350 Legend vs 450 Bushmaster for Woodlands Deer, Bear

[bula]

Your opinions wanted. In Ohio and other states or portions of, are restrictions to straight wall cartridges. I've a 44mag 1894 Marlin but wanting a scoped bolt gun with more range. I've a nephew with the Ruger 450 and now 2 camp mates have 350 Legends . Not sure of models, barrel lengths. Waiting for info from them too. 

[bigbrowndog]

A similar comparison would be 357mag or 45 colt,......I’d choose the bigger hole, given woods hunting distances.


Trapr

[bula]

The 450 BM has a bit of a head start and and a track record already. I'm hoping for something light that is scoped, can reach out beyond what I can do with an open sighted 44mag levergun. I do not want to scope the lever gun. Thinkin'..

[silcott]

Nov 27, 2019 17:14:58 GMT -5 bula said:

Your opinions wanted. In Ohio and other states or portions of, are restrictions to straight wall cartridges. I've a 44mag 1894 Marlin but wanting a scoped bolt gun with more range. I've a nephew with the Ruger 450 and now 2 camp mates have 350 Legends . Not sure of models, barrel lengths. Waiting for info from them too. 

I live and hunt in southern Ohio. I have several straight wall rifles, in several different calibers. A T/C in 357Max by Bellm, a Ruger 44 carbine, a Ruger 77/357, and a 45 Colt model 92 lever gun. Every one of them have killed many deer, and I like all of them. But the last couple of years I grab my 77/357 every time. I love that gun. I use the 158gr. XTP-FP, and haven’t ever had a deer go more than 30yds, knock on wood. Lol

My father uses a NEF single shot with a very HOT!! Loaded 215gr. SWC with good results.

[bula]

Thanks guys. Silcott, What do you consider to be the safe, good killing range of those set-ups ? Here in Ohio my deer have been killed in river bottom swamps or thicker 2nd growth. The few deer I've killed in Penn hunting now have been close too, but there are more patches of bigger, more open timber up there. I am needful of say 250 yds range. This kinda sounds like the limit for the Legend and BM ? 

[rWt]

In Michigan, I see far more 450's.

[silcott]

Nov 28, 2019 7:50:53 GMT -5 bula said:

Thanks guys. Silcott, What do you consider to be the safe, good killing range of those set-ups ? Here in Ohio my deer have been killed in river bottom swamps or thicker 2nd growth. The few deer I've killed in Penn hunting now have been close too, but there are more patches of bigger, more open timber up there. I am needful of say 250 yds range. This kinda sounds like the limit for the Legend and BM ? 

If you wanna reach out to 250yds, probably a 357Max. I haven’t studied the Legand a whole lot yet. I don’t shot deer over 150yds with my 357Mag.

My uncle uses a single shot 444 out to 200yds with good results.

[silcott]

I had Bellm build my 357Max barrel, it is amazingly accurate. It’s 18”, and will shoot a 180gr bullet @2150fps, and cloverleaf groups out to 200yds as long as I do my part. Couldn’t ask for much better than that. I just prefer to carry my 77/357. It packs easy, has a magazine, and I don’t really need the extra range where I hunt.

[bula]

Your thought on the Max, why I'm leaning to the Legend. Ruger, Savage and others already have rifles out on  the shelf.. Not gonna go the custom route so the Max not on the list. Understand the 357 Mag gains more with carbine/rifle length barrels than the 44 and 45 revolver rounds do. The 450 Bushmaster has been out longer and would expect to see more around, yes. Found the NRA Rifleman article on the 350 Legend and this most of what I know bout the Legend. Found some 350 brass on the ground at camp and texted around the gang and found two mates have them already. Awaiting feedback and asked them to save brass incase..

[silcott]

Nov 28, 2019 8:46:29 GMT -5 bula said:

Your thought on the Max, why I'm leaning to the Legend. Ruger, Savage and others already have rifles out on  the shelf.. Not gonna go the custom route so the Max not on the list. Understand the 357 Mag gains more with carbine/rifle length barrels than the 44 and 45 revolver rounds do. The 450 Bushmaster has been out longer and would expect to see more around, yes. Found the NRA Rifleman article on the 350 Legend and this most of what I know bout the Legend. Found some 350 brass on the ground at camp and texted around the gang and found two mates have them already. Awaiting feedback and asked them to save brass incase..

I believe the 350 would probably be your best route that’s not custom for over 150yds. I recall Rural King had the Savage not to long ago with a scope for under $300.

[bula]

Thank you.

[barbarosa]

Not much difference between the max and the legend except for case head

[bula]

After a lot of google-fu, youtooby, reviews by yahoos, etc.. Found a Savage Axis 2, S.S., with 3x9 Bushnell in 350 Legend, thru in sling, for 519.00 In shop in my ole hood , sales guy lives a few miles from me here, now. 4 boxes of factory Winchester followed me home. Thanks for the input, opinions folks.

[wildcatter]

Either would work, but I'm an extreme member of the 45 cal. fan club. My choice would be a 20" Encore barrel in 460 S&W factory Hornady's for light game like deer and antelope at 2900+ fps, but turn to to a 300 or 325 grain Swift A-frame and never be under gunned.

That hornady sighted in @ 100 yards 1.5" high is less than 2" low at 200 yards, and will group 1.5" at 200 out of my 14" MGM barrel at 2744fps. If sighted in dead on at 100 it's less 5" low at 200, and shoots around 3/4" at that range. (I messed ip and wrote XTP which is way to thin of jackets fer this velocity, they are FTX bullets which are thicker jackets than the others like SST's, and I believe are thicker jackets than the 225 and 250 FTX, they still are very violent inside 100 yards. 

 

That should cover you easily out to 250 yards for deer size game. But like I say, Stuff them big A-frames or heavy Barns in it and have no fear on any continent. I just bought a Katahdin barrel in it after seeing how my buddies 20" does. 

With that Katahdin I plan on loading down with my own 340 grn. WFN and having a true brush buster. that 450 is close to the 460, but the versatility has to go to the 460 in a rifle barrel fer all round big game. If you don't like a little recoil, go with the 350.