Any .357 Sig Shooters?

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I have a Sig P226 in .40 on order and plan to pick up a .357 barrel for it. Any one shoot a .357 and if so, what do you think about it?
 
I should be trying one out soon. A friend just got whatever the new long barrel Glock .40 S&W is for his carry sidearm. He has the conversion kit for .357Sig once his department approves it for carry. We are going to go shooting soon because he is jealous of my AR collection.
 
I like it enough but ammo is expensive. The way I look at it is, you'll have another caliber to add to your collection which is always a good thing. The P226 is a nice pistol!

Edit - mine is a G27 with a S/Lake conversion barrel. I would probably enjoy it much more in a full size pistol.
 
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Originally Posted By: Fleetmon
I like it enough but ammo is expensive. The way I look at it is, you'll have another caliber to add to your collection which is always a good thing. The P226 is a nice pistol!

Edit - mine is a G27 with a S/Lake conversion barrel. I would probably enjoy it much more in a full size pistol.

I will be handloading for mine. I picked up 1500+ pieces of once fired brass (all Speer head stamp) for less than $120 a few weeks ago. I bought the dies years ago (anticipating that I would buy one at some point) and Montana Gold bullets seem to be pretty reasonable. I have a P226 in 9MM and love it (it was my duty pistol in a former life). Does the recoil fall between the 9 and the .40 or?
 
2010_FX4,

I carried the Glock 31 on duty from 05/02 - 08/09. I shot 60k rounds, that's no typo, 60k rounds, through it before I sheared the lug off of the factory barrel.

The gun had previously broke the left rear slide rail off, so it made two trips to GLOCK during its life.

When I got it back the second time, it had three different serial numbers, the original one for the slide, and a new one for the new barrel, and a new one for the new receiver. I sold it and switched to the 40 caliber with no regrets.

.357SIG is a potent round. Interestingly our department no longer authorizes it as a duty round, in part to surprisingly lackluster ballistic testing we did in 2008.

We had been using 127 gr. +p+ Winchester Ranger T ammo in 9mm which chronographed @ 1250fs. The 125gr. Winchester Ranger T .357SIG round was only 75fps faster @ 1325fps and performed worse (less expansion & penetration) than the 9mm ammo. That coupled with how it beat up our Glocks (all our SWAT guys were carrying the 31) made the decision to transition to the Glock22/.40 cal an easy one.

I'm not sure you remember, but when Remington came out with the round in 1994 it was rated at 1425fps, a real screamer, but soon after, very much like the 40S&W round, was detuned.

We primarily use the .40S&W & .45ACP, both in Federal HST (the .45 being +p). I rate them as the top dog in ammo now.

Now, in a Sig-Sauer, which beefed up the 226 .357SIG considerably, compared to their 9mm, it will have no difficulty handling the round. I just have lost interest in the modern offerings of .357SIG, even in HST, believing they offer little true ballistic advantage over 9mm, in standard, +p, or LE +p+, or .40S&W. That coupled with much higher shooting cost would make me lean towards .40 if you are not recoil sensitive (and I doubt you are) & 9mm if you are.

Just my 2¢.

Take care,
Gary
 
Tucson - many thanks for your insight and information! I had a .40 in a Beretta 96FS some years ago and capped about 20K through it before I sold it. The main issue that I had with it was the poor selection of bullets (at the time). Things have changed in 20 odd years and I see there are many more available these days.

I will have 4 of the most popular auto rounds (9MM, .357 Sig, .40 S&W, and .45ACP) after acquiring the P226 in .40/.357. But I have to admit that to acquire the .357 Sig is more of a completionist move on my part than an actual need. I have more 9MM pistols that I can shoot and since I hand load all of my own rounds, +P and even +P+ is not difficult to make. I prefer the 9MM (not sure why other than it is a very economical round to shoot and is fairly accurate), but the .45ACP is a new round (to me) that is also grabbing my attention these days. I have a number of revolvers as well, so the whole collection is fairly rounded out. I will develop loads for both the .40 and the .357 and alternate, but I may also grab another P226 if I like the .357 and have one of each set up on a permanent basis.

Thanks again for the insight!
 
2010_FX4,

You're very welcome. Between astro14, bubbatime & me, we have your ballistic concerns covered.

Now, do your part and keep your F150 UOAs coming.
wink.gif


Seriously, realizing your decision concerning using .357 is less critical than mine, grab a .357 barrel and have at it. It should perform beautifully in a Sig 226.

I am curious as to how you compare the .357SIG recoil to .40S&W.

Happy shooting,
Gary
 
Originally Posted By: Tucson Five-O
Now, do your part and keep your F150 UOAs coming.
wink.gif


I am sitting at 13.5K on this run of M1 AFE and a Fram Ultra. I will probably let it go to 16.5K and will UOA/OC and dissect the FU. I will switch to M1 0W-20 EP on the next run and compare.

Originally Posted By: Tucson Five-O
Seriously, realizing your decision concerning using .357 is less critical than mine, grab a .357 barrel and have at it. It should perform beautifully in a Sig 226. I am curious as to how you compare the .357SIG recoil to .40S&W.

My self-defense needs have been covered by a P226, P229, and Walther P99AS all in 9MM (hard to break old habits) for many years now. So you are correct in that the .357 is more of a hobby endeavour--though I am curious how the P226 handles the .40/.357; the 226 is probably my all time favorite pistol.
 
The .357Sig is simply another answer to a question no one really liked. Not unlike my personal fav, the 10mm.

When loaded to their full potential, those can be hot to shoot. I'm sorry, I meant HOT! They will scream when loaded to their SAAMI full potential. And they also become a handful to shoot if you're going to practice with any regularity.

Not to mention that because they are not the big three (9mm, .40, .45) they cost way more to either purchase or reload.

It's typical that a market will always try to expand in an effort to seek "perfection". But often it becomes self-fulfilling. Not unlike the bazillion rifle calibers. As if the .357Sig and 10mm are not enough of an example, think of the .45 GAP, etc; here is a partial list of bullet sizes:
NOTE - I copied/pasted from the web, so please don't shoot me (pun intended) if the list is in error or incomplete ....
2.34mm
2.7mm Kolibri
3mm Kolibri
4mm GECO
4mm M. 20
4.25mm Liliput
.17 Mach 2
.17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire
.17-357 RG
4.5x40R
4.5x26mm
4.6x30mm
5mm Bergmann
5mm Bergmann Rimless
5mm Clement
5.5mm Velo Dog
.22 BB
.22 CB
.22 Short
.22 Long
.22 Long Rifle
.22 Magnum
.22 WRF
.22 Reed Express
.22 Remington Jet (.22 Jet, .22 Centerfire Magnum)
.221 Remington Fireball
.223 Remington
5.56x45mm
.224 BOZ
5.45x18mm
5.45x39mm
5.45x39mm MGTS
5.66x39mm MPS
5.7x28mm
5.8x21mm
.25 ACP
6.35 mm Browning
6.5mm Bergmann
.25 NAA
.256 Winchester Magnum
7mm Nambu
7.62x51mm Winchester
30-30 Winchester
7mm Bench Rest Remington
7.65mm Brev
7.62x25mm Tokarev
7.62x36mm
7.62x38mmR
7.62x39mm
7.62x42mm SP-4
7.63x25mm Mauser
7.65x25mm Borchardt
7.65mm Roth-Sauer
7.65x22mm Parabellum
7.65mm Longue
7.65mm Mannlicher
.30 Wildey
.32 ACP
7.62x17mm
.32 NAA
.32 S&W
.32 S&W Long
.320 Revolver
.32 Short Colt
.32 Long Colt
.32 H&R Magnum
.327 Federal Magnum
.32-20 Winchester
.32-20 Marlin
8mm Lebel Revolver
8mm Roth-Steyr
8x22mm Nambu
.35 S&W Auto
8.5mm Mars
.38 Short Colt
.38 Long Colt
.38 S&W
.38 Calibre
.380 Revolver
.38 Special
9x29mmR
.356 TSW
.357 AutoMag
.357 Magnum
.357 Sig
.357 Super Magnum
.357 Remington Maximum
.360 Dan Wesson
.357 Wildey Magnum
.357/44 Bain & Davis
9x18mm Makarov
9x18mm Ultra
9mm Browning Long
9mm Glisenti
9x19mm Luger
9mm Federal
9x21mm IMI
9x21mm Gyurza
9mm Action Express
9x23mm Steyr
9mm Largo
9x22mm Super Cooper
9x23mm Winchester
9mm Mars
9mm Mauser Export
9mm Winchester Magnum
9x25mm Dillon
9x30mm Magnum
9x39mm
.380 ACP
.38 AMU
.38 Auto
.38 Super Auto
.38 Super Comp
.38/.45 Clerke
.38 Casull
.357/45 Grizzly Win Mag
9.8 mm Auto Colt
.375 Super Magnum
.38-40 Winchester
.400 Colt Magnum
.400 Corbon
.40 G&A
.40 Smith & Wesson
.40 Super
.401 Herter Magnum
.401 Special
10mm Auto
10mm Magnum
10.4mm Italian Revolver
.41 Action Express
.41 Avenger
.41 JMP
.41 Long Colt
.41 Colt Special
.41 Special
.41 Remington Magnum
.41 Wildey Magnum
.414 JDJ
.414 Super Magnum
.427 ZMR
.44 American
.44 Bulldog
.44 Colt
.44 Special
.44 S&W Russian
.44 Remington Magnum
.44 Auto Mag
.440 Cor-Bon
.442 Webley
.44 Wildey Magnum
.44 Henry rimfire
.44-40 Winchester
.4295 RIC
11.25x36Rmm Montenegrin
11mm French Ordnance
11mm German Service
11.35mm Schouboe
.45 Schofield
.410 Shotgun (67 Gauge)
.45 Colt
.45 ICP
.45 J-Mag
.45 Super
.450 Revolver
.45 Webley
.455 Webley
.455 Webley Mk II
.455 Webley Automatic
.45 GAP
.45 ACP
.45 HP
.45 Auto Rim
.45 S&W
.45 Mars Short
.45 Mars Long
.45 Wildey Magnum
.45 Winchester Magnum
.45-70 Government
.450 SMC
.450 Magnum Express
.451 Detonics Magnum
.454 Casull
.455 Super Mag
.458 Devastator
.458 Maximum
.458 Linebaugh Maximum
.460 S&W Magnum
.460 Rowland
.475 Linebaugh
.475 Maximum
.475 Wildey Magnum
.480 Ruger
.476 Enfield
12mm Gyrojet
12.5x40mm STs-110
.499 Linebaugh
.50 Special
.50 Action Express
.500 S&W Special
.500 S&W Magnum
.50 Remington
.50 BMG
.50 GI
.500 Linebaugh
.500 Maximum
.500 Wyoming Express


I consider the .357Sig as a play-time joy. Sure - it will do everthing most any other reasonable round will do. But it costs more in terms of money and practice to make it work. It's not a cost effective round, and that's why the mainstream has essentially abandoned it.
 
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Thanks for the information Dave. I will have to see how it goes once I have it. Reloading is a hobby so I no worries about the cost aspect--it will be cheaper nonetheless versus buying.
 
It doesn't reload the way straight-wall cartridges do. That is, you have to deal with case lube which is a pain. It's much faster to load 9mm Luger, .40S&W, .45ACP, .38 Super, .44 Mag, etc.

IOW, .357 Sig isn't worth the hassle.
 
Since when has hassle dominated the firearms world? Plenty of stuff doesn't make absolute sense. A lever .30-30 is more expensive, less accurate, and less powerful than low cost .308 bolt guns these days. .30-30 is still an excellent choice. If you want a hot .35 cal auto round that fits in a 9mm frame the .357 Sig makes a lot of sense. If you're not looking for something like that, it doesn't.

I'm also curious how the conclusion that the .357 Sig was more expensive to reload than other duty rounds was reached.
 
Originally Posted By: strat81
It doesn't reload the way straight-wall cartridges do. That is, you have to deal with case lube which is a pain. It's much faster to load 9mm Luger, .40S&W, .45ACP, .38 Super, .44 Mag, etc. IOW, .357 Sig isn't worth the hassle.

That depends on your case lube and equipment-- this stuff is a snap! I have two Dillon presses, the .357 SIG will reload just as fast and easy as any straight wall case will. Speaking for me, I see this as a zero issue...
 
Originally Posted By: hatt
I'm also curious how the conclusion that the .357 Sig was more expensive to reload than other duty rounds was reached.

.357 SIG bullets are a little more expensive than comparable 9MM, but if one is in possession of once fired brass, everything else is the same--primers and powder, etc. I scooped up 1500+ rounds of once fired Speer brass for < $120 so on that front I am good. I already have loads of powder and primer, I just need to decide on a bullet and start working loads up from there.
 
There may be a couple examples of a cheap bulk packed 9mm bullets not suitable for the .357 that ends up being a little cheaper but the .357 can use many/most 9mm bullets. .357 Sig brass will cost more and it'll use more powder but the cost to the reloader are pretty close between 9mm and .357.

The assertion is was that it was more expensive than .40 and .45 as well. I want to see how that works.
 
Originally Posted By: hatt
The assertion is was that it was more expensive than .40 and .45 as well. I want to see how that works.

Ah! I missed that. I do not see how it could work. The .40 and .45 use more powder and the bullets cost more (unless using something in the 'junk' line). I did not realize that 9MM bullets could be used in the SIG--the ogive seemed to be to sharp for a 9MM to feed adequately in a SIG and unless using >125 or higher grain bullets, I wonder if there is enough bullet for the case mouth to grab and hold onto. However, I have plenty of 9MM bullets, so I may test that theory when I start loading for it.
 
Bullets with a pronounced shoulder should work. People, I haven't, use the 90 grain XTP in the .357 and say it works well so lighter weight bullets aren't going to be a problem. Double Tap has a 180 grain hardcast load. The .357 being bullet finicky is a myth likely put out by the people who don't have the round.
 
Originally Posted By: strat81
It doesn't reload the way straight-wall cartridges do. That is, you have to deal with case lube which is a pain. It's much faster to load 9mm Luger, .40S&W, .45ACP, .38 Super, .44 Mag, etc.

IOW, .357 Sig isn't worth the hassle.


i lube cases even if they need it or not. And i am using carbide dies. They just run smoother and more consistant through my press.

on the 357 sig topic, I just dislike the bark it has when fired. having run a few people shooting it, it sounds like an open gun.
 
I love .357Sig (Glock 20 with Lone Wolf Barrel, Sig 226 and 229).

My experience - I don't reload (yet) - I have been able to find sales, wait, shop, etc and have never paid more than $20/50 for plinking ammo. Not cheap, but not prohibitive.

I have this weird dream of having a .357Sig AR upper or some other .357Sig rifle. Just because. (Ditto 10mm!)
 
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