What's wrong with the 357 sig?

[Skribs]

Compared to say the 45GAP it is doing great.

That's because the idea behind .45 GAP was a smaller cartridge, and yet somehow they ended up with less capacity than .45 ACP in the same guns. Duty-sized XD and Glock have 13 rounds each in ACP, 9 and 10 (respectively) in GAP.

.357 SIG is also a stronger cartridge than 9mm, while the GAP is slightly more anemic.

 

[M1key]

I agree with the reloading comments. I prefer reloading for straight wall cases.

I own and shoot a G31 and G33. I like the better feed characteristics, especially in my short-barreled CCW G33. Also, the fact that I can simply drop in a 40 barrel (or vice versa) and shoot a different caliber. This aspect makes it a big plus for me...

M

 

[Elkins45]

Waking up a slightly dormant thread to add my $0.02: My house gun is a Sig 229 in 357 Sig. Why? Because its the exact gun and cartridge carried by the Sexret Service. I figure if it's the preferred cartridge of the people who protect the President then it's probably good enough to me.

Reloading bottleneck cartridges pistol isn't as difficult as some posts have made it seem. Besides, a bottleneck round affords the luxury of a truly fully supported feed ramp while still feeding well. I have discovered that the Lee 105 grain SWC bullet can be sized to .356 and shoots beautifully as a Sig practice round.

 

[Bovice]

There's nothing wrong with 357 sig, I just got into it and it's my new favorite caliber.

 

[CZguy]

I've liked the .357 Sig since it's introduction. The only thing wrong with it, is it's not in style right now. By that I mean light fast bullets.

These things come and go.

 

[Robert101]

There is nothing wrong with the .357 SIG. My rationale in handgun autoloaders is that I have a .22LR for plinking (no reloading), started carry with a .380 many years ago, then had to have a 45 because real men shoot 45's (right?), then had to have a 10MM, and now CCW a 40. I just never saw a need for the 357 SIG in my evolution of buying guns that's all.

 

[BigG]

The neck is too short for the bottleneck to properly hold the bullets in reloaded ammo. It's a pretty good round but only in factory ammo so it is a little higher than having a 9mm or 40 S&W.

 

[ny32182]

It CAN be reloaded, it is just a PITA compared to straight wall cartridges.

The neck is too short for the bottleneck to properly hold the bullets in reloaded ammo. It's a pretty good round but only in factory ammo so it is a little higher than having a 9mm or 40 S&W.

Neck tension is not contingent on whether the brass has ever been used before, it is just contingent on correct sizing, like other rounds.

 

[AK103K]

The neck is too short for the bottleneck to properly hold the bullets in reloaded ammo.

With a proper load, its not a issue.

It CAN be reloaded, it is just a PITA compared to straight wall cartridges.

Its really not. One extra step with a .40 carbide sizer, and no lube.

Ive loaded a ton of it, and never had any problems, other than occasionally turning random .40 brass into 357SIG.

 

[wally]

What's wrong with 357 Sig?

A lot less than with the .45 GAP!

 

[Bovice]

I just got my dies set up for .357 SIG tonight and it was a snap. I don't see how this is any harder than straight-wall reloading. You set the sizing die down to the shell plate (just like every other caliber) and run brass through it. Case lube isn't that much of an inconvenience. It comes in a pump spray bottle (I use dillon case lube), spray a few cases in a box and shake it up. I decapped and sized the major diameter with my .40 sizer anyway. Easy.

I left a bruise on my thumb trying to get the dummy rounds to slip into the case. They didn't budge, not even 0.001".

I'm going to use AA #9 and support the bullet with a compressed charge.

 

[ku4hx]

I just got my dies set up for .357 SIG tonight and it was a snap. I don't see how this is any harder than straight-wall reloading. You set the sizing die down to the shell plate (just like every other caliber) and run brass through it. Case lube isn't that much of an inconvenience. It comes in a pump spray bottle (I use dillon case lube), spray a few cases in a box and shake it up. I decapped and sized the major diameter with my .40 sizer anyway. Easy.

I left a bruise on my thumb trying to get the dummy rounds to slip into the case. They didn't budge, not even 0.001".

I'm going to use AA #9 and support the bullet with a compressed charge.

I did the exact same with AA9 with excellent results. Then when I ran out of the AA stuff tried Ramshot Silhouette.

Working up to Ramshot's max load of 8.3 grains gave me a clocked MV of slightly higher than the 1320fps they claim. Given the max Ramshot Silhouette load is 8.3 grains vs. 13.0 for AA9, I'm going to Ramshot Silhouette for my next batch of 357 Sig loads with 124/125 grain JHP. Over 300 more loads per pound using Silhoutte and according to my PACT2 chronograph, the MV difference is not worth the extra powder AA9 calls for.

Alliant Power Pistol at their max level yields similar results with MV being closer to 1350fps. But I've less PP than Silhouette and my standard cast boolit load in 9mm is 5.5 grains PP so it's spoken for so to speak.

No idea if it has any bearing whatsoever, but my barrel is a Lone Wolf and its chamber IS tighter than the Glock's 357 Sig barrel I bought for my son's G22.

*** As always, max and near max charges should be approached with caution incorporating all the usual and customary loading safety protocols and procedures. ***

 

[bluepig]

the sig cartrage has more possabilities than the 40 or 9 p plus plus cant even get close to sig ammo i got some grizzley rounds that produce 1850 fps and 690 lbs at the muzzle. cant get that out of 40 or 9. the sig costs more but if you have to penetrate and be on target .357 sig is the round of the future.

 

[PabloJ]

How come the 357 sig is not more popular? Is it too loud? Does it kick to hard or to much muzzle flip? I've never had the opportunity to shoot one but I would think it would be more popular.

I know some will say that ammo is hard to find, but it's kinda a chicken or the egg thing here- if more people purchased it more ammo would become available.

I'm surprised that law enforcement does not use it more, it seems like a great round through barriers.

Someone please fill me in

Now that I own Glock 29SF and can get drop in Lone Wolf barrel in this caliber there is nothing wrong with it. It is wealthy man's 7.62x25.

 

[bluepig]

i got a m@p 40 with all 3 barells 3 guns in one . but for personal or home protection i prefer .357 sig 9 is good for plinking

 

[jim goose]

All guns fill a niche in their caliber and platform somewhere. For example is .357 sig a practical range caliber? Probably not when you can buy 9mm cheaper etc..You can also argue that a .357 mag/38 special snubby is not a good range gun either, but we buy thousands of them and fire them infrequently because they hurt.

For me personally, that is where I put the SIG .357 round. Put it in a small package like the g33, or M&P compact, and there is a great argument for 10 rounds of sig .357 over 5 of .357 magnum or .38p on your ankle or in your pocket. Also 9mm++ aint cheap either.

So if I'm looking for a good ccw, with some serious punch, I think its a great option in a compact platform.

 

[OilyPablo]

I like .357Sig and I don't need to apologize for appreciating this round in a 6.2" barrel.