Some initial success. Black hunting, fun, rifle
This is more about the new cartridge than my particular platform. A factory Stag Arms with a BCA top half. I guess it technically is a carbine, 16". Using some .357 Maximum data in a slightly larger case the 350 pushed the 200 gr. Hornady RN at 2040 fps on the first try using AA1680. I think the painted cast 200 gr. RCBS will easily be a bit over 2100 with the same load. Yipee!
Recoil is very light and it indeed mimic's factory .35 Remington loads. Since the 350 is rated to a much higher pressure, and being a little smaller. The brass seems to be lots easier to see ejected into the leaves too! I verified the factory 145 gr. ball ammo at 2050 fps and my test 155 gr. SWC at 2080 using a lighter load in the 16" barrel. I don't see a huge increase past this initial satisfactory first effort. I'm sure I can do a bit more, but I'm quite happy now.
I stuck a serviceable old scope on it to test. Next will come some longer rage accuracy testing, today I was whacking steel. I've had a ball with the old .351 Winchester and this promised to offer more options in a much safer (locked bolt/gas impingement or bolt) platform. A modern recreation of a 115 yr. old idea.
The handgun use of the .357 Maximum is documented out the whazoo and this is just a little bit more to spare. A 16" barrel gas gun should be about what a locked breach hunting handgun should do. No earth shattering surprises there.
I wanted a fun "hunting" type AR and hope to leave it pretty much like it is, maybe a scope upgrade. With a 10-shot mag tucked up close it is a pretty handy truck gun.
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