.357 sig

[John Parker]

I made the switch from .45 ACP to 9x19mm about 8 months ago and I haven't looked back. However, I've come across a Glock 32 in .357 SIG that has really got me going. I like the idea of being able to still shoot ninas out of the gun with (from what I've heard--correct me if I'm wrong) a barrel and a magazine swap, while retaining the ability to toss some hotter rounds for a carry gun. All in what I consider to most perfect sized package, the Glock compact. I've got a 19 now and it just hits the spot.
Does the .357 SIG offer performance that is really that much better than the 9mm SD loads? Am I having a pipe dream thinking about making the switch?

 

[m2steven]

You can do a barrel swap and shoot 40 cal out of it. I just got a Glock 32 and it's a super hot round. I love mine.

The round is fast and destructive. Read up on it , i think you'll find that it's a superb round.

 

[Partyguy816]

357 sig is a very nice round. I considered making the switch until I bought a Glock 20. I then bought a 9x25 barrel. For those who don't know, it's a 10mm necked down to a 9mm. So a "super" 357 sig. I bought some 90gr bullets that are moving 2100fps from Double Tap.

 

[LoneStarWings]

To me the .357 is a niche round.....it excels at barrier penetration. This is why you see several "state trooper" type agencies using the round (they like its performance through vehicle barriers). For general use I think the .40 s&w is a better choice, mostly due to its larger diameter and decreased muzzle flash/noise. That's not to say that the sig isn't still solid if it's your cup of tea though.

A little reading:
http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm#PISTOL AMMUNITION

 

[AK103K]

The base 357SIG loading and 9mm +P+ are somewhat comparable. The difference being, the 357SIG is just getting started, and the 9mm is pushing the limits. The guns made for 357SIG are made for a steady diet of it, not all 9mm's can handle a steady diet of +P+.

My Glock 17 shooting Federal 124 grain +P+ 9mm feels very much like my Glock 31 shooting Speer Lawman 125 grain 357SIG. Sort of a reversal on the above about the 9mm guns not handling the +P+, my 31 is showing signs of some moderate (at this point) peening on the underside of the slide the more I shoot it. I dont shoot a steady diet of the +P+ out of the 17, but my reloads are pretty hot, and there isnt a hint of the locking block impacting the slide like the 31, so go figure.

I think if your going to go with the 357SIG, you're better off staying with the full sized guns if you want to make the most of it. Double Taps 125 grain loading pushes 1450fps out of a 4" barrel, a 4.5" barrel jumps it up to 1525fps. Drop down to a 115 grain bullet, and it pushes it into the 1600 fps range.

If you look closely at the pic in LoneStarWings link, I think you'll see the 357SIG has the largest cavity of all shown, if even only by a small margin, and thats with a chrono'd load just under the standard 357SIG loading. It would be nice to see someone shoot the same calibers using one brand, like Double Tap, and see what the hotter SD ammo comparisons would be like. Part of the problem here is, these type comparisons are often apples to oranges when they are made, usually to make one side or the others point, and you really dont get a good idea as to whats really going on

I see a lot of people complain about flash and noise, but I havent really seen it yet. The 357SIG does have a bark, but its not all that bad, and nothing compared to an equivalent 125 grain 357MAG out of a similar sized barrel. I have yet to see any kind of flash from any of the ammo I've used, including my reloads. If there is a loading that causes an excessive amount of flash, I'd like to know what it is, just to stay away from it. I've used factory loadings from Speer, Federal, and Double Taps, and use AA #9 in my reloads.

I switched a number of years back now to the 357SIG from a .45, and havent had any desire to go back. Its accurate and hard hitting, and punches through things the .45 didnt at the same time. Pretty much double the ammo in the gun is another plus.

 

[m2steven]

i've glocks 22c and 32. the 32 is a tad more accurate even though the barrel is shorter. The 22c appears to hit harder at short distance. I've only shot the 357 sig in bright daylight so I really could not tell you about muzzle flast difference.

At ranges of over 40 yards, the 357 sig, in my hands, out performs the SW40 by a noticeable margin. They are both terrific rounds, the 40 is less expensive and really has very comparable characteristics. The 357 shoots very flat and i'm very accurate with it at 50-60 yards. Even shooting fast, I get better accuracy out of the smaller 32 vs the larger 22C. It also appears to hit harder at range than the 40, but that's just my seat of the pants feeling. At closer range, the 40 spins my steel target much faster and harder than the 357, and that power seems to dissipate each 10 yards until the 357 starts hitting harder. I would trust both guns to get the job done.

They are both a blast to shoot.

 

[devildog66]

I had a SIG 239 in 357 and I loved it; however, I really love the 1911 in .45 and traded the SIG. The only drawback as I see it is the expense of the ammo.

 

[EvanWilliams]

I love my Glock in 357. If you can handle 45 then 357 will be no problem. It is barky but not bad recoil or flash.

 

[AK103K]

Price wise, .45 has always been the most expensive. I usually buy factory ammo in bulk, by the case, and last time I bought 357SIG, .40 S&W was the exact same price (I bought a case of both). Last I looked, the 357SIG is a little more now, but not by much. 9mm is still the cheapest.

I've also been told by a number of people its hard to find. Since the big ammo shortage, the only ammo thats been on the shelves at the two Walmarts by me, when everything else has been sold out, have been a couple of boxes of WWB 357SIG, as well as a couple of value packs of 22-250. For the most part, its always been readily available online.

 

[John Parker]

Doesn't sound like it will be worth it. Thanks for all the responses! I'll stick with my tried and true classic 19.

 

[spd1303]

You made a good choice with the .357. I carry the glock 31 for my duty pistol. I shot speer gold dot ammo. I would never choose another caliber to carry while I'm on duty. It has the velocity and the penatration. I've seen to many dash cam videos of police officers shoot 7 or 8 rounds of 9mm from the glock 19 at the bad guy and they still keep coming.

 

[KennyWayne]

i have a Glock 32 and a Kimber 1911 pro tle 2 in .45 acp.. i usually carry my kimber daily once i found the right belt holster combo i almost forget its there. the Glock is excellent also i love sending some rounds down range with it i found it easily controlable and the wound charistics are awesome

 

[model of 1905]

I really dig the 357 sig!

 

[Jed Carter]

The .357SIG has been around for quite awhile, velocity, accuracy and penetration aside, its real benefit is its reliable feeding. It makes a semi auto virtually jam free, any type bullet feeds perfectly. It's simple the necked down cartridge has 2 benefits, first it boost pressure for higher velocities without all the extra powder, second and even more important it's fitting a .355 bullet into a .400 opening... fits everytime, at least it does in my SIG P226. To have the benefit of higher velocities I would get a fullsize pistol instead of a compact, I have a P239, it shoots great but the fullsize P226 smokes it, so does my 9mm Glock G34.

 

[Demitrios]

John there's a bit of a mistake there. You can't swap a magazine and barrel for .357 SIG, 40 S&W or 10mm. You CAN however swap barrel and mags for the .38 Super, although I'm not sure if Glock makes them. Now 10mm was the original case with the .40 base, which is where the 40 S&W came from. The .40 S&W is essentially a shorter cased 10mm (no you cannot shoot .40 out of a 10mm) and then the .40 was necked down to 9mm thus creating the .357 SIG. When the 10mm was necked down to 9mm it became known as the 9x25 Dillon, which was a terrific round except it battered the frame a LOT and was known for being exceptionally loud and having a heavy shockwave. In short, your current Glock can be converted to .38 Super and a Glock 20/29 (chambered in 10mm) can be converted to .40 S&W, .357 SIG and 9x25 Dillon all with mag changes and barrel swaps.

 

[ny32182]

If you have a Glock 32, you can swap to all the "9mm frame size" calibers with a barrel/mag swap. With a G32 or 23, you can swap straight to the other factory barrel and mags, and have a factory reliable gun. You can also switch to 9mm via an aftermarket barrel, though most would consider this a "range only" setup, myself included. I have a G19 as well anyway, so have no desire to switch my G32 to 9mm. I have the factory .40 barrel as well for my G32. You can not swap up to a .40 or .357 in a G19 due to the width of the breach face.

With a G20 (larger frame to accommodate larger cartridges), you can potentially get aftermarket barrels in 9x25 (same general size as 10mm), or aftermarket barrels in .40 or .357sig (shorter cartridges), though again, most would consider this to be a range-only setup.