SOME MIGHT SAY that a heroic name like “Legend” needs to be earned. Okay, but American cartridge nomenclature is a mess, and I’d prefer a simple title to an alpha-numeric soup that confuses us with existing cartridges. Also, there is major historic precedence to whimsical names for cartridges, as in “Creedmoor,” “Hornet” and “Zipper.” Upon introduction, Winchester’s .350 Legend was hardly legendary, but its name will never be confused with anything else.
The proper description for the .350 Legend is “purpose-driven.” Actually, it offers multiple purposes. Although rim and base diameter are the same, the .350 Legend isn’t exactly based on the 5.56mm NATO cartridge, but it was designed to fit into the AR-15 action. This may not seem important for a hunting cartridge, but wait — the 5.56mm and…