What advantages does the .357 sig offer over .38 super?
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Billy Shears
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The .38 super did achieve considerable popularity, albeit briefly. It's popularity came from the fact that it was one of the hottest rounds available when it was introduced, and it quickly gained a reputation for offering superior penetration of light barriers, which made it very popular with law enforcement, who wanted a gun capable of shooting through auto bodies, which their .38 revolvers wouldn't do very well. Nor would the .45 which, while noted as a good manstopper, has never been famed for penetration.
Two things, however, led to the .38 super's demise. Firstly, it had a reputation for poor accuracy. This was later found to be because it was semi-rimmed cartridge that headspaced on the rim. When gun makers changed it to headspace on the case mouth, like other, rimless cartridges did, the accuracy problem was solved. But back in the '30s, when the cartridge enjoyed its brief heyday, this had not yet been done, and the cartridge was not considered an accurate one. Secondly, the .357 magnum came along. When that happened, law enforcement officers now had the kind of power they wanted in a revolver, which they preferred to an autoloader. This pulled the rug out from under the .38 super, and it never regained its popularity (although it did, much later, find favor with competitive shooters who liked its greater magazine capacity and lower recoil in a 1911).
As for what the .357 SIG offers... simple, more power. The .357 SIG is a hotter round, that can almost equal the .357 magnum, while the .38 super, though potent, is appreciably less powerful.
Two things, however, led to the .38 super's demise. Firstly, it had a reputation for poor accuracy. This was later found to be because it was semi-rimmed cartridge that headspaced on the rim. When gun makers changed it to headspace on the case mouth, like other, rimless cartridges did, the accuracy problem was solved. But back in the '30s, when the cartridge enjoyed its brief heyday, this had not yet been done, and the cartridge was not considered an accurate one. Secondly, the .357 magnum came along. When that happened, law enforcement officers now had the kind of power they wanted in a revolver, which they preferred to an autoloader. This pulled the rug out from under the .38 super, and it never regained its popularity (although it did, much later, find favor with competitive shooters who liked its greater magazine capacity and lower recoil in a 1911).
As for what the .357 SIG offers... simple, more power. The .357 SIG is a hotter round, that can almost equal the .357 magnum, while the .38 super, though potent, is appreciably less powerful.
The Lone Haranguer
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The bottlenecked, rimless case should in theory contribute to more reliable feeding.
The .357sig is far more popular because it was developed (like the .40) to work in modern, high capacity pistols.
The .38 Super just doesn't fit in Glocks, Sigs, Berettas...
The .38 Super was developed in an era when autos were not the standard for law enforcement (yes, many used pistols, but not like today). The .357/.38 revolver became the law enforcement standard of the day.
I chose the .38 Super over the .357 Sig because it's much easier to handload, and much more versatile, and I like 1911's.
http://38super.net/
The .38 Super just doesn't fit in Glocks, Sigs, Berettas...
The .38 Super was developed in an era when autos were not the standard for law enforcement (yes, many used pistols, but not like today). The .357/.38 revolver became the law enforcement standard of the day.
I chose the .38 Super over the .357 Sig because it's much easier to handload, and much more versatile, and I like 1911's.
http://38super.net/
BlindJustice
Member
The .357 Sig - isn't this a mis-nomer since it actually fires
bullets of .355 designed for the 9mmx19 aka 9mm Luger.
Although the .357 SIg can approach the .357 Mag. in
performance it is only in bullet weights of the 9x19 115,
124. I'm not sure if 147 gr. are available - might be a
problem with the short neck of the bottlenecked case.
The .400 CorBon is similiar, it will perform almost as
well as a 10MM Auto up to the 155-165 gr. bullet weights
but with 180 or greater there can be problems because of
possible bullet setback in the case or the bullet taking up
space for the powder charge.
.38 Super - Starline makes some special brass for
headspacing - rimless?
R-
bullets of .355 designed for the 9mmx19 aka 9mm Luger.
Although the .357 SIg can approach the .357 Mag. in
performance it is only in bullet weights of the 9x19 115,
124. I'm not sure if 147 gr. are available - might be a
problem with the short neck of the bottlenecked case.
The .400 CorBon is similiar, it will perform almost as
well as a 10MM Auto up to the 155-165 gr. bullet weights
but with 180 or greater there can be problems because of
possible bullet setback in the case or the bullet taking up
space for the powder charge.
.38 Super - Starline makes some special brass for
headspacing - rimless?
R-
mpmarty
Member
NONE!
Titan6
member
Glocks and certain other firearms will allow you to shoot .357 SIG in .40 caliber weapons with only a barrel change. Everything else is the same so you have a little more versatility if you buy the barrel.
there are 2 major advantagous that the 357 Sig have over the .38 Super that are seldom argued.
1. it will fit into more compact guns due to it's shorter OAL
2. owners of .40 S&W pistols can convert them to the 357 Sig by simply getting an extra barrel...they use the same slide and mags
1. it will fit into more compact guns due to it's shorter OAL
2. owners of .40 S&W pistols can convert them to the 357 Sig by simply getting an extra barrel...they use the same slide and mags
Starline makes ".38 Super Comp" brass. It is said to feed a bit better in double stack mags.
Link to some good .38 Super info.
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