.357 Sig is the best round out right now, IMHO.
Performance out of a smaller gun SURPASSES that of the 10mm in energy and velocity.
The .357 Sig has enormous energy for that initial dump, as well as deep penetration.
The 125gr .357 Sig will move at over 1525 fps in a full sized platform or a little less in a small platform. The Gold Dot penetrates 16 inches AND dumps almost 600 foot pounds of energy. If does it ALL out of a very small platform: Penetration AND energy dump. Few rounds have the capability to do that, and the 10mm is one of them, but the 10mm loses so much out of the shorter barrel, that the .357 Sig surpasses it.
The Gold Dots put out NO muzzle flash, and the recoil is less than that of a medium .40 load. It is loud, but that is about it, and it is no louder than any other magnum round that has been around forever.
The ballistics of the .357 Sig surpass the .357 Mag in the 125gr weight, out of a much smaller platform, with MUCH less recoil, and very large capacity. What more could you possibly want???
My Glock 32 holds 14+1 rounds of ".357 Magnum" and it recoils very little and it has no muzzle flash. It is a .357 Magnum but waaaay better. That is a lot of firepower out of a little gun like that and you don't have the muzzle flash and recoil of the old wheelgun.
For the compact guns, I don't think there is anything on the market that can compare with the .357 Sig in total performance.
I believe there to be arguably better cartridges out there, but only from larger platforms. From the small platform, the .357 Sig is the ultimate answer for the time being.
That's just a few thoughts off the top of my head.
I know that not everyone respects Mas Ayoob, but he claims that the people that come to his classes that carry .357 sig are the most educated bunch on ballistics out there. The .357 Sig has many little benefits that the average person cannot grasp, but for someone that studies ballistcs and understands the high energy vs penetration arguments etc, the .357 Sig is the ultimate answer. There is no compromise with that round; no decision between high energy/expansion OR deep penetration, because this round does both., much like the 10mm does, but out of a small platform.
Do a search on this site for the .357 Sig and you will find some good arguments on it's benefits.
Ps- I am buying .357 Sig from Precision cartridges.
I have not gotten any yet so I can't comment on it, but it is only $160.00 a case, And if you trade in your brass you can get a case for only $112.50!!!!!!
Or, you can go with the Blazers for under $8 a box if you shop around.
.357 Sig is getting much cheaper as it gets more popular.