357 sig

[RustyShackelford]

The design history & ballistics of the SIG Sauer .357sig caliber ...

The senior execs and engineers of SIG Sauer T&Eed the .357sig to replicate the 125gr JHP .357magnum out of a K frame 2.5" revolver.
As posted, the .357sig offers a lot and works on many levels. It's just not practical for all armed professionals or handgun owners.

 

[Deaf Smith]

.357 Sig ballistics:

Doubletap 115gr Jhp:
3.5" barrel - 1395fps
4.5" barrel - 1500fps

125gr jhp:
3.5" barrel - 1415fps
4.5" barrel - 1525fps

Buffalo Bore gets the 125 gr jhp at 1425 fps.

Deaf

 

[CDW4ME]

A 357 Sig gives about 25-30 fps more speed than 9mm+p with fewer rounds, more recoil.

Average for 5 shots from my pistols:
Glock 32 Federal HST 125 gr. @ 1,358 fps / 512# KE / PF 170
Glock 19 Golden Saber 124 gr. +P @ 1,152 fps / 365# KE / PF 143

That is a 206 fps advantage for 357 Sig vs 9mm +P
Yes, you lose two rounds going from Glock 19 to 32
Using those loads, 357 Sig produced 16% more calculated recoil than 9mm +P but generated 29% more KE in return.

 

[CDW4ME]

The senior execs and engineers of SIG Sauer T&Eed the .357sig to replicate the 125gr JHP .357magnum out of a K frame 2.5" revolver.
As posted, the .357sig offers a lot and works on many levels. It's just not practical for all armed professionals or handgun owners.

357 Sig from a 4'' Glock 32 basically duplicates 125 gr. 357 Mag from a 4'' barrel revolver.

My Glock 32:
Speer Gold Dot 125 gr. @ 1,344 fps / 501# KE

4'' barrel 357 Magnum in Guntests Magazine March 2014:
Taurus 66: Speer Gold Dot 125 @ 1,320 fps / 483# KE
Ruger GP100: Speer Gold Dot 125 @ 1,345 fps / 502# KE

 

[jmr40]

My 4" Glock 19 is pushing 124 gr Speer Gold Dot +P's at 1250 fps, my 4.5" G-17, 1300 fps.

Real numbers from 4" 357 mag barrels can vary by 100 fps with loads from the same box and be anywhere from 50 fps slower than my 9mm loads or as much as 50 fps faster. Same with 357 Sig.

The best 9mm loads are right with both 357's and close enough. Certainly not enough difference for me to buy the 357 Sig. I own 357 mag, but it is best used with heavier bullets not possible in 9mm or 357 Sig.

 

[beeb173]

i would think the differences would come more from the non-ballistics side of the argument.

1) is one more available to you?
2) is one more affordable to you?
3) do you shoot one better than the other?
4) does either fit better w/ other rounds you may reload i.e. 10 mm

at the end of the day, i doubt whatever you're shooting will know the difference

 

[JB_3]

I prefer 40 S & W for one reason, bullet weight. I would much rather have a 180 gr. Projectile moving at 1,180 fps. Than a 125 gr. Moving at 1,400.

 

[Deaf Smith]

My 4" Glock 19 is pushing 124 gr Speer Gold Dot +P's at 1250 fps, my 4.5" G-17, 1300 fps.

Real numbers from 4" 357 mag barrels can vary by 100 fps with loads from the same box and be anywhere from 50 fps slower than my 9mm loads or as much as 50 fps faster. Same with 357 Sig.

The best 9mm loads are right with both 357's and close enough. Certainly not enough difference for me to buy the 357 Sig. I own 357 mag, but it is best used with heavier bullets not possible in 9mm or 357 Sig.

If you go to both Buffalo Bore and Double Tape sites you will see they do chrono from 'real' barrels.

And I have chrononed myself Buffalo Bore ammo and it actually is right on the money.

Big companies load the .357 Sig down to the 1350 range for 125 gr. slugs but the others give true 125 at 1450 or better.

It is a serious cartridge.

Deaf

 

[Phaedrus/69]

FWIW 9mm from Underwood Ammo is driving a 115gr Gold Dot at 1,400 fps and their stuff exceeds the claims, too. Sitting by my computer I have three 50-round boxes of Underwood 9mm 124gr GD loaded to 1,300 fps. It's pretty easy to shoot and manageable from my HK P2000.

I think the .357 Sig has a lot of potential but some drawbacks that make it less than ideal for many folks. First off there are twenty or thirty times more guns out there chambered for 9mm or .40 cal vs the .357 Sig. Second the selection of factory ammo is relatively limited as aside from a few boutique manufacturers kind of tepid compared to the original design spec. Lastly I doubt it's as easy to reload as .40 S&W. I've never reloaded the Sig round but being bottlenecked I'm guessing you can't just bang 'em out all day with carbide dies in a progressive loader like you can with 9mm, .45 and .40.

The expense of the ammo is a bit of a hindrance to training and practice. Still, the round is a good one. I've got a .40 but unfortunately not one that's easy to convert to .357 Sig. Mine is an HK P30L; HK makes no .357 Sig barrel for this sidearm.

 

[SigP229R]

Only reason I don't carry 357 SIG in my P229 is because of cost and availability.
I like the round and have been considering ordering some Speer Bonded Unicore H.P.'S New manuf. from GA.

 

[cougar1717]

40S&W vs 357sig is an exercise in hair splitting since they both fit the same mags in our modern era of conversion barrels.

This discussion always comes down to a performance (how much value you place on velocity) vs cost (how much you're willing to spend on that performance) and availability (how much you're willing to stockpile in the event of another scare). All that needs to be balanced against how much you shoot.

At today's prices, 40S&W is about $0.30/rd for FMJ and $0.50/rd for HP, while 357sig is about $0.50/rd for FMJ and $0.75 - $1.00/rd for HP.

 

[RustyShackelford]

post #36, .357sig selection .....

I agree with post #36. If you want to pick the .357sig for a duty sidearm or carry gun, you will be well armed but the .357sig requires more $$$ & sources to maintain. Unless you choose to buy rounds in bulk; 500/1000/5000 etc, you will need to have the $ to keep your .357sig going.