.357SIG and OVERPENETRATION??

[Vanguard.45]

I have a question that is not meant as a slam to the .357 crowd as I am a part of it.

It was always said that the 115 grain 9mm +P+ was notorious for overpenetration. Whether that was true or not, I do not have any data to verify or discredit the claim, but the claim was made and made often on this forum and others by people interested in and educated in such matters.

Then comes the 125 grain .357SIG which is 10 grains heavier (greater penetration potential) and traveling at 100fps faster than the 9mm +P+ (greater overpenetration potential).

What gives? I realize that the pat answer is that the bullet is "constructed differently", but the question of overpenetration is one that anyone shooting this caliber for self defense should be asking, IMHO.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

Vanguard.45

[Sir Hacksalot]

First off, I am NO BALLISTICS EXPERT, so take this for what it
s worth.

I would think that as the .357 SIG is pushed faster, it would require the extra bullet mass to stay together and expand.

I know that the old Federal .357 125 gr. JHP is the 'standard' by which all other combat handguns are measured, and there must be a reason for it...there were 110 grain loads, and 158 grain loads, and the 125 JHP just outperformed everything else.

Maybe the combo of the higher velocithy and that bullet weight just gives the best of what you're looking for in a combat handgun...and the .357 Sig is the only autoloader round that best replicates the great 'fight stopping traits' of the original fight stopper (according to Marshall and Sanow anyway)

That's my theory, I look forward to other replies on this.

Hax

[hakuin]

Yeah, I gotta say that alot of the problem isn't so much with the 357 bullet as it was with the 115 JHP +P+ configuration. Mine were Federal 9BPLE with a tiny little hollow point and pretty much round-ball shape. Plug that hole with material and you've got a really fast 9mm ball round...just the ticket for punching through soft stuff.

[DonGlock26]

The SD ammo made for Law Enforcement(golddots,RangerT,HST,ect.) is engineered to penetrate and expand to FBI test standards, once it is in the body. .357Sig's velocity will aid in pentration of light cover. The wound ballistics seem to be very good according to the feedback from agencies using it.