Traditional sporting bullets
Flat-nose, round-nose, and soft-point designs remain important in these cartridge families. For tubular magazines, use ammunition specifically approved by the manufacturer.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · LARGE-BORE CENTERFIRE
.350 Legend
A straight-wall centerfire sporting cartridge with its own standardized bullet and chamber dimensions. The Legend name identifies the complete cartridge family.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 2.125–2.260 in
53.975–57.404 mm - Case length · max
- 1.710 in
43.434 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.357 in
9.068 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.378 in
9.601 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Large-bore centerfire
- Bullet specification
- 0.3570 in / 9.068 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 6 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 160–250 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.350 Legend is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 350 Legend. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
Straight-wall hunting rules vary by jurisdiction. Cartridge identity and current hunting eligibility are separate questions.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
Winchester introduced the .350 Legend in 2019 for the straight-wall hunting-cartridge market. Its launch linked a new ammunition family with Winchester XPR bolt-action rifles and support from other firearm makers. The design addressed hunters who wanted a comparatively compact, moderate-recoil centerfire option in places where straight-wall cartridges had become a significant part of deer hunting.
Despite a rim diameter familiar from the .223 Remington, Winchester explicitly described the Legend as a new case design with no parent case. That distinction is part of its development story, rather than a minor naming detail. The original lineup included hunting and full-metal-jacket practice loads, showing that Winchester intended an accessible ammunition system rather than one specialized loading. Its introduction also helped renew commercial interest in straight-wall rifle cartridges, a category with nineteenth-century roots but new relevance to modern bolt-action and self-loading sporting rifles.
Historical sources: Winchester: original .350 Legend launch questions and case-development explanation ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Purpose-built modern loads
Flexible tips, bonded bullets, monolithic expanding bullets, and solids have different functions. A similar exterior shape or shared diameter does not establish equivalent behavior.
Firearm-specific ammunition
Some older cartridge families span firearms with very different operating limits. Keep any product restrictions with the ammunition record and use only loads authorized for that firearm.
The expanded factory selection spans 160–250 grains. Exact products and source conditions appear in the table.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
Factory-labeled subsonic additions include Winchester. The table also distinguishes ordinary factory loads. Published test conditions and product-specific notes accompany each addition; no velocity curve is inferred from one muzzle specification.
From the factory catalog
160 grains
2,300 fps
FUSION
165 grains
2,200 fps
FTX®
170 grains
2,200 fps
InterLock® SP
Compare all 6 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FederalF350LFS1 | 160 gr 10.37 g | FUSION | 2,300 fps 701 m/s | 16 in | Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗ |
| Hornady81197 | 165 gr 10.69 g | FTX® | 2,200 fps 671 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 188 ↗ |
| Hornady81196 | 170 gr 11.02 g | InterLock® SP | 2,200 fps 671 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 188 ↗ |
| Federal350LA | 180 gr 11.66 g | SP | 2,100 fps 640 m/s | 16 in | Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗ |
| Hornady81198 | 250 gr 16.20 g | SUB-X™ | 1,050 fps 320 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 188 ↗ |
| WinchesterSUP350 | 225 gr 14.58 g | Super Suppressed · open tipWinchester February 4, 2026 product table. Different package variants are retained where published specifications differ; SUP300BLK and SUP300BLK2 share one ballistic record. | 1,060 fps 323.1 m/s | Not stated | Winchester · source ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.350 Legend: published barrel-length comparison
| Exact load | Source / publisher | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 150 gr Winchester Deer Season XP | Winchester | 16: 2,225; 20: 2,325 |
| 180 gr Winchester Power-Point | Winchester | 16: 2,000; 20: 2,100 |
.350 Legend: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source / publisher | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 160 gr Federal FUSION | Federal | 0: 2,300; 100: 1,993; 200: 1,712; 300: 1,463; 400: 1,257; 500: 1,107 |
| 165 gr Hornady FTX® | Hornady | 0: 2,200; 100: 1,890; 200: 1,612; 300: 1,371 |
| 170 gr Hornady InterLock® SP | Hornady | 0: 2,200; 100: 1,843; 200: 1,529; 300: 1,271 |
| 180 gr Federal SP | Federal | 0: 2,100; 100: 1,793; 200: 1,520; 300: 1,292; 400: 1,123; 500: 1,013 |
| 250 gr Hornady SUB-X™ | Hornady | 0: 1,050; 100: 969; 200: 908; 300: 857; 400: 813; 500: 774 |
| 225 gr Winchester Super Suppressed · open tip | Winchester | 0: 1,060 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .350 Legend?
A straight-wall centerfire sporting cartridge with its own standardized bullet and chamber dimensions. The Legend name identifies the complete cartridge family.
What diameter does .350 Legend use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.3570 inches (9.068 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
Straight-wall hunting rules vary by jurisdiction. Cartridge identity and current hunting eligibility are separate questions.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
Factory datasets show manufacturer specifications and any published downrange projections. Chronograph and barrel-study datasets identify recorded measurements and the original test source. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values are labeled linear estimates; single source points are not extended into invented curves. Energy is calculated from bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 147 ↗
- Winchester: .350 Legend factory FAQ and barrel data ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 188 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗
- Additional factory specification / original test ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.