350 Legend vs 300 Blackout Rounds

When hunting, you want a dependable round that can drop your target over a wide range of distances. The 300 BLK was designed as a powerful AR platform style option that has caught the eye of most big game hunters, but the introduction of Winchester’s 350 Legend has created some serious competition. 

A top choice for hunting, competitive shooting, or even just a range day plinking- both calibers are worth keeping in your arsenal. The Legend is quickly beginning to show some serious advantages, however, and it’s worth understanding the ballistic differences between the 350 Legend vs 300 Blackout. 

What’s The Difference Between 350 Legend vs 300 BLK Rounds?

Comparison Between 350 Legend and 300 BLK Rounds

A quick ballistic side by side comparison easily highlights the differences between the two. Obviously the 350 is a larger bullet overall, which explains the lower velocity at 200 yards, but it is obviously superior in its overall energy and muzzle performance. 

Comparison Table

350 Legend

You’d think there wouldn’t be much of a market for new big game cartridges, but recent law changes in some states have opened the door for such an introduction. Some states, especially through the midwest, used to only allow muzzleloading and shotgun slugs, but have eased up concerning rifle caliber ammo. Limited to straight-walled cartridges, a flurry of options have gained attention, and the centerfire, straight-wall 350 Legend Caliber was introduced by Winchester in January of 2019 as a legal option for hunting in various states.

Features

The cartridge is based on the .233 Rem’s rimless case, and these similarities make it a good choice for an AR-15 type rifle with modification for proper operation. There are 5 different 350 load offerings through Winchester, and span from 145 – 265 grain options for different hunting needs. 

Compared to a 12-gauge slug, these bullets offer a sleek deer hunting upgrade indeed, and have been gaining ground in popularity for their stand alone ballistic that basically runs roughshod over comparable rounds. The energy output isn’t just good for dropping deer either, they have become a top pick for Southern hog hunters when deadly accuracy needs to count on the first round. 

300 Blackout

Originally created for military use, the 300 BLK Rifle and Pistol configurations are a versatile option for hunting and home defense. First introduced and approved in 2011, this has become a winning round for a wide range of firearm enthusiasts. It is especially popular with hunters due to its range capabilities, and powerful accuracy. 

Features

The .300 is a modified from a 5.56 and is another popular AR-type rifle build use, allowing for a large range of reloader and budget conscious platforms. Unlike the .350, these fit well with the AR platform magazines to avoid having to modify or purchase new hardware. This is also a long range shooting option with great trajectory at 500 to 600 yards with the proper gas system- and as a hunting option, is popular in open areas where long range shots are more common.

Despite this, since it was designed for close range combat, it is an excellent choice for incredible energy and stopping power for both deer and hog hunting in close quarters. It also is a choice for home defense that cannot be beat. 

350 Legend Stand Out Features

When it comes right down to it, when it comes down to overall effectiveness in doing what it was created to do- the 350 Legend walks all over the 300 Blackout. Even though the 300 BLK is a dependable round and provides accurate power in an easy to load platform, the .350 cannot be beat when it comes to overall energy. With a target between 100 and 200 yards, it is far superior in stopping power and ensures you have the kill shot you need. 

Although pricing is comparable, each are offered in various weights for different shooting experiences. The .350 is available in 145 to 265 grain weights to offer the ability to practice cheaply. Plus, the recoil is less across the board. .330 Blk loads general weight between 180 and 220 grains. 

Conclusion

These are both great caliber rounds and you definitely cannot go wrong with either one. The biggest advantage the 300 BLK has over the 350 Legend is how easily they fit into existing AR mag, making them more versatile overall. However, given a few more years, and the .350 will be just as competitive as manufacturers catch up to the obvious demand. 

Great for hunting, the incredible stopping power of the 350 Legend is perfect for targets between 100 and 200 yards (or shorter), and is a legal option for rifle season in areas that have stricter hunting laws. 

If you’ve had a chance to shoot a 350 Legend, we’d love to hear about your experiences below. And, as always, please share!