350 Legend vs 308 is not a close ballistic contest: the 308 Winchester shoots far flatter and carries about twice the energy at 300 yards. The reasons to choose the 350 Legend are rules and rifle size. It is a straight-wall cartridge that qualifies in many areas where bottleneck rifle cartridges such as the 308 are not allowed for deer, and it runs in a standard-size AR15 with mild recoil. Chattahoochee Munitions manufactures the 350 Legend as an 18-inch CM15 AR15 rifle and the 308 Winchester as CM10 AR10 rifles and CM7S bolt actions.

350 Legend vs 308 at a Glance

Specification	350 Legend	308 Winchester
Case type	Straight wall	Bottleneck
Bullet diameter	.357 inch	.308 inch
Case length	1.71 inches	2.015 inches
Platform	AR15 (CM15)	AR10 (CM10) or short-action bolt (CM7S)
Federal Power-Shok	180 gr, 2,100 fps, 1,762 ft-lb	150 gr, 2,820 fps, 2,648 ft-lb
Typical deer range	Inside about 200 yards	Out to 400 yards and beyond

Cartridge standards: SAAMI.

350 Legend vs 308 Ballistics

Federal publishes both Power-Shok soft-point loads with a 100-yard zero and 1.5-inch sight height.

Distance	350 Legend 180 gr	308 Win 150 gr
Muzzle	2,100 fps / 1,762 ft-lb	2,820 fps / 2,648 ft-lb
100 yards	1,793 fps / 1,284 ft-lb	2,532 fps / 2,134 ft-lb
200 yards	1,520 fps / 924 ft-lb / -9.4 in	2,261 fps / 1,702 ft-lb / -3.9 in
300 yards	1,292 fps / 668 ft-lb / -34.1 in	2,007 fps / 1,341 ft-lb / -14.7 in
Wind at 300 yards (10 mph)	21.6 in	10.4 in

Source: Federal 308 Win Power-Shok and Federal 350 Legend Power-Shok. Past 150 yards the 308 pulls away quickly in every column.

Why Choose 350 Legend Over 308?

Straight-wall rules: several states and zones that once allowed only shotguns and muzzleloaders for deer now allow straight-wall rifle cartridges. The 308 does not qualify there; the 350 Legend often does. Read what is a straight wall cartridge.
Recoil: the 350 Legend in a 6 lb 12 oz AR15 is easy for new and young hunters to shoot.
Rifle size: an AR15 receiver set is smaller and lighter than an AR10; the CM15 350 Legend is 35.50 to 38.75 inches long.

Why Choose 308 Over 350 Legend?

Range, wind and game size. The 308 doubles the 350 Legend’s energy at 300 yards with less than half the drop, and it is a proven elk cartridge. Chattahoochee Munitions does not recommend the 350 Legend for elk or bear. If your state allows bottleneck cartridges, see the CM10 and CM7S rifles at District 308, What Is 308 Winchester? and 308 for hunting.

350 Legend vs 308: Subsonic and Suppressed Use

Chattahoochee Munitions treats the 350 Legend CM15 as a supersonic hunting rifle and recommends a flow-through suppressor rated for .357-inch bullets. For subsonic shooting from a suppressed short barrel, look at 300 Blackout subsonic or the CM10-SD at District 308, the one 308 that cycles subsonic.

350 Legend vs 308: Which Should You Choose?

Where only straight-wall cartridges are legal for deer, the 350 Legend vs 308 decision is already made: the CM15 350 Legend semi auto rifle from Hall of Legends. Where both are legal and shots run past 200 yards, or elk is on the list, choose the 308.

350 Legend vs 308 FAQ

Does 350 Legend hit as hard as 308?

No. In Federal’s Power-Shok loads the 308 carries about 900 ft-lb more at the muzzle and twice the energy at 300 yards.

Is 350 Legend enough for deer?

Yes, inside about 200 yards with an expanding hunting bullet. Read 350 Legend for deer.

Can a 308 be used in straight-wall states?

Not in areas that limit deer rifles to straight-wall cartridges, because the 308 is a bottleneck case. Check your state’s current regulations.

Does 350 Legend fit an AR15 and 308 an AR10?

Yes. The 350 Legend uses the AR15 receiver size and bolt face with its own barrel and magazine; the 308 needs the larger AR10 receiver.

Who makes a 350 Legend rifle?

Chattahoochee Munitions manufactures the CM15 350 Legend rifle with an 18-inch 1:16 barrel in Black Tungsten, Cobalt Kinetics Green and FDE Metallic Cerakote, each shipping with one 10-round 350 Legend magazine.

350 Legend vs 308: Straight-Wall Rules or Long-Range Reach