.357sig?

[Hando]

what is the reason for the .357SIG not being as popular as the 9mm

I mean, besides the price, I would rather have a .357 SIG than a 9mm

Same bullet, more power, same size guns...

Educate me. Maybe there is something I am missing.

[M96er]

The .357sig's primary nich is for more piercing ability. The slim .355 bullet, and high velocity/energy stats give it the ability to pierce media such as car doors and windshields. Since law enforcement can't always have an AR-15 slung over their shoulder, they needed a pistol round that had greater barrier penetration than other common auto pistol calibers.

Most ppl don't need this. Also, most ppl judge a cartridge's capability in a defensive situation by gel tests and the .357sig is pretty close to that of a 9mm+p in those tests. In general, most auto pistol calibers have similar penetration and the 9mm+p and .357sig have similar expansion. So, not much difference on that end.

My preference is creating as big a hole as possible, so I go with wider bullets. However, wider bullets don't pierce hard media as well as the larger diameter bullet spreads its energy over a larger area.

[grunge]

the brass for the 357sig is the same size as a .40 (except where it necks down) Basicly its the brass of a 40, necked down on a 9mm bullet, greatly increasing its velocity.

[HAMMERHEAD]

I've never shot a 357SIG, but I really like the idea of it. It's not the same as a .357 magnum, but it's a step in the right direction.
As soon as I can afford it, (I just bought a Freedom Arms) I'm going to get a 357SIG barrel for my Glock 20. I'm hoping to get top notch accuracy, high power with low recoil.

[J. Parker]

If I had unlimited funds I'd get a 357 Sig but for most of us I think it's a matter of economics. We simply can't afford every calibre. I've got a 40cal pistol and for me it's a better choice. I bash around in the woods alot and a 180gr FMJ bullet makes alot more sense than anything a 357 Sig has to offer. Just my thoughts, John

[Hando]

Originally posted by J. Parker
If I had unlimited funds I'd get a 357 Sig but for most of us I think it's a matter of economics. We simply can't afford every calibre. I've got a 40cal pistol and for me it's a better choice. I bash around in the woods alot and a 180gr FMJ bullet makes alot more sense than anything a 357 Sig has to offer. Just my thoughts, John

so its all about the price from the opinions up to here?

[Kuroineko]

IIRC what I read a few years ago, it's not the same case as a .40S&W. The case walls have to be thicker in the web to handle the pressure generated. If it was truly a .40 case necked down, the case might rupture.

I carry a G31 on duty, I don't have any problems with the .357 SIG. Here is a list of complaints I've heard which may have hindered it's popularity.

Most people can't find ammo for it, and when they do the price is higher than what they want to pay. Usually the price difference is only 1 or 2 dollars higher than a box of 9mm or .40 S&W. Availability seems to be the issue.
Another complaint I've heard is that the report is too loud.
Others say that they can't shoot well with it.

The .357 SIG was made to duplicate the 125 grain .357 Magnum's high one shot stop percentages, in a reliable auto loading pistol.
There's not much else that it has been loaded to do from the factory, so it would seem that it lacks the versatility of other cartridges such as hunting or inexpensive plinking.
IMO it does what it does well. I don't carry it to hunt, and I don't plink with it.

[J. Parker]

Yeah, I ponder when folks say why don't you like this or that pistol.....this or that calibre. Hell, I like 'em all! I just can't afford 'em all. I don't have a problem with the 357 Sig. I'd rather have it than a 9 mike mike. My poor (retired) wisdom......40cal as a good urban "all-arounder".......45cal as a good urban/woods "all-arounder"........380 Mak as a good local fishin' "all-arounder"......12 gauge pump as a good "all-arounder" camp gun.......308 lever gun as a good you live in the country 'all-arounder". Well, that's my take of good "all-arounders". :)

[Clem Eastwood]

i actually went from .357 sig to a 9mm because the gun i shoot more accuratly is 9mm. also, i find it very difficult to reaquire when shooting one handed with .357 sig. and with 9mm i get to practice more. also, since i just carry for defense not LE im not as worried about barrier penetration. i had a .40 barrel for the .357 pistol as well, i just prefer 9mm to the bigger calibers.

[mcgarr]

Originally posted by Kuroineko
Most people can't find ammo for it, and when they do the price is higher than what they want to pay. Usually the price difference is only 1 or 2 dollars higher than a box of 9mm or .40 S&W. Availability seems to be the issue.



If you can buy .357Sig for 1 or 2 dollars more than 9mm or 40S&W, then you are paying way too much for 9mm or 40S&W or I need to shop where you do.

[Clem Eastwood]

Originally posted by mcgarr
If you can buy .357Sig for 1 or 2 dollars more than 9mm or 40S&W, then you are paying way too much for 9mm or 40S&W or I need to shop where you do.

cheaper then dirt has s&b .357 sig for $9/box (50 ct). they also have s&b .40 for $8/box (50ct). wal mart has 100 count white box .40 for $15/ box, whereas 9mm white box 100 ct is $11 box. .357 sig isnt that much more then .40, but .40 is more then 9mm. those are the cheapest prices ive found.

[Screaming .357G]

www.georgia-arms.com look at the canned heat for good priced reloads made well.

They also sell new ammo and HP's .

[Dr. Courtney]

For those whose practice time is limited by ammo cost, one can practice almost twice as much with the 9mm. I've got a P229 in .357 Sig, and I reload, so ammo cost isn't a big factor. But it is for others.

Another factor is that firearms selection is much more limited with the .357 Sig. If the pistol you love and shoot very well isn't available in .357 Sig, you might be better off with 9mm.

The recoil of the .357 Sig is also a bit snappier. Everyone's got their own threshold for recoil tolerance and some folks don't like going above the 9mm.

The final factor is that most folks have to buy a new gun to go from 9mm to .357 Sig, and it's likely that the slight improvement in performance is not compelling enough to lay out the cash. The pistols chambered in .357 Sig do cost more (on average) than those chambered in 9mm.

Interestingly, one can make all these same points when asking why the 10mm isn't as popular as the .40.