357 Sig Question

[pterrell]

So, what is special about 357 sig over 9mm? The data that I found suggested that they perform about the same, have about the same penetration, same expansion, similar wound cavities... what am I missing? Is it just a proprietary thing that Sig did for fun?

[Quiet]

Generally...
.357SIG = higher velocity for deeper penetration

[pterrell]

Seems counter intuitive for a HD round then.

[snypr]

exactly what Quiet said....

[penguin0123]

Seems counter intuitive for a HD round then.

It was made specifically to duplicate the 125gr 357 mag out of a 4" revolver.

357 Sig projectiles are *not* 9mm projectiles. While they are both .355, 357 Sig projectiles holds together better. In the early days of the 357 Sig round, people loaded 9mm HP and it expands too early and leaves nasty but shallow wounds.

The big selling point of a 357 Sig is the ability to go thru light cover such as car doors. There is a story floating around on the net about Texas DPS having to shoot a bad guy thru a semi truck door. 45 didn't penetrate, 357 did just fine.

In a free state, I'd take 15 rounds of 9mm over 12 rounds of 357 Sig. In California, why not try the 357 Sig? At worst, it'll perform like a 9mm.

[Quiet]

US Secret Service, Federal Air Marshal's and eight (NM, NC, OK, RI, SD, TN, TX, VA) State LE agencies have adopted the .357SIG as their standard issue service sidearm caliber.

[Tok36]

I have a 357sig. I have not done any penetration testing yet, when i get around to doing it ill post the results.

Here is a link to a bunch of 357sig ballistic testing, this guy is pritty good with his testing. There are also allot of 9mm tests so you can see the difference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5FOFnJVS0E&list=PL858978D90283EA35

[The Mad Mule]

I shot 50 rounds of .357sig out of a G27/33 for the first time a couple weeks ago. It felt like a light, jumpy .40 with great accuracy, and I'm pretty sure it was on the loud side

Seriously, if you're into oddball calibers, then the .357sig is worth trying...I had lots of fun shooting it.

There is a story floating around on the net about Texas DPS having to shoot a bad guy thru a semi truck door. 45 didn't penetrate, 357 did just fine.

Funny you mention that, because it was reported last year that they're moving away from .357sig and back to 9mm.

http://www.defensivecarry.com/forum/general-firearm-discussion/181267-texas-dps-going-away-357-sig.html

[Cato]

Better penetration. I guess that translates into a better chance against car windows. Some guys just like maximum penetration. Also, some folks like truncated rounds. 357 Sig is just a little bit better than 9mm, so lots of guys want it.

[fawndog]

penetrates more kevlar layers than .40, 9mm, 45.

[trigger945]

Yep, meant to mimic the .357 mag for a semi auto.

Why the .357 sig? Because you dare to be different Oh, and you want to shoot THROUGH car doors

[SILENT GUNMAN]

Why did I get a 357 SIG? Because I was able to get a .40 barrel and have two guns in one. It made it much easier to find ammo during panic times. I've since taken a liking to the 357 SIG and am thinking about buying another one soon. Its a very accurate round out of my p229. I want to try it in a Glock next.

[Trenchfoot]

Had a G31. Sold it back in the day before the internet was in most homes, and finding ammo for it was a bear. If ammo was as readily available for it as the other common service calibers, I would think about getting another one. But until that happens, I won't be buying another gun in .357Sig.

[digdug74]

Simply put, if you can shoot your gun straight, a .357 Sig will deliver more energy on target than just about any other round that comes from a semi-auto pistol of similar size. Whether or not that extra energy will translate into the BG suddenly "stopping" his aggressive behavior, and whether the additional recoil, muzzle blast, and expense of the round is worth it is an open question. After all, it's still a pistol round...

[Discogodfather]

The purpose of the 357 sig was to use 9mm bullets with a 40 SW case, the logic being you get the stopping power of the 40 with better feeding tendencies due to the bottleneck round.

Basically a boutique round, solves problems that really don't exist. Just 9mm and forget it, they have no made a better gunfighter round yet.