floydster
Member
Am contemplating on my next Caliber, am thinking of the 357 Sig, I would appreciate any input, positive or negative.
Thanks,Floydster
Thanks,Floydster
357 Sig
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BikerRN
member
I too am considering the .357 Sig.
As you're probably aware, it was designed to copy the .357 Magnum in an Autoloading platform. Ammunition can be hard to find and costly, but it seems to feed well in all the guns chambered for it due to being "necked down".
It is popular with many Highway Patrol Law Enforcement Agencies, whose Troopers generally work alone and want something with "stopping power" that betters the 9mm. From what I've read though, the 9mm loaded with a +P+ load seems to be about equal to the .357 Sig in all regards except barrier penetration.
Thank you for posting this, and I will be following this to see what the responses are as I too am interested.
BikerRN
As you're probably aware, it was designed to copy the .357 Magnum in an Autoloading platform. Ammunition can be hard to find and costly, but it seems to feed well in all the guns chambered for it due to being "necked down".
It is popular with many Highway Patrol Law Enforcement Agencies, whose Troopers generally work alone and want something with "stopping power" that betters the 9mm. From what I've read though, the 9mm loaded with a +P+ load seems to be about equal to the .357 Sig in all regards except barrier penetration.
Thank you for posting this, and I will be following this to see what the responses are as I too am interested.
BikerRN
Thernlund
Member
I'm not "considering" it. I fully plan to pick one up when I have the funds.
And of course, the gun will be... <drum roll> a Sig!
It's on the (rather lengthy) list for sure.
-T.
And of course, the gun will be... <drum roll> a Sig!
It's on the (rather lengthy) list for sure.
-T.
floydster
Member
I plan to use necked down .40 cal S&W for light target loads, but for
hotter loads I would use new brass.
I shoot a lot of lead and plated bullets.
Floydster
hotter loads I would use new brass.
I shoot a lot of lead and plated bullets.
Floydster
floydster
Member
Oh,Ya, the Sig Elite is the one I am after,( don't tell the wife).
Floydster
Floydster
I like it.
I reload 357 SIG and have not had any problems. You have to be careful about bullet selection and it helps to choose a compressed load.
A lot of people including me have commented on how consistent/accurate this caliber is. The folks who tested loads for the Accurate manual said it was the most consistent handgun caliber they had ever tested.
People argue all day and night about the effectiveness of one caliber versus another in a self defense situation. My personal opinion is that any of the law enforcement/military calibers (9x19, .40, 357 SIG, .45 ACP)are so close to equal that I doubt there is any meaningful difference in performance - certainly not enough to make the difference between surviving and not surviving an attack.
I carry 357 SIG, but it is probably more because I happen to have a gun I really like that is chambered for it.
Ammo is likely to be expensive in your local retail shop. If you can order in bulk online, it is not so bad. If you reload, it's as cheap as anything else.
Summary: try a 357 SIG if you can. If you like it, get it.
I reload 357 SIG and have not had any problems. You have to be careful about bullet selection and it helps to choose a compressed load.
A lot of people including me have commented on how consistent/accurate this caliber is. The folks who tested loads for the Accurate manual said it was the most consistent handgun caliber they had ever tested.
People argue all day and night about the effectiveness of one caliber versus another in a self defense situation. My personal opinion is that any of the law enforcement/military calibers (9x19, .40, 357 SIG, .45 ACP)are so close to equal that I doubt there is any meaningful difference in performance - certainly not enough to make the difference between surviving and not surviving an attack.
I carry 357 SIG, but it is probably more because I happen to have a gun I really like that is chambered for it.
Ammo is likely to be expensive in your local retail shop. If you can order in bulk online, it is not so bad. If you reload, it's as cheap as anything else.
Summary: try a 357 SIG if you can. If you like it, get it.
I once thought about it but due to the price of brass and loaded ammo also conflicting load data I opted for a 38 super. Reloading seems like a pain for the 357 sif as it is a bottle neck round and some say you have to lube cases and others say diffrent. what is the real bullet size suposed to be any way I have 3 books with .356 and 2 books with .355 which is it?
floydster
Member
I would use the same bullets I use in my 9mm's, 124 gr. cast, plated and FMJ at .356.
AK103K
member
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The 357SIG really isnt any more of a pain to load for than anything else. I skip the lube mess by using a .40S&W sizing die first, then the 357SIG die to finish. Its one extra step, and no mess.
The 357SIG is not a necked down .40 S&W. If you do this, the case will end up a few thousandths short. They can be loaded, but you may (or may not) have issues with the bullet staying put, depending on how you load. If you use a .40 sizer instead of lube, you can easily form the .40 brass into a 357SIG looking case. I've done it unintentionally and found the fired brass later and realised what happened. I now closely watch and sort my brass now. I didnt have any issues with the resized .40's, but why bother if there may be issues. I'm also not sure if the .40 brass is made to take the hotter 357SIG pressures.
Due to bullet selection, I dont find it to be as cheap to load for as some of the others. I really didnt see the savings were worth the effort, and usually just buy it in bulk. I'll have to see how things are now that the prices have gone up.
Other than 357SIG specific bullets and 147 grain 9mm's, I havent found bullets designed for the 9mm to work very well, if at all. They dont have the right profile. I really didnt have much luck with the 147's either, but I really didnt try to hard either.
I usually use 13 grains of AA #9 and 125 grain 9mm bullets that are 357SIG specific. Its a compressed load and bullet setback has never been a problem. I doubt it would be even if you didnt crimp.
All in all, I was sold the first time I fired a 357SIG. I was a die hard .45acp fan for most of my life, but I havent carried one since I got my first 357SIG. I have 5 SIG's in the caliber, P226's, P229's, and a P239. All are very accurate, easy to shoot well with, and all have been 100% reliable, and thats REALLY 100%. I have never had a stoppage or malfunction in any of them. I wont hesitate to buy another if I come across a deal.
The 357SIG is not a necked down .40 S&W. If you do this, the case will end up a few thousandths short. They can be loaded, but you may (or may not) have issues with the bullet staying put, depending on how you load. If you use a .40 sizer instead of lube, you can easily form the .40 brass into a 357SIG looking case. I've done it unintentionally and found the fired brass later and realised what happened. I now closely watch and sort my brass now. I didnt have any issues with the resized .40's, but why bother if there may be issues. I'm also not sure if the .40 brass is made to take the hotter 357SIG pressures.
Due to bullet selection, I dont find it to be as cheap to load for as some of the others. I really didnt see the savings were worth the effort, and usually just buy it in bulk. I'll have to see how things are now that the prices have gone up.
Other than 357SIG specific bullets and 147 grain 9mm's, I havent found bullets designed for the 9mm to work very well, if at all. They dont have the right profile. I really didnt have much luck with the 147's either, but I really didnt try to hard either.
I usually use 13 grains of AA #9 and 125 grain 9mm bullets that are 357SIG specific. Its a compressed load and bullet setback has never been a problem. I doubt it would be even if you didnt crimp.
All in all, I was sold the first time I fired a 357SIG. I was a die hard .45acp fan for most of my life, but I havent carried one since I got my first 357SIG. I have 5 SIG's in the caliber, P226's, P229's, and a P239. All are very accurate, easy to shoot well with, and all have been 100% reliable, and thats REALLY 100%. I have never had a stoppage or malfunction in any of them. I wont hesitate to buy another if I come across a deal.
Careful. Many 9mm bullets have a long tapering ogive that is not a good fit with 357 SIG. Either you have the overall cartridge length longer than spec, or, if you seat the bullet deeply enough to get the overall length in spec, you are trying to crimp the case around the tapering ogive part of the bullet. Either way, not good.
Many 9mm JHPs will work. My personal choice for reloading 357 SIG is a 147 gr Remington JHP that is available in bulk from Midway.
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