Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 357 sig

MM...........I haven't shot the Underwood. I have shot the GD into a large variety of media, barriers, etc. I'm comfortable with the load.
That's not to say that curiosity won't compel me to order/try something different, but there's no NEED to IMO.

George

I'm sure the GD and most of the Sig loads are dialed in pretty good.

The thing about the 65gr Underwood at 2100 fps, I have a feeling it will defeat IIIA body armor. Something I consider as time goes on.

So will a 7.62 x25

Depends on the load...you have to find one that breaks 1400 fps to be sure...

The 9x23 Winchester whitebox SP will also...

I've seen it done with that chambering in a CZ 53.

Back in Quantico, a fellow Marine brought a CZ 53 and some ammo (foreign) from the gun show. We tried it on IIIA glass, it sailed on through. Don't know what the velocity was, but it was enough.

Not likely with Any standard duty round

Anyone ever mess with the Sigs roided big brother, the 9x25?

Haven't most of the big ammo/bullet makers developed bullets specific to the 357 Sig velocity range?

Yes. Bullet construction is different (tougher) and nose profiles are different (shorter). Most 357 Sig ammo is not simply 9mm bullets pushed faster.

Personally I've come to like a lightweight solid bullet pushed fast for both 9mm and 357 Sig. The Underwood/Lehigh 90gr Defender load is one of the best IMO, although in my experience with testing it, the 65gr version is too light and suffers reduced penetration.

For most of my 357 Sig shooting I use a 100gr flat point cast/coated bullet (from the Lee 95 RF mold with lube grooves removed). When heat treated hard and pushed at 1750-1800 fps (5.3" barrel in a G22) that bullet is pretty effective and penetrates deeper than most hollow point loads. The same load without heat treatment acts like a hollow point with pretty significant bullet expansion, but penetration is much less.

I don't have much use for heavy bullet 357 Sig loads; if you want a heavy bullet in that size case, it's called a 40 S&W.

One other comment on handloading 357 Sig - case capacity varies significantly by brand, so using mixed range brass can result in high ES, meaning 150+ fps variations with top loads. Sorting headstamps by weight works well; FC and R-P brass are lighter (more capacity) and can be mixed for example, while Sig and DTA are heavier cases that will cause higher velocity for the same load.

Just saw this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vkLv3FhZ_g&feature=youtu.be

Thanks for posting.

I just picked up a like new gen3 tennifer 22 with the thought of putting a 357 sig barrel in it. Does anyone have a good source for once fired 357 sig brass?

Bb

Holy damn, after reading this thread late last night I did indeed see my little 38 Super hand loads are NOT as close to the factory loaded 357 Sigs as I thought, although, a 125gr Barnes copper hp at 1341 from a Colt LW Commander isn't going to buff out, that 357 Sig is a hot one.

Thanks for all the load legwork and reporting Men.

its an intriguing cartridge to me as I wonder if the shape of the case and the quality of the ammo make it a more accurate than ordinary round.

Even if it were so, I doubt many could hold well enough to realize any difference.

I can tell the difference in 9mm Ammo in a G17 at 15 yards. You are however right, shooting a pistol accurately is not as easy as many think.

I bought a ton of it pretty cheap on GunBroker. It wasn't any more expensive than name brand 9mm brass. I also lucked into 1000 primed cases from pulled LEO ammo at Rocky Mountain Reloading a year or two ago.

For starters, I can walk into our local gunshops and come away with a decent 357 SIG defensive load. I can't say the same about 9mm +P+. Around here, and online I commonly find 357 SIG defensive ammo at about the same price as decent 9mm defensive ammo. I do powershop a bit, but after seeing the price of Winchester 357 SIG practice ammo locally (ouch), I've found that the defensive ammo isn't nearly that expensive. I've even bought Underwood ammo from Midway on sale for under $15.00/box of 20.

357 Sig fascinates me

It is the winner of the White Settlement Church shooting here in Texas recently ........With one shot it beat a 12 gauge. Reportedly one very fast round in the brain bucket won the match !!!

Well kinda. I think most will agree it was the old timer who knew how to shoot. What’s interesting to me is that was his choice of carry. No 9, no 1911, no snubby, no micro auto.