I have a 40 S&W and have been thinking of getting a 357 Sig barrel for it. My wife's 357 mag does seem to do more damage than my friends 45 acp in roles of wet news paper and to water jugs. At the range the 45 acp puts bigger holes in paper. My 40 S&W seems to fall in between the two. All Out of a 4" barrel the 357 125gr at around 1300-1400fps, The 40 S&W 155-165gr at 1100-1200fps, and the 45acp 230gr at 850-1000fps. http://stevespages.com/page8f.htm and
http://www.firearmstactical.com/ammo_data/ammodata.htm are some of the places I've gathered information on ballistics other than first hand experience. Please note: I'm comparing all with 4" barrels. So here it is again the small fast vs. heavy slow debate. I now the 45acp, 40s&w, and 357 are all good. All penetrate about 18"-20" of gelatin or Water with good HP bullets, I'm just wondering after blasting up water jugs, fruit, shooting into mud, and seeing first hand what fast little bullets do, why not a 357 Sig? When talking to people about stopping cougars or bears and I mention a 40 S&W they always say "WHAT, I'd WANT AT LEAST A 357 MAG !". Ya, for bear a 44mag or 50AE would be cool but I've got to decide 357 vs 40. I added the 45acp to make a point for heavy slow. The 45acp and 357mag are both legendary stoppers. I just wonder what's really better, 357sig or 40s&w?
http://www.firearmstactical.com/ammo_data/ammodata.htm are some of the places I've gathered information on ballistics other than first hand experience. Please note: I'm comparing all with 4" barrels. So here it is again the small fast vs. heavy slow debate. I now the 45acp, 40s&w, and 357 are all good. All penetrate about 18"-20" of gelatin or Water with good HP bullets, I'm just wondering after blasting up water jugs, fruit, shooting into mud, and seeing first hand what fast little bullets do, why not a 357 Sig? When talking to people about stopping cougars or bears and I mention a 40 S&W they always say "WHAT, I'd WANT AT LEAST A 357 MAG !". Ya, for bear a 44mag or 50AE would be cool but I've got to decide 357 vs 40. I added the 45acp to make a point for heavy slow. The 45acp and 357mag are both legendary stoppers. I just wonder what's really better, 357sig or 40s&w?