Old Faithful 350 Legend, Newcomer 360 BuckHammer

[bdenman]

As I live in south west Michigan, straight-wall cartridges are the extent of "rifles" we can use.

I've been very faithful to the 350 Legend for the last 3 deer seasons. 1 Season with the Ruger Predator 350 Legend and 2 Season with the TC Encore 350 Legend. I've put down many good size deer with it at over 200 yards, my furthest being 255 yards. My brother in law and best friend have also been using it with great success!

With that being said, there is a new straight-wall cartridge on the block; the 360 BuckHammer.

I recently purchased a Match Grade Machine 360 BuckHammer Barrel for one of my encores. It is in process and I should hopefully have it by the beginning of September.

My questions are:

Do you have interest in the new straight-wall cartridge?

Do many other people plan to make the switch?

Do you think Ruger will come out with a 360 BuckHammer Rifle this year or anytime soon?

 

[Hvymax]

It's a 350 Legend for Lever Guns. I can't see anything but an AR for 350 Legend.

 

[bdenman]

It's a 350 Legend for Lever Guns. I can't see anything but an AR for 350 Legend.

Lever guns aren't so bad! Would love to buy one myself.

 

[Hvymax]

The encore is cool because you can just order a barrel to swap calibers. Of course I can pretty much do the same with AR's these days. I like my guns to be more than one trick ponies. I can hunt, compete and lay down suppressive fire all with the same gun. I've got a Bear AR, Deer AR, Poodle AR, 3 gun match/boring all purpose AR, $230 build AR, Retro Range toy AR, Ultimate prick range toy AR pistol etc. It's like Barbies for men.

 

[contender]

Due to the small number of states that require a straight walled case for rifles,, (as compared to most other states,,) I see a limited market/demand for another caliber.
Especially if 350 Legend has a solid following in such areas.

BUT,,,,,,,, I can easily be wrong. Only the market will decide what can/will happen.

Not saying it's not a good caliber, or offering. Just that many people may look at it,, saying something like; "I already have a 350 Legend,, I don't need a different gun or caliber."

Then there is the available ammo issues. Ammo has to be available for a gun to sell.

But,, if enough people get one,, and sing it's praises,, then it's very possible to see it become a viable caliber.

Me personally,, I hunt with a handgun,, so I have zero interest in it.
Will Ruger offer one? Only if they can do it with minimal amount of re-tooling & re-working of an existing model, AND they get a distributor willing to purchase enough guns to make a profit. JMO!

 

[Hvymax]

Shelves are currently full with 350 Legend and 450 Bushmaster. Wasn't the case a few years ago. I still reload for them because any nothing can do normal!!!

 

[Mobuck]

I have zero need/interest in such a cartridge BUT being very close to the IA/MO border, I do get questions about such things. The Legend has attracted a significant following in the Southern tier counties of IA. Any/every production rifle offered in this cartridge is snapped up and taken afield as what I'd call a 'long range slug gun'. I guess they work(at least work better than a punkin baller) but I hear of a lot of failures due to long range expectations vs performance.
The 360BH seems to address those locations that deny the use of semi-auto deer rifles.

 

[Sam Summey]

As I live in south west Michigan, straight-wall cartridges are the extent of "rifles" we can use.

I've been very faithful to the 350 Legend for the last 3 deer seasons. 1 Season with the Ruger Predator 350 Legend and 2 Season with the TC Encore 350 Legend. I've put down many good size deer with it at over 200 yards, my furthest being 255 yards. My brother in law and best friend have also been using it with great success!

With that being said, there is a new straight-wall cartridge on the block; the 360 BuckHammer.

I recently purchased a Match Grade Machine 360 BuckHammer Barrel for one of my encores. It is in process and I should hopefully have it by the beginning of September.

My questions are:

Do you have interest in the new straight-wall cartridge?

Do many other people plan to make the switch?

Do you think Ruger will come out with a 360 BuckHammer Rifle this year or anytime soon?

You are a victim of "Marketing Hype" regurgitated by a young whiz-kid "Marketeer". What you have works! No guarantee that the new caliber will work better than what you already have!

 

[bdenman]

You are a victim of "Marketing Hype" regurgitated by a young whiz-kid "Marketeer". What you have works! No guarantee that the new caliber will work better than what you already have!

Wrong. No victim here. I will continue to buy any cartridge I would like willingly. Is it marginally better than the 350? Yes. Do I care that it is only marginally better? No.

 

[Dan in MI]

I'll stick with the .357 Maxi. Both the legend and Buckhammer are interesting, but I don't need another caliber that awfully similar.

 

[bdenman]

I'll stick with the .357 Maxi. Both the legend and Buckhammer are interesting, but I don't need another caliber that awfully similar.

We can't use that in lower michigan for deer hunting though…

 

[Dan in MI]

Yes you can, and have able to since handguns were made legal.

 

[bdenman]

Yes you can, and have able to since handguns were made legal.

Ah handgun.. not a rifle. Straight walled rifle is 1.8" max length.

 

[RPHarder]

357 maxi in a rifle is still ok. Case length is 1.6 in.

 

[bdenman]

357 maxi in a rifle is still ok. Case length is 1.6 in.

i thought it was like 1.9 or 2"

 

[Gator89]

I am for a reason, excuse, to buy a new gun.

Have fun, whack'em and stack'em.

 

[Hvymax]

i thought it was like 1.9 or 2"

Case not overall length.

 

[bdenman]

Case not overall length.

I've never had an itch to use it, but this whole time I thought it was too long

 

[Hawk-in-Wi]

I like the 350 legend, the Ruger American I purchased for my Daughter to deer hunt with is very accurate, soft recoiling and easy for her to handle , one of the biggest reason that i got it instead of something else was the cheap Winchester white box ammo that works great as practice ammo , at the time (summer of 2020) it was under $10/box of 20 , that let her do a lot of shooting without killing my bank acc.

if the 360 comes out with a cheap practice ammo then i'll take a look at it but if not then I'll just stick with the 350 L

 

[Hvymax]

I've never had an itch to use it, but this whole time I thought it was too long

That's what she said.