Boondock Saint
Member
I have been having some trouble choosing which ammo i would want for my first pistol, deciding between 357 sig and .45. I was hoping some of you could tell me which has better over all performance, thanks.
Ammo troubles
- Thread starter Boondock Saint
- Start date
- Status
Performance has been argued to death and we still haven't gotten anywhere. Basically, any high quality JHP loaded in 9mm, .40 S&W, 357 SIG, or .45 ACP will all do the same thing, give or take a few ft/lbs of energy. It basically boils down to your personal choice. You're trying to pick between two very effective rounds. Personally, I'd take the 357 SIG because it has lower recoil and delivers a heck of a lot of energy to the target. It also has great expansion when using good quality hollow points and penetrates objects a little easier, due to it's higher velocity.
Al Thompson
Moderator Emeritus
Welcome to THR!
Couple of questions will help us answer you. What are you going to use it for?
Which pistol (model) are you planning to buy?
Couple of questions will help us answer you. What are you going to use it for?
Which pistol (model) are you planning to buy?I own or have owned both calibers in multple guns and shot many thousands of rounds of each. Agreeing w/357 SIG re diffs in terminal effectiveness being a relative wash w/good ammo, I'd actually suggest 9 mm. Cheaper to shoot, easier to master, less likely to induce bad habits. Esp. consider a platform to which you can add a .22 conversion kit, regardless of your final choice. That could include Glock, CZ, 1911, Beretta, etc. Good luck w/your choice.
Boondock Saint
Member
Thanks for the welcome.
i was thinking about a sig, possibly a 2340 or a 220 or a 1911.
i was thinking about a sig, possibly a 2340 or a 220 or a 1911.
I own both calibers (and about a dozen others) and prefer .45ACP although .357sig may be my second choice (probably even with 9mm). It really is personal choice as both rounds will do the job if you maintain your head and deliver 'on-target' in a self-defense situation.
I have to say that the .45ACP recoil is more like a push while the .357sig is more like a slap. Personally, I prefer to be pushed. It's easier for me to absorb and return to firing position.
You will find more variety of .45ACP loads over .357sig. .357sig will probably always be more expensive if you want to look at it that way.
.357sig is an extremely reliable feeding round due to it's bottlenecked design, but is more liable to suffer from bullet setback and potential explosive results. .45ACP is typically a low-velocity round but can be temperamental at times when feeding defensive JHPs.
.357sig has a well-earned reputation for loudness and muzzleblast volume. Cool at the range, but distracting for self-defense.
With a .357sig gun, all you need to convert it to a .40S&W gun is to drop in the right barrel.
Have you gone & borrowed/rented samples in both calibers? Shoot at least 200rds in each gun/caliber to get a feel of what works best for you, you should also try shoot over several days. Type of gun and how it fits your hands is just as important, although many don't seriously weigh this fact.
Ultimately, it will depend solely on you and your body mechanics on which gun to buy. Either way, you have made the right choice.
I have to say that the .45ACP recoil is more like a push while the .357sig is more like a slap. Personally, I prefer to be pushed. It's easier for me to absorb and return to firing position.
You will find more variety of .45ACP loads over .357sig. .357sig will probably always be more expensive if you want to look at it that way.
.357sig is an extremely reliable feeding round due to it's bottlenecked design, but is more liable to suffer from bullet setback and potential explosive results. .45ACP is typically a low-velocity round but can be temperamental at times when feeding defensive JHPs.
.357sig has a well-earned reputation for loudness and muzzleblast volume. Cool at the range, but distracting for self-defense.
With a .357sig gun, all you need to convert it to a .40S&W gun is to drop in the right barrel.
Have you gone & borrowed/rented samples in both calibers? Shoot at least 200rds in each gun/caliber to get a feel of what works best for you, you should also try shoot over several days. Type of gun and how it fits your hands is just as important, although many don't seriously weigh this fact.
Ultimately, it will depend solely on you and your body mechanics on which gun to buy. Either way, you have made the right choice.
Graystar
Member
For a pure defense gun, I'd take 357SIG over 9mm. 357SIG is more powerful but the recoil is very sharp..."shocking" would be how I describe it. It's not fun to shoot but its performance on the street is "proven" (by way of mimicking a known performer, .357Mag.) However, for a pure defense gun I think I would prefer .40 over anything.
For sport as well as defense, I'd take 9mm or .45ACP, with a lean towards 9mm. 9mm is cheap to shoot and recoil easy to manage. For defense I'd use the new Federal EFMJ rounds. Expanded, it's bigger than a .45, but you still get the high capacity of 9mm. What more could you want?
A .45 for sport and defense is a little tricky. For sport you want to shoot a lighter, lower speed round for accuracy and so that recoil doesn't wear out your hand. But for defense you want a more powerful round. Many times, a recoil spring that is good for one type of round is not good for the other. 9mm is more forgiving of this situation. That's another reason why I'd go with 9.
My .22 and my .45 are pure target guns. My Glock 17 is used for competition and as my self-defense gun.
For sport as well as defense, I'd take 9mm or .45ACP, with a lean towards 9mm. 9mm is cheap to shoot and recoil easy to manage. For defense I'd use the new Federal EFMJ rounds. Expanded, it's bigger than a .45, but you still get the high capacity of 9mm. What more could you want?
A .45 for sport and defense is a little tricky. For sport you want to shoot a lighter, lower speed round for accuracy and so that recoil doesn't wear out your hand. But for defense you want a more powerful round. Many times, a recoil spring that is good for one type of round is not good for the other. 9mm is more forgiving of this situation. That's another reason why I'd go with 9.
My .22 and my .45 are pure target guns. My Glock 17 is used for competition and as my self-defense gun.
Graystar,
I shoot whatever 230gr .45ACPs in FMJ that is cheapest for my run & gun IDPA games, they don't wear me out any. These always knock down the metal poppers we use when sometimes 9MM needs a followup shot.
At least one local SWAT entry team hereabouts uses 230gr FMJs for their missions exclusively, -they can avg 5 & up to 20 missions per day. Seems to work for them.
In .45ACP, heavy rounds travel slower, lighter rounds go faster.
I shoot whatever 230gr .45ACPs in FMJ that is cheapest for my run & gun IDPA games, they don't wear me out any. These always knock down the metal poppers we use when sometimes 9MM needs a followup shot.
At least one local SWAT entry team hereabouts uses 230gr FMJs for their missions exclusively, -they can avg 5 & up to 20 missions per day. Seems to work for them.
In .45ACP, heavy rounds travel slower, lighter rounds go faster.
Graystar
Member
CWL,
All I can say is that things are a little different when you're shooting one handed at a 1.695" X ring 50 yards away.
I have a bullseye hardball gun. Since it's designed for hardball, it doesn't work well at all with the Federal match stuff...stovepipes, FTFs, etc. However, it is flawless with ball ammo. I just need to change the recoil spring to work with the Federal ammo. No big deal. But this is a case where ammo selection is fairly critical for reliable operation.
What can I say? You're a tough guy!
All I can say is that things are a little different when you're shooting one handed at a 1.695" X ring 50 yards away.
Federal .45 Match ammo is 185 gr, 780 FPS at the muzzle, and has 245 Foot-Pounds of energy. There is a HUGE difference in recoil between this stuff and the standard ball 230gr 850FPS ammo.
I have a bullseye hardball gun. Since it's designed for hardball, it doesn't work well at all with the Federal match stuff...stovepipes, FTFs, etc. However, it is flawless with ball ammo. I just need to change the recoil spring to work with the Federal ammo. No big deal. But this is a case where ammo selection is fairly critical for reliable operation.
AUTIGER04
member
IMHO. Id go with the 45acp. Much cheaper to shoot than the 357sig.
- Status