357 sig vs. 9mm+p

A

ammo first

New member
recent article in shot gun news extols the virtues of the 357 sig cartridge. later in the same article however the author makes the point that the 357 sig 125gr hp is only slightly more potent than the 9mm 124gr +p+ hp, how do they really compare, thanks.
 
Here is a quick and dirty comparison of Cor-Bon Ammo





9mm +P 115gr JHP   1350 fps / 466 ft/lbs
357SIG 115gr JHP  1500 fps / 575 ft/lbs

Advantage: Sig by 150FPS


9mm +P 125gr JHP 1250 fps / 434 ft/lbs
357SIG 125gr JHP 1425 fps / 564 ft/lbs

Advantage: SIG by 175FPS  


Another comparison, and the reason why many have take notice of the SIG.


357 Magnum 110gr JHP 1500 fps / 555 ft/lbs 357SIG 115gr JHP  1500 fps / 575 ft/lbs

Advantage: roughly equal

357 Magnum 125gr JHP 1450 fps / 584 ft/lbs
357SIG 125gr JHP 1425 fps / 564 ft/lbs

Advantage: roughly equal


I've heard a lot of BS about "stopping power" and velocity v. size, but it is hard to deny the flat-out lethality of the 357 Magnum. If the SIG round can match its performance in an easier to shoot autoloader with more capacity that seems the way to go. Let others deal with theory, I'll trust 13 rounds of 357 Magnum/SIG anyday.

GHB
 
Let's see...

...consulting my handy-dandy "test.xls" gives me the following:

Glock 26 subcompact Cor-Bon 125gr +P 1165fps/377fpe
Glock 33 subcompact Cor-Bon 125gr 1357fps/511fpe
Glock 34 "longslide" Federal 124gr +P+ 1349fps/501fpe

So the .357SIG out of the snubbie G33 is going faster than a similar 9mm +P+ from the long-barreled "Practical/Tactical" G34...

HTH
 
The 357Sig/40cal were developed for LE because cops wanted 16 rounds of 357 magnum performance in their auto pistols. If I was a cop I'd want all the fire-power I could carry. That said, as civilians, these calibre's just aren't necessary. For civilian self-defense what do you need beyond a hi-cap Nine mill? Nothing. Nada. Zero. How about a 45? Been around forever and a proven stopper. Why these "in vogue" "compromise" calibre's? Are 357 Sig pistols bad? No their not. It's the CALIBRE that's not really necessary. Just my thoughts, J. Parker
 
Looks like the .357Sig is a considerable improvement over the 9x19 and .38spec. The sig seems to be on a par with MILD .357mag or HOT .38spec.

Looks like if you want to carry an intermediate caliber, and don't have a Coonan, the .357Sig is a good option.

Sam...my favorite 9mm is the 9X32R but .44 and .45 are neater.
 
9x32r? whats that, never heard of it, please elaborate.

in some cases the 357sig is greater than the 357mag, other cases such as heavy bullets 357mag wins hands down.

if you want a powerful .355 bullet zipping the 357sig is the way to go.

i have a G32 with me almost daily and love it.
 
It has more energy. A lot of debate if that really matters any.

As far as expansion and penetration, not much difference really.

In gel after cloth:

125 357SIG Gold Dot 19/.54
124 9mm +P GD 20/.53
147 9mm HS 17/.52
180 40S&W HS 19.8/.59
180 GD 17/.62
230 45ACP GD 18.9/.59

after glass:

125 357SIG GD 13/.55
124/9 +P GD 13/.55
165/40 HS 13.7/.52
230/45 GD 11.2/.65
230 GS 17.4/.59

The 357SIG will match the 357Mag? Some think the 180/40 is better:

Summary of Remarks by Lieutenant Edward Fincel, Coordinator-Tactical Training Unit California Highway Patrol, to the Wound Ballistic Seminar FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia 1/19-22/93: "...in eight shootings with the .40 caliber where the subjects were struck in the torso, all resulted in fatalities. In 13 others where extremities were struck, the subjects gave up. Fincel speculated that this may have been due to the large amount of tissue damage usually caused by this round." The summary goes on to say,
"Fincel indicated that the CHP historically used the 125 gain .357 and had experienced difficulty physically restraining some subjects after shooting them with this round. Fincel indicated that this round gave tremendous expansion but shallow penetration. These observations prompted the CHP's selection of the .40 caliber 180 grain hollow point as their service load."

Round n round we go? :)
 
9X32R = .357mag :)

Winchester data shows .357mag, 125gr JHP, 1800fps, about 900ft/lb with MODERATE pressure.

Circa early 70s, LEO load, .357mag, 148gr cup-point, 1300fps, 555ft/lb....out of 3 5/8 barrel......modest pressure. Good penetration AND expansion.

.357mag, 150gr HP, 1600fps, 853ft/lbs....6" barrel...full pressure.

Sam
 
The .357SIG in its correct (Speer 125g Gold Dot) loading is distinctly more potent than the best 9mm loads of the same weight.

Even I don't sell much 9mm 124g JHP at 1420fps...

The Texas DPS fired over 300,000 .357SIG rounds without a failure.

That's how they compare.
 
If I was an LEO I'd rather have a hot 357 Sig load than a 180gr 40 cal load. But alas, I am not. I'd be more than happy with a 9mm 124gr HP @ 1420fps. Best, J. Parker
 
J Parker-

The types of encounters that LE faces are no different that those faced by us. The bad guys that non-LEOs face are just as mean, just as dangerous, just as likely to find cover that needs to be penetrated, and just as unlikely to be stopped by a handgun as the ones that LE face. If anything, non-LE need the more powerful round and more of them because they are not wearing armor and they can't always get fast backup, nor do they carry shotguns or rifles at the supermarket or in their car.
An LEO may be more likely to need it (as compared to one randomly chosen person), but once you need a gun there is no difference.
If the .357 SIG is no better than the .45, then why would a cop want one? If it is superior, then why wouldn't you want that advantage since the gun will be the same size anyway? I also disagree that you need nothing more than a hicap 9mm for self defense. If someone is trying to kill me, I don't want any handgun of any caliber. I want a rifle or a 12 ga. If I'm going to carry just a handgun, I'd rather have a 10 shot .45, although it won't matter in most situations.
 
Simply put...

The .357SIG is a solution to a non-existant problem.

I find the cost of practice ammo alone unappetizing. The 9mm has been criticized as a dandified .38spl. Then, the .357SIG is just a dandified 9mm.

Extra recoil for +200fps of velocity in a 9mm bullet. Why bother? Make mine a quarenta-cinco.
 
I've got my hi-cap 9 mill and Sig P-220. I just feel I don't need anything in-between. If it was my first auto pistol purchase then it would be certainly viable. The 357 Sig concept seems sound but I don't need one. Best, J. Parker
 
Spending $8 to $11 per 357 SIG ammo box doesn't seem extremely painful to me. And there's a lot of brands out there now.

I reload 357 SIG ammo from 950 fps to 1460 fps out of a 4" barrel. Those ranges easily match a mellow standard 9mm up to honking magnum levels. So the recoil complaint is really a moot point! And the 357 SIG is basically just as cheap to reload nowadays as the 9mm. I can reload 1000 rounds for between $70 to $100, depending on the components I'm using (nothing less than plated bullets of course). That's flexibility. Yeah Baby!
 
Try a 9x23 Win instead!

The 1911 I own will hold 9+1 of 125 gr .355 ammo, moving well in excess of 1600 fps (using my handloads). The brass for this round is OUTSTANDING, it will take a beating and keep on loading.

I just haven't shot it enough to guarantee dependability, but the first 300 through it were perfect. I have heard that this is due to the longer round.

I have a feeling that not only is this going to be more accurate and harder hitting than anything else I own (.45 and .40 *&*), but it is actually more enjoyable to shoot with hot loads. And that's saying a lot for me, as the .45 has always been outstanding for me.

Casey
 
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