357SIG... Any real advantage?

[garand4life]

I've been really debating a midsize or full-size Glock in 357SIG. I've always been interested in the caliber but am curious if there is any real world advantage. I know there is a lot of respect for the ballistic capabilities of the round and I had debated a G22/23 with a conversion barrel but I'm not quite willing to travel down that road.
So the question becomes...
Is the ammo a reasonable defensive caliber?
Is the recoil substantially different from a .40S&W?
Is the availability and price of 357SIG, on the average, unreasonable?
I know it doesn't seem to be as popular as 40, 45, and 9. Is there a reason for that?

[tombogan03884]

It's a round that doesn't seem to be catching on, like .45 GAP.
I seldom see the ammo advertised , don't know of any major department or agency that retained it for any length of time.
While it would probably do the job as well as any other caliber , my opinion would be to stick with a caliber that is more readily available, 9, .45, and increasingly .40.

[david86440]

I keep hearing not to buy a .357SIG due to ammo being hard to find and that may become reality at some point. The choices certainly aren't there compared to 9mm, .40 and .45 but it is available. I bought a .357 SIG barrel because at one time it was one of the few calibers available.

During the "ammo shortage" the only thing I would see on the shelf at Walmart would be a box or 2 of .357SIG and the price would usually be fairly reasonable so I would pick them up. 

I don't see a lot of difference in recoil between the .40 and the .357SIG.

[Ichiban]

Kind of an interesting podcast posted on another forum.  The .357sig discussion starts about 8:30.
http://proarmspodcast.com/2010/07/11/055-were-getting-the-band-back-together-to-discuss-the-357sig-cartridge/

I don't have any experience yet (getting a .357 barrel for my .40S&W Sig soon) but it does intrigue me.  The ammo is defintily not cheap so I probably wont be shooting it a lot.

Some claim that you can get essentially the same performance from 9mm +P+.

Also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.357_SIG
It is carried by the Secret Service and Air Marshals to name a couple.

[Timothy]

I don't own one but being a fan of the .357 I've looked at the numbers a few times. 

It's a high velocity cartridge that hits hard and shoots flat as hell.  It's intrigued me as well but I'd be more inclined to buy a Sig P239 or something in the caliber than anything else.

Every time I shoot my daughters P228 I try and buy it from her.  The more I shoot them, the more I like them...off topic but what else is new?

[Sponsor]

[MAUSERMAN]

A couple of years a ago I was on a hog hunt and i for got my back up gun. I usually carry a Glock20 but It was left behind in my rush to airport. My dad handed me his Sig 226 elite with the understanding I wouldnt drop in in the mud. Thank goodness i had the 226 it saved my ass big time, a boar came out of no where and i only had time to unholster I fire 2 shots. After i checked my shorts the boar dropped dead, one shot went from the top the shoulder down through the belly and the other in the spine. I dont think 9 40 45 would have done the same.

[twyacht]

Bottlenecking a .40 down to a 9mm, is just making a 9mm +P or +P+ rd.

Ok here is my un-educated 2 cents.

.40 S&W is generally far more available then .357SIG and is usually cheaper by an amount similar to .40 vs. .45.

.357SIG is a very very very hot 9mm for lack of a better term. Now because of this you can find some 9mm +P+ that basically performs like some of the .357SIG offerings. The best .357SIG will perform better than a hot 9mm though, IMO.

.357SIG is loud, has lots of flash and a snappier more upward kick then .40. This is of course in my opinion since recoil is very subjective. It is by no means harsh through a SIG P239, just snappier.

.357SIG has been known to batter even the best guns and puts more wear and tear.

I would THINK .357SIG would be a better barrier penetrator then .40 but I worry, probably needlessly so, that .357SIG may over penetrate in situations that you may not want it to. I have heard this really comes down to the design of the hollow point and some have great reputations and some don't.

If I were you I would get the gun in .40 and convert to .357 at your leisure. I personally love .357SIG for fun but carry 165 grain .40 caliber ammunition when I carry my P239. I am sort of a bigger hole is better kind of guy. Not that I want to start any caliber wars as I frequently carry 9mm, .357 Magnum, .40, .45 and I believe that with proper ammunition all are more than adequate in the self defense role. I am just saying that I feel better with bigger bullets making bigger holes as a psychological thing for me, hence my most carried SD gun is a SIG P245 in .45 ACP.

So in short for me, .357SIG is fun but I prefer .40 for real work.

Federal Tactical 125gr 357 Sig: Vel= 1390fps/ Pen= 13.5"/ Exp= .62

Federal Tactical 180gr .40SW: Vel= 1000fps/ Pen= 12.4"/ Exp= .73

Federal Tactical 165gr .40SW: Vel= 1013fps/ Pen= 12.9"/ Exp= .65


Ranger 125gr RA357T: Vel= 1340fps/ Pen= 13.5"/ Exp= .63

Ranger 180gr RA40T: Vel= 910fps/ Pen= 14.2"/ Exp= .65

Ranger 165gr RA40TA: Vel= 1166fps/ Pen= 13.5"/ Exp= .66

For the sake of comparison, here is the data for the 127gr +P+ RA9TA through 4-layers of 14.oz denim, fired from a G19. Test is courtesy of ammolab.

Ranger 127gr +P+ RA9TA: Vel= 1219fps/ Pen= 14.8"/ Exp= .63

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-56038.html

*****

I wouldn't mind getting a .357 Sig barrel for my M+P full size .40... Just a barrel swap as the mags cover both. Like the .45GAP, it works fine, but you'll pay extra, or look harder to find it.

[kmitch200]

I know there is a lot of respect for the ballistic capabilities of the round and I had debated a G22/23 with a conversion barrel but I'm not quite willing to travel down that road.

Just curious G4life, why?
Everything, springs, mags, etc. is the same except for the chambering. I can't think of an easier conversion than a barrel switch.
The only reason I haven't picked up a Storm Lake barrel for my 23 is I'd rather spend $173 on other stuff.

I would THINK .357SIG would be a better barrier penetrator then .40 but I worry, probably needlessly so, that .357SIG may over penetrate in situations that you may not want it to. I have heard this really comes down to the design of the hollow point and some have great reputations and some don't.

Find out the 357 SIG load the Air Marshalls use.

Overpenetration problems can be controlled by,
1. Really slow velocity in heavy for caliber bullets.
2. Really high velocity in light for caliber JHP bullets.

[garand4life]

Just curious G4life, why?
Everything, springs, mags, etc. is the same except for the chambering. I can't think of an easier conversion than a barrel switch.
The only reason I haven't picked up a Storm Lake barrel for my 23 is I'd rather spend $173 on other stuff.

I just prefer to have all original guns. I'm one of those people that won't change things on my car like the stereo cause I like to keep things all original. Same with my guns. I rarely ever change anything on them cause I like to keep them all original. I'm just weird.

[Majer]

I'm one of those people that won't change things on my car like the stereo cause I like to keep things all original... I'm just weird.

I hope that doesn't include the engine oil