I had the chance to run some of Winchester Ammunition’s new .400 Legend loads through a suppressed Winchester XPR bolt action rifle at the SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range. I built a .350 Legend AR last year and have worked with that caliber a bit, but this was my first chance to check out its heftier, straight-wall brother, the .400 Legend.
Winchester had two loads available, the 215 grain Power Point and the 300 grain Super Suppressed load. The rifle load and suppressor combo was impressive. Recoil was negligible, which surprised me, and the .400 suppressed admirably. It would be a great round in the field to save your hearing and not scare off other game. Accuracy through the XPR was excellent as well and the rounds clanged steel with impressive force.
Here are some numbers from Winchester’s press release based on the 215 grain Power Point load I shot . . .
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- Similar energy as 450 Bushmaster with 20% less recoil
- Over 20% more energy than the 30-30 Winchester and 25% more energy than the 350 Legend, with greater penetration
- 100% more energy than a 12-gauge slug at 100 yards
- 55% less recoil than a 12-gauge slug
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If you’re in a state that only permits hunting with straight-wall cases then I’d give 400 Legend a good look. It packs a punch on the receiving end but spare’s the user’s shoulder, and works extremely well with a suppressor. I just built a .350, but I may be going back to add a .400 to the stable this year.