6 Best 350 Legend Loads for Straight Wall States That Drop Deer Fast

The sun is just starting to peek over the horizon, casting long shadows across the frosty cornfield. You’re settled into your stand, rifle across your lap, and a buck steps out at the wood line. In a straight-wall state, this moment is exactly what the 350 Legend was designed for—but success hinges on the small lead and copper projectile you’ve chambered. Choosing the right ammunition isn’t just about ballistics; it’s about ensuring a quick, ethical harvest and a successful hunt.

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Choosing the Right 350 Legend for Your Deer Hunt

You’ve done the work of scouting, practicing, and getting your rifle sighted in. Now you’re standing in front of a shelf of ammo boxes, and the choices can feel overwhelming. It’s easy to think all 350 Legend cartridges are the same, but the bullet—the actual projectile—is what does the work, and their designs vary dramatically. This choice is the final, critical link in your hunting setup.

The central trade-off you’re managing is between rapid expansion and deep penetration. A bullet that expands violently upon impact transfers a massive amount of energy, often dropping a deer on the spot with a well-placed shot to the vitals. On the other hand, a tougher, controlled-expansion bullet holds together better, ensuring it can drive deep through muscle and bone to reach the vitals, even on a less-than-perfect angle. Your hunting style, terrain, and typical shot distance should guide your decision.

Think about where you hunt. Are you watching long fields where every shot is a clean, broadside opportunity? Or are you in thick woods where a quartering-away shot through the shoulder might be your only chance? Answering that question is the first step to narrowing down the perfect load for your specific needs.

Winchester Deer Season XP 150gr for Rapid Expansion

If your hunts often take place over bean fields, food plots, or open hardwoods where you can be selective about your shot, the Deer Season XP is engineered for you. This load is built around one primary goal: massive and immediate energy transfer. It’s not subtle, and that’s the whole point.

The most noticeable feature is the oversized polymer tip. This isn’t just for looks; it’s designed to drive back into the lead core upon impact, initiating violent and rapid expansion. The result is a devastating wound channel on broadside shots into the chest cavity. For hunters who want to see deer drop within sight, this level of performance is hard to beat.

The trade-off for this explosive performance is penetration. Because the bullet expands so quickly, it may not be the ideal choice for tough, quartering-away shots where you need to punch through a heavy shoulder bone first. But for the hunter who prioritizes shock and awe on well-placed shots, the 150-grain Deer Season XP is a top contender.

Hornady American Whitetail 170gr for Deep Penetration

Imagine you’re still-hunting through a thick cedar swamp. A buck appears in a small opening, offering a tricky quartering-to angle. This is where a tough, reliable bullet like the Hornady American Whitetail shines. It’s a workhorse load designed for consistency and performance in unpredictable situations.

At the heart of this cartridge is Hornady’s 170-grain InterLock bullet. This is a classic cup-and-core design with a key feature: a raised ring inside the jacket that mechanically grips the lead core. This InterLock ring helps prevent the jacket and core from separating on impact, which is crucial for maintaining momentum and achieving deep penetration.

This load offers a fantastic balance. It provides reliable expansion to create a lethal wound channel but has the toughness to hold together through bone and muscle. It’s an excellent all-around choice for hunters who stalk through thick cover or whose hunting areas frequently present less-than-ideal shot angles. It delivers confidence when you need your bullet to drive deep.

Federal Power-Shok 180gr for Reliable Performance

Sometimes, you don’t need the latest polymer-tipped, bonded-core technology. You just need something that works, plain and simple. For the hunter who values proven, no-frills performance and an affordable price tag, the Federal Power-Shok 180-grain load is a staple.

This ammunition uses a traditional soft-point bullet, a design that has been successfully harvesting deer for generations. The exposed lead tip initiates expansion reliably upon impact, while the 180-grain weight—one of the heavier options in 350 Legend—helps it carry authority. This added mass aids in penetration, making it a solid choice for close-to-medium range woods hunting.

Don’t mistake its simplicity for weakness. The Power-Shok line is respected for its ability to get the job done consistently. It’s a dependable, blue-collar round that provides predictable expansion and adequate penetration for whitetail deer. For many hunters, that’s everything you need and nothing you don’t.

Browning BXR 155gr for Maximum Energy Transfer

Picture a scenario where recovering a deer can be difficult, like hunting on the edge of a steep ravine or a nearly impenetrable swamp. In these situations, anchoring the animal quickly is the top priority. The Browning BXR is designed specifically for this kind of rapid, decisive energy dump.

The BXR bullet features a copper/polymer matrix tip that differentiates it from a standard polymer tip. This design is engineered to cause the bullet to fragment upon impact with soft tissue. Instead of just expanding, it breaks apart, creating multiple wound channels and delivering an incredible amount of shock to the animal’s system.

This load is purpose-built for medium-sized game like whitetail and is absolutely devastating with a proper shot behind the shoulder. Like other rapid-expansion designs, its strength is not in deep penetration through heavy bone. It’s a specialized tool for hunters who want to maximize trauma and minimize tracking.

Barnes VOR-TX 170gr for Superior Weight Retention

When the hunt calls for the toughest bullet available, the Barnes VOR-TX is in a class of its own. This is the load for the hunter pursuing big-bodied northern bucks, tough wild hogs, or even black bears where the 350 Legend is legal. It’s a premium option for when performance cannot be compromised.

The magic is in the 170-grain TSX (Triple-Shock X) bullet, which is constructed from 100% solid copper. Upon impact, the hollow point nose peels back into four razor-sharp petals, creating a wound channel that is both wide and incredibly deep. Because there is no lead core to separate from a jacket, it retains nearly all of its original weight, allowing it to smash through heavy bone and keep driving.

This level of performance comes at a higher cost, but the confidence it provides is priceless. For any situation where you might encounter heavy bone or need maximum penetration from any angle, the Barnes VOR-TX is the undisputed champion of toughness in the 350 Legend lineup.

Winchester Power-Point 180gr for Proven Knockdown

There’s a reason some bullet designs from the black-and-red Winchester box have been around for decades: they simply work. The Winchester Power-Point is one of the most recognizable and trusted deer bullets ever made, and its performance in the 350 Legend continues that legacy.

The 180-grain Power-Point features a unique soft-nose design with strategically placed notches in the jacket. These notches help the bullet expand uniformly and effectively over a wide range of impact velocities, which is perfect for the 350 Legend’s effective range. The heavy-for-caliber weight ensures it hits with authority and provides excellent knockdown power.

This is an outstanding choice for classic deer camp hunting in the woods. It combines the mass of a 180-grain projectile with a time-tested design that balances expansion and penetration perfectly for whitetails. It’s a confident, dependable choice that has been filling tags for generations.

Matching Bullet Weight and Type to Your Hunting Area

Ultimately, the "best" load is the one that best matches your specific hunting environment. There is no single magic bullet. Instead, think of your ammunition as a specialized tool and choose the right one for the job at hand.

Here’s a simple framework to help you decide:

• Open Country (Fields, Farmland, Power Lines): In these areas, you can often wait for a perfect broadside shot. A lighter, rapid-expansion bullet is an excellent choice.
  • Consider: Winchester Deer Season XP (150gr) or Browning BXR (155gr).
• Thick Cover (Woods, Swamps, Brush): Shots can be quick, and angles are often less than ideal. A tougher, heavier, controlled-expansion bullet is a more reliable option.
  • Consider: Hornady American Whitetail (170gr), Federal Power-Shok (180gr), or Winchester Power-Point (180gr).
• Toughest Game (Large Bucks, Hogs, Bear): When you need to be absolutely certain your bullet can handle heavy bone and drive deep from any angle, a premium monolithic or bonded bullet is the safest and most ethical choice.
  • Consider: Barnes VOR-TX (170gr).

Remember the core principle: rapid expansion is great for maximum shock on ideal shots, while controlled penetration is better for ensuring you reach the vitals in challenging situations. Match your bullet to your most likely scenario, sight your rifle in with that specific load, and hunt with confidence.

The perfect ammunition is a key piece of the puzzle, but it’s not the whole picture. Shot placement will always be the most critical factor in a quick, ethical harvest. Pick the load that makes the most sense for your hunt, practice with it until you’re confident, and then focus on the experience. The goal is to get outside and make memories, not to obsess over finding the perfect gear.