357 Sig velocity out of Glock 33

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

I am considering a Glock 33. What I am wondering on is does the shorter barrel give you any significant velocity loss as to render it's .357 Sig chambering moot?
I was surprised and assured that the Glock 31 vs 32 doesn't change all that much. But would the 2 inch barrel of the 33 be enough to make it basically a 9mm?

Also, does the +2 round extensions to the mags help give extra grip?

 

[AK103K]

I always found the extensions to be a PITA and more of a detriment, both shooting and function wise.

Learn to wrap that pinkie under the grip, and I think youll find its actually easier to shoot. At least thats how it works best for me and my 26's.

Other than the bark, I seriously doubt youre going to notice a difference between the 357SIG and a 9mm if youre comparing shooting wise. I never noticed it with my 31 vs my 17's.

Power loss wise, youre probably looking at about the same loss as 9mm with the shorter barrels.

.

 

[needmorecowbell]

I’d go for it. My Glock 32 has become my favorite to shoot and carry. 357 sig is great. Any velocity loss from 31 to 33 will be same as from 17 to 26 or 20 to 29. You still get more than a 26 and less than a 29 in similar size. I agree with AK103K on mag extensions. The original springs often not made to perform with the added capacity and get FTF’s. Could get stronger springs but why try to design your own non factory tested mags. Just buy larger cap mags. For my G29 I carry it with 10rd and have 15 rd on belt. If can’t get used to tucked pinky get pinky extension

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Just buy larger cap mags.

Are there grip sleeves available?

 

[AK103K]

Whats the point of buying the 33, if youre not going to take advantage of its attributes?

 

[WrongHanded]

I have a Sig P224, with a 3.5" barrel. I also have Chrono data for one load in that and in my G23/.357sig.

I'll post some numbers when I get a chance.

 

[WrongHanded]

I'll spare you the load details. It's a 125gr bullet.

Sig with 3.5" barrel: 8 shots.
Average - 1342
E.S. - 32
S.D. - 10

G23 with KKM 4" barrel: 10 shots.
Average - 1424
E.S. - 46
S.D. - 13

So 82fps loss.

It's going to depend a bit on the bullet and powder combo. But for a 125gr, anything at 1300fps or more out of a short barrel is still pretty good IMO.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

if youre not going to take advantage of its attributes?

Oh I will. But when i'm either using it in the house, or shooting at the range, having a "mullet gun" setup is kinda nice.

 

[fxvr5]

The 357 Sig shows a 200-300 fps advantage over a 9mm from the same barrel length (~3", 4") using the same bullet weights, according to ballistics by the inch. So, no, the 357 Sig won't be the same as a 9mm. You can also look at their data to see how much velocity is lost with various barrel lengths.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/calibers.html

FYI, the Glock 33 has a 3.43" barrel.
https://us.glock.com/en/pistols/g33

 

[barnetmill]

The 357 Sig shows a 200-300 fps advantage over a 9mm from the same barrel length (~3", 4") using the same bullet weights, according to ballistics by the inch. So, no, the 357 Sig won't be the same as a 9mm. You can also look at their data to see how much velocity is lost with various barrel lengths.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/calibers.html

FYI, the Glock 33 has a 3.43" barrel.
https://us.glock.com/en/pistols/g33

I mainly leave my 33 at home and carry a G19 with +P+. Perhaps a little slower than .357, but it is adequate in my opinion and I can shoot inexpensive fmj for practice. The G33 does have quite a blast or some would rather say bark.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

Get a Glock 17, and cut the grip down to 26 length. Or do the same with a 31 or 22. As far as I am concerned, the only advantages of the subcompacts is the short grip is easier to conceal. The sight radius is much nicer with a longer gun. Grip sleeves on mags just pinch your hand when jamming in a mag, oversize mags (i.e. 17 mag in a 26/19) are great for avoiding the pinch. You are also getting a nice bump in velocity, so a 9mm in a 17 barrel might be comparable enough for your purposes to save a fortune in ammo.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Are there grip sleeves available?

Not sure. I’m not a fan of those either. Have no problem resting a finger on the mag

 

[CDW4ME]

Factory ammo, 5 shot average from my pistols.
The Glock "31" is a Glock 22 with Lone Wolf 357 Sig barrel.
Glock 33:
Gold Dot 125 gr. @ 1,284 fps / 458# KE
Federal HST 125 gr. @ 1,315 fps / 480# KE
Glock 32:
Speer Gold Dot 125 gr. @ 1,344 fps / 501# KE
Federal HST 125 gr. @ 1,358 fps / 512# KE
Glock 31
Speer Gold Dot 125 @ 1,363 fps / 516# KE
Federal HST 125 gr. @ 1,385 fps / 533# KE

 

[tommy.duncan]

I don't currently own a Glock in 357sig. I have a P226 & an P229. I LOVE the round.

It is like shooting a laser beam, very accurate, just expensive to shoot.

 

[Dan-O]

Yes. Grip sleeves are available.

What is a mullet gun? Do you have to sport a mullet haircut in order for it to be considered a mullet gun?

If you don’t like it you can always convert it to .40 or 9mm

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

What is a mullet gun?

A semi auto pistol (or revolver I guess) that has a longer grip than slide/barrel.
Like the mullet haircut, where the back of your hair is longer than the hair on top your head.

 

[Dan-O]

Haha. I like it

 

[silvermane_1]

Factory ammo, 5 shot average from my pistols.
The Glock "31" is a Glock 22 with Lone Wolf 357 Sig barrel.
Glock 33:
Gold Dot 125 gr. @ 1,284 fps / 458# KE
Federal HST 125 gr. @ 1,315 fps / 480# KE
Glock 32:
Speer Gold Dot 125 gr. @ 1,344 fps / 501# KE
Federal HST 125 gr. @ 1,358 fps / 512# KE
Glock 31
Speer Gold Dot 125 @ 1,363 fps / 516# KE
Federal HST 125 gr. @ 1,385 fps / 533# KE

Yep, it the foot pounds of energy and the flat shooting that gives the 357SIG the edge over the 9mm.

 

[Peakbagger46]

Nice choice, the Sig is probably one of the best defensive rounds ever developed. Too bad it hasn’t really caught on; it’s like a man’s 9mm.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Too bad it hasn’t really caught on; it’s like a man’s 9mm.

Especially considering the fact the first semi-auto rounds were bottle neck cartridges.
I'm a revolver guy. The reason I'm making .357 Sig my caliber is because it's the only semi-auto cartridge that makes sense to me. (Aside from 10mm)

 

[Robbins290]

The grip sleeve's work. Like the 19/23 to 26/27 sleeve. But i had trouble with mine. The slide in the G27 cycled to fast for the 23 mag. Least that is what i was told. I ended up going with the G23. the slightly longer slide carried the same as the G27 but with a much better grip on it. Now i carry a 19. If your hand does not fit the 33, do not try to make it fit, just get the 32.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

just get the 32.

ha, haha, ha,
what if the 33 is to compliment the 32?

 

[Robbins290]

Oh, in that case. Why would you even bother? I had all 3 sizes of the 40 and 9mm. I got rid of the 27 and 26 because all they did was sit in the safe. The 19 packs just as easy. Has a better grip, round count, sight radius and i can shoot it all day. The 26 is just way to small for me to grab from a holster. And with the pinky rest it was just about the same size at the 19 grip. So i just went that route.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

I guess the bigger consideration is I need to consider how I'll even carry concealed with the way I dress.
I don't wear loose T shirts like most people. I wear waist fitting pants, with oxford shirt. There honestly isn't anywhere I could even conceal, aside from my cowboy boots.

 

[AK103K]

Oh, in that case. Why would you even bother? I had all 3 sizes of the 40 and 9mm. I got rid of the 27 and 26 because all they did was sit in the safe. The 19 packs just as easy. Has a better grip, round count, sight radius and i can shoot it all day. The 26 is just way to small for me to grab from a holster. And with the pinky rest it was just about the same size at the 19 grip. So i just went that route.

To me the 19 is the one that makes no sense. Its not much smaller than the 17, yet big enough, you cant hide it in places the 26 will easily go. The 19 just seems to give up more than it gains.

The 26 is a back up/supplemental gun, and meant to be small, so you have options in hiding it. Intentionally making it bigger with mag extensions and sleeves, makes no sense.

Its one big advantage is, it can be hidden on the body, where the little guns usually go, has good, useable sights, and still has a reasonable capacity of a realistic caliber, and can easily be a BIG gun, with a simple mag swap.

Its one of the few little guns, that doesnt act like a little gun when you shoot it, and can pretty much hold its own with the full size guns, even in its proper configuration.