, Last two deer seasons 2 shots= 2 deer in the freezer. I prefer the extra punch of the Legend. I shoot the 165 gr FTX. Very accurate, moderate recoil.

 

[ClemY]

For me, it is an easy question. In MD, the .350 is legal for deer in counties formerly restricted to shotgun; the .300 BO is not.

 

[Buckeye63]

350 L is just a great cartridge.. Whether you are recoil sensitive or not .. it just happens to be light recoiling . I only have fired the round at the range .. one of my friends purchased a upper .. he has taken a couple of white tails… I believe he used Winchester 180gr PP both were pass throughs … and neither had to be tracked … I actually was in the process of purchasing a Savage Axis in 350 when the announcement of the 400 L was announced.. I don’t think Id recommend that round to younger small framed shooter…
The 6.5 Grendel is a amazing cartridge.. and from what I understand is a superb deer round … I have read quite a bit about it in the last couple of years and would be fantastic in the Howa Mini action ..