The 350 Legend: A Closer Look
The .350 Legend is a centerfire rifle cartridge developed by Winchester Ammunition for the use in modern sporting rifles. The cartridge is based on the .223 Remington, and is a rimless bottleneck cartridge. The inherent parts of the .350 Legend are somewhat of a mixture of traditional and experimental for different calibers. Winchester seems to have developed this cartridge with the intention of utilizing the long and fragmented history of the .355 caliber bullets (90 gr – 170 gr) as the foundation for the Legend. The .355 caliber bullet has been around even longer than the .355 caliber cartridges have. The .355 bullets being produced in the .35 caliber range have a lineage that can be traced back to several other cartridges as well. There are very few .355 caliber bullets that are not produced or distributed across the .35 caliber cartridges. The .355 caliber bullets that are plus or minus 5 to 10 grains of 100 grains are the most common bullets used in the Legend. These bullets have an interesting but quiet history all to themselves. Long before Winchester took the plunge into the Legend, they had a .355 diameter (predominately called 9mm) bullet that was the basis of their damage "devastator" bullets. The .355 Remington Hollowpoint was the original and first of them. The Remington Hollowpoint differs in that it was a lead core with a copper jacket bullet. This copper jacket usually only has a thin layer of lacquered lubricating material to hold the jacket to the steel jacket itself. The core bonding techniques of today would not work well in this day and age . Sierra, Speer, and Winchester were the foremost producers of these witnesses of the past. Most people do not know that when Remington developed the .223 Remington for the military, the original .223 Remington bullets were .355 or .356 caliber. Much of the ammunition for the .223 Remington was built with .356 bullets. It must be noted that people purchased 9mm FMJ loaded with these .356 diameter bullets. These bullets were for the .356 caliber semi-automatic pistols that were found in abundance during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The 9mm ammunition loaded with .356 bullets was not designated 9mm Luger, but 9×19. The .356 diameter was not as much of a problem as was the .358 diameter bullets. There has always been a great unknown about the .355 caliber .35 caliber bullets. Most handgun enthusiasts have used them in revolvers and semi-automatic pistols for the .356 bullets. These bullets were not regulated to .355 in diameter, but could be pulled and weighed by spec to a .355 diameter. The .350 Legend has exploded in popularity. It is destined to be to the deer hunting community what the 6.8 SPC is to the military. Its popularity is growing at a rapid rate these days. In fact, it is almost easy to obtain .350 Legend ammunition these days. Ammunition makers are calling the round "high velocity" and equating it to the .300 Blackout. We know that the .300 Blackout will not kill a deer. This proves to be a mistake. The .350 Legend is very popular due to the fact that it is a low recoil deer rifle cartridge that can be utilized in semi-automatic .AR-15 rifles.
Ohio Cartridges for Hunting: Legal Guidelines
Ohio’s hunting regulations pertaining to cartridges are listed on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website. The 350 Legend is legal for white-tailed deer in Ohio. "Shotgun, rifle, pistol and muzzleloading hunters (including archery hunters during the special seasons) may use handguns that are chambered in .350 Legend (must meet the season bag limit); handguns chambered for .357 SIG, .40 S&W, .10mm Auto, .44 Magnum and larger caliber handgun cartridges and centerfire rifles chambered in straight-wall cartridges such as .450 Bushmaster, .475 BMG and .380 Shotgun Slug brass cases (when loaded with shotgun slugs only). Ohio legal muzzleloading firearms may also be used for deer hunting. Shotguns with rifled slugs or handguns with rifled barrels and rifle-type stocks are permitted at all times. Flintlock and percussion types are legal shotguns during the muzzleloader season for deer. A rifled barrel may be used for deer hunting utilizing muzzleloading rifles with centerfire ignition systems and inline muzzleloading rifles that are .35 caliber minimum; any breech-loaded muzzleloading rifle. Flintlock and percussion types must be loaded during the shooting of the first shot or the firing mechanism must be rendered incapable of being fired by removing the flint, removing the primer, using a barrel plug, or having the breach plugged with tape or other material."
The Legality of the .350 Legend in Ohio
Yes, the 350 Legend is legal in Ohio.
Ohio has wild animal regulations that broadly prohibit discharge of a firearm in specified areas, which is not authorized by law or regulation. Otherwise, the terms of the valid hunting license dictate what types of firearms and ammunition are authorized for use in Ohio. Pursuant to Ohio Administrative Code section 1501:31-10-14(B)(5), all legal rifles may also be used on public hunting grounds. The regulation incorporates by reference Ohio Administrative Code section 1501:31-10-14(H) (which relates to deer hunting in specified areas of Ohio). This means that the 350 Legend is expressly authorized for deer hunting in Ohio as it is a type of legal rifle firearms. Moreover, a hunter can harvest deer in the urban areas of Ohio that permit bagging deer (per Ohio Revised Code section 1533.18) using a shotgun or legal rifle.
Why Use the .350 Legend
One of the advantages of this round is that it can be an effective choice for deer and feral hog hunting. There are a variety of options in terms of ammo, and this can be a great round for a hunter who wants a quieter option. It is a surprisingly accurate round. The ballistics are similar to a .30-30 round. The rifle is well suited for a suppressed option, which also makes it good for culling hogs . Unlike other larger calibers, it’s not too large for a new shooter.
Another advantage for hunters in Ohio is that short-range deer hunting in Ohio is somewhat restricted due to many conservation areas and backyards being the hunted location. The .350 Legend can be effective for such hunting conditions, whereas larger calibers would be a disadvantage in terms of recoil, ammo availability and overall pinch point locations within the woods.
Legality and Compliance Issues
When considering the purchase and use of the 350 Legend in Ohio, it is essential to understand the legal landscape. This section focuses on the legal considerations and compliance associated with possessing a 350 Legend in the state.
First and foremost, Federal laws apply nationally, which means that in general, if you are permitted to possess a 350 Legend under Federal law, you are also permitted to do the same under Ohio law. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regulates the manufacture, distribution, and use of firearms. If the firearm is not prohibited by federal law (such as fully automatic weapons, suppressors, etc.), residents of Ohio should have no issue obtaining and utilizing the product as they see fit.
However, ownership and use of firearms is also subject to state and local laws. Under the Ohio Revised Code § 2923.11, firearms are defined as "any weapon capable of or designed or adapted to expel or propel any projectile or projectile explosive of any kind by the action of an explosive or combustion." As such, 350 Legend firearms are considered firearms under Ohio law, and their use is generally unrestricted.
Ohio gun buyers should be aware that even within the framework of state and federal permissibility, local ordinances may impose additional requirements for ownership and use. It is, therefore, strongly recommended to check with city or county ordinances regarding the use of firearms. Further, all firearm owners should be familiar with the "Stand Your Ground" laws of the state. In 2019, Ohio’s "Make My Day" bill was signed into law, authorizing a resident to use force against an intruder in their home provided the resident has a legal right to be in the residence, and the resident reasonably believes that the force is necessary to prevent the commission of a felony offense, protect themselves or another from physical harm, or prevent a forcible trespass or unlawful entry. Therefore, Ohio gun buyers should ensure they exercise appropriate caution and consider the potential legal implications from the purchases or uses of the firearms.
Background checks might be required in some circumstances, but most gun sales through licensed dealers will be subject to a background check. As such, consumers should also be prepared to undergo checks when purchasing guns through federally licensed gun dealers. For private transactions, Ohio does not require background checks if the buyer is a resident of the state. It is important for all Ohio firearm owners to familiarize themselves with the various gun-related laws and regulations in their respective counties, as they may be stricter than those provided by the state.
Comparison to Other Cartridges Legal in Ohio
The 350 Legend has its strengths but may not be the best fit for everyone. In some situations, another caliber cartridge might do a better job, while in most other situations, the 350 Legend will perform adequately and within the confines of legal hunting regulations in the state of Ohio. Below are some comparisons between the 350 Legend and other cartridges that Ohio law allows for deer hunting:
• .223 Remington (or 5.56 NATO): The .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO cartridges are both legal from an Ohio deer hunting perspective. They both perform comparably to the 350 Legend in terms of range and suitability. However, the ballistic performance of the .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO vary greatly depending on the type of bullet being used. The .223 Remington is widely regarded as a fast and flat shooting cartridge that is more suited to light to medium weight bullets in the 45 to 69 grain range. The 5.56 NATO is much more versatile, with producing excellent ballistics for a heavier 77-grain bullet. The downside to the 5.56 NATO 77-grain bullet is that the .223 Remington has a division between .223 Wylde and .223 Remington rounds and the .223 Wylde does not comfortably digest 5.56 NATO ammunition typically chambered in 5 . 56 rifled barrels. Each of these cartridges has its pros and cons.
• .243 Winchester: Ohio law allows the .243 Winchester to be used for deer hunting, but it is not a cartridge most Ohioan’s use. It is a cartridge that is best suited for longer range shots, and in Ohio, the .243 Winchester is not a popular deer hunting cartridge because of the density of the brush that comes with deer hunting in Ohio.
• 6.5 Creedmoor: The 6.5 Creedmoor is a very popular deer and big game cartridge but the 350 Legend is much better suited for deer hunting as it is a straight walled cartridge and conducive to the broad, open areas where deer are hunted in the state of Ohio.
• 6.8mm Remington SPC: The 6.8mm SPC is technically an Ohio legal round for deer hunting but it is not popular with the state’s deer hunters. The downsides of the 6.8mm SPC are its availability and price, you need to special order this round or find a gun store with it in stock. Onto the upside, bullets for the round are becoming easier to find year by year and the accuracy of this round at 100 yards is near perfect. It actually outperforms the .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO but limited supply and price make it a less desirable round.