Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Aug 15, 2024 – The recent changes by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to allow straight-walled cartridges in Zones 4 and 5, along with the implementation of the alternative firearms seasons in lieu of the muzzleloader season across other parts of the state have sent many in search of a new firearm. I have been searching the internet, talking to friends and visiting local firearms dealers to decide which is best for me. If you are on the same pursuit, here are a few thoughts for your consideration.
There are many straight-walled cartridges, but three calibers quickly rose to the top of my list. The .350 Legend, the .400 Legend and the .450 Bushmaster. This is not a slight against any available cartridges like the .44 Magnum, .45-70 or the .444, but it is where my research has taken me, and it narrowed the field a bit.
One of my favorite tips in choosing a firearm came from a hunting friend many years ago, “Buy a caliber that will have ammo available most anywhere.” That piece of advice has guided me in the purchase of several rifles and will be a factor in my straight-walled choice.
How well does the caliber perform? Most cartridges that fit the legalities of the rules for Arkansas would be effective for white-tailed deer. If a hunter plans to step up in game size, to a bear or elk for example, one of the larger calibers like the .400 Legend or .444 would be better suited. Most of the straight-walled offerings are very similar in accuracy. They will not provide the performance of a .270 at long range, but out to two hundred yards, most will provide the accuracy needed to responsibly take a deer.
Felt recoil has become an important factor in my gun choices. There are lots of things that influence recoil but, in general, as caliber sizes increase, so does felt recoil. Ammunition choices play a big factor, but most studies show the .350 Legend is in the seven-to-ten-pound range of felt recoil. Those same charts show the .400 Legend is more along the lines of thirteen to fifteen pounds while the .450 Bushmaster’s recoil breaks the twenty-pound mark. In comparison, a 20-gauge slug generates around fifteen pounds of felt recoil
In weighing the factors – ammo availability, performance, recoil – I have pretty much decided on the .350 Legend. Others might come to a different conclusion, but that is where my research led me. Deciding on a specific gun is for another conversation. Looks like there will be a few more trips to the gun counter in the future.
Please refer to regulations from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for a complete guide of what constitutes a legal firearm: Shooting Straight- Alternative firearms season opens new options for Arkansas deer hunters • Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (agfc.com)
A full list of hunting regulations for the 2024-2025 season can be found here.