TOP 4 Straight Wall Cartridges Compared

Published on April 10, 2025
Duration: 12:27

This comprehensive comparison, led by an expert from Thompson/Center Arms, details four key straight wall cartridges: .45-70 Government, .450 Bushmaster, .350 Legend, and .360 Buckhammer. It covers their design characteristics, suitability for various firearm platforms (including the Thompson/Center Encore), recoil profiles, and performance in ballistic gel tests, offering practical insights for hunters navigating state regulations and seeking optimal deer hunting ammunition.

Quick Summary

An expert from Thompson/Center Arms compares four key straight wall cartridges: .45-70 Gov't, .450 Bushmaster, .350 Legend, and .360 Buckhammer. The discussion covers their design, recoil, suitability for firearms like the T/C Encore, and performance in ballistic gel, providing practical advice for hunters navigating state regulations.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Straight Wall Cartridges
  2. 00:55Bottleneck vs. Straight Wall Design
  3. 01:28.45-70 Government Overview
  4. 02:03.450 Bushmaster Overview
  5. 02:41.350 Legend Overview
  6. 03:21.360 Buckhammer Overview
  7. 04:43Range Testing: .450 Bushmaster
  8. 06:20Range Testing: .350 Legend
  9. 08:26Range Testing: .360 Buckhammer
  10. 10:42Ballistic Gel Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main advantages of straight wall cartridges for deer hunting?

Straight wall cartridges offer improved accuracy and range compared to traditional slug guns, making them ideal for deer hunting in states like Ohio and Illinois that have specific regulations favoring them.

How does the .350 Legend compare to the .450 Bushmaster in terms of recoil and power?

The .350 Legend features significantly less recoil, making it suitable for a wider range of shooters, while the .450 Bushmaster offers greater knockdown power but comes with more substantial recoil.

Which straight wall cartridges are best suited for traditional lever-action or break-open rifles?

.45-70 Government and .360 Buckhammer are rimmed cartridges well-suited for traditional lever-action and break-open firearms due to their design, which aids in headspacing and extraction.

What performance differences were observed between the .350 Legend and .360 Buckhammer in ballistic gel tests?

Both the .350 Legend and .360 Buckhammer demonstrated excellent expansion and sufficient penetration for deer in ballistic gel tests, with the .360 Buckhammer offering slightly higher velocities.

Related News

All News →

More Hunting & Outdoors Videos You Might Like

More from Thompson/Center Arms

View all →