Reliable .350 Legend load data can be found directly through pressure-tested publisher resources like the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center, Hornady’s handbook, and Lyman manuals. Published load data normally includes the specific bullet used, powder type, starting charge, maximum charge, overall length (COL), and expected velocities from a specified test barrel. Common bullet weights covered in these manuals range from lightweight 145-grain projectiles up to heavy 250-grain subsonic options. Major powder manufacturers that publish .350 Legend data include Hodgdon, Winchester, Accurate, and Alliant, utilizing optimized pistol/carbine powders like Lil’Gun, H110, and W296. Load data can vary significantly between sources and component combinations due to differences in bullet bearing surface, case capacity, primer type, and the specific test barrels used during pressure testing.
350 Legend Load Data
| Bullet | Bullet Weight | Powder | Published Starting Load | Published Maximum Load | Published Velocity | Barrel Length | Source |
| Hornady FMJ | 145 grain | Winchester 296 | 23.5 gr | 27.5 gr | 2,364 fps | 16″ | Hodgdon |
| Hornady SP | 150 grain | Hodgdon Lil’Gun | 23.5 gr | 26.5 gr | 2,331 fps | 16″ | Hodgdon |
| Hornady FTX | 165 grain | Hodgdon H110 | 20.4 gr | 22.8 gr | 2,126 fps | 16″ | Hodgdon |
| Hornady SP | 170 grain | Accurate 11FS | 22.8 gr | 25.4 gr | 2,233 fps | 16″ | Western Powders |
| Winchester PP | 180 grain | Accurate 5744 | 20.0 gr | 22.5 gr | 1,972 fps | 16″ | Western Powders |
| Hornady SP | 250 grain | Hodgdon CFE BLK | 18.0 gr | 20.3 gr | 1,280 fps | 16″ | Hodgdon |
| Hornady SUB-X | 250 grain | Accurate 5744 | 14.5 gr | 16.5 gr | 1,073 fps | 16″ | Western Powders |
Understanding The .350 Legend Load Data
When reviewing a .350 Legend load data chart, each metric provides critical safety and performance context. Reputable publishers test specific component combinations in laboratory settings using copper crushers or piezoelectric transducers to ensure pressure limits are respected.
- Starting load: The minimum powder charge deemed safe for consistent ignition and reliable cycling. This is always the starting point for load development to check for pressure signs in a specific firearm.
- Maximum published load: The highest tested powder charge that remains under SAAMI maximum average pressure specifications. Never exceed this number.
- Velocity: The projectile’s speed measured at the muzzle (or just past it) during the lab test, expressed in feet per second (fps).
- Pressure: Measured in pounds per square inch (psi). The SAAMI Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) for the .350 Legend is 55,000 psi.
- Bullet weight: The mass of the specific projectile in grains.
- Powder: The specific brand and model of smokeless propellant.
- Barrel length: The length of the test barrel used by the publisher, which directly dictates the published velocity.
- Test conditions: Includes specific brass, primer type (usually Small Rifle), and cartridge overall length (COL).
Reputable sources may publish different values for the same bullet weight because they may be testing different specific bullet profiles (which changes seating depth and internal case capacity), using different brass brands, or utilizing different barrel lengths.
.350 Legend Bullet Weight Load Data
Because the .350 Legend utilizes a .355-inch diameter bullet (unlike traditional .358-inch rifle bullets), published .350 Legend reloading data is limited to projectiles specifically designed for this cartridge or compatible 9mm projectiles capable of handling rifle velocities.
- 145 grain: Highly common for inexpensive target practice. FMJ designs dominate this weight. Published velocities frequently exceed 2,300 fps.
- 150 grain: A popular lightweight hunting option. Soft Point (SP) bullets like the Hornady InterLock offer high velocity (2,300+ fps) and rapid expansion for thin-skinned game.
- 165 grain: Often represented by polymer-tipped options like the Hornady FTX. Ballistic coefficients (BC) sit around .250, offering flatter trajectories for deer hunting.
- 170 grain: The standard traditional hunting weight. Soft point designs offer deep penetration and velocities around 2,100 to 2,200 fps.
- 180 grain: Heavier hunting bullets designed for larger game or deeper penetration on hogs. Velocities hover just under 2,000 fps in a 16-inch barrel.
- 200 grain: Less common, but sometimes published for heavy-hitting, short-range applications.
- 250 grain: Exclusively utilized for subsonic applications, often paired with suppressors. Published data aims for 1,000 to 1,050 fps to remain below the speed of sound. Typical bullets include the Hornady SUB-X or heavy soft points.
.350 Legend Powder Load Data
The .350 Legend operates efficiently using fast-burning rifle powders or slow-burning magnum pistol powders.
| Powder | Bullet | Bullet Weight | Published Starting Load | Published Maximum Load | Published Velocity | Source |
| Winchester 296 | Hornady FMJ | 145 gr | 23.5 gr | 27.5 gr | 2,364 fps | Hodgdon |
| Hodgdon H110 | Hornady SP | 150 gr | 22.0 gr | 25.8 gr | 2,295 fps | Hodgdon |
| Accurate 11FS | Hornady FTX | 165 gr | 21.6 gr | 24.1 gr | 2,233 fps | Western Powders |
| Hodgdon Lil’Gun | Hornady SP | 170 gr | 21.0 gr | 24.5 gr | 2,187 fps | Hodgdon |
| Accurate 5744 | Winchester PP | 180 gr | 20.0 gr | 22.5 gr | 1,972 fps | Western Powders |
| Hodgdon CFE BLK | Hornady SUB-X | 250 gr | 18.0 gr | 20.3 gr | 1,280 fps | Hodgdon |
Never assume that a .350 Legend powder charge published for one 150-grain bullet can automatically be used with a different 150-grain bullet. Different bullet profiles change the bearing surface and seating depth, dramatically altering chamber pressure.
.350 Legend Bullet And Powder Combinations
The safety of a .350 Legend load recipe relies entirely on the exact combination of components.
- Bullet construction and bearing surface: Monolithic copper bullets are longer than lead-core bullets of the same weight, creating less internal case capacity and higher pressures.
- Seating depth and Case capacity: The .350 Legend is a small, straight-walled case. Pushing a bullet a few thousandths of an inch deeper drastically spikes pressure.
- Primer and Brass: Most published data specifies Small Rifle primers. Using Small Pistol primers can lead to pierced primers at the 55,000 psi operating pressure.
- Crimp: The .350 Legend headspaces on the case mouth. A heavy roll crimp can cause the cartridge to drop too deeply into the chamber, creating dangerous headspace issues. A light taper crimp is required.
Published load data only guarantees safety for the exact tested components and conditions used by the source.
.350 Legend Velocity From Published Data
| Bullet | Bullet Weight | Powder | Published Max Load | Muzzle Velocity | Barrel Length | Source |
| Hornady FMJ | 145 gr | W296 | 27.5 gr | 2,364 fps | 16″ | Hodgdon |
| Hornady SP | 150 gr | Lil’Gun | 26.5 gr | 2,331 fps | 16″ | Hodgdon |
| Hornady FTX | 165 gr | H110 | 22.8 gr | 2,126 fps | 16″ | Hodgdon |
| Hornady SP | 170 gr | A-11FS | 25.4 gr | 2,233 fps | 16″ | Western Powders |
It is critical to distinguish between manufacturer-published velocity (tested in controlled lab barrels) and independent chronograph testing (fired in off-the-shelf production rifles). Ballistic calculator estimates should never be presented or treated as measured velocity.
.350 Legend Load Data By Barrel Length
Because the .350 Legend utilizes fast-burning powders, it reaches its optimal velocity very quickly in short barrels. Most published .350 Legend load data from Hodgdon, Hornady, and Western Powders is tested using a 16-inch barrel, reflecting the cartridge’s popularity in AR-15 platforms and compact bolt-action hunting rifles.
Moving from a 16-inch barrel to a 20-inch barrel typically yields minimal velocity gains—often less than 20 to 30 fps per inch of barrel added. Do not assume one test barrel’s velocity will universally match the performance of a personal firearm, even if the barrel lengths are identical.
.350 Legend Energy And Ballistics
Based on published data for the 170-grain Hornady InterLock SP launched at a muzzle velocity of 2,200 fps (BC .215):
- Muzzle: 2,200 fps / 1,827 ft-lbs energy
- 50-yard: 2,017 fps / 1,535 ft-lbs energy
- 100-yard: 1,844 fps / 1,283 ft-lbs energy
- 200-yard: 1,529 fps / 882 ft-lbs energy
These figures are specific to the ballistic coefficient and muzzle velocity of that exact component load. Mixing loads without labeling them results in inaccurate ballistic projections.
.350 Legend Load Data For Hunting
The .350 Legend was expressly designed to meet straight-wall hunting regulations in states like Ohio, Michigan, and Iowa.
Published loads featuring 150-grain to 180-grain soft point or polymer-tipped bullets are ideal for whitetail deer and hog hunting in thick woods. Because velocities drop below reliable expansion thresholds (usually 1,600 to 1,800 fps depending on the bullet) past 200 yards, .350 Legend reloading focuses heavily on maximizing short-range and mid-range energy transfer. Subsonic 250-grain published loads are utilized for short-range pest control or hogs where sound suppression is prioritized over hydraulic shock.
Manufacturer Data vs Independent Testing
When seeking a .350 Legend load recipe, prioritize official manufacturer data.
- Manufacturer-published load data: Developed in SAAMI-spec chambers with pressure testing equipment. This is the only definitive source for maximum safe charges.
- Independent chronograph testing: Useful for seeing real-world velocities in production rifles, but cannot measure chamber pressure.
- User-submitted load reports: Found on forums. These should never be trusted blindly, as a load that appears safe in one user’s rifle may be dangerously over-pressure in another.
.350 Legend Pressure And Safety
The .350 Legend operates at a high SAAMI MAP of 55,000 psi. Following published .350 Legend load data exactly is non-negotiable.
Because the case capacity is incredibly small (roughly 36 grains of H2O capacity), variations that seem minor in a .30-06 will cause disastrous pressure spikes in the .350 Legend. Substituting brass brands with thicker walls, seating a bullet 0.050″ too deep, or experiencing high summer temperatures with temperature-sensitive powders can push a maximum published load beyond proof-testing pressures. Never substitute components on a maximum charge, and always begin at the published starting load.
Best Sources For .350 Legend Load Data
The strongest current sources for .350 Legend reloading data include:
- Hodgdon Reloading Data Center: The most accessible, free online database. Extremely authoritative, recently updated, and highly specific regarding bullet models and COL.
- Hornady 11th Edition Reloading Manual: Excellent proprietary data for Hornady specific bullets (FTX, SUB-X, InterLock), detailing AR-15 16-inch barrel test results.
- Lyman 51st Edition Reloading Handbook: Offers a broad cross-section of data combining different bullet brands and powder manufacturers in pressure-tested environments.
- Western Powders (Accurate/Ramshot) Guide: Essential for reloaders utilizing Accurate 11FS, 5744, or No. 9 powders.
Common .350 Legend Load Data Questions
Where can I find .350 Legend load data?
Reliable data can be found in the Hodgdon online data center, the Hornady reloading manual, the Lyman handbook, and published guides from Western Powders and Alliant.
What powders are used in published .350 Legend data?
Magnum pistol and fast rifle powders are the standard, including H110, W296, Lil’Gun, Accurate 11FS, Accurate 5744, and CFE BLK.
What bullet weights have .350 Legend load data?
Data is published primarily for 145, 150, 165, 170, 180, and 250-grain (subsonic) bullets. The bullets must be sized to .355 inches.
What is the best source for .350 Legend reloading data?
The Hodgdon Reloading Data Center is the most comprehensive, free, up-to-date source for pressure-tested .350 Legend loads.
Why does .350 Legend load data vary between sources?
Sources test with different exact bullet models, different brass, different primers, and different test barrels, all of which alter case capacity and pressure limits.
Does barrel length affect .350 Legend velocity?
Yes, but minimally compared to high-capacity rifle cartridges. Most published data uses a 16-inch barrel, where the powder is largely burned.
Can the same powder charge be used with a different bullet?
No. Different bullets have different lengths and bearing surfaces, which change seating depth and pressure.
What is the difference between starting and maximum published load data?
Starting data is the lowest safe charge to begin development; maximum data is the absolute highest charge tested that remains under the 55,000 psi SAAMI limit.
Where can I find pressure-tested .350 Legend data?
Directly from powder and bullet manufacturers (Hodgdon, Hornady, Speer, Lyman) who utilize piezoelectric transducers in test barrels.
Does Hodgdon publish .350 Legend load data?
Yes, Hodgdon publishes extensive data for .350 Legend using Hodgdon, Winchester, and IMR powders.
Does Winchester publish .350 Legend load data?
Yes, Winchester powder data (like W296) is published and distributed through Hodgdon’s data center.
What bullet weights are most commonly represented in .350 Legend load data?
150-grain, 165-grain, and 170-grain projectiles are the most heavily represented, as they are the standard weights for deer hunting.
Final Verdict
Reloaders should exclusively source .350 Legend load data from verified, pressure-tested publishers like the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center, Hornady, and Lyman. When comparing load recipes, pay strict attention to the exact bullet model, powder, case overall length, and primer type used in the test. Because the .350 Legend utilizes a small case capacity operating at high pressures (55,000 psi max), even slight, untested component variations can result in unsafe conditions. Following exact, component-specific published data is the only way to ensure safe and effective load development.