.357 Sig vs. .40?! ... vs. .45?!

[rugersol]

Just curious why someone chooses a .357 Sig over .40?

I presume they believe the .357 has more "power"?

I never could quite get my head around how a smaller, yet otherwise identical case, could deliver more "power"?

Ya, off the shelf, the .40's springs are probly a bit underpowered for warmer .40 loads ... more comparable to .357 Sig ... but I'd rather pay $8 for a new 22 - 24 lbs drop-in recoil spring, than a premium on "practice" ammo!

Here's a couple loads I found in about 2 minutes of searching ... 'bout as close in bullet-weight, as I could find ... the 147gr .357 is touted as a "woods load" ... so it ain't like it's otherwise just another FMJ! ...

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_32&products_id=617

357 Sig 147gr. FMJ-FP

Here is the heavy hitter! Recently there have been no options for the serious .357 Sig shooter other than 125gr. This is the best woods load there is for your 357 Sig. At DoubleTap we have developed a loading that combines speed, power, and match grade accuracy! All of this and we use a flash supressed powder for virtually no muzzle flash.

3.5" barrel - 1213fps / 480 ft/lbs
4.5" barrel - 1296fps / 550 ft/lbs

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_26&products_id=398

.40 S&W 150gr Nosler JHP

A great carry load for personal protection in 40S&W.

1218fps 496 ft/lbs from a 3.5"bbl.
1317fps 580 ft/lbs from a 4.5"bbl.

So long as the .40 is more powerful, the fact that it's a slightly heavier bullet is of no matter ... but what's interesting is, being a JHP, the .40 is taking up a bit more room ... that could otherwise be used for more powder ... at which, it's somewhat handicapped!

That's not to say that these two loads are indisputable proof that one particular .357 load, in one particular gun, couldn't ever be more "powerful" than another particular .40 load, in another particular gun!

But, it does show .40 can run comparably fast with midrange bullet weights! Doubletap also offers a 135gr load over 1,300fps from a 3.5in bbl ... of course, this is slower than a 125gr .357! ... but still, a fairly light bullet, at very fast velocity!

[thunderoussilence]

Ya forgot 10mm

[Shipyard]

+1

10mm all the way.

end of discussion - but thanks for loggin in today

[Stradawhovious]

+1

10mm all the way.

end of discussion - but thanks for loggin in today

That's why you carry a .45 then?

[Shipyard]

+1

10mm all the way.

end of discussion - but thanks for loggin in today

That's why you carry a .45 then?

sorry - what was the question again


i couldn't hear you over the sound of how awesome i am....

[Ron Burgundy]

I understand .357 to be preferred by certain government types for its performance shooting through obstructions like windshields. I would like to put this to the test but I can't find any windshield donors.

For what it is worth I like the 9mm so I voted for "sounds cool"

[rugersol]

its performance shooting through obstructions like windshields.

I suspect that's a far greater result of bullet construction, than diameter ... but I'm too lazy to offer any proof!

[Ron Burgundy]

I think we can settle on "sounds cool" then. Case closed!

[scout]

[Stradawhovious]

sorry - what was the question again


i couldn't hear you over the sound of how awesome i am....

Yer a turd.

Did ya hear that?

[Seismic Sam]

.357 "sounds" cool! - Ahh, when you're an 800 pound reloading troll living under a bridge, being cool is kinda like the teats on a boar
.357 is faster ... faster is always better! -Faster is better only because the ft-lbs rating is biased towards bullet speed - but the 357 Sig DOES equal the 357 Magnum 125 grain JHP loads that have been putting bad guys down for decades, so it's nothing to sneeze at
I prefer reloading bottle-necked pistol brass! -Actually, I DO like reloading bottle necked pistol brass!! Use to reload 256 Winchester Mag (357 necked down to 25 cal..), then the awesome 440 Corbon Magnum, and now the .357 Sig!!

I prefer paying more for "practice" ammo! -What is this paying you speak of?? I reload everything, so a 9mm 125 grain load costs nearly the same as a 357 Sig load...
I don't practice! -Ask photogpat how his gong was feeling after I got done with it at 25 yards..
I don't know how to drop-in a new recoil spring in a .40! -TRUE!! I've never even shot a 40, much less field stripped one. I do know how to replace the recoil springs in my various 10mm's and 45 Supers..
.357 is a better "man stopper"! -A round that is equivalent to the 357 mag should get the job done
.40 is "short 'n weak"! -You got that right!! The only time the fo-tay is strong is when the bullet sets back on chambering and blows up your Glock!!
I carry a .40 ... I ain't skeered! -And judging by your spelling, you ain't too bright or edjumacated neither - why else would you own a 40??
I carry a .45 ... ya'll may as well be carrying slingshots! -I carry a .50, so ya'll may as well be carrying spitballs!!

[illbits]

I love the .357 sig, it's my favorite cartridge. Speer lawman practice ammo is about $18 for a box of 50 and is designed to mimic the feel and performance of Gold Dots. .357 sig has a more pleasant recoil. It also penetrates deeper. From what I understand, .357 sig is the round bulletproof vests are often tested against, and it penetrates most of them. So add it up, bottleneck cartridge that feeds more consistently, lighter recoil, better penetration, cheaper to reload then .40, about the same price for commercial ammo. I'd take a .357 sig over a .40 every day of the week. Although I own both calibers, I carry the .357 sig and have absolute confidence in it's stopping power.

[grousemaster]

Funny listening to those attached to the .45 dog the .40....I'll take the .40 any day over a .45 ACP, it does not bother me that it's not and old enough cartridge to be popular with the older crowd.

More capacity, less expensive ammo, more energy, better barrier penetration....etc.

Where can I get ,.357 Sig ammo for about the same price as .40? Tula .40 is $12.97 at Wally World and Federal is like $16.99 or something....

[Seismic Sam]

Then there is the issue of the 357 Sig EQUALING the 9x23 Winchester round, so you get the same 1450 w/125 gr either way. Big difference, however, is that a gun that will hold 12 357 Sig rounds will hold 18 9x23 Winchester rounds, so you have an 18 shot 357 mag instead of a 12 shot 357 mag. And with the 9x23 Winchester, you don't have to step into the reloading mosh pit like Mr. Warner does....

[illbits]

I can fit 25 rounds of .357 sig in a 22-round glock mag with a +2 extension!