The main difference between the cartridges is that the .360 Buckhammer is a rimmed cartridge designed specifically for traditional lever action rifles that utilizes heavier bullet weights to achieve higher kinetic energy, whereas the .350 Legend is a rimless cartridge optimized for modern AR-15 semi automatic platforms and short action bolt rifles that utilizes lighter bullets to provide exceptionally mild recoil.
.360 Buckhammer vs .350 Legend Comparison
| Feature | .360 Buckhammer | .350 Legend |
| Bullet Diameter | 0.358 inches | 0.357 inches |
| Typical Bullet Weight | 180 gr to 200 gr | 150 gr to 180 gr |
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,200 to 2,400 fps | 2,100 to 2,325 fps |
| Muzzle Energy | 2,150 to 2,300 ft-lbs | 1,700 to 1,827 ft-lbs |
| Momentum | 56 to 62 lb-fps | 45 to 54 lb-fps |
| Maximum Pressure | 50,000 psi | 55,000 psi |
| Ballistic Coefficient | 0.240 to 0.285 | 0.200 to 0.240 |
| Penetration | 18 to 24 inches | 16 to 20 inches |
| Expansion | 0.60 to 0.70 inches | 0.55 to 0.65 inches |
| Trajectory | Flat to 150 yards, heavy drop beyond | Flat to 150 yards, heavy drop beyond |
| Recoil | Moderate | Very Low |
| Effective Range | 200 to 250 yards | 200 to 250 yards |
| Ammo Availability | Growing | Extremely High |
| Ammo Cost | Moderate to Expensive | Cheap to Moderate |
| Best Use | Lever action deer and bear hunting | Low recoil deer hunting, AR-15 platforms |
The table above details the foundational mechanical differences between two of the most popular modern straight walled rifle cartridges in the hunting industry today. The rise of straight walled hunting regulations in heavily populated Midwestern states completely disrupted the firearms market. For decades, hunters in specific zones were restricted to using shotgun slugs or muzzleloaders to harvest whitetail deer. When state wildlife agencies began allowing straight walled centerfire rifle cartridges, ammunition manufacturers raced to develop modern solutions that offered better accuracy and less recoil than traditional twelve gauge shotguns.
Winchester introduced the .350 Legend in 2019 to completely dominate this new market. By designing a cartridge with a rimless base that matched the dimensions of the .223 Remington, Winchester ensured that the .350 Legend would function flawlessly in standard AR-15 lower receivers with only a simple barrel and magazine swap. Furthermore, it offered incredibly mild recoil, making it the perfect entry level cartridge for youth hunters and adults who despise heavy recoil.
Remington introduced the .360 Buckhammer in 2023 to fill a completely different niche within the exact same straight walled market. Remington recognized that thousands of hunters heavily prefer the nostalgic feel, slim profile, and rapid cycling speed of traditional lever action rifles. By teaming up with Henry Repeating Arms, Remington designed a rimmed cartridge based on the legendary .30-30 Winchester case blown out to accept a true 0.358 inch rifle bullet. The .360 Buckhammer delivers superior velocity and heavier bullet mass compared to the .350 Legend, giving lever action traditionalists a highly potent brush gun that fully complies with modern straight walled hunting regulations.
.360 Buckhammer vs .350 Legend Ballistics
To objectively evaluate the ballistic capabilities of the .360 Buckhammer against the .350 Legend, we must examine real world factory ammunition across their most common hunting applications. Both cartridges were explicitly designed to maximize the legal limits of straight walled regulations while remaining manageable for the average shooter. Because they share similar intended use cases, evaluating them requires looking at how they perform out of identical barrel lengths.
For this highly researched comparison, we will examine the flagship commercial hunting loads that most sportsmen carry into the woods every autumn. Standard testing for both of these cartridges relies on twenty inch barrels, which accurately reflects the barrel lengths found on most standard lever action hunting rifles and medium length bolt action platforms.
- Load A (.360 Buckhammer Standard Hunting): Remington 180-grain Core-Lokt Soft Point. Tested from a 20-inch barrel. Muzzle velocity is 2,400 feet per second. Muzzle energy is 2,302 foot-pounds. Ballistic Coefficient is 0.245.
- Load B (.360 Buckhammer Heavy Hunting): Remington 200-grain Core-Lokt Soft Point. Tested from a 20-inch barrel. Muzzle velocity is 2,200 feet per second. Muzzle energy is 2,149 foot-pounds. Ballistic Coefficient is 0.285.
- Load C (.350 Legend Standard Hunting): Winchester 150-grain Deer Season XP. Tested from a 20-inch barrel. Muzzle velocity is 2,325 feet per second. Muzzle energy is 1,800 foot-pounds. Ballistic Coefficient is 0.223.
- Load D (.350 Legend Heavy Hunting): Winchester 180-grain Power-Point. Tested from a 20-inch barrel. Muzzle velocity is 2,100 feet per second. Muzzle energy is 1,762 foot-pounds. Ballistic Coefficient is 0.240.
Manufacturer rated data is captured under controlled atmospheric conditions using standardized test barrels. Real world velocities will vary slightly depending on your specific firearm chamber tolerances and atmospheric density. Many hunters utilize shorter sixteen inch barrels for better maneuverability in tight tree stands, which will generally reduce the velocity of both cartridges by roughly one hundred feet per second.
.360 Buckhammer vs .350 Legend Velocity
Velocity is an incredibly critical metric for straight walled rifle ammunition. Because the legal parameters of straight walled cartridges mandate bullet designs that are ballistically blunt, they suffer from poor aerodynamic efficiency. To compensate for their low ballistic coefficients, these cartridges must rely entirely on high initial muzzle velocity to flatten their trajectory over intermediate distances and ensure their hollow points or soft points expand reliably upon impact.
When analyzing the 360 Buckhammer vs 350 Legend velocity data, the .360 Buckhammer holds a distinct mechanical advantage. The .360 Buckhammer utilizes a much larger brass casing derived from the .30-30 Winchester family, allowing it to hold a significantly larger powder charge. This extra powder allows the .360 Buckhammer to push a heavy 180-grain bullet at a blistering 2,400 feet per second. This is an exceptional speed for a large diameter projectile, providing a very flat flight path across the first 150 yards of a hunting engagement.
The .350 Legend is highly efficient but constrained by its smaller case capacity. The .350 Legend pushes a lighter 150-grain bullet at 2,325 feet per second. When loaded with an identical 180-grain bullet weight to match the Remington offering, the velocity of the .350 Legend drops significantly to 2,100 feet per second. The .360 Buckhammer is propelling a bullet of equal weight a full three hundred feet per second faster than the .350 Legend, which translates to superior terminal performance and slightly less bullet drop at extended distances in the field.
.360 Buckhammer vs .350 Legend Muzzle Energy
Muzzle energy represents the kinetic work capacity of a projectile. The kinetic energy generated by a cartridge is a direct reflection of both the forward speed of the bullet and its physical mass. Because the .360 Buckhammer fires heavier projectiles at faster velocities, it completely dominates the muzzle energy category.
The .350 Legend produces a highly respectable 1,800 foot pounds of kinetic energy at the muzzle when firing standard 150 grain hunting loads. To put this into historical perspective, this is nearly identical to the legendary .30-30 Winchester lever action cartridge. It is absolutely adequate for humanely harvesting whitetail deer and feral hogs at close to medium ranges, providing reliable knockdown power when shot placement is accurate.
The .360 Buckhammer operates in a substantially higher power tier. The standard 180-grain Remington Core Lokt load generates an impressive 2,302 foot pounds of kinetic energy. This represents over five hundred additional foot pounds of kinetic energy compared to the .350 Legend. The .360 Buckhammer generates energy levels that rival traditional full size bottlenecked hunting cartridges like the .308 Winchester at the muzzle. This massive kinetic energy dump ensures catastrophic tissue damage and rapid hydrostatic shock upon impact, making the .360 Buckhammer highly capable of taking on larger, tougher game animals like black bear and massive wild boars that require heavy blunt force trauma.
.360 Buckhammer vs .350 Legend Momentum
Momentum is a linear measurement calculating mass in motion. In terminal ballistics, high momentum correlates closely with the ability of a bullet to crush through dense bone, heavy winter hides, and thick shoulder muscles without being deflected or stopping prematurely inside the target cavity.
Because momentum relies equally on bullet weight and forward velocity, the heavier and faster .360 Buckhammer thoroughly outclasses the lighter .350 Legend in this specific physical category.
A 150-grain .350 Legend bullet traveling at 2,325 feet per second yields approximately 49.8 pound feet per second of linear momentum. While this is perfectly sufficient for penetrating the thin skin and light rib bones of a whitetail deer on a broadside shot, it is not mathematically optimized for punching through the thick cartilage shields of a massive feral hog on a steep quartering angle.
A heavy 180-grain .360 Buckhammer bullet traveling at 2,400 feet per second yields approximately 61.7 pound feet per second of linear momentum. This dramatic difference in momentum translates directly to superior terminal performance in thick brush. The heavy .360 Buckhammer bullet possesses the sheer driving force necessary to reliably track straight through heavy shoulder bones and dense timber, anchoring large big game animals instantly and ensuring complete pass through penetration for an easily trackable blood trail.
.360 Buckhammer vs .350 Legend Trajectory
Understanding external ballistics and predictable bullet drop is critical for straight walled cartridge hunters attempting to hit targets beyond 150 yards. The trajectory of a bullet is dictated by its initial velocity, the pull of gravity, and the aerodynamic efficiency of the projectile as it cuts through the atmosphere. Both of these cartridges suffer from poor ballistics coefficients measuring roughly 0.200 to 0.280 because their wide flat noses act like parachutes as they travel downrange.
The calculations below assume a standard rifle optic height of 1.5 inches above the bore and a clearly stated zero distance of 100 yards. This 100 yard zero is the standard configuration for modern straight walled hunting rifles utilized in dense Midwestern timber. We will compare the 180-grain .360 Buckhammer Core-Lokt against the 150-grain .350 Legend Deer Season XP to demonstrate their respective flight paths.
| Distance | .360 Buckhammer (180 gr at 2,400 fps) Drop | .350 Legend (150 gr at 2,325 fps) Drop |
| Muzzle | -1.5 inches | -1.5 inches |
| 50 Yards | +0.7 inches | +0.7 inches |
| 100 Yards | 0.0 inches (Zero) | 0.0 inches (Zero) |
| 150 Yards | -2.2 inches | -2.3 inches |
| 200 Yards | -7.5 inches | -7.6 inches |
| 250 Yards | -16.5 inches | -16.4 inches |
The 360 Buckhammer vs 350 Legend trajectory data confirms that both cartridges are highly capable intermediate range tools that perform like ballistic twins out to standard hunting distances. They shoot virtually identical flight paths out to 250 yards. A difference of a fraction of an inch of bullet drop at 250 yards is completely indistinguishable in a practical hunting scenario under field conditions.
The reality for both cartridges is that they drop extremely fast past the 150 yard marker. While a hunter can easily hold the crosshairs steady on the center vitals of a deer at 150 yards, taking an ethical shot at 250 yards requires precise laser range finding and a significant vertical holdover calculation. Furthermore, the low ballistic coefficients make both bullets highly susceptible to wind drift, meaning a modest crosswind will push both projectiles significantly off target at extended distances.
.360 Buckhammer vs .350 Legend Recoil
Recoil management is arguably the most important factor for many modern hunters. A shooter who flinches in anticipation of heavy recoil will inevitably pull their shots and miss the vital zone completely. The physical recoil generated by a firearm is heavily influenced by the weight of the rifle, the mass of the powder charge, and the weight of the bullet.
The .350 Legend was engineered to be one of the softest shooting centerfire hunting cartridges on the market today. Fired from a standard 7.5 pound bolt action hunting rifle or an AR-15, a full power 150-grain load generates an incredibly mild 8.5 foot pounds of free recoil energy. This is essentially identical to the incredibly light recoil of a .243 Winchester. It is so comfortable to shoot that young children, elderly hunters, and highly recoil sensitive adults can practice all day at the shooting range without developing a flinch or suffering any shoulder fatigue.
The .360 Buckhammer generates noticeably heavier recoil due to its larger powder charge and heavier bullet weights. Fired from a standard 7.5 pound lever action rifle, a typical 180-grain load generates roughly 14.1 foot pounds of free recoil energy. While this is substantially heavier than the .350 Legend, it is still a highly comfortable level of recoil that mirrors the classic .30-30 Winchester. It falls perfectly into the moderate recoil category, providing substantially more power than the .350 Legend without crossing the threshold into painful recoil territory associated with larger straight walled magnums.
.360 Buckhammer vs .350 Legend Penetration
Terminal penetration is rigorously evaluated to ensure the ethical harvesting of game animals. A bullet must penetrate deep enough into soft tissue to reach critical cardiovascular structures regardless of the physical angle the target presents. Because of their massive frontal areas, straight walled cartridges transfer kinetic energy very quickly to surrounding tissue, which can sometimes hinder deep penetration if the bullet expands too aggressively upon entry.
The .350 Legend utilizes a 0.357 inch diameter bullet. When modern hunting loads strike ballistic gelatin, the soft lead core is designed to peel back while retaining enough mass to push forward. Standard ballistic gel testing indicates the .350 Legend penetrates roughly 16 to 20 inches in soft tissue. This is absolute perfection for broadside shots on whitetail deer and provides enough depth to confidently take quartering shots on medium sized game.
The 360 Buckhammer vs 350 Legend penetration comparison heavily favors the .360 Buckhammer due to a brilliant engineering decision by Remington. The .360 Buckhammer utilizes true 0.358 inch diameter rifle bullets exactly like the legendary .35 Remington cartridge. These specific projectiles are engineered with thicker copper jackets specifically designed to withstand high rifle velocities and penetrate deeply through heavy bone. A 180-grain Core-Lokt bullet fired from a .360 Buckhammer typically penetrates 18 to 24 inches in tissue, as its heavier mass refuses to be stopped easily by dense resistance. This makes the .360 Buckhammer vastly superior for taking quartering away shots on heavy game.
.360 Buckhammer vs .350 Legend Expansion
Bullet expansion dictates the physical diameter of the permanent wound channel inside the target animal. Wide expansion increases the likelihood of severing major arteries and causing rapid incapacitation through catastrophic blood loss. Both of these cartridges deliver terrifyingly large wound channels when utilizing premium hunting ammunition.
The .350 Legend starts with a respectable 0.357 inch frontal diameter. Upon impacting fluid filled tissue at over 2,000 feet per second, the hydraulic pressure forces the copper jacket to peel back, expanding the bullet to roughly 0.55 to 0.65 inches in diameter. This creates a massive crush cavity that guarantees rapid blood trails and swift ethical kills on deer.
The .360 Buckhammer starts with an almost identical 0.358 inch diameter. Because it pushes heavier bullets with significantly more kinetic energy, the terminal expansion is highly destructive. A premium 180-grain bullet fired from a .360 Buckhammer frequently expands to 0.60 to 0.70 inches in diameter depending on the exact impact distance. The combination of a wider expanded diameter and higher kinetic energy means the .360 Buckhammer punches a physically larger hole through the animal, leading to more immediate incapacitation.
.360 Buckhammer vs .350 Legend Effective Range
The ethical effective range of a straight walled cartridge is determined by the intersection of velocity retention, bullet drop predictability, and the minimum kinetic energy required to humanely kill the target animal. A generally accepted minimum standard for hunting deer is 1,000 foot pounds of striking energy. Both cartridges bleed velocity and kinetic energy rapidly as they fly downrange due to their blunt profiles.
The .350 Legend maintains its 1,000 foot pound ethical deer hunting threshold out to approximately 200 yards. A 150-grain Winchester Deer Season XP bullet retains roughly 950 to 1,000 foot pounds of energy at the 200 yard marker depending on exact atmospheric conditions. Beyond 200 yards, the velocity drops so drastically that reliable bullet expansion cannot be guaranteed, making it strictly a short to medium range hunting tool.
The .360 Buckhammer hits substantially harder at the muzzle and maintains its heavy energy further downrange. The 180-grain Core-Lokt retains roughly 1,180 foot pounds of kinetic energy at 200 yards, and it does not cross below the 1,000 foot pound threshold until approximately 250 yards. While the trajectory drop makes hitting targets past 200 yards very challenging, the .360 Buckhammer technically provides an extra 50 yards of ethical kinetic energy reach over the .350 Legend.
.360 Buckhammer vs .350 Legend Self Defense
When discussing self defense with high powered centerfire rifle cartridges, the conversation revolves around tactical applications, platform capacity, and the inherent risks of severe over penetration in residential environments.
Neither cartridge is suitable for standard urban home defense. Firing a hunting rifle inside a residential hallway will cause immediate and permanent hearing damage due to the concussive muzzle blast. Furthermore, heavy expanding bullets will effortlessly pass completely through an intruder, multiple interior drywall partitions, exterior walls, and continue flying into neighboring properties. The danger posed to innocent bystanders in an urban or suburban environment is extreme.
If utilized for rural property defense or stopping large predatory threats on an isolated farm, both cartridges are highly effective but rely on different platforms. The .350 Legend is heavily chambered in the AR-15 platform, providing the user with detachable box magazines, thirty round capacities, and rapid semi automatic fire capabilities. This makes it an exceptional tactical tool for property defense. The .360 Buckhammer is restricted to lever action rifles, which hold fewer rounds in a tubular magazine and require manual cycling. While incredibly reliable, a lever action rifle cannot compete with an AR-15 in a high volume defensive scenario.
.360 Buckhammer vs .350 Legend Concealed Carry
Concealed carry with either the .360 Buckhammer or the .350 Legend is physically impossible and entirely impractical. Both are massive centerfire rifle cartridges measuring roughly 2.26 inches to 2.50 inches in overall length. They require large rifle actions, heavy receivers, and substantial barrel lengths to safely contain their operating pressures. There are no practical handguns manufactured that can chamber these rounds for concealed carry. Their appropriate transport method involves a dedicated rifle hard case, a locked vehicle rack, or a sturdy tactical sling worn over the shoulder while hiking in the backcountry.
Which Has More Stopping Power: .360 Buckhammer or .350 Legend?
Stopping power is a non scientific term generally used to describe the ability of a cartridge to quickly incapacitate a biological target without requiring long tracking jobs into dense brush.
The .360 Buckhammer possesses significantly more stopping power on all game animals. While the .350 Legend is an incredibly efficient killer on deer size game, it cannot match the sheer blunt force trauma delivered by the heavier, faster Remington cartridge. Striking an animal with over 2,300 foot pounds of kinetic energy and a heavy 180-grain bullet creates a massive wound channel that induces rapid hydrostatic shock and massive tissue disruption. For animals larger than whitetail deer, the .360 Buckhammer anchors targets with unparalleled authority and leaves vastly superior blood trails.
Which Is More Powerful: .360 Buckhammer or .350 Legend?
Power is defined quantitatively by kinetic energy and linear momentum calculations. Based on the laws of physics and the raw ballistic data, the .360 Buckhammer is vastly more powerful than the .350 Legend.
The .360 Buckhammer generates roughly 2,300 foot pounds of muzzle energy depending on the specific factory load. The .350 Legend generates roughly 1,800 foot pounds of muzzle energy. The .360 Buckhammer delivers over 500 more foot pounds of kinetic energy to the target and boasts a massive advantage in linear momentum due to its heavier bullet mass combined with a faster muzzle velocity. It represents a completely different tier of ballistic performance.
.360 Buckhammer Pros and Cons
Pros
- Exceptional terminal ballistics and massive kinetic energy ensure faster ethical kills on heavy game
- Utilizes true 0.358 inch rifle bullets designed for deep penetration and superior weight retention
- Perfectly tailored for classic lever action rifles, offering fast manual cycling and nostalgic handling characteristics
- Significantly more powerful than traditional lever action cartridges like the .30-30 Winchester
- Flanged rim design ensures perfectly reliable feeding and extraction in tubular magazine rifles
Cons
- Restricted almost entirely to lever action and single shot rifles, preventing use in modern AR-15 platforms
- Ammunition is currently limited to a few specific manufacturers as it was recently introduced to the market in 2023
- Trajectory drops rapidly past 150 yards, making long range field shots across open fields very difficult
- Recoil is noticeably heavier than the .350 Legend, which may intimidate very young shooters
.350 Legend Pros and Cons
Pros
- Incredibly low recoil allows youth shooters and recoil sensitive adults to practice comfortably all day long
- Widespread availability of rifles and highly affordable ammunition from virtually every major manufacturer
- Utilizes a standard 5.56 NATO bolt face, making AR-15 upper receiver conversions exceptionally cheap and easy
- Devastating terminal performance on whitetail deer within 150 yards
- Ammunition is priced competitively with standard intermediate military cartridges
Cons
- Lacks the heavy bullet mass and deep penetration required for ethically taking massive big game like black bears
- Rapid energy loss limits its ethical effective hunting range to roughly 200 yards maximum
- Utilizes slightly irregular 0.357 inch diameter bullets, which originally caused confusion for reloaders attempting to use standard rifle bullets
- Straight wall case design requires dedicated proprietary magazines for reliable feeding in AR-15 platforms
Final Comparison
| Category | Winner | Reason |
| Velocity | .360 Buckhammer | Pushes heavier bullets significantly faster, easily reaching 2,400 fps |
| Muzzle Energy | .360 Buckhammer | Generates roughly 500 more ft-lbs of kinetic energy than the .350 Legend |
| Momentum | .360 Buckhammer | Massive 180-grain bullets carry immense linear driving mass and force |
| Penetration | .360 Buckhammer | Utilizes true 0.358 rifle bullets designed to effortlessly shatter heavy bone structures |
| Expansion | .360 Buckhammer | Higher impact velocity and more lead mass create a larger permanent wound channel |
| Trajectory | Tie | Bullet drop is virtually identical and completely indistinguishable out to 250 yards |
| Recoil Control | .350 Legend | Produces incredibly soft recoil comparable to a .243 Winchester |
| Effective Range | .360 Buckhammer | Retains ethical 1,000 ft-lb hunting energy thresholds out past 200 yards comfortably |
| Self Defense | .350 Legend | Chambered in the AR-15 platform providing superior capacity and rapid reloading |
| Concealed Carry | Neither | Both are massive rifle cartridges entirely unsuitable for concealment on the body |
| Ammo Cost | .350 Legend | Massive commercial adoption guarantees significantly cheaper retail price tags |
| Ammo Availability | .350 Legend | Found in massive quantities in every sporting goods store nationwide |
| Overall Performance | Depends on Firearm | .360 Buckhammer for lever action power; .350 Legend for AR-15 zero recoil hunting |
.360 Buckhammer vs .350 Legend: Which Should You Choose?
Selecting between the .360 Buckhammer and the .350 Legend requires an honest practical assessment of your preferred rifle platform, your physical recoil tolerance, and your local ammunition budget.
Choose the .360 Buckhammer if you are a traditionalist who loves hunting with a classic lever action rifle in dense timber environments. The .360 Buckhammer provides exceptional kinetic energy, deep penetration with true rifle bullets, and a massive wound channel capable of dropping large black bears and massive Midwestern whitetails instantly. It is the premier choice for adult hunters who want a highly capable, moderate recoiling big game cartridge that dominates the modern straight walled brush gun category.
Choose the .350 Legend if you are purchasing a rifle for a young hunter, a small statured shooter, or if you prefer hunting with a modern semi automatic AR-15 platform. The .350 Legend is arguably the most pleasant deer hunting cartridge on the market today. It provides more than enough power to ethically harvest whitetail deer inside 150 yards, and its incredibly cheap ammunition allows you to practice extensively without breaking the bank. The ability to swap uppers on a standard AR-15 lower receiver makes it the absolute most economical and versatile choice for modern sporting rifle enthusiasts.
FAQs
Is .360 Buckhammer more powerful than .350 Legend?
Yes, the .360 Buckhammer is significantly more powerful. It generates approximately 500 more foot pounds of muzzle energy and substantially higher linear momentum than the .350 Legend due to its heavier bullet weights and massive case capacity.
Which has more muzzle energy?
The .360 Buckhammer easily generates over 2,300 foot pounds of muzzle energy with standard hunting loads. The .350 Legend generates roughly 1,700 to 1,827 foot pounds of muzzle energy.
Which has more stopping power?
The .360 Buckhammer provides vastly superior stopping power on large game animals due to its heavier bullet mass, higher velocity, and massive kinetic energy transfer, ensuring rapid incapacitation and deep penetration.
Which has more recoil?
The .360 Buckhammer produces noticeably more recoil. Fired from a standard lightweight lever action rifle, the .360 Buckhammer generates roughly 14 foot pounds of free recoil energy, whereas the .350 Legend generates a highly manageable 8.5 foot pounds of recoil.
Which has better penetration?
The .360 Buckhammer penetrates deeper on heavy game. Its utilization of heavy 0.358 inch rifle bullets allows the heavy projectiles to punch through dense muscle and thick shoulder bones without deflecting or halting prematurely.
Which expands more?
Because it travels at a higher velocity and contains significantly more lead mass, a premium .360 Buckhammer expanding bullet will generally create a wider final expanded profile than the lighter bullet of the .350 Legend.
Which has a flatter trajectory?
The trajectory is effectively identical out to 200 yards. While the .360 Buckhammer is technically a fraction of an inch flatter at 150 yards due to its higher velocity, the difference is negligible in any practical field hunting scenario.
Which is better for self defense?
The .350 Legend is better for rural property defense simply because it is chambered in modern AR-15 rifles, offering thirty round magazines and rapid reloading capabilities that a lever action rifle cannot match.
Which is better for concealed carry?
Neither. Both are large centerfire rifle cartridges fired from long, heavy rifles that absolutely cannot be concealed on the human body.
Is .360 Buckhammer faster than .350 Legend?
Yes, the .360 Buckhammer is faster. The .360 Buckhammer typically launches a heavy 180-grain bullet at roughly 2,400 fps, while the .350 Legend launches a much lighter 150-grain bullet at roughly 2,325 fps.
Is .360 Buckhammer stronger than .350 Legend?
Yes, in terms of sheer kinetic energy, bullet mass, and momentum crushing through tissue, the .360 Buckhammer is drastically stronger than the .350 Legend, even though the .350 Legend operates at a slightly higher internal chamber pressure.
Which is cheaper to shoot?
The .350 Legend is significantly cheaper to shoot. Because it has seen massive commercial adoption over the last several years, manufacturers produce highly affordable bulk practice ammunition for the .350 Legend.
Can an AR-15 shoot .360 Buckhammer?
No. The .360 Buckhammer is a rimmed cartridge designed specifically for tubular magazines and lever action or single shot rifles. It will not feed or function in an AR-15 platform.
Which is easier to shoot?
The .350 Legend is drastically easier to shoot due to its exceptionally mild recoil impulse, making it highly preferred for teaching new shooters, youth hunters, and individuals sensitive to loud blast and heavy recoil.
Which should you choose?
Choose the .360 Buckhammer for a highly capable, moderate recoil lever action brush gun that maximizes kinetic energy. Choose the .350 Legend for absolute minimal recoil, cheap ammunition, and fantastic short range performance in an AR-15.