350 Legend or 44 Magnum

[james]

I reside in Illinois where forever they’ve required slug guns for deer hunting. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as for the past 25+ years I’ve used my trusty Ithaca Deerslayer 12 gauge to harvest deer(s) every year. More recently have used a Savage 220 20 gauge. In 2023 they will permit straight wall cartridges plus the rifle must be a single shot or modified to be a ss.

I was originally looking at a CVA scout stainless in 350 Legend. The Scout is a compact little rifle and will work well in a tree stand. I’m partial to single shots as I’ve owned a Ruger No. 1 varmint in 223 and a Browning 1885 in 22.250.

I then began to think about this same rifle in 44 magnum. I already reload for 44 mag as I own a S&W PC 44 Light Hunter. I’m thinking it would be nice to reload for the Scout and I would always have ammo.

I’ve read the Legend is good out to 200 yards where the 44 mag is more of a 150 yard gun. Most of my hunting is in the woods where 100 yards is a long shot. Occasionally near a field I might get a 150-200 yard shot.

Go with 44 mag versus the Legend? Thoughts and opinions appreciated!

Thanks

 

[MQ1]

My personal preference is the .44 Magnum. You can load it from mild to wild and still have effective deer hunting potential. The big holes a .44 makes in deer is hard to argue with…place the bullet in a good location, and the deer won’t last long.

Plus, you can probably find ammo that will work fine for deer at Wal-Mart in a pinch.

MQ1

 

[JEFFPPC]

The Legend is balistically a 30 30. Think of it in that context. I have a 450 Bushmaster I have killed several large Michigan bucks with. It does the job. Straight wall and fits the law in straight wall areas.

 

[wildcatter]

I consider the Legend an anemic 30/30, it uses light for caliber bullets giving up much SD. The 44 mag has more authority punching bigger holes at all ranges, and assures penetration. Personally, I'll use the 45 Colt, or my encore pistol in 460 S&W. But think the Legend is a bit lacking, compared to a 44 mag with proper bullets around the 300 grain range.

 

[JSH]

A closed breech and a longer barrel is a game changer on several revolver cartridges. The 357 and 44 both respond well to this. Have a Marlin 357 lever gun that I run 180’s in and it is a hammer. Watch the twist on the 44’s, some are still using a twist designed for 44-40.

 

[james]

Thanks for the replies, am leaning more toward the 44 mag!

 

[dantiff2]

44 would be a great choice! 350 would work but just like building a house or garage, always go bigger than you think you need!

P.S. Put a suppressor on it and have a ton of fun!

 

[H2OBUG]

I have a scout 44 mag and really like it. It shoots really well. I also have the 35 Whelen in the scout and it shoots sub 3/4" all day long with 225 NBTs

 

[3Ackleys]

My personal preference is the .44 Magnum. You can load it from mild to wild and still have effective deer hunting potential. The big holes a .44 makes in deer is hard to argue with…place the bullet in a good location, and the deer won’t last long.

Plus, you can probably find ammo that will work fine for deer at Wal-Mart in a pinch.

MQ1

Walmart discontinued selling handgun ammo and dies several years ago.

 

[CJ6]

Walmart discontinued selling handgun ammo and dies several years ago.

That must be a local thing as ours still sells handgun ammo but not any reloading equipment.

 

[Intell]

I like the 35s. I use a 357 max 16.5” on an Encore frame loaded with 200 grain round nose Sierra. Recoil is so mild I can see hits in the scope.
I do think the 350 legend would be better if they loaded factory ammo with heavier bullets.

A few years ago I bought a Marlin 44 lever gun. It’s okay, but not very accurate. I used it one year and put it away, they are hard to scope, I set mine as low as possible and it was still to high for my liking.
I like my encore better.

 

[Bat Rastard]

With 100yds being a long shot in your area, and you already have 44 gear, I would go with the 44.

That is unless I wanted a new project, then I would go 350.

Either way, you can't lose.

 

[expiper]

of the two i would go 44 mag---but dont forget about the 450 bushmaster--in ohio you can get an upper for an ar-15 and use it --but only allowed 3 ctgs max in the gun--i use lil' gun powder (37g) and 250 gr plastic tip bullets (2250fps) with much success--almost 3 times the energy of a 44 mag--Roger

 

[Mark W]

When faced with the same dilemma after moving to Ohio I went with the 44 Mag in a Henry lever action.

 

[David Milisock]

I reside in Illinois where forever they’ve required slug guns for deer hunting. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as for the past 25+ years I’ve used my trusty Ithaca Deerslayer 12 gauge to harvest deer(s) every year. More recently have used a Savage 220 20 gauge. In 2023 they will permit straight wall cartridges plus the rifle must be a single shot or modified to be a ss.

I was originally looking at a CVA scout stainless in 350 Legend. The Scout is a compact little rifle and will work well in a tree stand. I’m partial to single shots as I’ve owned a Ruger No. 1 varmint in 223 and a Browning 1885 in 22.250.

I then began to think about this same rifle in 44 magnum. I already reload for 44 mag as I own a S&W PC 44 Light Hunter. I’m thinking it would be nice to reload for the Scout and I would always have ammo.

I’ve read the Legend is good out to 200 yards where the 44 mag is more of a 150 yard gun. Most of my hunting is in the woods where 100 yards is a long shot. Occasionally near a field I might get a 150-200 yard shot.

Go with 44 mag versus the Legend? Thoughts and opinions appreciated!

Thanks

If you hunt in an area where you need to plant them because they can easily reach some other property use the 44. My straight wall is a 444 Marlin.

 

[mongo chicago]

There is an OLD saying. You can never make up in velocity or bullet design what you lose in caliber. Since you also all ready have a 44, stick with that.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I used the Hornady .44 180 gr xtp and sabot out of my muzzleloader, great on whitetail. I recall they were 1800-1900 fps. You should be able to get 2100-2200 out a .44 mag rifle.

 

[expiper]

of the two i would go 44 mag---but dont forget about the 450 bushmaster--in ohio you can get an upper for an ar-15 and use it --but only allowed 3 ctgs max in the gun--i use lil' gun powder (37g) and 250 gr plastic tip bullets (2250fps) with much success--almost 3 times the energy of a 44 mag--Roger

 

[Bill K]

Certain states, with Walmart, have stopped all firearm and ammunition sales. My commie state of Kalifornia is one. Local Walmart caved to the anti's here about 4 years ago. Started with no 224 ammo sales, as the deadly and so powerful AR=15 used them, then just stopped all firearm and ammo sales, moved it all out and sent what they had to Walmarts that still sell such.

 

[MQ1]

To share some perspective, I use a relatively tame load for my .44 pistols that I want to be able to shoot without beating me up. It essentially is 18.5gr of 2400 under a 260 WFNGC cast from air cooled wheel weights and sized at .432

Out of the pistol, I think I recall it cooking around 1150fps. In the Marlin lever action it is about 1350fps. Sighted in at 75 yards, it is hard to beat in the Ohio woods I hunt on occasion.

The size of the hole it makes is seriously impressive. The last deer shot with this load was quartering away at about 40 yards (which is about as far a clear shot you’ll find where I hunt) the hole going in was .432…the hole going out was the almost the size of a quarter, and the deer took a couple hops and that was it.

I’ve spent most of my deer hunting time bowhunting, and I’m more comfortable taking a shot in the woods with a straight walled cartridge that will put a big hole in the deer vs. hoping to kill it with speed. FWIW.

MQ1