.357 SIG

arebindixie · 10-09-2005, 07:07 AM

I went to the range Friday and shot several nickel-sized groups at seven yards with a Glock 32 that belonged to a buddy. A Marlin 336-A, a Western Field shotgun (Mossberg 500), and a ratty old Ruger 10/22 later, I now own the ugly pistol. This is my first experience with the .357 SIG cartridge. So far, I'm impressed with it. Does anyone have any feedback regarding the .357 SIG?

DJetAce · 10-09-2005, 10:32 AM

Lots of police use it and swear it hits like the .357 Magnum.

Magnum88C · 10-09-2005, 04:49 PM

The .357 Sig has nearly identical ballistics to a 125-gr .357 Magnum from a 4" barrel. It also has the capacity advantage.

With heavier bullets the Sig round starts falling behind FAST.

I also hear it's a PIA to handload.

Wylycoyte · 10-09-2005, 05:16 PM

The .357 SIG is pretty similar to the 9mm in terms of permanent wound cavity when premium bullets are used. The temporary cavity is larger, but temp cavities don't seem to do much in service calibers. Its only in the higher velocity cartridges where they get large enough to cause tissues to tear rather than just stretch a bit and then snap back.

180 grain .40 has shown better penetration of barriers, if this is matters in your choice.

DJetAce · 10-09-2005, 07:40 PM

According to the Texas Highway Patrol, their .357 Sigs have the same stopping power their old .357 Magnums had. That is why they dropped the .45 and went to the Sig. They also said the .45 wasn't bad, but it never had the 'lightning bolt' effect on BGs their old .357 Magnums had. Just about all of the shootings they have been in with the .357 Sigs have been one shot stops.

That's pretty good to me. But I have a .45 and unlike the highway patrol I use +p so I'm not worried about any .357 .vs. .45 debate. They are both good rounds and each have their advantages.

***Rich Z*** · 10-10-2005, 12:29 AM

Personally I have been a big fan of the .357 Sig ever since it was introduced. I can't remember the last time I bought a semi-auto handgun (excluding the .22 squirrel plinkers) that was NOT in that caliber. Most recently I have purchased a Steyr, Beretta, Glock 33, and a Springfield XD in .357 Sig.

Generally speaking, if a new semi auto comes out and it is NOT in .357 Sig, I probably will not buy it.

I just find the guns shooting this caliber to be very accurate and very reliable. If I could convert all of my .40 S&W handguns to .357 Sig I would do it in a heart beat. I think a Kahr in this caliber would be rather interesting.....