.40 versus .357SIG
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cratz2
Member
I'm generally a larger diameter bullet is generally better kinda guy and would go for a 40 over a 357 SIG for most purposes. The 40 has a lot larger variety of bullet weights from factory loads while the 357 SIG is basically limited to 125 Gr.
In terms of 'stopping ability' I doubt most folks, if hit with two rounds of each, would realize two different bullets were wounding them and I doubt they would respond any differently assuming similar bullet design and similar shot placement. The SIG is intended to replace the lighter 357 Magnum load and I have little doubt that if shooting through most barriers, that the 357 SIG will edge out the 40 but shooting directly into soft tissue or clothed soft tissue, I'd consider them a toss up.
I have owned several 40s and have very little desire to own a 357 SIG. The hottest 9mm +P+ loads are just slightly behind most 357 SIG loads and I'd rather trade off 100 to 200 fps in favor of more rounds that the equilavent 9mm would offer.
Of course, many guns chambered in 357 SIG or 40S&W can be converted to the other by a simple barrel swap so I wouldn't put tons of effort into making a decision.
In terms of 'stopping ability' I doubt most folks, if hit with two rounds of each, would realize two different bullets were wounding them and I doubt they would respond any differently assuming similar bullet design and similar shot placement. The SIG is intended to replace the lighter 357 Magnum load and I have little doubt that if shooting through most barriers, that the 357 SIG will edge out the 40 but shooting directly into soft tissue or clothed soft tissue, I'd consider them a toss up.
I have owned several 40s and have very little desire to own a 357 SIG. The hottest 9mm +P+ loads are just slightly behind most 357 SIG loads and I'd rather trade off 100 to 200 fps in favor of more rounds that the equilavent 9mm would offer.
Of course, many guns chambered in 357 SIG or 40S&W can be converted to the other by a simple barrel swap so I wouldn't put tons of effort into making a decision.
Cosmoline
Member
IMHO the .357 Sig duplicates the weakest of the revolver loadings. I know of one case where a large man in Fairbanks was shot at point blank range with a .357 Sig and the bullet merely skirted around his belly, doing no serious damage at all. The .40 gives you the option of heavier bullets, which don't seem to suffer from this sort of problem.
Sonar,
I find the recoil of the 357sig to be much snappier than the 40 caliber out of the same platform. The muzzle flash and noise level are also noticeably more pronounced with the 357sig as well.
To me, the 357sig was the answer to the question that nobody asked.
But to each their own,
Stinger
I find the recoil of the 357sig to be much snappier than the 40 caliber out of the same platform. The muzzle flash and noise level are also noticeably more pronounced with the 357sig as well.
To me, the 357sig was the answer to the question that nobody asked.
But to each their own,
Stinger
I'd have to agree with Stinger. I had a .357 Sig and convinced myself that I liked it... but the recoil was just too "Snappy". I swapped barrels and moved to the .40 which I find is still a little snappy (lower case 's' this time) - but quite managable.
Then I wised up and bought a .45 - Not snappy at all, it just feels powerful. I love it and won't look back on my earlier "experimental" days of .357 and .40...
Then I wised up and bought a .45 - Not snappy at all, it just feels powerful. I love it and won't look back on my earlier "experimental" days of .357 and .40...
cz75bdneos22
Member
i will have to agree @ stinger. my experience is with the sigpro 2340. i have both the .40 and the .357 sig barrels and i must say that the .40 is way more controllable..all my shooting is at paper and i don't reload. all of my rounds are comericial and i have tried several gr. loadings of each..
mrapathy2000
member
40S&W can do more. though I also like 9mm though prefer having the extra cartridges instead of the wasted space of 357sig. bout the same power 357sig just a little more power.
Gixerman1000
Member
I like both, I have 7 pistols in 40sw and 2 in 357sig (one with a 40sw barrel).
The advantage of the 357sig is the high velocity, because of the speed it travels it's very flat shooting, hollow points open with authority and the round is devastating on soft tissue, Just take a look at Mr.Opossum's 4" exit wound
.
The advantage of the 357sig is the high velocity, because of the speed it travels it's very flat shooting, hollow points open with authority and the round is devastating on soft tissue, Just take a look at Mr.Opossum's 4" exit wound
.
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blackpanther
Member
I want go into the details but I can tell you what a .357 sig did to a very big 300lb man.Hit his
leg dead center just below the knee.The bone literaly exploded and fragments were all over the
bed room.Ems said the only thing that saved him was the large amount of blood in a man that
size.Insurance paid $2700 dollars for damage,carpet,pad and the wall damage.I was not the one who
who shot him.I would not have thought that kind of damage could be done.The high velocity is
probably the answer.
Ed
leg dead center just below the knee.The bone literaly exploded and fragments were all over the
bed room.Ems said the only thing that saved him was the large amount of blood in a man that
size.Insurance paid $2700 dollars for damage,carpet,pad and the wall damage.I was not the one who
who shot him.I would not have thought that kind of damage could be done.The high velocity is
probably the answer.
Ed
cratz2
Member
To give my own experience on recoil... I've usually found that hot loads of each are similar in recoil and muzzle blast. If you don't like loud, percussive blast, you aren't likely to like either the 357 SIG nor the 40S&W in full power loadings.
In my experience, both shooting Georgia Arms Gold Dots... 125 vs 165 gr, the 357 SIG had a bit more muzzle flip while the 40 was more like a shove back into the hand... not NEARLY as pronounced as the difference between 9mm and 45ACP, but roughly kinda sorta.
Now playing with different loads might help, but again, you're going to find a wider range of loads from which to choose in the 40 including subsonic 180s.
In my experience, both shooting Georgia Arms Gold Dots... 125 vs 165 gr, the 357 SIG had a bit more muzzle flip while the 40 was more like a shove back into the hand... not NEARLY as pronounced as the difference between 9mm and 45ACP, but roughly kinda sorta.
Now playing with different loads might help, but again, you're going to find a wider range of loads from which to choose in the 40 including subsonic 180s.
mrapathy2000
member
40S&W can outrun 357sig with heavier bullets. it wont shoot as flat as 357sig but 135gr bullets in 40S&W will shoot flatter than 180gr or 200gr.
135gr bullet going down range 1300fps and thats a conservative load full power can do 1400-1450. no one makes lighter bullets that are not specialty not made of lead,brass/copper.
40S&W can send 150-155gr 1250-1300fps. though its a max load and may not be ideal for self defense as recoil would be more.
40S&W bullet range 130gr-200gr a few lighter specialty bullets. could go lower and push em faster with some work
357sig same range as 90-147/150, 9mm pretty much and little faster than 9mm+p+ probably wont get anywhere it has not already gone.
the good stuff for 40S&W is hard to find as its not in your local stores. most commercial 40S&W is loaded on the safe side.
proload,georgia arms,double tap,corbon,remington express 155gr,winchester silvertip155gr.
both are good cartridges and each comes with its own plusses or minuses. use your own scale and fire a pistol with both and decide. keep in mind each pistol design has potential to recoil differently. metal frame vs polymer and bore axis.
my scale leans towards 40S&W in a steyr M40 and XD40
135gr bullet going down range 1300fps and thats a conservative load full power can do 1400-1450. no one makes lighter bullets that are not specialty not made of lead,brass/copper.
40S&W can send 150-155gr 1250-1300fps. though its a max load and may not be ideal for self defense as recoil would be more.
40S&W bullet range 130gr-200gr a few lighter specialty bullets. could go lower and push em faster with some work
357sig same range as 90-147/150, 9mm pretty much and little faster than 9mm+p+ probably wont get anywhere it has not already gone.
the good stuff for 40S&W is hard to find as its not in your local stores. most commercial 40S&W is loaded on the safe side.
proload,georgia arms,double tap,corbon,remington express 155gr,winchester silvertip155gr.
both are good cartridges and each comes with its own plusses or minuses. use your own scale and fire a pistol with both and decide. keep in mind each pistol design has potential to recoil differently. metal frame vs polymer and bore axis.
my scale leans towards 40S&W in a steyr M40 and XD40
Everything has it's share of success and failures. One of the California Highway Patrol's first shootings with the 180 grain .40 involved a suspect soaking up 11 hits before going down.
I seem to be much more accurate with a .357 Sig than a .40 but ballistically I don't think there's much advantage either way. Shoot both, pick the one you like. Or get a Glock or Sig, and get barrels for both.
I seem to be much more accurate with a .357 Sig than a .40 but ballistically I don't think there's much advantage either way. Shoot both, pick the one you like. Or get a Glock or Sig, and get barrels for both.
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