I think a lot of the problem here is emotion towards what you are invested in (I was caught up in it and it was for me at the time. I did get over it though. ), and paper numbers, which is where the heat of most of these type arguments end up going, and there has to be a winner. Yes, the 357SIG is about 100 fps hotter on paper than +P+ 9mm, but in reality, both are a 40000 psi round, and will perform about the same when using the same bullet.Anyone who says it's like 9mm +P is smoking dope. Even 9mm +P+ doesn't get near the performance of a high-end 357 Sig round.
With that said, 357 Sig is probably not too much difference than 9mm in real world civilian scenarios. Bottom line, carry what you are comfortable with.
And that comes directly from the engineers at Speer. I emailed them when I was still shooting and carrying one, because of a discussion just like this. It was also another reason I decided to go back to 9mm.
This was their response, I saved it.
The 9mm is a 35,000 psi, +P is
38,500 psi and +P+ is 40,000 psi. The 357 SIG is a 40,000 psi. Bullets
of the same weight will approximate the same velocities in SIG and +P+.
The difference is gun construction, all 9mm's will not handle +P+. All
of the 357 SIG's are made to handle the pressures for the caliber.
Shoot Straight!
Coy Getman
CCI/SPEER Technical Service
2299 Snake River Ave.
Lewiston, ID 83501
(800) 627-3640 ext. #5351 (pound key must be used)
That last part about all 357SIGs being able to handle the round, I found to not necessarily be correct. Or at least with my Glock it wasnt. It was beating itself to death on the underside of the slide pretty good, and didnt show any signs of slowing down. I had to file the burrs down a couple of times and was cutting my fingers on them while cleaning the gun. My SIG's on the otherhand, seemed to be fine with it.
I do understand too, that some things have changed with the development of some of the boutique rounds, and some do get a little more out of it, than the "standard" loadings. I really dont see them going anywhere beyond that though, as I really dont see anyone beyond those set up for 357SIG now, expanding their lines, and those who now make them, pumping up the volume. Im thinking its basically going to end up going the 45 GAP route.
I agree with the last part about not being to much different in the real world, and I think that pretty much apples to any of the accepted "realistic" handgun calibers. I think its more important to invest the time and effort into shooting well with whatever you chose, than it is what caliber you choose.
Thats the other big plus to 9mm. Its the cheapest of the lot for the most part, so you can practice a more. Its also about the softest shooting in most guns its chambered for, so it also tends to be easier to shoot. I put 357SIG in that same group too, as I really dont/didnt see any difference in shooting it compared to the 9mm.