As the .350 Legend travels downrange, a 150-grain bullet loses its speed rapidly due to its straight-walled design and blunt profile, dropping to roughly 640 fps at 1,000 yards. At the muzzle, velocities measure roughly 2,325 fps for lightweight 150-grain hunting loads and 1,060 fps for heavy 255-grain subsonic projectiles. The charts below detail these velocity measurements across extreme distances and varying barrel lengths.
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.350 Legend Velocity Chart at 100 to 1,000 Yards
Note: The .350 Legend is a dedicated short to medium range hunting cartridge optimized for shots within 200 to 250 yards. Data beyond 300 yards represents mathematical model extrapolations. Firing this cartridge at extreme long ranges requires high trajectory angles, and the bullet will destabilize well before the 1,000 yard mark.
| Distance (yards) | Distance (meters) | Ammunition / Bullet Weight | Barrel Length (inches) | Estimated Velocity (fps) | Velocity Loss from Muzzle (fps) |
| Muzzle (0) | 0.0 m | 150-gr Winchester XP (BC: ~0.223) | 20.0 | 2,325 fps (Published) | 0 fps |
| 100 yards | 91.4 m | 150-gr Winchester XP (BC: ~0.223) | 20.0 | 1,950 fps (G1 Calculation) | 375 fps |
| 200 yards | 182.9 m | 150-gr Winchester XP (BC: ~0.223) | 20.0 | 1,610 fps (G1 Calculation) | 715 fps |
| 300 yards | 274.3 m | 150-gr Winchester XP (BC: ~0.223) | 20.0 | 1,315 fps (G1 Calculation) | 1,010 fps |
| 400 yards | 365.8 m | 150-gr Winchester XP (BC: ~0.223) | 20.0 | 1,090 fps (Transonic) | 1,235 fps |
| 500 yards | 457.2 m | 150-gr Winchester XP (BC: ~0.223) | 20.0 | 950 fps (Extrapolation) | 1,375 fps |
| 600 yards | 548.6 m | 150-gr Winchester XP (BC: ~0.223) | 20.0 | 860 fps (Extrapolation) | 1,465 fps |
| 700 yards | 640.1 m | 150-gr Winchester XP (BC: ~0.223) | 20.0 | 790 fps (Extrapolation) | 1,535 fps |
| 800 yards | 731.5 m | 150-gr Winchester XP (BC: ~0.223) | 20.0 | 730 fps (Extrapolation) | 1,595 fps |
| 900 yards | 823.0 m | 150-gr Winchester XP (BC: ~0.223) | 20.0 | 680 fps (Extrapolation) | 1,645 fps |
| 1,000 yards | 914.4 m | 150-gr Winchester XP (BC: ~0.223) | 20.0 | 640 fps (Extrapolation) | 1,685 fps |
.350 Legend Muzzle Velocity Chart
| Ammunition Type | Bullet Weight (grains) | Barrel Length (inches) | Muzzle Velocity (fps) | Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) |
| 150-grain Polymer Tip Winchester Deer Season XP [Manufacturer Spec] | 150 | 20.0 (Standard Rifle) | 2,325 (Advertised) | 1,800 |
| 150-grain Polymer Tip Winchester Deer Season XP [Independent Estimate] | 150 | 16.0 (Carbine) | 2,225 (Estimated) | 1,649 |
| 160-grain Soft Point Federal Power-Shok [Manufacturer Spec] | 160 | 20.0 (Standard Rifle) | 2,300 (Advertised) | 1,879 |
| 170-grain Soft Point Hornady American Whitetail [Manufacturer Spec] | 170 | 20.0 (Standard Rifle) | 2,200 (Advertised) | 1,827 |
| 170-grain Soft Point Hornady American Whitetail [Independent Estimate] | 170 | 16.0 (Carbine) | 2,100 (Estimated) | 1,665 |
| 255-grain Subsonic Winchester Super Suppressed [Manufacturer Spec] | 255 | 16.0 (Carbine) | 1,060 (Advertised) | 636 |
Factors Affecting Velocity
- Straight Wall Cartridge Design: The .350 Legend was specifically engineered to be the fastest straight-walled hunting cartridge in the world. This design allows hunters to legally use the caliber in states that restrict traditional bottleneck rifle cartridges, but it inherently limits the shape and aerodynamic efficiency of the bullets used.
- Aerodynamics and Ballistic Coefficient: The .357 caliber bullets used in the .350 Legend have poor ballistics for long range flight. Even modern polymer tipped variants like the 150-grain XP have a G1 BC of only around 0.223. This blunt profile acts like a parachute, causing the bullet to hit a wall of air resistance and shed velocity very rapidly.
- Barrel Length Efficiency: Because it utilizes relatively fast burning powders, the .350 Legend achieves maximum velocity quickly. A 20-inch barrel is ideal, but dropping to a 16-inch barrel only sacrifices about 100 fps. This makes the cartridge highly effective in short, lightweight carbines or AR-15 platforms.
- Bullet Weight: Velocity depends heavily on bullet selection. Lightweight 145 to 150-grain bullets are driven fast for flatter trajectories out to 200 yards. Conversely, specialized heavy 255-grain bullets are loaded with small powder charges to stay under the speed of sound, drastically reducing velocity but making them incredibly quiet when paired with a suppressor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the effective hunting range of the .350 Legend?
For ethical hunting on deer sized game, the effective range of the .350 Legend is generally considered to be 200 to 250 yards. Beyond 250 yards, the bullet drops significantly and loses the kinetic energy required for reliable expansion and a clean harvest.
At what distance does a .350 Legend go subsonic?
Due to its low ballistic coefficient, a standard 150-grain bullet launched at 2,325 fps will drop below the speed of sound (roughly 1,125 fps) near the 350 to 400 yard mark depending on atmospheric conditions.
Is a 16-inch barrel long enough for the .350 Legend?
Yes. A 16-inch barrel is highly efficient for the .350 Legend. The cartridge burns its powder quickly, meaning a short barrel still delivers more than enough muzzle velocity and terminal energy for hunting, while offering much better maneuverability in tight spaces.
How does the velocity compare to the .450 Bushmaster?
The .350 Legend fires a lighter, narrower bullet at slightly higher initial speeds than standard .450 Bushmaster loads. While the .450 Bushmaster hits with significantly more kinetic energy and recoil, the .350 Legend offers a slightly flatter trajectory over the first 200 yards and is much more comfortable for recoil sensitive shooters.