Meet the S&W Model 350
The Smith & Wesson Model 350 marks yet another addition to the company’s hulky X-Frame design, most tailored to hunters. Though Magnum Research put out several BFR single actions, S&W claims “the first production revolver to shoot the efficiently designed .350 Legend hunting calibers.”
Related: A Primer on .350 Legend for Hunters
At the least, it’s the first (and only that we’re aware of) in a double-action design. There’s the seven-shot, fluted cylinder and 7.5-inch ported barrel. It weighs in at 71.5 ounces, or 4.5 pounds, empty. The piece is dressed with a red ramp front sight and adjustable white-line rear. The rubber finger groove grips we’ve come to expect from S&W X-Frames remain as well. Retail cost is right at $1,600 – but you can find these for much less in our certified used section.
Shoot the Moon
One main consideration when eyeing a .350 Legend wheel gun is the necessity of moon clips. The .350 Legend is a rimless casing that headspaces on the case mouth. S&W accommodates this with the inclusion of two full moon clips. For those unfamiliar, the process takes a good bit more familiarization, but like everything, comes easily enough with practice.
Of course, one can fire the Model 350 without the moon clips in place, but then the spent rounds need to be tapped out one by one with a range tool or wooden dowel. The moon clips are no speedloader, but with seven shots, one shouldn’t need a rapid reload for most hunting situations.
Range Time
We headed to the range with a wide variety of factory ammunition, including Federal Non-Typical 180-grain SP, Winchester 145-grain FMJ, Hornady American Whitetail 170-grain, and Browning 150-grain Max Point. As we didn’t acquire proper scope mounts in a timely fashion, we opted to shoot iron sights. Three-shot accuracy groups at 50 yards proved plenty serviceable but not wildly impressive.
As this is the only Model 350 we’ve fired, others may find different results. For comparison, trusted friend and handgun guru Shane Jahn shared that his Model 350 showed an affinity for Hornady 165-grain loads. In subsequent range sessions after all video work was complete, we did find groups tightened a bit with Hornady 165s, whether it was the projectile weight or style.
Things might improve further with the addition of an optic. For now, we wouldn’t hesitate to take the Model 350 on a deer hunt within a comfortable range. In this case, we’d stick to 75 yards with open sights. It’s important to realize the .350 Legend cartridge is ideal at under 200 yards in rifles and to consider velocity loss when fired through a handgun’s shorter barrel. Reasonable expectations are prudent when considering the cartridge’s ethical, effective hunting range.
Field Notes
In S&W’s X-Frame class, which includes thumpers like .460 S&W and .500 S&W, the .350 Legend proves a walk in the park. Sure, there’s some recoil and muzzle rise, but given the weight of a stainless build partnered with the ported barrel, this is a tame introduction. The 350 Legend in a rifle shows recoil comparable to (or in many cases less than) a .243 Win. The Hogue wraparound polymer grips aid in control. Sure, there’s muzzle rise, but it’s easily managed, while punch to the palm is minimal.
Trigger pull in single action proved quite nice, measuring at a hair under 3 pounds. Double action, not surprisingly, exceeded 10 pounds, but not by much.
Adding a scope requires finding the correct mount and removing the rear sight. We’ve since discovered a nice option from Weigand Machine. The irons are otherwise plenty adequate, but at 100 yards, that red ramp front covers a good portion of the target.
Final Thoughts
The .350 Legend chambering is ideal for deer and hog-sized game, with modest recoil, mid-range thumper performance, and seven rounds in the hand. Find the load your Model 350 likes, and it will prove just what a stainless X-Frame is all about.
