If you were a highway patrolman whose greatest risk is probably a gunfight with someone who is in a car, would you rather have a .357 magnum classic, .357 Sig, .40, 10mm, .41 magnum, or .45 ACP?
Unfortunately these folks must carry what they are issued. Hopefully their agency picks right.
This is one of the things that the Border Patrol studied when deciding on the 40 S&W. The 9mm and the 45 ACP fall short on penetrating automobiles and still being able to inflict enough damage to the occupants. The Border Patrol wanted a semi auto with higher capacity, but with the same power as a full power 357 Magnum which worked well for us for many years. The 40 S&W was the perfect choice.
The 41 Magnum was never considered, due to the desire for a semi auto. At the time of the tests, the FBI was using the 10mm and was having issues with Agents ability to control the full power 10mm. Most modern factory 10mm loads offer little over the 40 S&W (100 -200 FPS) where the 40 is already achieving sufficient velocity. I do not believe the 357 Sig existed at the time of the tests and I have very little experience with it.
When we were issued the 40 S&W I did my own informal testing on an old Dodge parts truck. Using the Beretta 96D
and 155 JHP's at 1250 FPS
I shot the Dodge up, I tried every conceivable angle on the glass and sheet metal. The bullets ALL went thru and thru everything in the truck (no engine). Some of the bullets went thru glass and then 4-5 layers of sheet metal only to disappear into the dirt. I was impressed.
Due to the advancement in semi auto's and ballistics and the fact that goblins travel in packs the semi auto only makes sense. I love my wheel guns, but for EDC they are relegated to the backup gun role, and its a J frame 357.