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  • Rg21044

    Member
    Apr 28, 2015
    5
    Ok. I'm new. I read the sticky in the intro section about not starting certain threads about subjects that have been beaten to death...like .40 vs. 9mm. However, my question is about the fate of my favorite caliber...the 357sig. I know it has it's faults. It has it's champions and it's detractors. I know it can be hard to find and expensive when you do find it....but I really like the ballistics, the penetrating power and most of all that glorious sound. What is your opinion of this often maligned caliber?
     

    Rg21044

    Member
    Apr 28, 2015
    5
    I understand your point, but I like experimenting with different calibers. I have firearms chambered for 9mm, .45Acp, .45lc, .44mag, .454 Casull, .40S&W, .357mag/.38spec and of course my beloved .357sig.

    Oh yeah...I almost forgot 10mm. I love my Glock 29.
     

    cantstop

    Pentultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Aug 10, 2012
    8,158
    MD
    I prefer the 357Sig cousin (Mother?) 7.62x25 Tokarev. Pretty similar ballistics to the 357Sig and an excellent condition Romanian TTC can be had for around $200ish bucks.
     

    joppaj

    Sheepdog
    Staff member
    Moderator
    Apr 11, 2008
    46,451
    MD
    A respected member around here offered the opinion that it offered all the magazine capacity advantage of .40 with the power advantage of 9mm+p.

    .357 mag is my favorite handgun caliber but I just can't bring myself to get the .357sig.
     

    StantonCree

    Watch your beer
    Jan 23, 2011
    23,932
    Where this round excels is shooting objects (sounds stupid hear me out). The extra FPS helps ensure the bullet doesn't sway as much when shooting through glass/car doors.
     
    Last edited:

    alucard0822

    For great Justice
    Oct 29, 2007
    17,643
    PA
    Given the right need and ammo it can offer enhanced hard cover penetration and range compared to 40 with only a barrel swap. The main issue with it is few need the potential penetration benefits, less capacity, less efficient with heavy bullets, greater noise, more expensive,and a lack of bullets optimized for the velocity increase over the 9x19 loads most were designed for. It is fun to shoot, I like fast 38/9mmm calibers, but with some newer +p and +p+ 9x19 loads that come within 50fps/FPE of "duty" 357sig you can get fairly close without any of the dimensional drawbacks of the caliber.
     

    TheRealJimDavis

    Active Member
    Jan 28, 2013
    477
    The Burnie
    I LOVE .357 sig, I've owned two. Sadly, I don't have a niche for them anymore. They were too expensive to feed to keep around as toys. If you can afford it, it's an awesome round. ..., well, in a full size, but that's another post. ;-)
     

    K.C.Dean

    Ultimate Member
    Mar 1, 2013
    2,844
    Buds Creek
    I love 357 revolver. I owned a taurus 357 but sold it. I will buy another, sooner or later but don't have the funds or a HQL.
     

    jimbobborg

    Oddball caliber fan
    Aug 2, 2010
    17,112
    Northern Virginia
    The perfect answer to a question that no one asked. :P

    The point of the cartridge was to get .357 Magnum 125gr performance out of a service sized semi-auto pistol. At the time, that Magnum load was the #1 1 shot ammunition in existence. That was the question asked by a lot of gun enthusiasts at the time.
     

    photoracer

    Competition Shooter
    Oct 22, 2010
    3,318
    West Virginia
    Ok. I'm new. I read the sticky in the intro section about not starting certain threads about subjects that have been beaten to death...like .40 vs. 9mm. However, my question is about the fate of my favorite caliber...the 357sig. I know it has it's faults. It has it's champions and it's detractors. I know it can be hard to find and expensive when you do find it....but I really like the ballistics, the penetrating power and most of all that glorious sound. What is your opinion of this often maligned caliber?
    I have carried it and shot it in competition. I still like it. One reason why I have 9mm, .357Sig, and .40 barrels for my HK USP-C . 40 is just an after thought. I carry .357Sig when I absolutely might have a need to destroy something and 9mm when I want more capacity. Did have a Sig P229 Sport racegun. Sold it to get a 9x23mm STI (close to the same power, actually a little more) after a couple of years. In my opinion .357Sig is less mag sensitive than .38Super or 9x23mm so a better carry cartridge than the other 2. Other than that you pick your own favorite. I do have a 1911 that has dual caliber, 9x19mm and 9x23mm barrel setups. I prefer 12 rounds of .357Sig in the USP-C verses 9 rounds of 9x23mm in the 1911 Commander type gun.
     

    Blaster229

    God loves you, I don't.
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 14, 2010
    46,407
    Glen Burnie
    Paging Blaster229! Paging Blaster229! Paging Blaster229!

    If I'm not mistaken, Blaster229's favorite pistol caliber is the .357 Sig.

    Meh, It's ok ;) Unfortunately I cannot comment on it's availability, because I will have availability :).

    All I know is that out to 100 yards, it is straight as a laser. If something is unwavering out to that distance, it's even more rock solid at closer range (which is where I am taking shots from).

    Never ina countless number of rounds, I have never had any feeding issue or any malfunctions at all. That's over 3 different pistols ( 2, 229's and 1, 239) over 13 years..
    The tapered shape I do believe attributes to the flawless feeding, and the Speer brand.
    Penetration is not an issue if you're making head shots.
    The real fun benefit is that any other caliber you shoot, feels like a .22.

    So, yeah, I like the round.
     

    normbal

    Ultimate Member
    BANNED!!!
    May 2, 2011
    1,189
    socialist occupied maryland
    I had a lot of patients who carried the SIG 229 in 357 SIG - SS agents, mostly. Thought I'd give it a try, found a good used SIG 229 in .40 S&W and bought a SIG 357 barrel for it. Total cost around $600.

    Best $600 for a gun I've ever spent. Liked it so much I bought another a few years later - someone had installed one of those LASER guide rods in it which I removed and put the stock parts back in they also supplied - gun was $550 delivered, sold the LASER for $150. A much better deal than the other one as this came in 357 SIG.

    I've shot and reloaded thousands of rounds through them and when I travel out of the state frequently carry the SIG229 as my PDW.

    I found a deal on some police-issued only ammunition (not for direct to public sale), forget the ballistics on it, but I can hit what I'm aiming at out to at least 25 yards with it and that's enough for me.

    Just wish I'd gotten a suppressor for it. Doing CQB drills with it and with earplugs AND muffs, the concussion does me in after a few mag changes.

    I like SIGS. Own a double handful of them. P226s, P220s, P229s, P232, P239 and others. Easy to work on, ergonomics work well for me (and my son who shoots the 226 whenever he can), reliable, I'd buy one used without hesitation.

    YMMV.
     

    Blaster229

    God loves you, I don't.
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 14, 2010
    46,407
    Glen Burnie
    I found a deal on some police-issued only ammunition (not for direct to public sale), forget the ballistics on it, but I can hit what I'm aiming at out to at least 25 yards with it and that's enough for me.

    You mean the 50 round boxes of Speer Gold dot that says "law enforcement use only" on the box?
     

    Blaster229

    God loves you, I don't.
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 14, 2010
    46,407
    Glen Burnie
    I don't think it is anything other than a packaging thing. 50 round boxes " LE only" compared to 20 round boxes. No spec difference I am aware of, maybe a tighter QC on the LE use ammo? I dunno.

    The sintered bullets you refer is frangible ammo. Mainly used on steel targets to prevent ricochet and splash back. Both available to the public.
     

    Biff_N

    Active Member
    Jan 7, 2010
    381
    Not to thread jack, but since both Blaster and normbal mentioned owning Sig 239s could you recommend a holster options that work well for that pistol?

    I like the retention method of the Serpas but it doesn't appear they are made to fit the 239.
    Thank you
     

    Blaster229

    God loves you, I don't.
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 14, 2010
    46,407
    Glen Burnie
    Not to thread jack, but since both Blaster and normbal mentioned owning Sig 239s could you recommend a holster options that work well for that pistol?

    I like the retention method of the Serpas but it doesn't appear they are made to fit the 239.
    Thank you

    I'm not a retention holster type guy. I've always used a small suede inside the waistband holster from bianchi. I think it's a Model #6.
    And since the pistol is smaller and lighter weight, I've used a Fobus Roto paddle holster in certain instances, usually in cooler weather and always at the range.

    Since you mentioned the Serpa, I assume you're talking paddle holsters? I don't think many use them as belt holsters much.

    I've also used Galco " concealable" leather belt holsters and a Desantis.
     

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