Which caliber do you guys like better.....357sig or 40 ??

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With respect to foregoing I feel the bushed barrel on a CZ-75 I have does not meet this "inaccurate" 40S&W tag. It will group 3" unsupported at 25m easily and 5" or less at 50m prone or supported on a 9/10 ring combat type target.
Reloading is now about 7c a SWC lubed lead projectile and all up costs per round come to just under 15c a shot -or $13.50AUD per x90 round match.

It is far more accurate than most people(and sometimes me!) will shoot in a match such as this.

As far as shooting at people ...I must pass that one, but there is no reason why any calibre cannot be accurate if the design and execution of the pistol has been done with this in mind.
BB

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If we shooting sportspersons don't hang together... we will all hang separately !
Never knock another's different shooting interest or discipline...REMEMBER we are all but leaves on the same tree of freedom.
 
I prefer the .40 SIG. I mean to say that I prefer the 357 S&W. I mean I like 'em both. They both do excellent jobs in their arena. I have a simple comparison at my site below.

From my humble studies, the 357 SIG does seem to be more accurate, at least with 4" and shorter barrels. The .40 seems to do really well with 4.5 and 5" barrels. But I have created some .40 reloads that are virtually identical to the 357 SIG, when using a long barrel. But then the 357 SIG really starts getting massive velocity and energy out of the longer barrels.

In summary: I just don't know. So I have both :) They complement each other so nicely. And each caliber can do some things better than the other. I therefore now say that I have a .40/357 pistol....


One update correction: My comparison of the .40 and 357 accuracy is flawed. It's not a fair comparison between different gun models, and in my last case, using a factory Glock barrel and then using a 357 SIG Barsto Match barrel.

A fair comparison is using a factory barrel of each caliber in the same gun, or using two Barsto barrels, so the comparison is on equal terms.

If anybody has done this, let me know. I plan on doing such a test between a Steyr M40 and a Steyr M357. Thanks.
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http://home.earthlink.net/~petej55

[This message has been edited by petej88 (edited October 06, 2000).]
 
Fish, Corbon's 357 sig loads are engineered to penetrate shallower, fragment, & retain roughly 60% of it's weight, just like the 357 mag.
Gold Dot, Fed. Tactical, Rem. bonded GS, ect are engineered to perform well against glass & other hard barriers. With the Corbon 115/125gr 357 sig loads, it would seem there would be excessive fragmentation along w/ bullet deflection.
Hard barrier penetration seems to hinge on bullet design and good velocity. Most agencies that adopt the 357 sig, seem to select the 125gr GD as their duty load, w/ exception like the Secret Svc. who went w/ 125gr. Win. Ranger SXT. They seem to favor bullets w/ less penetration, probaly due to their working enviornment.
I prefer the .40 for it's wide range of bullet weights, less flash/blast than the 357 sig, cheaper factory ammo, & for me atleast, more controlability.
If I had to penetrate car doors or glass, give me a 155gr Gold Dot, it'll do the job.
Best,
{long shot}
 
I shoot both, but I really like my 357 sig in a 229 sport for one reason, ok maybe 2.

It is very accurate! (reason 1)

It is unbelievably loud with AA-9 or blue-dot and a 95 grn FMJ! What a trip to touch of one of those loads, the concussion raises eyebrows down the line, and dust from the roof! That is one thing my 40's will not do.

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P229 Sport and 357 SIG, H&K P7PSP and 9MM, Dual Perfection!!
 
Neither. I like the 9x23. Made to shoot 125gr bullets @ well over 1400fps. Soft shooter in the right 1911 format. Drawback is that its too long for the shorter guns.

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"But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." -Jesus Christ--Originator of RKBA and first weapon. (Luke 22:36, see John 3:15-18)
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"Reasonable gun law?............There's No such critter!" --EQ
 
In my less than adequate opinion, .40 - .357 sig is not a big decision. Buy your favorite pistol in .40, then for about $125 - $175 more, you get a .357Sig barrel! Figure it out for yourself which you like better. If you like the .357Sig for defenSe, you can plink with the .40 for a lot less money. If you prefer the .40, you can get the xtra testosterone boost on occasion with the bigger bang at the range

:D
 
EQUALIZER

No knock to the 9x23 I want to build a race gun on this some day. However the 357 sig is just as fast if not faster. My glock 31 will push 125 grain golddots at 1430 My 24 long slide will do the same load at 1530 and a handload using a max charge of power pistol behind a 125 grain sierra jhp at 1600 fps. The 357 sig usually shoots around 1400 to 1450 in service sized guns (barrels 4.5 to 5) while it does 1350 in compacts (3.6 to 4)
PAT

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I intend to go into harms way.
 
Peter,

Your reason #2 is exactly why I would not use the .357sig for a home/self deffence weapon.

You would seriously permenantly loose some of your hearing shooting that round without ear protection on.

You could always sleep with ear plugs in I guess but then you wouldnt even hear the bad guy as he creeks open your bedroom door when you are sound asleep.

Just one more factor that helps me lean towards the .40, thus far my .357sig barell for my G27 has been used strictly at the range, the .40 is what goes everywhere with me.

~Jason
 
I own and shoot both, quite often on an indoor range during IDPA matches.

I can't tell any difference between muzzle flash or recoil between the two. With modern "low flash" powders, muzzle flash is not the problem it once was.

Is the .357 louder? Absolutely. Which one would I reach for if (as FUD described it) some "...lunatic decided to kick in your front door...". Which ever one was closer. Although the .357 SIG is more accurate, as someone pointed out earlier, that really doesn't matter in a handgun designed for self-defense at no more that 25 yds.

BTW, I've shot quite a bit of .357SIG, all loaded by Georgia Arms. I haven't found one round yet in which the bullet had set back into the case. Georgia Arms is doing a good job...so far.

As far as hearing damage from handgun shot indoors without hearing protection, I don't know that there will be a lot of difference in the amount of damage between a .357SIG and a .40 S&W....really doesn't matter with me as my high frequency hearing is shot anyway.

Mike
 
JMack

The noise factor between a good full power 40 load and a 357 sig loads is so minimal as to be not releveant. Any pistol load from 9mm and up will cause about the same level of hearing damage.
PAT

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I intend to go into harms way.
 
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