Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns .357 sig or .40 sw

Hands down, .40 S&W. It may be out of fashion now, a bit, but .357 Sig makes it looks like the popular choice by comparison, which means it's going to be expensive feeding your .357 Sig habit by comparison.

The 357 Sig doesn’t offer much over the 9mm +P+ if at all, and any G19 or 17 can handle +P+

The 40 offers a heavier payload.

While both rounds are good, I don't want either of them in a "compact" model gun.

If you want a compact, get a 9mm & thank me later.................it will do all you need with good ammo.

The Sig 229 Legion SAO is my everyday carry & I think it might be the best pistol I've ever owned (and I own a dozen 1911's).

If you insist on the 357 or a 40, than buy a full sized gun of your choice; mine would be the Sig 226 Legion full size in 40. As someome said earlier, I don't want to be loading bottleneck pistol rounds in any volume.

The 40 in a bigger gun is a very good round & offer the option of some heavy bullets.

JMHO, YMMV

MM

When loaded to it's designed velocity of 1450 FPS the 357 Sig is significantly more than a 9MMS +P+

David, that's not really correct. Obviously numbers vary a lot depending who's data you use and what bullet weight, but with good max loads in both the 357 Sig will do 250-350 fps more in similar barrel length. I base that on my own experience as well as published numbers.

Thevelocity difference between +P+ 9mm and 357 Sig is enough that the 357 needs to use tougher bullets (when we're talking about hollow points) to avoid blowing up and shallow penetration. For example, Speer's 125gr Gold Dot bullet made for the 357 Sig; the standard 9mm version is pretty much at it's limits at ~1300 fps muzzle velocity.

The 357 Sig does indeed need tougher bullets

They are very different to shoot. .357 Sig is way barkier and snappier, even when not loaded to max. You should probably shoot both before you make a choice.

.40, it proven itself time and again on the streets and ammo availability leans to the 40 as well

Yeah, the ammo availability thing is a problem for the Sig. although I see it more than say the 38 super.

No shortage of 357 Sig ammo at my LGS. I choose the 357 Sig over the 40 S&W. The 357 Sig at 1450 is a bad ass'ed round

I agree with this. It’s an excellent round and I find ammunition when I need it, both fmj and personal defense. A double stack .357 is the cat’s whiskers. It performs.

Gunner500, I have a P226 in 40 and 357, and if you weren’t aware, a .22 conversion kit is available also; or was. It’s the most accurate 22 pistol I’ve ever had.

Dang, Thanks George, good to know, now another project in the workings!

357 sig hands down for my vote

Try a 9X25 Dillon if you want something with "legs"it is way out in front of the 357 Sig.Just saying. Yes Underwood loads for it. Yes I have one. Cheers NC