Why these two cartridges exist
For decades, a cluster of Midwest states kept bottlenecked rifle cartridges out of the deer woods, citing safety in crowded country. Hunters who wanted a rifle instead of a slug gun had to pick a straight-walled round. That market produced two very different answers.
The .450 Bushmaster came first. It grew out of the "Thumper" idea popularized by gun writer Jeff Cooper: a big-bore semi-auto cartridge for one-shot kills on big game. Tim LeGendre of LeMag Firearms developed it from a shortened .284 Winchester case, with design work dated to 2007 and production starting in 2009.
The .350 Legend is Winchester's 2019 answer. It was introduced at the 2019 SHOT Show and accepted by SAAMI on January 31 of that year, and it was designed specifically for deer hunting in states with straight-wall rules. It has no parent case, but it shares the .223 Remington's 0.378-inch rim diameter, which is a big part of why it fits the AR-15 so easily.
Specs side by side
These figures come from the cartridges' published specifications and factory loads, as summarized in their reference entries. Energy for the .350 Legend is calculated from the listed bullet weight and velocity.
| Spec | .350 Legend | .450 Bushmaster |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced | 2019 (Winchester) | Designed 2007, production 2009 |
| Bullet diameter | About .355 in actual (SAAMI lists .357) | .452 in |
| Case length | 1.71 in | 1.700 in |
| Max pressure (SAAMI) | 55,000 psi | 38,500 psi |
| Typical hunting bullet | 145 to 180 gr | 245 to 300 gr |
| Example load | 150 gr Deer Season XP at 2,325 fps (about 1,800 ft-lbs, calculated) | 250 gr FTX at 2,200 fps, 2,691 ft-lbs |
| AR-15 magazines | Standard-style capacity is the selling point | Single-stacks: a 30-round body holds about 9 |
| Commonly cited deer range | About 200 yards | Similar practical range; trajectory drops quickly past that |
The surprise for most people is pressure. The .350 Legend runs much higher pressure than the .450 Bushmaster, which is how a small case pushes a .35-caliber bullet to rifle-like velocity. The .450 gets its punch from bullet mass instead.
Recoil and shootability
Recoil is mostly a momentum story, and you can see the difference with simple math. A 150-grain bullet at 2,325 fps carries roughly 349,000 grain-feet per second of momentum. A 250-grain bullet at 2,200 fps carries roughly 550,000. That is close to 58 percent more bullet momentum for the Bushmaster before you even count the propellant gases.
In practice, that means the .350 Legend is the friendlier round for new hunters, youth hunters and anyone who wants to practice a lot. Outdoor Life described its recoil as mild when it launched. The .450 Bushmaster is perfectly manageable in a properly weighted rifle, but it is a big-bore round and it feels like one, especially from a light bolt gun.
Bullet choice on the shelf
Both cartridges are now well supported by the big ammunition makers. The general rule for either: buy a bullet built to expand at the velocities your cartridge actually produces. Straight-wall cartridges are moderate-velocity rounds, so bullets designed for them tend to open reliably at deer distances.
.350 Legend hunting loads
Other solid options listed at Ammunition Depot include Federal Power-Shok 180 gr SP for a heavier classic soft point and Barnes Vor-TX 170 gr TSX if you want an all-copper bullet. For range time, Winchester's .350 Legend 145 gr FMJ is a practice round only. Full metal jacket bullets are not legal for deer in many states, Indiana included.
.450 Bushmaster hunting loads
Also worth a look: Winchester Deer Season XP 250 gr and the all-copper Barnes Vor-TX 250 gr TSX.
Rifles and magazines
Both cartridges show up in AR-15 uppers and in bolt-action rifles. The platform details matter more than people expect.
- .350 Legend in an AR: it uses the .223's rim diameter, so the bolt face matches. Use magazines made or approved for .350 Legend for reliable feeding.
- .450 Bushmaster in an AR: it runs on a standard AR-15 lower with a dedicated upper and modified magazines. The fat case stacks in a single column, so a 10-round magazine body holds about four rounds, a 20-round body five to seven, and a 30-round body about nine.
- Bolt actions: both are offered in budget and mid-priced bolt guns. A heavier bolt rifle soaks up the Bushmaster's recoil better than a featherweight.
Check your state's limit on how many rounds you can have in the gun while deer hunting. Outdoor Life's 2019 summary of Ohio's rules, for example, reported a cap of three rounds in the rifle and magazine combined. A limit like that makes the Bushmaster's low magazine capacity a non-issue there.
Where each one is legal
This is the part that has changed the most. Michigan eliminated its Lower Peninsula Limited Firearms Deer Zone for the 2026 seasons, and Indiana now allows centerfire rifles with bullets of at least .219 inch on public and private land. Ohio still limits deer rifles to straight-walled cartridges from .357 to .515 caliber under its current rule.
The .350 Legend has a quirk here: its bullets actually measure about .355 inch, two thousandths under Ohio's .357 minimum. Winchester listed it with SAAMI as .357 minus .003 inch, and Ohio's published regulations have listed the .350 Legend as legal. As with anything legal, confirm in the current digest before you hunt.
Which one should you buy?
| If you are... | Lean toward | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A new or youth hunter | .350 Legend | Lighter recoil makes practice easier |
| Hunting thick cover at short range | Either; .450 if recoil doesn't bother you | Big, heavy bullet at modest distances |
| Hunting field edges to 200 yards | .350 Legend | Higher velocity with lighter bullets |
| Building one AR for range and deer | .350 Legend | Normal-looking magazines and lower practice cost |
| Hunting bigger-bodied game where legal | .450 Bushmaster | Much heavier bullets and more energy |
Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.
Frequently asked questions
Is .350 Legend or .450 Bushmaster better for deer?
Both are effective with good expanding bullets. The .350 Legend kicks less and is easier to practice with; the .450 Bushmaster throws much heavier bullets with more energy. Most whitetail hunters are well served by either inside about 200 yards.
How much more recoil does the .450 Bushmaster have?
Comparing common loads, a 250 gr .450 Bushmaster bullet at 2,200 fps carries roughly 58 percent more momentum than a 150 gr .350 Legend bullet at 2,325 fps, so expect noticeably more recoil in rifles of similar weight.
Can I use .350 Legend in Ohio?
Ohio requires straight-walled rifle cartridges from .357 to .515 caliber, and its published regulations have listed the .350 Legend as legal even though the bullets measure about .355 inch. Confirm in the current Ohio regulations before you hunt.
How many .450 Bushmaster rounds fit in an AR-15 magazine?
The case single-stacks, so a 30-round magazine body holds about nine rounds, a 20-round body five to seven, and a 10-round body about four.
Can I hunt deer with FMJ in .350 Legend?
Generally no. Many states, including Indiana, prohibit full metal jacket bullets for deer. Use FMJ for practice and an expanding hunting bullet in the field.
Sources and further reading
Related reading
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.