[DarinCraft]

This is just a question for my own education. I don't have the money or desire to own a 357 sig, but curiosity has gotten the better of me.

I was told by a gun dealer (i.e. probably knows nothing) that the 357 sig round is a bastard round that is useless. However, I am seeing a lot of people choose it for a defense round. Leads me to believe the gun dealer is wrong and there is something to the round that I would like to know.

Just so you guys know I am trying to increase my education with ammo so you will probably read more threads by me of this same nature. not trying to irritate anyone, I just want to know the advantages of some of the more popular ammo's out there (i.e. 9, 40, 10, 460R and such)

Thanks

[MotorG20]

Hi DC. The 357 SIG was designed to give 357mag performance from a more compact semi-auto pistol holding a lot more rounds of ammo. It seems that many officers loved the stopping power of the 125gr. 357mag revolver, and wanted to retain that power when they were switched over to semi-auto pisols. There was nothing available at the time, so SIG jumped in. Some people say that the 357SIG wasn't needed, and that a +P or +P+ 9x19 is just as good as the 357SIG, but the SIG is definitley hotter/faster than any 9x19. Even the 147gr. SIG loads are moving pretty fast.
I don't own a 357SIG, but it's always intrigued me.

MotorG20

[canebrake]

Necked cartridges are for rifles!

The .357 Sig is an answer looking for a question.

[MotorG20]

Actually, necked semi auto rounds go back a long way, like the 30Luger, 7.62 Tokarev, 7.63 Mauser,etc. But it always had me scratching my head as to why the designers of that time used such small calibers. The whole idea to necking a handgun cartridge was to fit more powder/give more power, while keeping the length of the cartridge short enough to fit a standard pistol. It seems to me the 357 SIG design, or even larger caliber could have/should have been used by those early designers. It would have been far ahead of the 30cal. rounds in stopping power, especially with a blunt, flat tip. Imagine the 400 Corbon in the 1911at that time. I know, I know, it's blasphemy to speak of another round in the ol' 1911.

MotorG20

[gandog56]

Well, I have a SIG P229 that has both the .40 S&W and 357 SIG barrels. A 357 SIG is just a 9mm on steroids, but I kind of like it. Pretty darned accurate round, too.

It is a pain to reload them as you can't use a no lube carbide type die.

[MotorG20]

Hi gandog56. I've heard that if you have carbide 40S&W dies, you can run the 357SIG brass in that first, and then run it in the 357SIG sizer without the need for lube. I've heard the same thing with the 400 Corbon being run up a 45acp carbide die first, then in the 400 Corbon die, without the need of lube.
Just thought I'd pass that on.

MotorG20

[crossfire]

The .357 SIG and 9x23 Winchester are ballistic twins. The 9x23 offers more ammo capacity due to the smaller diameter case. The .38 Casull (.38-45 Clerke or SafeStop) predates both and offers considerably more power.

[Shihan]

I know nothing about the round, except I like it and use it as my personal carry choice.
I am happy with it.
I guess this will help me learn a bit about it myself.

Some say it is not a good round for reloading. That's the most negative I have really ever heard about it.

[DarinCraft]

Originally Posted by Shihan

I know nothing about the round, except I like it and use it as my personal carry choice.
I am happy with it.
I guess this will help me learn a bit about it myself.

Some say it is not a good round for reloading. That's the most negative I have really ever heard about it.

That is kind of what I wanted to know about it. Is it a round that has: high velocity, high energy, flat trajectory, good penetration? Is it a good compromise between power and speed or is it like the .32 an abortion that should have been discontinued?

[spittinfire]

The 357 sig is nothing like a 32. It's a good round, just not a common one. I would feel safe carrying it but I'm going to stick with my 45.