No and never will, but here is a story; our state banned the use of the 350 as the law says minimum .357 caliber. As we all know now, the 350 was developed as a 9mm so they could use the massive 9mm bullet machines. Later for some reason, they now do allow it. Proves that Government bureaucrats are idiots.
Posts: 17094 | Location: USA | Registered: 02 August 2009
I have loaded for it a little. The load I settled on is a Hornady 170 gr., .355 bullet and Lil' Gun powder. I stopped at a half grain over the starting load. The primers are flattening pretty good and the velocity is adequate at 2479 fps. Accuracy is about 1.25" at 100 yds. I also tried W296, but accuracy was not as good. All the loading data I have used is from the Hodgdon website.
I shot a nice buck with it last fall.
Posts: 20 | Location: Ohio | Registered: 13 April 2012
I finally got out to shoot this past weekend, and found almost exactly the same results with L'lGun, as my velocity was 2459, but 296 (aka. H110) shot just as well.
Going to shoot them all again this week, and see if I can duplicate results.
Hornady 170 gr ammo was 2266, little faster than what was quoted on the box.
Remember, forgivness is easier to get than permission.
Posts: 3991 | Location: Hudsonville MI USA | Registered: 08 June 2000
Originally posted by dpcd: No and never will, but here is a story; our state banned the use of the 350 as the law says minimum .357 caliber. As we all know now, the 350 was developed as a 9mm so they could use the massive 9mm bullet machines. Later for some reason, they now do allow it. Proves that Government bureaucrats are idiots.
That is marketing hype; meant to dupe the ill informed into thinking it is a .357. It ain't; it is a 9mm. All bullets used it are .354/5. That is the issue here; none of us here can fathom why, it was not designed for what we know and already use, .357 and .358, and some real rifle bullets.
Posts: 17094 | Location: USA | Registered: 02 August 2009
And I forgot add; the .357 dimension does come from the SAAMI specs; hut realize that those are quite generous in tolerance and for the 350, it is .357 MINUS .003. Which allows Winchester to say it is a .357, while making the bullets and barrels .354/5, still within the SAAMI spec. It was not designed for reloaders; it was made for midwest deer hunters who have to use a straight walled cartridge and can't handle the recoil of a .450. If we had designed it here on AR, it would be a .358 groove and chamber, allowing 357 and 358 bullets to be used. But no one here was asked that I know of. And there are actually AR members who have ordered custom chamber reamers to allow that.
Posts: 17094 | Location: USA | Registered: 02 August 2009
You can use .357 to .358 bullets in the current factory chamber providing you don't load out the full diameter portion of the bullet to where it touches anything. I have a 350 AR15 and have loaded much fatter bullets then mentioned. There are many guns we have accepted that aren't anywhere near the caliber inscribed on them. One that comes to mind is the .357 Magnum Colt Python...what the groove diameter on that dcpd? Not anywhere's near .358. Many 35 Remington barrels don't have .358 grooves either. The 350 Legend freebore, right in front of the case mouth is .357 so no reason it can't use a .357 bullet. As mentioned with factory brass you can load a fatter bullet the .357 as long as it's full bearing diameter doesn't touch anything like the freebore, leade, rifling. You just don't like the round. After I bought on I got some respect for it. It serves the purpose Winchester intended.
To answer the original posters question I reload for it. I'm a cast bullet shooter which this is a great caliber for cast. I chose a 200 grain bullet mould made by LEE for the 35 Remington for my bullet. It shoots it great with the right powder. As mentioned elsewhere in this thread I've sized it from .356 all the way up to .359 looking for the sweet spot. I'm using an AR15 and I'm going to say it thumps your shoulder way more then a 223 every would. It instills confidence that it will harvest deer with no trouble at all. It has plenty enough accuracy for it's intended purpose.
True about the Python but the barrel is not the issue. Many ar chambers won’t accept a 357, or 358. I guess some will. But I have not seen a factory round with anything but a .355.
Posts: 17094 | Location: USA | Registered: 02 August 2009
Originally posted by dpcd: True about the Python but the barrel is not the issue. Many ar chambers won’t accept a 357, or 358. I guess some will. But I have not seen a factory round with anything but a .355.
You probably don't care, but a trip over to the Castboolits forum and dig up everything on the 350 Legend tells a different story. Most all the AR chambers will accept over a .355 bullet easily if you load it like I said. I've done a chamber cast on it the numbers tell the story.
Yes I want to learn as much about it as I can because I am trying not to want one. But I am weak so that usually goes away and I end up with one or more.
Posts: 17094 | Location: USA | Registered: 02 August 2009
Originally posted by dpcd: Yes I want to learn as much about it as I can because I am trying not to want one. But I am weak so that usually goes away and I end up with one or more.
LOL I know what you mean. I'll tell you though I think the 450 Bushmaster is a better round. Involves much more recoil though. Far as muzzle blast both are pretty close LOUD!!!
The main thing for me is that I can put the 450 BM on any Mauser action and I can't do that with a 350; otherwise I would already have built one. I marked the first one I did, 450 BushMauser.
Posts: 17094 | Location: USA | Registered: 02 August 2009
Originally posted by dpcd: The main thing for me is that I can put the 450 BM on any Mauser action and I can't do that with a 350; otherwise I would already have built one. I marked the first one I did, 450 BushMauser.
