350 Legend vs 300 Blackout is special ammunition suitable for center rifles. Both help hunters quickly knock down deer, moose, and even wild boar or wild dogs in the fall.
Each has distinct characteristics, and there have been many heated debates about which is truly superior.
In this article, let’s evaluate in detail and consider the pros and cons of each version before making a decision.
Let’s check it out!
Something about .350 Legend Ammo
The .350 Legend is a relatively new cartridge in the world of firearms and ammunition.
It was introduced by Winchester in 2019 as a straight-walled rifle cartridge designed primarily for hunting and sporting purposes. Here’s some information about the .350 Legend ammo:
1. Cartridge Design
The .350 Legend is designed to comply with regulations in states that have restrictions on deer hunting with bottlenecked cartridges. It has a straight-walled case design, which makes it legal for hunting in areas that require such specifications.
2. Caliber and Performance
The .350 Legend typically uses bullets with a caliber of .355 inches (9mm), which is a common caliber for handgun ammunition. This allows for the use of a wide range of bullet types.
The cartridge is designed to deliver good stopping power and accuracy within a certain range, making it suitable for medium-sized game hunting.
3. Ballistics
The ballistics of the .350 Legend cartridge can vary depending on the load and bullet used. However, it generally offers moderate recoil and good terminal performance at close to medium ranges.
It’s known for having relatively low recoil compared to some other hunting cartridges, making it more accessible to shooters who may not be comfortable with heavier recoil.
4. Ammunition Types
Ammunition for the .350 Legend is available in various bullet types, including soft point, hollow point, and ballistic tip designs. This allows hunters to choose ammunition that suits their specific needs, whether they’re aiming for controlled expansion, deep penetration, or long-range accuracy.
5. Uses
The primary use of the .350 Legend is hunting, particularly for medium-sized game like deer. It’s designed to offer sufficient energy and expansion for clean and ethical kills within a certain effective hunting range.
However, its range is limited compared to some other cartridges, so it’s important for hunters to be aware of their shooting distances.
6. Legal Considerations
One of the main reasons the .350 Legend was developed was to comply with hunting regulations in certain states that require the use of straight-walled cartridges. These regulations are often in place to promote safety and ethical hunting practices.
7. Firearms
Firearms chambered in .350 Legend are available from various manufacturers. These include bolt-action rifles, single-shot rifles, and even some semi-automatic rifles. Before purchasing a firearm for this caliber, ensure that it’s legal to use for hunting in your state or region.
Something about .300 Blackout Ammo
.300 Blackout, also known as .300 AAC Blackout or 7.62x35mm, is a relatively new and versatile rifle cartridge designed for use in the AR-15 platform.
It was developed by Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) with the intention of providing a more effective and flexible alternative to the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge, especially in short-barreled rifles and suppressed firearms.
Here’s some information about .300 Blackout ammo:
1. Origin and Purpose
.300 Blackout was introduced in 2011 as a response to the limitations of the 5.56mm cartridge in short-barreled rifles and suppressed weapons.
The goal was to create a cartridge that could be fired in standard AR-15 rifles with minimal modifications, while offering improved performance in terms of bullet energy, stopping power, and terminal ballistics.
2. Compatibility
One of the key features of .300 Blackout is its compatibility with the standard AR-15 platform.
It uses the same magazines and bolt carrier groups as the 5.56mm, requiring only a barrel swap to convert a rifle chambered in 5.56mm to .300 Blackout.
This makes it a popular choice for those who want to maximize the utility of their AR-15 while benefiting from a larger and heavier bullet.
3. Bullet Selection
.300 Blackout ammo is available in various bullet weights and styles, ranging from lightweight varmint loads to heavy subsonic rounds.
This versatility allows shooters to tailor their ammunition choice to the intended purpose, whether it’s home defense, target shooting, hunting, or suppressed shooting.
4. Subsonic and Suppressed Shooting
One of the standout features of .300 Blackout is its ability to be effectively used with subsonic ammunition when paired with a suppressor.
Subsonic rounds, which typically use heavier bullets and travel at slower speeds, greatly reduce the noise produced by the gunshot, making it ideal for stealthy shooting applications.
5. Performance
The .300 Blackout cartridge offers better ballistics than the 5.56mm at shorter ranges, especially when firing heavier bullets. It delivers more energy on target and has better terminal ballistics, making it well-suited for short-barreled rifles and home defense scenarios.
6. Ammunition Types
.300 Blackout ammunition is broadly categorized into two types:
Supersonic: These rounds use lighter bullets and are typically used for hunting and general shooting. They achieve higher velocities and have flatter trajectories.
Subsonic: Subsonic rounds are designed for suppressed shooting. They use heavier bullets to maintain energy and are loaded to travel at subsonic speeds, reducing the sonic crack associated with supersonic bullets.
7. Availability
While .300 Blackout ammo might not be as widely available as more established cartridges like 5.56mm or .308, it has gained popularity and its availability has increased over the years.
Major ammunition manufacturers produce a variety of loads for different purposes.
Quick 350 Legend vs 300 Blackout Comparison Table
| Factors | 350 legend | 300 blackout |
| Cartridge Specs |
|
|
| Recoil | Bigger | Smaller |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,325 feet/second | 1.900 feet / second |
| The muzzle energy | 1.800 ft-lbs | 1.200 ft-lbs |
| Trajectory | Capable of flying up to 250 yards | Capable of flying up to 175 yards |
| Ballistic | Lower | Higher |
| Sectional Density | Worse | Better |
| Hunting | Suitable for long-range shooting | Short range shooting |
| Suppressor Integration | Worse | Better |
| Defense | Self defense at home | Self defense at home |
| Price | From 1-2 dollars/bullet | From 1-2 dollars/bullet |
350 Legend vs 300 Blackout Similarities
| Aspect | .350 Legend | .300 Blackout |
|---|---|---|
| Parent Case | .223 Remington | .223 Remington |
| Overall Length | Similar to .223 Remington | Similar to .223 Remington |
| Compatible Platforms | AR-15 platforms | AR-15 platforms |
| Magazine Compatibility | Works with standard AR-15 magazines | Works with standard AR-15 magazines |
| Suppressed Use | Can be used suppressed | Popular for suppressed use |
| Hunting Use | Designed for hunting | Suitable for hunting |
| Bullet Selection | Limited bullet options | Wide range of bullet choices |
| Cartridge Availability | Generally available | Generally available |
AR-15 Platform Compatibility: Both cartridges are designed to work within the AR-15 platform with minimal modifications. This means that rifles chambered in either .350 Legend or .300 Blackout can often share the same lower and sometimes even the same bolt carrier group.
Suppressed Use: Both cartridges are used in suppressed firearms. The .300 Blackout, in particular, is well-known for its compatibility with suppressors due to its subsonic capabilities. The .350 Legend can also be used in suppressed platforms, offering a quieter shooting experience.
Short-Range Effectiveness: Both cartridges are primarily designed for short to medium ranges. While they can certainly be used at longer distances, they are generally optimized for engagements within a few hundred yards.
Stopping Power: Both cartridges offer good stopping power, especially within their intended ranges. They are popular choices for hunting medium-sized game and self-defense scenarios.
Bullet Variety: Both cartridges have a variety of bullet weights and types available. This allows shooters to tailor their ammunition selection to their specific needs, whether that’s for hunting, target shooting, or self-defense.
Relatively Low Recoil: Compared to larger rifle cartridges, both the .350 Legend and .300 Blackout have relatively mild recoil. This can make them more enjoyable to shoot for a wider range of shooters.
Magazine Compatibility: In many cases, existing AR-15 magazines can be used with both .350 Legend and .300 Blackout rifles, although some modifications might be necessary.
350 Legend Vs 300 Blackout Differences
350 Legend comes from the famous Winchester brand and is mainly available for hunting purposes. In contrast, the 300 Blackout ammunition serves the US Special Forces for training and combat purposes.
What differences make the intended use of the two so differentiated? Let’s find out the details in the following comparison!
Cartridge Specs
The specs are often the first factor you must consider when comparing these two rifle cartridges. While the 300 Blackout comes in a bottleneck box design, the 350 Legend comes in a square box.
The 300’s cartridges are generally more efficient at high capacity because of the bullet’s position in the cartridge neck. In contrast, the 350’s cartridge design will meet the stringent DNR requirements of states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, India, and Ohio.
The following parameter is the bullet diameter that each box uses. Specifically, the 350 Legend will have a diameter of 0.357″ – 0.003″. Meanwhile, the 300 Blackout is usually popular with a diameter of 0.308″.
The similarity of these two designs is that they have the same 0.378″ rim diameter. The overall lengths of 300 and 350 are almost identical. However, they have differences in case capacity.
Also, the 350 Legend has more container space than the 300 Blackout. This feature assists the weapon in firing a heavier bullet.
Recoil
350 Legend:
- Recoil: Generally, the 350 Legend has relatively mild recoil, making it a suitable choice for those who are sensitive to recoil or for shooters looking for a more comfortable shooting experience.
- Reason: The 350 Legend is designed to have low to moderate recoil, which makes it manageable for a wide range of shooters.
- Bullet Weight: The 350 Legend typically fires lighter bullets compared to the 300 Blackout, contributing to reduced recoil.
- Firearm Design: Firearms chambered in 350 Legend often have recoil mitigation features, such as muzzle brakes and recoil pads, to further reduce felt recoil.
300 Blackout:
- Recoil: The recoil of the 300 Blackout can vary depending on the specific load and bullet weight used. In general, it can have slightly more recoil compared to the 350 Legend, but this can be mitigated with proper firearm selection and accessories.
- Reason: The 300 Blackout can generate more recoil due to its versatility, allowing for a wider range of bullet weights and velocities. Heavier bullets and supersonic loads may produce more recoil.
- Bullet Weight: The 300 Blackout can be loaded with a wide range of bullet weights, including heavier subsonic rounds, which can increase perceived recoil.
- Firearm Design: The type of firearm and its configuration, such as barrel length and muzzle devices, can significantly affect recoil. Some 300 Blackout rifles are designed to reduce recoil with features like adjustable gas systems and recoil pads.
Muzzle Velocity
350 Legend:
- With a 20-inch barrel, common 350 Legend loads can achieve muzzle velocities of around 2,300 to 2,400 feet per second (fps).
- Shorter barrels, such as 16 inches, may result in slightly lower muzzle velocities, typically around 2,200 to 2,300 fps.
300 Blackout:
- The 300 Blackout is known for its versatility, offering a wide range of muzzle velocities depending on the load and barrel length.
- In a typical supersonic load with a 16-inch barrel, the 300 Blackout can achieve muzzle velocities of approximately 2,200 to 2,300 fps.
- Subsonic loads, often used with suppressors, typically have muzzle velocities around 1,000 to 1,300 fps.
Trajectory
350 Legend:
- Bullet Weight: Typically, the 350 Legend uses bullets in the 150-180 grain range.
- Muzzle Velocity: It often has a higher muzzle velocity, around 2,100 to 2,300 feet per second (fps).
- Trajectory: Due to its higher velocity, the 350 Legend tends to have a flatter trajectory compared to the 300 Blackout.
- Effective Range: The 350 Legend is known for having a relatively flat trajectory out to moderate distances, making it suitable for medium-range shooting.
300 Blackout:
- Bullet Weight: The 300 Blackout can use a wide range of bullet weights, from 110 to 220 grains.
- Muzzle Velocity: Muzzle velocities can vary significantly depending on the load, but they are generally slower than the 350 Legend, often around 1,000 to 2,300 fps.
- Trajectory: The trajectory of the 300 Blackout is influenced by the specific load used. Subsonic loads have a more pronounced drop at longer distances, while supersonic loads exhibit a flatter trajectory within their effective range.
- Effective Range: The 300 Blackout is effective at short to moderate ranges, but its trajectory may require more adjustment at longer distances due to the slower bullet speeds.
Ballistics
For 350 Legend:
| Bullet Weight (grains) | Distance (yards) | Bullet Drop (inches) at Various Distances |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | 100 | 0 |
| 200 | 2.4 – 3.7 | |
| 300 | 10.6 – 16.9 | |
| 400 | 24.0 – 41.3 | |
| 180 | 100 | 0 |
| 200 | 1.6 – 2.6 | |
| 300 | 7.1 – 11.4 | |
| 400 | 16.0 – 27.6 | |
| 200 | 100 | 0 |
| 200 | 0.9 – 1.5 | |
| 300 | 4.1 – 6.6 | |
| 400 | 9.3 – 16.1 |
For 300 Blackout:
| Bullet Weight (grains) | Distance (yards) | Bullet Drop (inches) at Various Distances |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | 100 | 0 |
| 200 | 5.5 – 7.0 | |
| 300 | 20.3 – 27.8 | |
| 400 | 45.7 – 63.1 | |
| 150 | 100 | 0 |
| 200 | 4.8 – 6.1 | |
| 300 | 17.6 – 24.1 | |
| 400 | 39.7 – 54.7 | |
| 220 | 100 | 0 |
| 200 | 3.6 – 4.6 | |
| 300 | 13.3 – 18.2 | |
| 400 | 30.0 – 41.3 |
Sectional Density
It is common to measure cross-sectional density (SD) by comparing how well a bullet penetrates a target. The higher the number, the more likely the bullet will knock down the prey by puncturing the skin, tendons, or bones.
Besides, the expansion and velocity factors also create a certain amount of damage. Despite the different weights, the 300 Blackout has a higher cross-sectional density and better penetration than its rivals.
Hunting
350 Legend has a unique sight design for hunting deer even at long range.
But, it doesn’t mean 300 Blackouts are less effective. This bullet can work very well at close range with wild boar.
With varmint, 300 Blackout has low recoil and is lighter, so it has an advantage over 350 Legend.
Both are capable of firing subsonic projectiles. But experts do not recommend using these 2 for hunting because of their brutality.
Suppressor Integration
The suppressor is responsible for reducing the sound of gunpowder igniting when bullets are fired.
Rifle cartridges can fire at supersonic speeds more fabulous than 1125 fps.
The suppressor of the 300 Blackout is slightly superior to that of the 350 Legend. Specifically, with 300, you can use full powdered burin to create a continuous firing force with high noise immunity.
In the other version, the poor soundproofing makes it impossible for you to fire many bullets in a short time. Its annoying sounds and radiant heat are challenging to handle.
Defense
The 300 Blackout is generally a better priority for self-defense due to its suitability for CQB applications. However, 350 Legend can also be available for home defense. Its drawback is that it cannot fit into standard AR-15 boxes.
300 Blackout is a superior self-defense option when operating with a full 30-round magazine and low recoil.
Price
350 Legend was released recently, so users have fewer options compared to 300 Blackout. Only 3 manufacturers offer 350s, Winchester, Hornady, and Federal, while almost every manufacturer produces and supplies 300 Blackouts.
However, the price of the two has almost no difference. You’ll pay more than $1 for each shot of the same size.
Pros and Cons
350 Legends
- Ammo Availability: 350 Legend ammunition is readily available in most gun stores due to its increasing popularity, making it easy to find and purchase.
- Affordable Ammo: It tends to be more affordable than some other popular rifle calibers, making it cost-effective for target shooting and hunting.
- Low Recoil: The 350 Legend has relatively low recoil, which can be beneficial for shooters who want to minimize felt recoil.
- Straight-Walled Cartridge: Many states with straight-wall cartridge hunting regulations permit the use of the 350 Legend, making it a popular choice for hunters in those areas.
- Limited Range: The 350 Legend is known for its limited effective range, particularly when compared to some other cartridges like the 300 Blackout.
- Less Suppressor-Friendly: While suppressors can be used with the 350 Legend, they are more commonly associated with the 300 Blackout due to its subsonic capabilities.
300 Blackout
- Versatility: The 300 Blackout is highly versatile, with the ability to shoot both supersonic and subsonic ammunition. This makes it suitable for various applications, including hunting and suppressed shooting.
- Effective Range: It has a more extended effective range than the 350 Legend, making it better suited for longer-range shooting.
- Suppressor-Friendly: The 300 Blackout is commonly used with suppressors, thanks to its subsonic ammo options, which can provide extremely quiet shooting.
- Ammo Cost: Ammunition for the 300 Blackout can be more expensive than the 350 Legend due to its versatility and different load options.
- Recoil: The 300 Blackout can have a more noticeable recoil compared to the 350 Legend, which might not be ideal for some shooters, particularly those sensitive to recoil.
- Availability: While 300 Blackout ammo is widely available, it may not be as abundant as more mainstream calibers.
- Compatibility: Shooters often need to be cautious about ensuring their firearm is chambered for the specific type of 300 Blackout ammo they intend to use (subsonic or supersonic).
350 Legend Vs 300 Blackout: Which One Is Better?
Both are products that are good enough for you to handle different goals.
If you’re looking for ammunition capable of firing at a wide range of up to 250 yards, the 350 Legend is a great choice. Its recoil is also not too significant, which may be available in many states, including Michigan and Ohio.
The 300 Blackout will be the ideal choice when you need to hunt at close range.
The outstanding advantages of this design are low recoil and effective cartridges with 30 rounds, allowing supersonic and subsonic bullets to be fired.
Thus, you need to pay attention to the purpose of use before picking up the perfect version.
Final Words
The article has detailed the 350 Legend vs 300 Blackout. They are all products with a large consumer market and are the choice of many hunters.
We hope you can clearly understand the similarities and differences between the two through this article.
If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact us for an accurate response. Thanks for reading!
Last Updated on November 21, 2023 by
