Introduction
One of the most important steps in constructing a new rifle is the selection of the proper caliber. The 22 ARC and the 350 Legend are the most discussed options lately. Each is tailored for certain shooting requirements and has unique advantages. This guide is designed to evaluate the essential features of the 22 ARC and 350 Legend to assist target shooters, hunters, and firearm customizers in making informed choices. Your firearm is an extension of your personality, and we want to help you find the perfect fit for your rifle’s caliber.
What Is the 22 ARC?
The 22 ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge) is a new offering from Hornady that is marketed toward a new clientele that prizes modern AR-Style rifles for their versatility and enhanced performance for target shooting. Attention-grabbing performance at long-ranges has earned the 22 ARC the loyalty of varmint hunters and precision shooters for accuracy, speed, and efficiency.
This exciting new round is built off the 6mm ARC case and necked to accept a 224, allowing it to flatten gain quicker than most small-caliber rifles and fill the niche of long-range target shooters and extended small-game hunters.
What Is the 350 Legend?
Winchester created the 350 Legend as a straight-walled hunting cartridge for regions where deer hunters can only utilize straight-walled cartridges. The 350 Legend became a favorite because of its strength and versatility as well as for its low recoil.
The 350 Legend has a greater stopping power than the 22 ARC and can take down deer and hogs and other medium-sized game. The 350 Legend does well in bolt-action and AR-style rifles, and provides hunters a dependable cartridge for sharp-shooting at short range, heavy-hitting performance.
Ballistic Performance Comparison
One of the first things hunters ready for a shooting comparison is the velocity and the energy in the .22 ARc and the .350 Legend.
22 ARc. The shooting remains effective for long distances. The bullet remains supersonic and exceeds over 3,000 feet per second.
350 Legend: Although the bullets have a lower velocity of 2200 feet per second, the bullets possess a greater energy than the 22 ARc due to the mass. Within 200 yards, it will have a more powerful impact and will drop faster after 200 yards.
If long-range accuracy and minimal recoil are the primary goals, consider the 22 ARc as it will be the best choice.The .350 Legend is preferred when the focus is powerful shots within 200 yards is desired when hunting bigger game.
Accuracy and Range
The 22 ARC performs excellently for long-range shooting competitions and varmint hunting, achieving remarkable precision with great attention to detail at 500 yards and beyond. The combination of slight recoil and gentle flight allows the shooter to maintain visualization of the target to facilitate rapid follow-up shots.
The 350 Legend, in contrast, is used for short-range shooting, effective at 250 yards and under.
The 350 Legend’s larger size and less aerodynamic bullet’s range, accuracy and terminal performance will be excellent within that distance. For deer hunters in wooded areas or thick brush, that’s exactly what you need.
Recoil and Shooting Comfort
There is a large amount of data regarding comfort and accuracy in shooting. The 22 ARC has very little recoil and makes it easy for a shooter to maintain accuracy in a steady stream of fire. It is a wonderful option for first time shooters and those who are sensitive to large amounts of recoil.
When compared to the .30-06 or .308 Winchester the 350 Legend has increased recoil, yet will always be less recoil than traditional hunting cartridges. The 350 Legend will be assessed as manageable by a large number of shooters, especially those using it in AR platforms designed with recoil suppression features.
Ammo Cost and Availability
Considering cost and availability, both cartridges are relatively new and may change over time.
22 ARC: This is a new and specialized round, and so, finding ammo and the cost will be more difficult than standard .223 or 5.56 rounds. However, as popularity increases, the cost will drop over time.
350 Legend: Due to its popularity with hunters, this round is readily available. Additionally, it is one of the cheapest straight-walled cartridges to buy which increases its availability.
If cost and availability of cartridges is a priority, the 350 Legend is an obvious choice.
Use Case: Hunting
The 350 Legend is designed for taking down deer, hogs, and even black bears within moderate ranges, thanks to its straight-walled design, it is also legal to use for hunting in many states where bottleneck cartridges are restricted. It’s perfect for hunting!
The 22 ARC is also not a traditional deer cartridge, and is best for hunting varmints, and predators, and is designed for high accuracy on fast moving small targets. It is perfect to use on coyotes, prairie dogs and other small targets where precision is key.
Use Case: Target Shooting and Competition
For precision shooting and long-range competitions, however, the 22 ARC is the one for you. It is hard to argue against its ballistic efficiency, slight recoil, and flat trajectory, which allows for outstanding performance while target shooting.
While you can use the 350 Legend for target practice, it is mostly a practical hunting round and is not designed for long-range shooting to achieve target precision.Because of this, you are going to find it lacking in the competitive shooting arena.
Ease of Rifle Build
Both cartridges can be used in AR-15 platforms, which makes building a rifle around them fairly easy.
22 ARC: Works with standard AR-15 lowers and 6.5 Grendel or 6mm ARC bolt faces.
350 Legend: Uses a standard AR-15 lower and specific barrels and bolts designed for straight-walled cartridges.
If you’re building an AR-style rifle, both are great options, but the 22 ARC may require slightly more specialized parts.
Which Should You Choose?
It all comes down to personal preferences and what people need.
With an optimal balance of minimal recoil, precision over extended distances, and accuracy to a target, the 22 ARC is the perfect pick for those small game hunting and competitive shooting.
If you need hunting cartridges that are strong enough for medium game, the 350 Legend, which is available, works great.
While both options are great, they are designed for different purposes, so consider the primary function of your rifle.That will help you decide.
Conclusion
It depends on how you plan on using your rifle. The 22 ARC is great for long-range precision and for having very light recoil. The 350 Legend is great for having power and effectiveness with very simple operation for hunting within 200 yards.
Both the 22 ARC and the 350 Legend have their rifle builds and specifications and it is up to you to choose one. You can build a custom rifle with either of them and get reliability in the field with the 350 Legend or get precision and accuracy at the range with the 22 ARC.
