XD357: What a blast! (literally)

[Grayrider]

Gents,

Some of you talking about the 357Sig pushed me over the edge, so I picked up a slightly used XD off Gunbroker. Now I am mainly a 1911 guy, but the XD seems to work well for me--perhaps due to the single-actionish trigger and grip safety. I gathered up the only ammo I could find locally (Remington JHP) and trooped to my smith's house to pick up the XD and try it out on his range. It was getting dark when we fired it up. Talk about your kabooms! The fireball out of that thing is huge! Being used to 10mm the recoil didn't seem too bad to me, but it is definately snappy. The sound is a bit sharper as well. It hits steel plates with authority. Not up there with the 10mm, but pretty hard. I had a blast shooting it. The gun is accurate and ran without trouble. Looks like I have a new round to add to my favorites. If you haven't tried the 357 you should--it is definately different.

GR

 

[Mr. Mysterious]

I don't have a lot of experience with the .357SIG rounds, but they do interest me. The only time I've seen them fired was a month or so ago at the range...a guy had a Glock in .357sig. He couldn't group if his life depended on it. I suggested to him to insert some snap caps into the magazine to see if he was flinching...he went in and bought a couple. Needless to say he was flinching like someone was about to beat him in the head with a baseball bat. I bet that he has since traded or sold it...

 

[cratz2]

I've shot four or five 357 SIGs now... No doubt, they are fun fun fun at night!

I think the Remingtons have a fairly not reduced flash powder. It's a hot round, but I'm sure there are loads out there with much less flash. The Rangers seem to have a mild flash for their velocity (in 9mm and 40) and some of the Federals have reduced flash though I generally don't like them.

So, I assume reliability was perfect. Nice for a change, isn't it?

 

[Marshall]

Great gun!

Interesting, I saw a brand NIB Sig P239 in .357 sig. yesterday at a local gun shop. It was staring at me for a home at a price of $433.00. I can still hear it calling......

 

[litework]

I've been shooting my XD 357 Sig a lot lately. It is a lot of fun to shoot at the range, and I don't have a hard time with the recoil. My trigger pull is much more deliberate when I shoot it. It isn't the flash or recoil that is makes it fun for me. It is watching the target react. I was shooting empty deodorant containers the weekend before last and hit one "just right." The plastic container flew up about 20 feet in the air and to the right. I do have bigger guns, including a .454, but that little XD really hammers those targets. I'm cleaning out the fridge this week (I'm single) and have many plastic bottles of expired ketchup, mustard, and barbeque sauce that I look forward to "blowing the crap out of" this weekend.

 

[Grayrider]

It sure seems to pack a punch. The steel targets I was shooting are rigged not to fall just to keep from having to walk down there all the time. I noticed in the past 10mm knocks them over anyway.



The 357 did not, but on head shots it sure set them wobbling. 9mm doesn't move them at all.

GR

 

[45R]

My first experience with .357Sig was out of a Sig 226ST. What a great round!

Its like shooting a lazer beam!

 

[George Hill]

And best yet, .357 SIG is also a very reliable round... failures to feed will be extremely rare out of any decent handgun.

 

[auldpharght]

Luv the .357 Sig

I recently traded for a used XD in .357 Sig. Luv it.


My carry is a Kel Tec P-40 with a factory .357 Sig. conversion (all it takes is a $110.00 barrel). After shooting the Kel Tec, the XD is absolutely a piece of cake. My 4" is a tad large for carry, but it does make an excellent range and home gun.

Auldpharght

 

[PO2Hammer]

Sounds good. I've been thinking of a 357SIG conversion for my Glock 20. My .40 conversion really tames that round, but accuracy is only OK, not exellent like the 10mm. It should give better accuracy than the .40 and the G-20 should tame the recoil.
Those XD's sure feel good in the hand.

 

[Grayrider]

I must say the XD does have a good feel. I am used to 1911s, and the XD has a similar grip angle. Despite the high position of the bore relative to the grip, it seems to point naturally for me.

I ordered in a variety of defensive ammo for it, as well as some night sights. Looks like this one may acompany me around a bit. I doubt it will replace the 1911 as my main defensive weapon, but the light weight and relatively short length has some appeal. That and from what everyone says, the XD357 is as reliable as an AK. Not bad for a gun I gave $380 for.



GR

 

[sturmruger]

I have a XD40 and have been extremly pleased with it. I have shot 300 rounds so far with out any trouble. I am thinking about purchasing a .357 barrel.

 

[357SIG]

I own Glocks and a SIG in 357 SIG. My friend has a S&W Sigma in 357. The both of us are very happy with our 357 pistols and would not trade them for anything. It seems that this round packs a hell of a punch, but still manages to be rather tame to shoot. I find it comparable to the .40 S&W, as far as recoil.

 

[Newton]

I didn't like the .357 SiG one bit. The muzzle blast was significant, this made it unpleasant and difficult to shoot well.

Ammunition cost is also a factor.


Newton

 

[PO2Hammer]

Can the muzzle blast be worse than a .357 magnum 125 gr JHP?
One IDPA shooter in our group shoots 357SIG, and I always stand well back. Then I'll go to the range with my .357 magnum revolver, THAT seems louder.
I really like the idea of the SIG round, the LEO's that use it rave about its power, I'm going to have to give it a try.