357 SIG

[CGK60]

How close is the 357 Sig compared to the regular 357.

[morrcarr67]

I retrieved the following data from Federal's Internet site:

.357 Magnum in Hydra-Shok or JSP

grains 158
Muzzle Velocity 1240
25 yard Velocity 1160
Muzzle Energy 535
25 yard Energy 475
Barrel length 4

.357 Sig in Hydra-Shok or FMJ

grains 125
Muzzle Velocity 1350
25 yard Velocity 1270
Muzzle Energy 510
25 yard Energy 445
Barrel length 4

Obviously the .357 Sig is slightly (~9 percent) faster, while the .357 magnum provides somewhat (~5 percent) greater energy.

[Bongos]

The max velocity out of the 357 Sig with max weight bullet of 125gr is about 1300fps, this falls in the standard load for the 357 Magnum as 125gr is avail in the 357 mag, so in this case it's the same bullet weight and velocity, the 357 Mag however have the option of going with heavier bullets (up to 180gr) thus giving it more stopping power, the advantage of a 357 Sig in say a Glock full size is with preban mags, you have up to 15rds vs the max of 8 in a revolver

[CGK60]

Thanks I was thinking of getting a Taurus 605 in 357, but then thought about the 357 Sig in an automatic. Sig 357 looks good to me for more firepower. I reload so buying expensive I don't worry about.

[scarville]

Federal Ammunition is not the best for comparisons. It has a reputation of being wimpy. My chronograph tells me that this is an accurate description of their 357 magnum loads except for their American Eagle Brand. That said, I do like the 230 gr Hydrashok for 45 ACP.

Back when cops carried the 357 magnum, typical muzzle velocities for the 125 gr HP in a 4" bbl were close to 1500 fps for a muzzle energy of 600+ ft-lb. Here is data from Buffalo Bore who make about the hottest ammo on the market that stays within SAAMI specs. They also publish data from real guns, not just test barrels

357 magnum 125 gr HP
4 inch S&W L frame Mt. Gun - 1603 fps (713 ft-lb)

357 SIG 125 gr HP
Sig. Mod. 229, 4 inch barrel - 1,430 fps (567 ft. lbs.)

Published data for the more sedate Hornady loads from 8" test barrels:

357 Mag 125 gr XTP - 1500 fps (624 ft-lb)
357 SIG 124 gr XTP - 1350 fps (502 ft-lb)

[Bongos]

Well since reloading is part of the equation now, I would do research on the 357 Sig, I shoot it but have not reloaded it yet, I understand it's a little harder to reload than the normal calibers

[Stone]

In my opinion since they have the same diameter the best single number to compare is momentum (m*v) which essentially tells you "how hard it is to make this bullet come to be deflected or stopped", either by wind, tissue, etc. The magnum has about 16% more momentum at the muzzle.

[Tiberius]

I know if I were smarter I'd know where to find this - but is the 357 Sig really a lot more powerful than a 9mm or .40? I've heard its really a 9mm bullet on a .40 cal case. From the above, the .357 Sig looks like just a hair less than the .357 Magnum, but I'm wondering how 9mm and .40 compare.

[Lapietra]

I have a G32 and Sig P229 both in .357 sig. I have had both guns over 11 years. The G32 is my woods/ranch gun and I have used it to finish off several game animals and also dispatch critters around the ranch. My buddy also has a G32. We both are much more accurate with the .357 sig due to it having a flatter trajectory and have seen first hand how damaging it can be.

We both have guns in 9mm and .40 and have used those calibers for the same type of duties. I am not going to go into the details, but lets just say the .357 sig is much more proficient in accomplishing the tasks at hand. Definitely similar if not better than the performance of the Ruger Security Six in .357 Mag I used before the 357 sig came along with less recoil and more capacity in a lighter gun.

Last time we had some sheep to send to the butcher I tried both Federal 9mm 124gr +p HST and Cor Bon 9mm 115gr +p+. Neither cartridge produced a wound cavity close to that of the .357 sig. .40 cal 165gr HST produced comparable results and is what I have in my nightstand gun. But for the woods and ranch its .357 sig all the way for me.

P.S. I had a G20 in 10mm for a few years and that round is just devastating; but had too much recoil for me. Got rid of it after a funny episode with a skunk where I couldnt hit it even with with 10 rounds. I know...why 10mm vs. a skunk, its all I had on me at the time and the skunk was obviously sickened.

[Tiberius]

On a tangent - don't things get a lot worse if you actually hit a skunk?

[Lapietra]

On a tangent - don't things get a lot worse if you actually hit a skunk?

Well smell wise only if you hit the bladder area. I totally developed magnumitis because the recoil and blast was so much. I ended up just squeezing off the rounds almost blindly as I didnt want to get sprayed not bit when it started coming at me. The misses really were my fault in not controlling my stance and keeping my cool but I certainly found out that in a slightly panicked situation I could not handle the power produced by the cartridge. Standing in a perfect stance at a shooting range is one thing, shooting on the move in the forest to avoid something is another. For me 357 sig has a little more felt recoil in my hand but definitely less muzzle flip than .40 cal and I can control it well.

[Ltfive]

I know if I were smarter I'd know where to find this - but is the 357 Sig really a lot more powerful than a 9mm or .40? I've heard its really a 9mm bullet on a .40 cal case. From the above, the .357 Sig looks like just a hair less than the .357 Magnum, but I'm wondering how 9mm and .40 compare.

.357Sig is basically a necked down .40 case, but it is loaded a lot hotter than either the 9mm or the .40S&W. It's a great little round.

[gorenut]

.357Sig is basically a necked down .40 case, but it is loaded a lot hotter than either the 9mm or the .40S&W. It's a great little round.

Also for some odd reason, I shot 357SIG much more accurately than 40SW out of the same gun (P226 barrel swap) at 45+ ft. Both new barrels, everything else being the same. I'd def love it if it was cheaper to shoot or I reloaded.

[Lapietra]

I am seeing the price of .357 sig come down a bit. Perhaps they are producing more as the cartridge is gaining more popularity in both the LE and civilian circles. Two years ago 357 sig was $48 per box of 50 cartridges. Last year I saw it go from the mid $30 range down to $26 / box of WWB at Walmart. A month ago I was at a gun show in Portland and picked up several boxes of Speer Lawman 125 gr TMJ for $20 per box.

[Cuda440]

Last time I stocked up was at the Costa Mesa gun show, $19 a box for Fiocci and Remington.