357 sig......tell me more

docbrown said:

I have an M&P Compact 40 1.0 with a conversion barrel for 357 Sig and 9MM. I would not feel undergunned with any of them. That being said, the 357 Sig is snappier than 9. Have not chrono'd it yet, but there is a lot of "authority" to it. Reloading is a little different than a straight walled case, you really have to watch the belling and neck tension - just kiss the case mouth enough to alow the bullet to start. I also recommend the Lee FCD for good measure. Not all 9mm bullets are compatible with 357 Sig - they need enough bearing surface for the correct surface tension. Ammo is normally more expensive than 9 or 40, or was before Covid. I am still trying to find the best powder for my pistol, so no recommendations there at this time.

Click to expand...

I’ve settled on AA#9 over 124 FMJs It’s flashy but it also not very dense which helps with the potential for bullet setback.


Brings be to another point, .357 sig is probably the most difficult round I load. With only .040 of neck, I was never really able to load is consistently without the lee factory crimp die. Less neck and a lot shorter to work with than rifle rounds. You have to use specific bullets with a truncated ogive and use every bid of OAL that will fit in your chamber and magazine. I’m still working up my load with AA#9 but my last string was about 1250 FPS with 12.4 AA#9 under a 124 FMJ FN.

As to: “it’s just a 9mm” “or “it’s just a small .40 S&W” . I have a pair of FS96, and I figured since I love this round, I’ll just get .357sig barrels for them. NO! You can find the barrels on GB and other places but beretta flat out says it will break the gun and confirmed by several internet stories of people who have tried it and have broken their frame.

I'm a fan. I like the 357 Sig plenty. I can swap between 40 & 357 in 2 Sigs & 1 Glock. Another Glock does 10mm & 9X25 Dillon. It's like a big brother to the 357 Sig

I have 357 conversion bbl for G20 10mm (lone wolf) and HK P2000 (40 and 357). Both are great shooters and I like the versatility. I have had no problem reloading. Hornady HAP and Speer TMJs work great in my limited experience.

This all started when I acquired over 750 rounds of premium ammo of various brands a few years back. For me it's not a matter of 9mm vs 357 but more of a shooting/reloading hobby and trying new things - because I can.

Not sure what it is with this gun. Maybe it’s the night sights versus the standard Glock sights but my G19 is way more accurate then this G32 is. Here’s and example with AA9 and 800X
AA9
.
800X


G19

It's a fun enough round, has lots of bark and flash.

I'm of the opinion that the lower capacity, extra flash and bang and slightly more recoil aren't worth it for 200 fps over 9mm +P for defensive purposes. Still fun and a nice round, much like .38 super.

But, for me, if I'm needing more punch than 9mm I'm going to go for a bigger round too, .40, 10mm or .45 depending on need or platform.

Lennyjoe said:

Not sure what it is with this gun. Maybe it’s the night sights versus the standard Glock sights but my G19 is way more accurate then this G32 is. Here’s and example with AA9 and 800X

Click to expand...

Hmm. What loads exactly? You might try Power Pistol or BE-86. They've both worked well for me.

Worked up from min to max and still can’t get anything to tighten up. Even tried BE 86 and it was like shooting buckshot at 20 yards.

About to go to a KKM or Lone Wolf barrel before I abandon it.

Lennyjoe said:

About to go to a KKM or Lone Wolf barrel before I abandon it.

Click to expand...

I can tell you, both my KKM .357 Sig barrels shoot well.



I was aiming at the bottom of this target (because the sight are....you know). That's why the horizontal spread is so big. But that's 10 shots @ 25yds from a bag. The load is with RMR's 124gr FMJ-FN and 8.7gr of Power Pistol. Starline brass, CCI 500, and an OAL of 1.139"-1.142". Which may or may not be slightly over pressure. From a gen4 G23.

docbrown said:

I have an M&P Compact 40 1.0 with a conversion barrel for 357 Sig and 9MM. I would not feel undergunned with any of them. That being said, the 357 Sig is snappier than 9. Have not chrono'd it yet, but there is a lot of "authority" to it. Reloading is a little different than a straight walled case, you really have to watch the belling and neck tension - just kiss the case mouth enough to alow the bullet to start. I also recommend the Lee FCD for good measure. Not all 9mm bullets are compatible with 357 Sig - they need enough bearing surface for the correct surface tension. Ammo is normally more expensive than 9 or 40, or was before Covid. I am still trying to find the best powder for my pistol, so no recommendations there at this time.

Click to expand...

I have the full size M&P 40 that I bought a factory barrel off ebay. I find the 357 SIG to be an interesting round to reload.

I even found this 357 SIG barrel to fit a Shield.
https://www.tr-enabling.com/product-p/ba-p-mps-40-357c.htm
Though I don't don't shoot as many SIG out of the Shield. The spend casings out of the Shield are a deadly projectile.

Lennyjoe said:

Not sure what it is with this gun. Maybe it’s the night sights versus the standard Glock sights but my G19 is way more accurate then this G32 is. Here’s and example with AA9 and 800X
AA9
.View attachment 944210
800X
View attachment 944211

G19
View attachment 944212

Click to expand...

Great groups w the G19. Are both guns running stock trigger? Also, what distance?

I had a G32C gen3 chambered in 357 for a while as I wanted to try compensated and came across a good deal. The combination of recoil and blast coming out of the top of the gun was no fun and I was not accurate with it. I considered getting an aftermarket bbl but decided to sell it in favor of a Springfield 9mm 1911.

15 yards. G19 is stock trigger with 3.5 connectorwith but G32 Has Agency Arms trigger and 3.5 lb connector.

Lennyjoe said:

15 yards. G19 is stock trigger with 3.5 connectorwith but G32 Has Agency Arms trigger and 3.5 lb connector.

Click to expand...

Were you shooting off a bag, or free hand? Perhaps the issue is a slight flinch from the extra noise and flash?

Great shooting with the 19.

Free hand. Don’t have a flinch with G20 10MM so I don’t believe that would be it. I think I’m really having a hard time picking up the front night sights as the dot is smaller than the stock a Glock sights. I’m gonna go back to regular sights and see what happens.

Yeah, probably not flinch. I'd say go w your gut feeling about the sights. Curious tho, what bullet are you using and how's the accuracy w factory loads?

Federal HST 125 gr JHP, Speer Gold Dot 125 gr JHP, Montana Gold 125 gr JHP with either AA9 or 800X

Lennyjoe said:

Free hand.

Click to expand...

Shoot it properly off a bench if you want a better idea of what the gun/ammo is capable of.

I was going to be a 357 sig guy, but it proved too loud for me.
Still have a box of Speer 125 Gold Dot gathering dust on the shelf. 19 rounds if anyone is interested.

fxvr5 said:

Shoot it properly off a bench if you want a better idea of what the gun/ammo is capable of.

Click to expand...

I’m capable with my G19, 43x, P365, XD 45, PPQ and on and on.

Here’s what the PPQ can do free handed. I think I’m capable of shooting the .357 just as good if I can find an accurate load.

Lennyjoe said:

I’m capable with my G19, 43x, P365, XD 45, PPQ and on and on.

Click to expand...

That's nice, but there are right ways to test things and wrong ways to test things. The bottom line is that crappy methods produce wrong conclusions.

By shooting offhand you're not really testing the inherent capabilities of the gun or ammo. You're just testing how you shoot it. Those are two different things. You understand that, right?

You can't say that your .357 is inaccurate, because you haven't tested it properly.

If you're serious about accuracy testing, do it right. Shoot all your guns off the bench. Or you can continue to waste your time and money by doing it wrong. It's your time and money. You can use it wisely or waste it. It's your choice.

I prefer to use a Ransom Rest.

Ok ok, it’s less accurate than all my other handguns.....

Otto said:

I prefer to use a Ransom Rest.

Click to expand...

Me too.

Lennyjoe said:

Ok ok, it’s less accurate than all my other handguns.....

Click to expand...

You still don't get it.

fxvr5 said:

Shoot it properly off a bench if you want a better idea of what the gun/ammo is capable of.

Click to expand...

Indeed. I'll be testing a variety of new loads in my G20 - Hornady 180s over Autocomp. Taking my time on the bench rest is the plan.