Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 40 S&W vs 357 SIG?

Hey fellas, a Bud said I should switch my new Sig 226 in 40 S&W to a 357 Sig, said all it takes is a barrel swap, then he had to run and left me with a bunch of questions that went unanswered.

Question is, I have developed a handload for my 40 that consists of the 140 gr Barnes TAC-XP's at 1250 fps, they shoot into a bit over 2.5" at 25 yards with me at the wheel, they would no doubt shoot better for someone else.

Is the 357 Sig that much [or any] of a better SD/Trail round for carry, both will provide 16 shots in this pistol.

Not being familiar with the 357 Sig ballistics, does my friend make a valid point or should I just stay put?

Thanks in advance Gents.

Gunner

The .357 Sig was designed to match the ballistics of the .357 S&W Mag 125gr load out of a 4" barrel revolver as carried by many law enforcement agencies back in the day. That combo had a great track record for "one shot stops", so to duplicate it in a semi-auto seemed a good idea. Also, the bottle neck cartridge feeds slicker then snot, so it is somewhat less prone to jams. In reality, it boils down to weather you like the .40's ability to better handle heaver bullets or the .357's performance with light bullets. What ever you shoot with either will probably not know the difference.

To state the obvious that you may not know, the Sig is a necked down 40. It is a great round with its only down side is the cost of factory ammo and slightly more difficult reloading. One is not going to kill better than the other.

What he said...

Remember that the .40 S&W basically duplicates the old .38-40 with 180's and it was/is no slouch.

I like the .357 Sig cartridge, but I think your .40 S&W is a more versatile rig.

Ed

Thanks timbo and supercrewd, I also had concerns of xtra blast and flash from the 357 Sig if shots in the dusk/darkness are called for.

And bullet set back could be addressed with a case full of one of the slower burning powders and turning the sizer button down a bit if needed.

Gunner

Thank You too Ed, I just cant seem to get over the short and weak moniker i've read about the 40 S&W.

I'm no expert but a 140 gr TAC-XP at 1250 fps most likely wouldnt feel to weak.

Gunner

.40 S&W became "Short & Weak" because it wasn't a 10mm.

The FBI was responsible for that cartridges design after the Miami Debacle and then they discovered that most of their agents couldn't handle the recoil of a 10mm, so the next step was the .40S&W.

Gunwriters and the public poo-poo'ed it 'cause it WASN'T as powerful as the 10mm with a 200gr bullet, but failed to actually look at the ballistics when loaded with a good 180gr bullet.

Once folks started getting shot with it, and results coming back, that moniker pretty much went away.

If I can't have my .45, make mine a .40.

Ed

Thats very good to know, so it's a good stopper, the 45 ACP will always be my first choice to, but I like steel 45's so mine will only be a max of 10+1 in the pipe.

The Tac-Ops 226 Sig offers 16 rounds in 40 S&W and 357 Sig, and 21 rounds in 9mm.

The extra capacity is only an after thought of all the recent flash mob BS I read about.

Gunner

It really all comes down to marketing. New is exciting and fun, and we all like solutions in search of a problem. All manufacturers know this, and since quality firearms don't wear out quickly, there has to be a reason to buy a new one. Easiest is a new caliber that fits an existing platform.

That makes perfect sense timbo, and agreed 100%.

Gunner

Dear gunner500, I'm going to forward this to my ex-wife. She never thought anything I said made sense.

LMAO, mine still doesn't think I make any sense, but she's still hanging around anyway.

Gunner

Gunner i have both Barrels for my Glock 23, 40 and 357 Sig and if had to make the choice then it would be the 357 Sig , x-streamly accurate and powerful out of my Glock 23 . I like both , but favor the 357 Sig

Thanks for the OJT hit Bea, preshade it.

I'm kinda liking the little forty so far though, plus i've already bought dies, brass, and 200 of the .400" 140 gr TAC-XP bullets from Midway.

Gonna do some penetration testing soon as my left hoof heels up a bit.

Gunner

Make mine a 40. The 357 sig shines in barrier penetration but unless you are shooting felons through car doors and windshields on a regular basis or using it for a woods gun solely? The expense of a 357 sig barrel, more expensive cartridges, and that not every place carries the 357 sig don't justify it for me. The sig does seem a bit more accurate but adds muzzle blast and a sharper recoil impulse, although it is very controllable. I just can't seem to like the 357 sig. It seems more like a specialty cartridge when I can use the 40 S&W to do everything from hunting, target shooting, protection, ect. They are both great cartridges that really don't do anything better than the other from what I have seen.

Preshade it Esoz, iffin I have to bust a crackhead it will be with a 450 Bushmaster, 308W, or 12 gauge.

I dearly love my 45 ACP and the 40 S&W feels like a smaller pup from the same litter.

So far so good, think I'm gonna buy 3/4 hundred 180 gr FMJ's and get the pistol [and me] worn in and introduced properly.

Gunner

Has anyone on the "campfire" heard of a law enforcement agency that has adopted the 357 SIG converting to 40 S&W or to the 45 ACP? My impression is that the 357 SIG users are happy with what they have.

Nope, but a lot went to the 357 sig.

If I had to do it all over I would go with sig for duty use. Or a 10 mm. I just like different.

Also has anyone heard of an agency that is/was not happy with the 40 S&W?

Haven't heard a thing on this end, a little late for the .gov idiots, being as the dumbphucks have already wasted hundreds of millions of our tax dollars on millions of 40 S&W rounds of ammo.

Gunner