.357 Sig or .45 ACP Glock?

[J.Bourne]

Hey all: My standard carry sidearm here in lovely MI is my G23. I'd like to supplement my arsenal, however, and have been equivocating between the .357 Sig and .45 ACP calibers. I know they have dramatically differnt ballistics, but what's better for a defensive carry cartridge where you just want to put the bad guy(s) on his/their back(s) as quickly and seemlessly as possible? Regards.

[DeadMansLife]

*opens the flood gates*

Which one is better for SD???

Let me ask you this...
Which one do you shoot better?
Which one gives you balistic that make you feel more comfortable?

There is really not enough difference between the two with good ammo to make a BG go down any faster or better.

[Bradd D]

Depends on which school of thought you subscribe to...light and fast or heavy and slow. Personally, I prefer to carry a .45 in the colder months to enhance performance against heavy clothing.

Bradd

[Dead Man's Hand]

J.Bourne, I'm a fan of both and own both. I alternate carry between a g30 and a G32, 30 for cold weather, and 32 for summer carry. Both will serve you well for self defense, but I see your from Michigan where the weather is typically colder so you may want to take a close look at the G30 or G36 for maximum penetration though thick clothing. Also you have to look at the ammo availability in your area, you will have no problem finding good .45 ammo but the .357 has not caught on nationwide so ammo choice may limited or nonexistent in your location.

[Grimsi]

To paraphrase: " A .357Sig <i>may</i> expand, but a .45ACP will never <i>shrink</i>. "

[duncan]

If you want a 45 ACP Glock, the G21 is the one I kept. Sold my G30 because too fat. The G36 snapped terribly.

So if you want another CCW philly, go G33. More concealable that you G23 and harder punching!

[J.Bourne]

yes indeed, the G33 looks like a winner. Regards, gentlemen.

[grenadier]

Originally posted by J.Bourne
Hey all: My standard carry sidearm here in lovely MI is my G23. I'd like to supplement my arsenal, however, and have been equivocating between the .357 Sig and .45 ACP calibers.

A cheaper solution:

Get a Glock 32 barrel for your Glock 23 (assuming it is not one of the early 2nd generation ones), and buy a .45 Glock. This way, you get both.

[smoney]

presuming your G23 is a third generation i have to say "ditto that!"

[G33]

To be contrary...get a G29 with .357 and .40 barrels.;f

[phliplock]

It comes down to ,Do you want a big hole or a little hole

[duncan]

ALl I know is that .357 sig protects the Prez so it's good enough for me.

[BigJon]

Originally posted by Grimsi
To paraphrase: " A .357Sig <i>may</i> expand, but a .45ACP will never <i>shrink</i>. "

True, but one might also say that "a .45 ACP may bounce off things a 357 Sig might not." So what's the real-world, non-mumbo-jumbo answer?
Seems to me it's this:

Originally posted by DeadMansLife

Which one do you shoot better?



Regards,
Jon

[G31]

Originally posted by phliplock
It comes down to ,Do you want a big hole or a little hole

I guess you can call a hole that is only 1/10th of an inch larger a big hole.

[gdnctr]

G32/.357sig works great for me. Blew a 35lb groundhog almost in half a couple of weeks back. I'd imagine it would stop a BG just fine.

[ryucasta]

J Bourne,

It all depends, since you never stated which models I'm assuming you’re in the market for a full size Glock like the G31 or G21. The G31 is a smaller package than the G21 so that’s something you should take into account having said that though 45ACP ammunition is much easier to find at the retail level than 357 SIG. But with pre ban magazines you'll get more capacity with the 357 SIG than you will with the 45 ACP so it basically boils down to what you like once you’ve tried both firearms out. After all do you buy cars without a test drive?

You really don’t need a big bad cartridge to put down a BG what you really need is to know shot placement so I would suggest you go to your local range or yellow pages and find an instructor to teach you some SD techniques and practice and continue to practice whatever it is they teach you so that way you can deal with whatever situation comes your way with whatever firearm you decide to acquire.

Originally posted by Big Bad .45 Wolf
J.Bourne, I'm a fan of both and own both. I alternate carry between a g30 and a G32, 30 for cold weather, and 32 for summer carry. Both will serve you well for self defense, but I see your from Michigan where the weather is typically colder so you may want to take a close look at the G30 or G36 for maximum penetration though thick clothing. Also you have to look at the ammo availability in your area, you will have no problem finding good .45 ammo but the .357 has not caught on nationwide so ammo choice may limited or nonexistent in your location.

If you have a problem finding good sig ammo if you live out in the boonies you can always order some off of the interweb.

[quantico]

Originally posted by duncan
If you want a 45 ACP Glock, the G21 is the one I kept. Sold my G30 because too fat. The G36 snapped terribly.

So if you want another CCW philly, go G33. More concealable that you G23 and harder punching!

Duncan, I can't believe you think the 36 snaps a lot !!!! I have one and even with + P loads it is quite tame. I recently polished my 36 trigger stuff and put in a 2.5 lb connector because the 36 trigger was just way heavy ... and much heavier for some reason than any other of mu 5 lb connector glocks. You think the 33 is a better choice , but I have heard it has some snap... I think the 31 and 32 are rather wimpy as to recoil, but pack a punch on the muzzle end for sure.

Between the 45acp and the 357 sig I would tend to advise people to go 45acp. The reason being more ammo choices and cheaper target ammo. I love the large diameter bullits and the line from grimsi is pretty much my motto ... the 357 sig may expand but the 45 will never shrink. That is an absolutely true asessment . I feel th 357 sig cartridge and balistics are excellent and I feel well armed with my 357 sig weapons... but the 45 for me is really a tried and true good defensive round. My feling is that the 357 sig may be one of the best balances of capacity and power except for the 10mm. I would comment on the 10 more, but I am out of my area of knowledge on it... I will hopefully learn soon.

I agree with quantico fully... .45 is the best.....

[REFLEX]

Get both, i did. I started with a .45acp, then got a .357 sig. You can't go wrong with either though.

[LewisQ]

I have a G33 and a G36. I spend half of the week in Phoenix and I have the G33 with me. The othe rhalf I am in Vegas and the G36 is with me.

During winter I carry my HK Tactical when in Vegas and a SIG 239 in Phoenix.

Bottom line: whatever you shoot better!

[W. Bell]

I have both.
I cary the 357 SIG mostly, A 5" .45 pulls my pants down!
Bottom line; SHOT PLACEMENT! Practice, Practice, Practice.

[Alaskapopo]

Bradd D

Both are good rounds. But I must say as one living in a ver cold part of Alaska, Faster lighter jhp's do better against heavy clothing than slow heavy bullets that clog. One caviot is that the 357 sig with gold dots does terrible in heavy clothing and goes wa to deep because its nose cavity is too small. Other 357 sig loads like the ranger do much better. SOme 45 loads like the hydra shock do poorly as well plugging almost all the time

PAT

[BigJon]

Originally posted by LewisQ
I have a G33 and a G36. I spend half of the week in Phoenix and I have the G33 with me. The other half I am in Vegas and the G36 is with me.

What a cad! Does the G33 know about the G36? I'm sure not, or the G33 would be very upset about being left at home while you carouse around Vegas with some other sexy, skinny little pistol. Handguns can get mighty jealous, you know.

What are you gonna say to the G33 if you get caught? "But honey! I only like the other pistol because she looks and feels so much like you!" 'Tis is a mighty dangerous life you're livin', man.

Have a good weekend, all.

Regards,
Jon

[Alaskapopo]

You would be better off to standardize on one of the 2 unless you had a good reason for both. Such using a larger glock in the winter because of concealment and a smaller on in the summer. Its best for you muscle memory to keep things as simple as possible.
PAT

[G33]

Pat, welcome back.

Bigjon, yes, I know about the G36...;P

[kidcoltoutlaw]

i shot my p239 the load went 1287 same load in a p229 sport went 1409,that was with a 125.put a 5.5 inch barrel on a p239 and it will rock.i have shot wet news paper with a 9mm if it is wet it will expand if it's dry it will not. a 357 mag will wet or dry.the 357 sig at 1400 plus does not know it's not a 357 mag.thanks,keith

[10-Ring]

I've heard it said that a dead bad guy isn't going to know the difference between a 45 acp or any other caliber. It's all about shot placement. Get the one you shoot better & you're more comfy with :cool:

[justlooking]

Originally posted by BigJon


What a cad! Does the G33 know about the G36? I'm sure not, or the G33 would be very upset about being left at home while you carouse around Vegas with some other sexy, skinny little pistol. Handguns can get mighty jealous, you know.

What are you gonna say to the G33 if you get caught? "But honey! I only like the other pistol because she looks and feels so much like you!" 'Tis is a mighty dangerous life you're livin', man.

Have a good weekend, all.

Regards,
Jon

TOP TEN REASONS WHY HANDGUNS ARE BETTER THAN WOMEN

10. You can trade an old 44 for two new 22's.

9. You can have a handgun at home and another for the road.

8. If you admire a friend's handgun and tell him so, he will be impressed
and usually will let you try it.

7. Your primary handgun doesn't mind if you have a backup.

6. Your handgun will stay with you even if you are out of ammo.

5. A handgun doesn't take up a lot of closet space.

4. Handguns function normally every day of the month.

3. A handgun won't ask, "Do these grips make me look fat?"

2. A handgun does not mind if you go to sleep after you're done using it.

AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON HANDGUNS ARE BETTER THAN WOMEN:
1. You can buy a silencer !!

[justlooking]

Why not split the difference?

http://www.cor-bon.com/400.html

http://www.glockmeister.com/400cb.html

http://www.barsto.com/Glock.html

http://www.ftfindustries.com/standard_pistol_barrels.htm

http://www.lecksguns.com/KKM.htm

http://www.ivanhoeoutlet.com/cgi-bin/store/webstore.cgi?page=400CB165/20&type=&frame=&cart_id=5333275_6353

http://www.lecksguns.com/glock.htm

http://www.gunaccessories.com/HandgunBarrels/StockLength/index.asp


http://www.recguns.com/Sources/IIIC2g12.html
"And from what little bit I've read about the new 400 Cor-Bon, this round should give the BIG frame .45 caliber guns increased performance and improved feeding reliability, just as the 357Sig does for the 40s&w guns."

[slick slidestop]

Get the 357 sig barrel for your G23 and buy a G30 so you can also have the 45.

I have several calibers, and lately I always end up carrying the 45 in G30 for some reason.

Whichever you pick will work just fine, both will stop your assailant.

[Screaming .357G]

By all means get a G33 and a G30 as they are the best CCW's that glock makes:)

Can not go wrong with either one.

[justlooking]

I still say the Corbon .400 is the way to go.

It is the .40 bullet in the .45 case, necked down like the .357Sig.

You get SPEED AND SIZE !!!!

[w1mnk]

I just got back from my GOA (Glock owners anonymous) meeting, after picking up an adjustable sights G32 yesterday. I own too many Glocks, and I cant't stop;) I personally like the G30 for carry, under a concealment vest here in tropical FL. The G21 is nice, but a little too large. I didn't like the way the G36 felt in my arthritic hands. I found that a Para C6.45 LDA is a better fit for a small .45ACP. I added a EFKFiredragon ported barrel to the G30, and it does have a small reduction in recoil. Port flash isn't too bad, and nobody in the next station has complained.

[justlooking]

Originally posted by w1mnk
...I found that a Para C6.45 LDA is a better fit for a small .45ACP. ...


Never heard of this one, so looked it up. Here is some info in case anyone else interested:

http://www.impactguns.com/store/para_ordnance_c6.html



(Of course, it will probably never make it for sale in MA, because, like Glocks and most other guns, it is considered unsafe unless you are wearing a blue uniform.)

[spray-n-pray]

JB...I am also in the same boat as you! What I did was get both. I have a G32 and a Kimber Compact. I am also in Michigan (Northern) and you would be surprised with the suppy of ammo around for the 357 Sig. Get both!

[phliplock]

Thanks for the insight,G31 ,if I want to blow someones torso off I'll use a 45 colt,if I want to take a mole off his face at 50 yards Ill use a .357 thanks for the measurements.

[justlooking]

How would all these compare in the handgun hunting area?

For:
[list=1]
deer
coyote
other
[/list=1]

(keep in mind, you can have no larger than a .38 caliber in the woods in MA at night, no exceptions!)