Anyone loading the 350 Legend yet?

[cwlongshot]

I was able to snag a couple Boxes of Hornady 165g FTX .355 bullets off Midway Monday aM!!

I was really hoping to have them today. But Mr Larry Potterfield seems to have that speed shipping system all fudged up cause my order says is still. Awaiting shipment. GRRR

The 140 FTX is a LASER. HOPING that these 165’s are half as good!!

CW

[chaos]

Morning Chaos!

OK here ya go;

1) Lyman 358315 204g RN

2) LEE Group buy no number on mold 190 WFN

3) LEE 360-190 RDGC. Ranch dog mold

4) DO NOT SIZE JACKED IN A LYMAN LUBER SIZER!

I agree 100% on LEE DIES!! But I have to say LEE makes a bunch of GOOD EQUIPTMENT! (Just no dies, scales, or powder measures and no to most of there presses for me) The lee push thru sizers are perfect for the PC cast bullet guy!! I still Prefer my 450 for GC and conventional lubed bullets.
NOE also offers a push thru sizer that superior to the LEE. I recomend a good solid reloading press and imperial size wax for Jbullet Sizing. I also find I need to lube the first few bullets thru a virgin sizer bushing!?!? Anyone else see super difficult very first bullet
Thru a new bushing??

Good luck

CW

Well. I need to find a blet with sufficent meplat in an Iron block. Never had any consistancy out of the Aluminum moulds.

How are you sizing down Jacketed bullers?

I havent been on the site in quite a few years. The PC stuff is all new to me. Prolly wont fool with it.

O see some are using XTP bullets. Hornady XTP in 44 mag, 240 gr is what got me into casting bullets.

Ishot the from wild to mild on game and never Once had one expand. Like Never. Handguns, carbines, muzzle loader. Never. So I wont use them in the Legend

[cwlongshot]

The lee push thru will size pistol Bullets pretty easily. I just recommend lube as if lubing a case for sizing.

CW

[cwlongshot]

Today my buddy was able to shoot some 140FTX bullets into his “bullet box”. Wet magazines. Distance was 50 yards. Velocity was 2250, 100 FPS slower than I shoot them. But the expansion surprised me!! They actually held together MUCH better then I envisioned.

I’m still waiting on my Midway order for the 165g FTX. But these look like they just might be fine!!

CW

[whip2111]

Just shot mine over the weekend-very impressed with accuracy on hornady 3501 170 gr.sp but with cast 180 grain bullets it was all over the place

[dverna]

Today my buddy was able to shoot some 140FTX bullets into his “bullet box”. Wet magazines. Distance was 50 yards. Velocity was 2250, 100 FPS slower than I shoot them. But the expansion surprised me!! They actually held together MUCH better then I envisioned.

I’m still waiting on my Midway order for the 165g FTX. But these look like they just might be fine!!

CW

Like they say on Forged in Fire..."It will kiilll"

BTW, I talked my buddy (he does not reload) out of getting a .350L after reading about the issues with factory ammunition and varying case lengths. He called today and told me the "experts" at Cabela's were not hearing good things about the cartridge.

Some yahoos think this should be the equal of the .450 in terms of knockdown power. Always wonder why anyone thinks you need to blow a deer off its feet to kill it. It will be an excellent choice for medium game.

It is a shame that Winchester did not do it right. Wrong bore size (needed to be .358), wrong cartridge (needed to be necked up .223), and then produced some crappy factory ammunition. I wonder if it will be obsolete in 20 years. If I had one, I would put up 1000 cases just in case.

When the sales guys at a place like Cabela's are dissing it, it does not bode well. The sad part, there is no redo. The "correct" cartridge would be so close to the Legend to be dangerous.

CW, I am enjoying the thread and following with interest. Good job!

[tomme boy]

It is the right bore. 357mag and maxi's are 0.355" bore. The difference is in the throat.

[cwlongshot]

Got the 165’s tonight...

[rockrat]

My Ruger American is .356" bore and can seat a .357" bullet in a fired case with slight pressure.

[cwlongshot]

I have wanted to use 300-MP powder in my Maxi’s and now this Legend. But even tho I have waiting no one is providing data for either.

So I began compiling data for what was offered and extrapolating a conservative start. Burn rate should be close to 4227 The powder is commonly grouped with H110/296/2400/#9/Vit N110

Last night I loaded a large ladder Five per loading for fifty rounds. I have not read of light load problems with this powder so I started in heavy 357 Magnum territory. 18g. Peaking at 22.

I was able to get some 170g data from Hogdon and will also load some up with 296 to try tomorrow.

Ill fire a single round over a chrono watching closely. Once I get to vel range 1800 ish and do nit see pressure signs, Ill start accuracy.

[cwlongshot]

My loads for the Legend using 300-MP powder and a 165g FTX. Where on the conservative side. And this powder dosent like light loads. As my velocity readings showed. I was in the 1400 range and it fluctuated up and down as I increased the powder. Maybe 20g it settled a bit. At 21.5g (most I loaded) The vel was 1948. This was only load I shot for accuracy and it was right @ 1” @ 50 yards. So not great and not awefull.
I also loaded 21g 296 under the same 165 FTX. That load clocked 2196 and it was about 3/4”. Its a warm load visually I havent measured the case heads yet.

After examining the cases. Im figuring on loading another ladder. Starting at 21.5g up to 24/25. This powder runs about 2g more than H110 in the 357Mag. The H110 load for a 170g is 25g IIRC So I should be safe to 25 g at least.

Ill do it over the chrono as thats as good a tell as anything where things should be.

Ill also load more of those 296 loads as they show good promise.

CW

[beltfed]

Winchester could have just as well re-introduced the "351 Winchester Self Loading",
But 0.100" longer case so it could not be used in the old Win rifles
beltfed/arnie

[johnly]

Winchester could have just as well re-introduced the "351 Winchester Self Loading",
But 0.100" longer case so it could not be used in the old Win rifles
beltfed/arnie

The 351 Winchester used .348" bullet diameter.
Would have liked a .358" bore on the 350 Legend, but I'll make due with the .355".
Time to go shopping for a Lee push through sizer.

Update:
I have a RCBS 180 Silhouette mold that drops a bit too skinny for a .358 bore, but is looking like a good choice for my 350 Legend. With a bullet sized to .357" and seated with a taper crimp applied, loaded rounds drop into the chamber of my GLFA barrel. Hopefully I can find time for a trip to the range and see how they cycle and shoot.

[johnly]

The 350 Legend AR made its first trip to the range today.
The downside was that the batteries were dead in the red dot, so I just checked for functionality and velocity with the RCBS 180 silhouette sized to .357"
23.0 of Lil Gun launched the bullets at a quick 2245 fps. Thought this was going to me a mid-pressure load, but it's all I would consider using with this bullet.
Next up was the same bullet with 23.0 WC680 which developed 1800 fps. 24 grains did 1850 fps and 25 grains did 1910 fps.
The maximum charge that can fit in the case under this bullet looks to be about 28 grains.
All loads cycled and the fired cases would slip fit a .357" diameter bullet, just barely.

[cwlongshot]

Good information!

Is that powder a AA#9 equlivent?

My 296 load is shooting great for me. Im not a lil gun fan.

CW

[johnly]

WC680 is similar to AA1680, WW 680, and slower burning that WW296.
Lil'Gun has been hit and miss for me. Huge velocity variations in the 22 Hornet, but seems to settle down when used in 35 caliber bores and larger.
Accurate Powder will have 350 Legend data available in January.

190 RCBS Silhouette .357 22.0 Lil'Gun CCI 400 Starline 2203
190 RCBS Silhouette .357 23.0 Lil'Gun CCI 400 Starline 2245
190 RCBS Silhouette .357 23.0 WC680 CCI 400 Starline 1801
190 RCBS Silhouette .357 24.0 WC680 CCI 400 Starline 1848
190 RCBS Silhouette .357 25.0 WC680 CCI 400 Starline 1910
190 RCBS Silhouette .357 26.0 WC680 CCI 400 Starline 1988
190 RCBS Silhouette .357 27.0 WC680 CCI 400 Starline 2060
190 RCBS Silhouette .357 28.0 WC680 CCI 400 Starline 2111

[WBH]

dverna
About 15 years ago i developed the 357 Super Max cartridge that in fact used a .357 Boolit and was based of a neck expanded .223 Rem/5.56 Nato case. Clymer made my reamer and I cut a 357 25" Green Mountain barrel. Indexing the gas port and the barrel extension were a bit of a challenge for the AR platform, but all came together. Then I found a small supply of unformed straight 5.56 LC brass. Well about 5 years ago that dried up and low and behold this year Starline started making .223 straight brass. My case length is 1.670" and the case just above the base is slightly smaller in diameter than the 350, though the performance is almost identical. 4227,2400, 1680, and 296 have all performed well. I do not use 296 with cast boolits though.
the 350 has a very slight taper while mine is essentially straight. its nice to see my idea now "mainstream" . I only built a Legend so I could compare the two under exact loadings. Should be fun.

[BrutalAB]

Max dies will NOT work. Base of the 350 is too large @ .390! I have loaded some just “neck” or partial sizing. But they are not perfect. (They shoot pretty good too!)

CW

Just ordered a 350 upper. Started looking for dies and had the idea maybe i could save some money and try 357 dies first. Glad you posted this.

To expand on this though, is it just the sizing die this is a problem with, or does it screw up functionality of all dies.

[cwlongshot]

The seating die should work. I have tried recently. I picked up a set if LEE and so far they are OK.

I received some “home made” bullets of 180 and 200g from a mold he borrowed from Olfeller. Pic above.

Gonna try them Sunday.

CW

[BrutalAB]

Looks like i will be doing some half sizing for a bit, cant find 350 legend dies in stock anywhere.
Would i be correct in assuming that a 9mm seater would work better since it would give a taper crimp instead of a roll crimp?