.357 SIG.....My New Favorite Round/Ammo

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Originally Posted By: dnewton3
The same arguments you make for the Sig round were stated abundantly about the 10mm ... And yet it's an also-ran in terms of selection.

The bottle neck effect of .357Sig may help in some cases, but I'd contend that's a band-aid to a poorly designed or made feed ramp. 9mm feeds just fine in well made guns. Stoppages are typically a result of a poor fit, and/or a poorly designed bullet nose. The case shape, itself, should not be the reason a round does or does not feed. In fact, the case really should be the second thing to hit the ramp, not the first. The bullet is the main reason a round gets where it's desired. Nose shape, ramp angle, magazine grip on the case, etc all play into this. That bottle neck shape is secondary to a good bullet/ramp relationship.

As for velocity, I'll counter with this ...
Group-think, as you call it, is changing most of the time; it evolves. The "old" group-think was that speed is king; hot and fast was were it was at. And so the 10mm and .357Sig were developed.

But real world data shows those rounds, when fully loaded, don't put a person down with any more efficiency than a well selected .45 or 9mm. You can yabut this to death (yeah, but ....) and it won't change real world shooting data. Speed does NOT equate to lethality in human targets. Very fast rounds have a tendency to over-penetrate (exit). Anytime something exits, it means energy that should have been dumped into the target is actually being carried out of the target and into a secondary target (hopefully not an innocent person in the background). If your round starts with more energy, but it leaves only X% in the target and carries Y% out, then you paid for energy you wasted.

And again, the hotter and faster the round, the more sound and flash you'll get, too. Ever fire a gun in a home? I have, and it was terrible. It would only be worse if it were louder and brighter. If I need follow up shots, I need to see and not be blinded by residual retinal flash effects. I might need to be able to hear someone behind me, and the least amount of ear-ringing is the most desirable. Any time you fire a firearm in an enclosed area, it's bad. But it's worse with hot, fast rounds. Also, hot and fast also makes follow up shots that much more difficult, and (when fractions of seconds may count), slower.

The .357Sig was basically created to make an auto-loader duplicate the size/speed of the old .357mag. The 357mag had a great record of being effective for decades because it was predominant in LE use, and contrasted to other choices like .38spl, it was king. But we all know the .38spl was just a poor round for lethality, overall. So the "dominance" of the .357mag was mainly due to it being a high-spot in an otherwise poor choice arena. The .357Sig was made to duplicate the .357mag's effect, by copying it's speed and size. But that lethality data was based on decades old info. If you took today's well made 9mm, correctly applied in the right barrels, it is just as effective. The point is that the .357mag wasn't really so awesome because it did things well; it was awesome because it had relatively little viable competition. The 357Sig did exactly what it was designed to do; it's fast and hot and the same size as it's namesake. The .357Sig duplicates the characteristics of the .357mag; fine. But those characteristics don't mean it's any more effective than a well done 9mm. There was a time when 9mm rounds were not effective; those times are past. The technology of design, quality of propellant manufacture, etc all make the 9mm today every bit as good as .357 choices.

I am not saying that we cannot appreciate the vast majority of calibers we can have. I own a LOT in my vault, and love the variety. But what I have for fun, versus what I need in times of SHTF, at two different things. Again, for human targets, we need accuracy and stopping effectiveness.

Yes - the .357Sig will be around for a long time. As will the 10mm. Both lurking in the corners of niche production because in full power, they have compromises that cannot justify their use most of the time. They never were, nor will they ever be, mainstream.

Some of you might think I've always been a 9mm man. That's not true. For years my personal carry was a Glk29 in 10mm. I, too, used to be under the impression that speed and size mattered most. But then I started to look into the real world data; not gun magazine bench racing. And the reality is that these two things are really most important:
1) get it on target, every time
2) dump all the energy in the target, and expend none of it on exit
Really hot, fast rounds have a propensity to make both more difficult.

I wholly agree this is a personal choice; no problem with anyone carrying anything that they can safely handle.

There are times when we can all bring into the conversation a "what about this" example.
- We had one a few years ago in our neighboring agency. They had a police action shooting where they had to dump several rounds into a teenage kid; more than a dozen as I recall. All 9mm. Some questioned if the 9mm was too weak. The kid was not even doped up; well not with illicit drugs anyway. He was amp'd up on his own adrenaline! There is a condition called ED (excited delirium) that makes people almost "super human" in terms of strength and fight from their own body chemistry. Shooting that kid with hotter, faster bullets would have only made more of them end up in the car behind him.
- We had another one a county over where one shot from one 9mm killed a person almost instantly.

There is no "perfect" round. There will always be compromises. There will always be some contributing condition that makes someone want to coach it over again from the couch.

But the real world data shows that fast and large do not show any correlation to more kills in terms of efficiency. Fast and large rounds may have a minimal contribution, but they are dwarfed in massive fashion by putting rounds where they belong, and not wasting energy outside the target. Fast and large are just noise in the statistical data of macro-data shootings. Like I said before, the data does not show they are "better", but the data does show that neither are better.

If anyone has real shooting data that would contradict this, please show me. I'm not adverse to learning from new sources. But it must be credible; real shots on target, not gun mag hype.



The feeding advantage of .357 SIG is merely incidental to its bottleneck design; not some band-aid afterthought that was applied to correct any deficiency in feed ramp design or anything like that. It's just a fact. All else being equal, a bottleneck round is going to have an advantage in feeding.

You argue that a projectile's higher velocity and its resulting greater energy dumped on-target (in this case, .357 SIG vs. 9mm, .40 or .45) doesn't stop a human threat any better than a slower projectile. That's simply untrue. If that were the case, there would be no need for rifles or anything more powerful than 9mm pistols. The facts are that higher velocity and energy transferred to a threat equate to greater damage, and a higher likelihood of stopping an individual's threatening behavior immediately. It's just physics. The more damage a bullet is capable of doing, the higher the chance of causing the kind of damage that's necessary to stop an attacker in his tracks (interruption of CNS function through damage to brain, spine, or other major nerves, or immediate, massive loss of blood pressure, or destruction of major, load-bearing bones).

As far as overpenetration, you're wrong on that as well. It's common knowledge that, at least, with the best-designed modern bullets (HST, Gold Dot, PDX-1) that expand reliably regardless of clothing, etc, higher velocity DOES NOT equate to overpenetration. In fact, it's the opposite - higher velocity translates to greater expansion of hollowpoint rounds, and LESS penetration.

Here are 4 videos by respected YouTube ballistics tester tnoutdoors9 showing this:

.357 SIG HST (13"):

https://youtu.be/3kLkpIljrNA

.357 SIG Gold Dot (14.5"):

https://youtu.be/G5FOFnJVS0E

.357 SIG PDX-1 (12"):

https://youtu.be/w9tMqnNXaDY

.357 SIG Gold Dot (loaded by Underwood Ammuntion to 1500+ FPS from 4" Glock 32 barrel)(15")

https://youtu.be/ughIFOrIP_w

So, the above hollowpoint rounds are considered by some (myself included) to be the best available defensive hollowpoint rounds available on the market today. And, with .357 SIG, they all fell within the 12"-16" range deemed acceptable by the FBI. These rounds (I personally carry the Underwood loading of the Gold Dot in my G32) dump the entire 600 lbs. of muzzle energy into the target.

And, as far as accurately getting rounds on-target, you are right that there is more recoil than the typical 9mm, and that it will be too much for some, especially those who don't shoot much. Personally, I go to the range and shoot a lot, and most of my handguns are big-bore. I'm over 6' tall, have large hands, and I'm not recoil-averse (my first handgun, bought over 15 years ago, was a Glock 20). Plus, I don't find the recoil of the Glock 32 to be hard to handle, at all. It's about the same as an average .40 S&W.

So, it boils down to an individual choice. If you believe you're fine with 9mm, more power to you. I have no problem with 9mm. In fact, it's my EDC most of the time (Sig P938 loaded with Underwood Gold Dot 124g +P). Just don't try to tell me that a higher-powered projectile is no better at stopping a deadly threat than a low-powered one.
 
WOW! That Underwood ammo is hot! With that kind of velocity those bullets must be loaded a little bit hotter than regular loads, correct?
Looks like I need to buy some Underwood .357 SIG ammo.
 
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Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
WOW! That Underwood ammo is hot! With that kind of velocity those bullets must be loaded a little bit hotter than regular loads, correct?
Looks like I need to buy some Underwood .357 SIG ammo.
Yes; they are hotter, but I would challenge you to show me how it will outperform a Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, Winchester PDX1, or a Hornady Critical Duty.
 
Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
WOW! That Underwood ammo is hot! With that kind of velocity those bullets must be loaded a little bit hotter than regular loads, correct?
Looks like I need to buy some Underwood .357 SIG ammo.


It’s just loaded to the original design specs of the .357 SIG round, which was to equal a 125g .357 MAG round, fired from a 4” revolver (1450 FPS).

Unlike most other ammo OEMs, Underwood still loads .357 SIG (and 10mm Auto, I might add) to the original design specs.

Because, why would you even choose to carry a hot caliber like .357 SIG or 10mm Auto if it’s barely warmer than 9mm +P or an upper-end .40? For me, there needs to be a clear superiority if I’m going to make that choice.
 
Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
WOW! That Underwood ammo is hot! With that kind of velocity those bullets must be loaded a little bit hotter than regular loads, correct?
Looks like I need to buy some Underwood .357 SIG ammo.
Yes; they are hotter, but I would challenge you to show me how it will outperform a Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, Winchester PDX1, or a Hornady Critical Duty.


The chronograph readings and what they translate to as far as muzzle energy delivered on-target is enough for me.

The chrono doesn’t lie.
 
Originally Posted By: john_pifer
Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
WOW! That Underwood ammo is hot! With that kind of velocity those bullets must be loaded a little bit hotter than regular loads, correct? Looks like I need to buy some Underwood .357 SIG ammo.
Yes; they are hotter, but I would challenge you to show me how it will outperform a Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, Winchester PDX1, or a Hornady Critical Duty.
The chronograph readings and what they translate to as far as muzzle energy delivered on-target is enough for me. The chrono doesn’t lie.
A chronograph measures speed of projectile, it does not measure terminal performance--I have two of them and am very familiar with how they work. Again, how does this equate to Underwood outperforming any of the major manufacturers in real situations? What is the increased ME going to do that any of the others cannot? How many LEO departments use Underwood versus the other manufacturers? It is one thing to like a particular "anything", it is quite another to prove it is better.
 
Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
WOW! That Underwood ammo is hot


If you think the .357 Sig ammo is, try the 700 Grain .500 S&W Magnum stuff.

 
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Originally Posted By: john_pifer
Because, why would you even choose to carry a hot caliber like .357 SIG or 10mm Auto if it’s barely warmer than 9mm +P or an upper-end .40? For me, there needs to be a clear superiority if I’m going to make that choice.
What is your definition of "barely warmer"? A small ME percentage increase or 40%:

Federal HST 9MM +P:
MPN P9HST3
UPC 029465098063
Manufacturer FEDERAL AMMO
Caliber 9MM AMMO
Bullet Type +P HST Jacketed Hollow Point
Grain 124
Muzzle Velocity 1208 fps
Muzzle Energy 364 ft. lbs

Federal HST .357 SIG:
MPN P357SHST1
UPC 029465094638
Manufacturer FEDERAL AMMO
Caliber 357 SIG AMMO
Bullet Type HST Jacketed Hollow Point
Grain 125
Muzzle Velocity 1360 fps
Muzzle Energy 513 ft. lbs
 
Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
Originally Posted By: john_pifer
Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
WOW! That Underwood ammo is hot! With that kind of velocity those bullets must be loaded a little bit hotter than regular loads, correct? Looks like I need to buy some Underwood .357 SIG ammo.
Yes; they are hotter, but I would challenge you to show me how it will outperform a Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, Winchester PDX1, or a Hornady Critical Duty.
The chronograph readings and what they translate to as far as muzzle energy delivered on-target is enough for me. The chrono doesn’t lie.
A chronograph measures speed of projectile, it does not measure terminal performance--I have two of them and am very familiar with how they work. Again, how does this equate to Underwood outperforming any of the major manufacturers in real situations? What is the increased ME going to do that any of the others cannot? How many LEO departments use Underwood versus the other manufacturers? It is one thing to like a particular "anything", it is quite another to prove it is better.


Already been over this earlier on this thread. More velocity, and, therefore, the resulting higher muzzle energy means more destruction of tissue and a greater probability of an immediately incapacitating wound on an attacker. It’s not rocket science...it’s the same reason that progressively larger and/or higher velocity cartridges, as you go on up from 9mm to .357 SIG to 10mm Auto to .41 MAG to .44 MAG to .50 AE to .500 S&W, and on up the chain into rifle rounds, are each more likely to stop an attacker in his tracks, than the previous, less-powerful round.

Wow. I didn’t think this was such a hard concept to understand.

I’m not downing on any other ammo or saying it’ll be ineffective. I just prefer the maximum performance I can get/afford.
 
Originally Posted By: john_pifer
Already been over this earlier on this thread. More velocity, and, therefore, the resulting higher muzzle energy means more destruction of tissue and a greater probability of an immediately incapacitating wound on an attacker. It’s not rocket science...it’s the same reason that progressively larger and/or higher velocity cartridges, as you go on up from 9mm to .357 SIG to 10mm Auto to .41 MAG to .44 MAG to .50 AE to .500 S&W, and on up the chain into rifle rounds, are each more likely to stop an attacker in his tracks, than the previous, less-powerful round.
Except from the informal studies (if someone has more reliable data, I would love to read it) I have read (here is one from a search) show the average number of shots to full incapacitation averages about 1.7 no matter which handgun round is used from 9MM through .45ACP (including .357SIG, .357 Magnum, and .44 Magnum) so while it seems likely a larger, more powerful caliber would perform better, it has not been proven that any of the popular pistol calibers are any more effective than the others in real life situations. This is one of the reasons why the 9MM has become (once again) the most popular caliber in civilian and LEO circles.

Originally Posted By: john_pifer
I’m not downing on any other ammo or saying it’ll be ineffective. I just prefer the maximum performance I can get/afford.
A perfectly fine reason to want/get that ammunition.
 
Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
Originally Posted By: john_pifer
Because, why would you even choose to carry a hot caliber like .357 SIG or 10mm Auto if it’s barely warmer than 9mm +P or an upper-end .40? For me, there needs to be a clear superiority if I’m going to make that choice.
What is your definition of "barely warmer"? A small ME percentage increase or 40%:

Federal HST 9MM +P:
MPN P9HST3
UPC 029465098063
Manufacturer FEDERAL AMMO
Caliber 9MM AMMO
Bullet Type +P HST Jacketed Hollow Point
Grain 124
Muzzle Velocity 1208 fps
Muzzle Energy 364 ft. lbs

Federal HST .357 SIG:
MPN P357SHST1
UPC 029465094638
Manufacturer FEDERAL AMMO
Caliber 357 SIG AMMO
Bullet Type HST Jacketed Hollow Point
Grain 125
Muzzle Velocity 1360 fps
Muzzle Energy 513 ft. lbs


OK.

And the Underwood is 1500+ FPS out of a 4” barrel, equating to >600 lbs. of muzzle energy.

To me, that’s a significant enough difference to justify carrying a Glock 32, with its reduced capacity magazines, over a Glock 19.
 
Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
WOW! That Underwood ammo is hot! With that kind of velocity those bullets must be loaded a little bit hotter than regular loads, correct?
Looks like I need to buy some Underwood .357 SIG ammo.
Yes; they are hotter, but I would challenge you to show me how it will outperform a Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, Winchester PDX1, or a Hornady Critical Duty.

I don't know that it can.
My favorite 2 SD bullets are HST and PDX1. I have several boxes of FREEDOM MUNITIONS 180 gr XTP rounds in .40S&W. I also have several boxes of FM's 180 gr .40S&W FMJ rounds. When you buy from them, your 1st order is FREE shipping. I haven't bought anything from them since.
HLS just recently purchased 120 million SPEER GD bullets. That's another round I have never shot. They must be darn good for them to buy 120 million!
Overall, out of all of them, HST is my favorite!
thumbsup2.gif
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Originally Posted By: john_pifer
Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
Originally Posted By: john_pifer
Because, why would you even choose to carry a hot caliber like .357 SIG or 10mm Auto if it’s barely warmer than 9mm +P or an upper-end .40? For me, there needs to be a clear superiority if I’m going to make that choice.
What is your definition of "barely warmer"? A small ME percentage increase or 40%:

Federal HST 9MM +P:
MPN P9HST3
UPC 029465098063
Manufacturer FEDERAL AMMO
Caliber 9MM AMMO
Bullet Type +P HST Jacketed Hollow Point
Grain 124
Muzzle Velocity 1208 fps
Muzzle Energy 364 ft. lbs

Federal HST .357 SIG:
MPN P357SHST1
UPC 029465094638
Manufacturer FEDERAL AMMO
Caliber 357 SIG AMMO
Bullet Type HST Jacketed Hollow Point
Grain 125
Muzzle Velocity 1360 fps
Muzzle Energy 513 ft. lbs


OK.

And the Underwood is 1500+ FPS out of a 4” barrel, equating to >600 lbs. of muzzle energy.

To me, that’s a significant enough difference to justify carrying a Glock 32, with its reduced capacity magazines, over a Glock 19.

One of these days I WILL own a G32. By the time I get ready to buy one, I hope Glock is still making them.
 
I want a G33 to add to my G32.

Or, if someone makes a .357 barrel for a Kahr MK40 or PM40...that would be a really cool pocket rocket.
 
Originally Posted By: billt460
Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
WOW! That Underwood ammo is hot


If you think the .357 Sig ammo is, try the 700 Grain .500 S&W Magnum stuff.






I want to see the video of you firing it.
 
Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
One of these days I WILL own a G32. By the time I get ready to buy one, I hope Glock is still making them.
They are and will be for some time to come is my guess; I have a G31, Two G32's, and a G33 (all G4). You can always buy a G32 barrel and pick up a G23 (.40S&W) and have two pistols. It is what I did (at first) and now I have a spare G32 barrel for the two I have.
 
After testing with the chronograph, I’ve noticed a lot of factory ammo doesn’t even reach 1300 FPS. That’s the minimum for good expansion. I prefer it closer to 1400.
 
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Originally Posted By: billt460
Originally Posted By: bigj_16
I want to see the video of you firing it.


Here is the .22 Plinkster running some of it through a compensated S&W.



Nice video!

The 360 gr. .460 load is actually quite a bit stouter. 1900 fps and 2860 ME.
 
Originally Posted By: bigj_16
Nice video! The 360 gr. .460 load is actually quite a bit stouter. 1900 fps and 2860 ME.


The problem with the 700 grain Underwood bullets is as he mentioned in the video. They tumble, and are very inaccurate. The bullets are just too long to be stabilized in the 1 in 18.75" twist the .500 Magnum barrels are equipped with. It's basically a novelty load. Something to play with.
 
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