The 243 Winchester and the 350 Legend are two cartridges that are known for their ability to take game like deer. Both of these rounds are often compared for their ability to take game. However, many aspects of both of these rounds are often skipped over. So in this article, we will compare the two in depth to see which is better.
Here is the short answer:
The 243 Winchester has more energy, less drop, less wind drift, and is more common. The 350 Legend has a larger bullet better for punching through heavy brush and is a straight-walled cartridge so it can be used in states with straight-wall restrictions.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each cartridge, their ballistics, and we can see how the two cartridges compare in-depth.
In-depth look at the 243 Winchester
The 243 Winchester was introduced in 1955 by Winchester. It is based on the 308 Winchester case necked down to have a bullet diameter of 243 inches. This round gained popularity among varmint shooters when it was first released as it was considered too light for game like deer. However, it would soon become a popular deer hunting cartridge once bullets weighing 100 or more grains were being loaded for it.
This round is loaded with bullets weighing 55 and 105 grains, making it suitable for various applications from hunting groundhogs or prairie dogs to deer and in some cases even elk. It is an excellent choice for varmint hunting, as it offers excellent accuracy and is suitable for taking small game at longer ranges. It is also suitable for hunting medium-sized game such as deer, antelope, and sheep, as long as the shot is placed accurately.
There are very few downsides to the 243 Winchester as it is such a versatile cartridge, but there are still some worth noting. Of the few, if any, downsides, the only one worth mentioning is that the 243 is too light of a cartridge for elk in most cases. But this does not prove to be much of an issue as it is not intended as an elk hunting cartridge.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 243 Winchester with a 100-grain soft point bullet:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2960 | 1945 |
| 50 | -0.2 | 0.2 | 2826 | 1774 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.9 | 2697 | 1615 |
| 150 | -1 | 2 | 2571 | 1467 |
| 200 | -3.3 | 3.6 | 2448 | 1331 |
| 250 | -7 | 5.7 | 2329 | 1204 |
| 300 | -12.4 | 8.4 | 2213 | 1087 |
| 350 | -19.6 | 11.8 | 2101 | 980 |
| 400 | -28.7 | 15.8 | 1991 | 880 |
| 450 | -39.8 | 20.3 | 1885 | 789 |
| 500 | -53.6 | 25.9 | 1783 | 706 |
In-depth look at the 350 Legend
The 350 Legend is a relatively new cartridge, introduced in 2019 by Winchester. It was designed to offer hunters a straight-walled cartridge that is legal in states with restrictions on deer hunting. And hunting deer in states with straight wall restrictions is exactly what this round is for. It is a niche cartridge, but it does what it is designed for.
The 350 Legend can shoot bullets weighing between 145-grain soft point bullets for hunting to 265-grain subsonic bullets. This round is suitable for hunting medium-sized game such as deer, hogs, and black bear. It offers impressive stopping power and can take down game at shorter ranges with ease. The cartridge is also popular among hunters who prefer to hunt with an AR-style rifle.
Unlike the 243 Winchester, the 350 Legend has its fair share of downsides. This round does not have the ballistic performance of many other bottle-necked cartridges. Additionally, the 350 Legend is not ver versatile, no matter what bullet weight you use you are going to get similar ballistic performance. However, you must consider that the 350 Legend was created for a very specific task, and it does that task well.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 350 Legend with a 180-grain soft point bullet:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2100 | 1762 |
| 50 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1942 | 1508 |
| 100 | 0 | 2 | 1793 | 1284 |
| 150 | -3.2 | 4.9 | 1652 | 1091 |
| 200 | -9.4 | 8.9 | 1520 | 924 |
| 250 | -19.5 | 14.4 | 1399 | 783 |
| 300 | -34.1 | 21.6 | 1292 | 668 |
| 350 | -53.9 | 30.2 | 1199 | 575 |
| 400 | -79.9 | 40.4 | 1123 | 504 |
| 450 | -112.7 | 52 | 1062 | 451 |
| 500 | -153.2 | 64.9 | 1013 | 410 |
In-depth comparison
The 243 Winchester and the 350 Legend offer different strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different applications.
If you are looking for the best ballistics, the 243 is the better cartridge. The 243 has more energy, less drop, less wind drift, and higher velocities. At the muzzle, the 243 is going to have 200 more foot-pounds of energy than the 350 Legend, and at 500 yards the 243 has 100 less inches of drop. So the obvious choice for long range shooting or hunting is the 243 Winchester.
Regarding recoil, the 243 Winchester has a relatively low recoil, making it suitable for novice shooters and those sensitive to recoil. The 350 Legend has a slightly higher recoil, but it is still manageable for most shooters.
Another factor to consider is versatility. The 243 Winchester can be loaded with bullets that can be used for game from the size of prairie dogs to deer. While the 350 Legend can be used for varmint hunting, much past 200 yards the 350 Legend loses its energy and starts to drop too much to be predictable.
Lastly is ammunition availability, the 243 Winchester has been around for decades and is widely available. The 350 Legend is relatively new, and although it is gaining popularity, it may be more challenging to find ammunition compared to the 243 Winchester.