Ep. 309 | 350 Legend vs 450 Bushmaster® — Total Domination from the 350 Legend?

Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn sit down to pull bullets and further evaluate their 350 Legend and 450 Bushmaster® gel-shooting results. Do they do their signature flip-flopping, or does the data hold up in their cartridge court? Find out right here.

00:00 - Intro
1:00 - 350 Legend vs 450 Bushmaster
18:45 - Lead Bullets - The Results
21:01 - 350 Lead - Recovery Weight
24:04 - 450 Lead - Recovered Weight
27:42 - Copper Bullets - The Results
30:30 - 350 Copper - Recovered Weight
35:48 - 450 Copper - Recovered Weight
39:04 - Closing Thoughts

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[grayman]

i was the person that got tim legendre (the creator of the 450 bushmaster) to the 2000 SOPMOD conference for developments of the m-4 carbine.
(i was a retired msg, / airborne ranger)
our argument was that it was not the firearm that was the problem, but the cartridge.
we demonstrated the 450 bushmaster (called the 45 professional at the time) by busting cinder blocks.
i deliberately waited until the last demo.
the FN representative standing next to me said "you just blew everyone out of the water."
that led directly to the development of the 6.8 spc, the 458 socom, the 50 beowulf, etc.
without that demo in 2000, none of the other "big bore" AR's (including the 350 legend) would even exist.
so, the 450 bushmaster was NOT the cart ahead of the horse, the 450 was the horse pulling the cart for the rest.
essentially a semi-auto 45-70 (with original black powder loads)
the 45 professional was picked up by bushmaster firearms, slightly modified, and became the 450 bushmaster.
prior to 450 bushmaster, the only attempt was an ar-15 with 7.62x39, which did not feed well.
i own the two prototype rifles we used. (one 16", one standard length)

[motrhed]

Daughter got to use her 350L last weekend to take an 11 point buck ( Her first ).
Used the Winchester 150gr XP at 45-55 yards. Complete punch through ( heart/double lung ). Buck made it 60-80 yards with not much heart left. She and I couldn't have been happier with her success and the performance of the 350 Legend.

[justinjhauser]

I bought a 350 legend 3 years ago for my son. We have had tremendous success on northern WI deer with that cartridge. Hornady American Whitetail also our ammo of choice. Very effective and efficient. Great blood trails and very short blood trails. I have been extremely pleased and surprised by the lethality. It hits hard no doubt about it. Excellent cartridge.

[gunguy-ygzr]

My wife is a very recoil shy person. The second she learned the 350 legend existed she asked for one. I was skeptical that It would take off or make it. Told her to wait and make sure that it would gain traction first. Then the pandemic hit and for two years I could hardly find ammo for any of my deer guns. I can’t speak for everyone’s region but since it released I’ve not been in a store yet that didn’t have 350 legend on the shelves even during the pandemic. Finally bought one for my wife and kids 2 weeks ago and used it to take a deer yesterday. I’m impressed with the little cartridge. I’ve always wanted to hunt with the ar-15 but didn’t want to step up to the weight and size of the ar-10 platform and most of the ar-15 sized rounds I’ve felt were either anemic or too thumpy for me in the platform. The 350 legend has finally bridged that gap and I’ll be building my own very soon.

[christopheritsdaperrperry]

This episode helped me choose the 350 for Iowa this year. My Father took his first buck in 20 years with the rifle I built him. Thanks guys! I'm impressed with the 350 and Dad is in love!

[bkpugsley]

As soon as the 350L came to market, I sold my slug gun and haven't regretted that choice once. The 350 is very accurate, low recoil, and with the Deer Season XP bullet, has worked excellent on deer. I've killed 7-8 deer with it and either dropped, watched fall, or excellent blood trail. 100% deer recovery so far. I use the Vortex straight wall scope but haven't tested the BDC at all ranges yet.

[christophercrist]

I’ve hunted with the 350L the last 4 years in the limited firearm part of southern MI. I love it. Farthest Ive gone is 135 yards with it, out of the last 4 years, I’ve not had one go over 25 yards after a hit. As with any caliber or gauge, shot placement does make a difference. The American Whitetail rounds is what grouped best from my AR15 I built specifically for a deer rifle, and what I use. The rifle is topped with a Vortex Crossfire II straight-wall bdc scope. Im glad I chose the 350 over the 450 to build for. We are seeing a HUGE amount of 350’s go out the door compared to the 450’s at work where I sell guns at Cabela’s in Dundee MI. A lot of younger/first time hunters are getting it, it’s a great and capable round that’s not intimidating to them, which makes for a more enjoyable time hunting. It’s one they can grow with and keep a rifle for a long time.

[toddr]

Very happy with 350 legend, last fall the buck only went 20ft , using 180g winchester power point ! Great blood trail too.

[LeonardZiglar]

So I bought a 350 Legend a couple years ago, I was only able to find at purchase was Winchester Power Point 180 grain ammo. I live in Southeast Alabama hunt in a heavy wooded area where my longest shot is 100 to 110 yards. The 350 Light compact size make it a great option. When I shot my 1st deer with it a small about 110lb doe she ran about 60 yards and went down very little blood trail and no exit wound recovered the bullet in the back hip after it skipped down the opposite side ribs. About a month later I found some Winchester Deer Season XP Extreme Point 150 grain ammo. Got another doe in late season at about 85 yards with the Deer Season XP no issue at all this time clean in and out she never took another step. Love my 350 Legend pulled it trigger twice in hunting situation and brought home meat both times.

[kyleciarametaro]

Bought a 350L for my 17 year old daughter.
this was her first shooting exp. She handled it well, we both took boar with it using the Winchester
Ext Pt. in 150 gr. The 350L did very well om boar at 70 and 30 yards

[jaredfuller]

Forgive me for speaking of a pistol cartridge but the biggest lead balloon in recent history is the 45 GAP.

[lucasvaughn]

350 legend had become my favorite cartrage so glad you guys did this

[ShaneZeppelin]

Great podcast and video!

Bought a 450BM upper for my AR a couple years ago and after the 350 Legend came on the scene, have been wanting to build a 350 Legend upper. Love the 450 in the AR platform. I compare it to shooting my .45-70. I just like the big-bore cartridges for some reason.

I will admit that sighting in my .450 affects my pansie-itis and the recoil gets to me after a few rounds. However, when hunting and taking one, maybe two shots at a whitetail, recoil is a non-issue. Still having the less recoil of the 350 Legend is appealing.

I will say that I’ve hunted with a single-shot, lever, and bolt rifle for nearly all my rifle-hunting life, but these days I prefer my AR platform. I find it easier to carry, quicker on target, the same of not a little lighter to carry overall, and I can quickly change cartridges (uppers) if I so desired to carry something different.

Don’t get me wrong, still love my bolts and lever (no longer have a single-shot), but I find the AR platform for hunting, whitetails in MN anyway, my favorite overall.

The 450 Bushmaster vs 350 Legend? Why not both? That’s my plan, anyhow.

Keep up the good work, fellas!

[peterpoel]

SW Michigan deer Hunter here in the straight wall zone. Recoil sensitive so I went w a CVA scout V2 in .350. A real pleasure to shoot. Shot a small doe last season. Heart shot. Very accurate through and through w a Winchester 180 PP. great deer cartridge and rifle

[RyanSantamour]

The bear creek ballistics 450 high velocity ammo for the bolt gun is a game changer. They take the pressure reduction due to ar bolt thrust issue out of the equation. And seriously bump it up

[redalert]

Anxious to see if the Goldilocks comes in the form of 400 Legend.

[johntalbot]

I built both 450 & 350, love the 350, and pumpkin shake. Best grouse hunt ever was with 28 ga. Beretta O/U in Michigan. Thanks for great video.

[patschneider]

I have taken many whitetails over the years with 3 different 450's and love the results. They have been taken as close as 10 yards and as far as 230 yards. I put together an Ar in 350 but never hunted with it, but I do have relatives that have taken deer with 350's, so I say it's whatever you like they both work great.

[keenan]

Would love to see 350 legend vs 400 legend

[markcook]

My son has shot 6 white tails and IV shot 3 no tracking all fell in sight of us very impressed with this calliber.