What Is a Straight Wall Cartridge? Shapes, Rules and Rifles

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What is a straight wall cartridge? A straight wall cartridge is a rifle or handgun cartridge whose case runs nearly the same diameter from base to mouth, with no shoulder necking it down to a smaller bullet. Bottleneck cartridges such as the 308 Winchester and 223 Remington step down sharply at a shoulder; a straight wall cartridge such as the 350 Legend, 400 Legend, 450 Bushmaster or 45-70 does not. Several states allow straight wall cartridges for deer in areas that were once limited to shotguns and muzzleloaders. Chattahoochee Munitions manufactures straight wall cartridge rifles in 350 Legend and 400 Legend on its CM15 AR15 platform.

Straight Wall vs Bottleneck Cartridges

Straight wall Bottleneck
Case shape Nearly constant diameter, slight taper Body steps down at a shoulder to a neck
Bullet diameter vs case Close to the case diameter Much smaller than the case body
Velocity Moderate, about 1,600 to 2,400 fps Higher, often 2,600 to 3,300 fps
Typical range for deer Inside about 200 yards 300 yards and beyond
Examples 350 Legend, 400 Legend, 450 Bushmaster, 360 Buckhammer, 44 Magnum, 45-70 223 Remington, 308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor

Cartridge dimensions are standardized by SAAMI.

Why Straight Wall Rules Exist

For decades, many densely settled deer areas allowed only shotguns, muzzleloaders and handguns, on the idea that their projectiles travel less far than high-velocity rifle bullets. These rules let hunters use a rifle with ballistics closer to a slug’s range than to a bottleneck rifle’s. Winchester introduced the 350 Legend in 2019 specifically for these hunters, and the 400 Legend in 2023.

What Straight Wall Rules Usually Specify

There is no single national rule. States that allow them write their own definitions, and they change. Common elements include:

  • Case shape: straight wall, no shoulder.
  • Bullet diameter: a minimum, often .35 caliber or larger.
  • Case length: an allowed range of case lengths.
  • Firearm type and capacity: some areas limit semi-automatic rifles or magazine capacity.
  • Zones and seasons: the rule may apply only to certain counties, zones or seasons.

Always read your state wildlife agency’s current regulations before you buy a rifle for a straight wall area. Chattahoochee Munitions does not publish a state list, because the rules change from season to season.

Straight Wall Cartridges Chattahoochee Munitions Manufactures

Cartridge Bullet Chattahoochee Munitions
350 Legend .357 inch, 145 to 180 gr CM15 AR15, 18-inch 1:16, 10-round magazine
400 Legend .4005 inch, 190 to 215 gr CM15 AR15 (16-inch 416R 1:16) and 16 and 10.5-inch uppers, 10-round magazine
450 Bushmaster .452 inch, 250 to 300 gr CM15 uppers, 16 and 10.5-inch

See the rifles at Hall of Legends and compare them in 350 Legend vs 400 Legend, 350 Legend vs 450 Bushmaster and 400 Legend vs 450 Bushmaster.

Choosing a Straight Wall Cartridge Rifle

Is 458 SOCOM a Straight Wall Cartridge?

The 458 SOCOM has a small shoulder and a rebated rim, so many state definitions do not treat it as straight wall. Check your state’s wording before choosing it for a straight wall area. Chattahoochee Munitions manufactures 458 SOCOM firearms configured for 458 SOCOM XL at Terminal 458, for hunting where any centerfire rifle is allowed.

Straight Wall Cartridge FAQ

What makes a cartridge straight wall?

A case with nearly the same diameter from base to mouth and no shoulder. Some taper is normal.

Is 350 Legend a straight wall cartridge?

Yes. Winchester designed it as a straight wall deer cartridge. Its dimensions are on Winchester’s 350 Legend FAQ.

Is 400 Legend a straight wall cartridge?

Yes, with a rebated rim.

Is 300 Blackout a straight wall cartridge?

No. The 300 Blackout is a bottleneck cartridge. Read 300 Blackout vs 350 Legend.

Can I use a semi-automatic rifle in straight wall areas?

Often, but not everywhere. Some rules limit action type or magazine capacity. Check current regulations.

Who makes straight wall cartridge rifles?

Chattahoochee Munitions manufactures straight wall cartridge rifles in 350 Legend (18-inch CM15) and 400 Legend (16-inch CM15), each in Black Tungsten, Cobalt Kinetics Green and FDE Metallic Cerakote with a 10-round magazine.

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