Ok guys, this may start a huge debate but I'm gonna ask it. Is there any benefits in your opinion to having a. 357 Sig instead of a 9mm for personal carry or home defense. I was considering a 9mm for personal carry but then started looking at the. 357 sig. Any comments? Any pros or cons? What do you prefer, and why?? Thanks!!
9mm VS. 357 Sig. FOR HOME/SELF DEFENSE?
- Thread starter Preacher.
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highlander 5
Member
Though the 357 SIG is a faster round thus more muzzle energy I don't trust bottle neck cartridges in a semi auto pistol for SD,i'd take the 9 mm first.
Certaindeaf
member
Can you shoot well? It takes some trigger time to shoot well. The Sig ammo costs much more than the 9mm. In my opinion, either will do the job.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
None that I can think of.
9mm SD ammo gets the lions share of R&D money from the manufactures, and the bullets are usually about one generation ahead of what is in the average .357 SIG load..
All a .357 SIG will do for you anyway is make practice ammo cost prohibitive, reduce your mag capacity by a few rounds, and make you drive further to find it on a shelf somewhere.
That, and a lot more flash & muzzle blast in your bedroom at 0-Dark-30 if you ever have to really use it.
On a positive note, bottleneck cartridges feed much better & reliably in an auto pistol.
But 9mm pistols were perfected as far as feeding goes before either of us were born.
And I'm nearly 70.
rc
9mm SD ammo gets the lions share of R&D money from the manufactures, and the bullets are usually about one generation ahead of what is in the average .357 SIG load..
All a .357 SIG will do for you anyway is make practice ammo cost prohibitive, reduce your mag capacity by a few rounds, and make you drive further to find it on a shelf somewhere.
That, and a lot more flash & muzzle blast in your bedroom at 0-Dark-30 if you ever have to really use it.
On a positive note, bottleneck cartridges feed much better & reliably in an auto pistol.
But 9mm pistols were perfected as far as feeding goes before either of us were born.
And I'm nearly 70.
rc
Personally I would say go 9mm or 40 S&W. 40 pretty much does the same thing as the 357 Sig without any of the drawbacks. 9mm holds marginally more ammo, and 40 S&W does marginally more damage. For a carry gun it depends on how big of a gun you are willing to carry. Full size I would go with 40 or 357, subcompact I would go with a 9mm.
Kayaker 1960
Member
.357 Sig
The .357 Sig will be deafeningly loud if you ever need to use it inside the house. For carry, a nice little 9mm, for in the house I like .45
The .357 Sig will be deafeningly loud if you ever need to use it inside the house. For carry, a nice little 9mm, for in the house I like .45
J_McLeod
Member
9mm, for the cost factor. If you want both, I think that with a Glock or XD you can buy a 40 cal and then the parts to make it .357 Sig or 9mm.
I'm going to vote 9mm as well. It's what I carry. A .357 sig defense round will likely penetrate slightly farther and expand slightly wider, but not by enough to matter. In the meantime, you get a greater expense, less capacity, greater recoil, more difficult reloading (talking about handloading not mag changes), and greater noise.
The big advantage for the .357 sig over 9mm is the potential for barrier penetration, but I don't think that's a big factor for the average civilian. I carry a 9, and I trust it will be more than adequate.
The big advantage for the .357 sig over 9mm is the potential for barrier penetration, but I don't think that's a big factor for the average civilian. I carry a 9, and I trust it will be more than adequate.
WinThePennant
Member
For home defense, go with a subsonic round with a suppressed pistol.
In other words, go with 9mm or .45 with a can.
In other words, go with 9mm or .45 with a can.
Rubber_Duck
Member
9mm. Being able to practice more with the cheaper round is more important than the extra cuople hundred feet per second offered by the .357 SIG.
4thHorseman
Member
as mentioned by anothe rposter, the 357 is a load son of a gun...pardon the pun. It will hurt badly even in an outside area without walls. You made be bad a$$ enough for the noise issue, but is your loved ones prepared to suffer hearing damage for life?
Texan Scott
Member
Just between you, me, and the fencepost, if you ever find that 15 9mm won't do it, you won't need 15 sigs.... you'll need an AK, or a drum-fed shotgun.
TheReiver
Member
I don't have nearly the experience of most of my fellow THR members but here's my take:
I've tried every one of the "service calibers" in a variety of platforms. The 9x19 is, for ME, the best choice for the following reasons:
1. Highest capacity assuming similarly sized sidearms
2. Less perceived recoil (to me)
3. Lowest cost
Mag capacity is important as accuracy tends to tank when adrenaline is pumping. Lower recoil pulse equals faster additional shots (for me). Lower cost equals more training which is absolutely never a bad thing.
The .357 SIG is more powerful without doubt, but I have never once felt inadequately equipped with anything in 9x19.
Good luck with your choice and no matter what you get train, train, train and then train some more. Safe shooting!
I've tried every one of the "service calibers" in a variety of platforms. The 9x19 is, for ME, the best choice for the following reasons:
1. Highest capacity assuming similarly sized sidearms
2. Less perceived recoil (to me)
3. Lowest cost
Mag capacity is important as accuracy tends to tank when adrenaline is pumping. Lower recoil pulse equals faster additional shots (for me). Lower cost equals more training which is absolutely never a bad thing.
The .357 SIG is more powerful without doubt, but I have never once felt inadequately equipped with anything in 9x19.
Good luck with your choice and no matter what you get train, train, train and then train some more. Safe shooting!
I would prefer a .357 sig, but my budget dictates otherwise. Therefore I'm transitioning back to 9mm (when I say "back to" I'm actually moving FROM .357MAG and .40S&W). I haven't switched my CCW from my .357mag revolver yet, but when I do it'll be a Glock 26 or 27 with a conversion barrel for practice in 9mm.
I really like the power of .357mag but would like to transition to an auto for CCW for increased capacity. I like that the .357sig round almost mimics the ballistics of the magnum round, however the added cost for a few hundred extra FPS can't make me justify buying into a whole new caliber. Especially when the 9mm can still do the job.
If your budget is such that you can easily afford the .357sig rounds and you want the extra power, go for it. But if you're one who's budget fluctuates or is usually favoring varied needs, go for the 9mm and maybe step up to it later. If you're looking for long term versatility, go for a .40S&W model and swap to a 9mm barrel and mags. That way you can swap to the .357sig option down the road.
I really like the power of .357mag but would like to transition to an auto for CCW for increased capacity. I like that the .357sig round almost mimics the ballistics of the magnum round, however the added cost for a few hundred extra FPS can't make me justify buying into a whole new caliber. Especially when the 9mm can still do the job.
If your budget is such that you can easily afford the .357sig rounds and you want the extra power, go for it. But if you're one who's budget fluctuates or is usually favoring varied needs, go for the 9mm and maybe step up to it later. If you're looking for long term versatility, go for a .40S&W model and swap to a 9mm barrel and mags. That way you can swap to the .357sig option down the road.
Plan2Live
Member
Or buy a quality .40 caliber pistol from one of the major manufacturers then buy drop in replacement barrels for 9mm and .357 Sig. That way you can do most of your practicing with the cheaper 9mm but are set up to handle multiple calibers with one gun for that oh so wacky "what if" scenario when you might have to use whichever caliber is available. 
I like the multi-option. That's why I bought a Sig-Sauer P229 in 22 LR, then bought the top-end kit (also from Sig) in 9mm. They also have .40 cal, and yes ..... .357Sig available. Same gun, same platform and trigger, different calibers.
To answer the original question, 16 rounds of Winchester PDX-1 in 9mm should be enough, esp. when backed up by 8 rounds of reduced recoil 00 buck in 12 gauge.
For carry, I use 7 rounds of .380 in the pocket (Bodyguard), but am considering a 9mm Kahr PM9 (available with an external safety like the Bodyguard)
To answer the original question, 16 rounds of Winchester PDX-1 in 9mm should be enough, esp. when backed up by 8 rounds of reduced recoil 00 buck in 12 gauge.
For carry, I use 7 rounds of .380 in the pocket (Bodyguard), but am considering a 9mm Kahr PM9 (available with an external safety like the Bodyguard)
Hit_Factor
Member
No question at all in my mind, 9mm for self defense.
Accurate shot placement is my main objective and 9mm is far easier to shoot. Especially, inside my home.
Accurate shot placement is my main objective and 9mm is far easier to shoot. Especially, inside my home.
Hit_Factor
Member
No need for the external safety on a Kahr. No energy is stored on striker spring until trigger is pulled.
Defend yourself with that which you consistently shoot best. If you feel the need, practice, practice, practice with a more powerful caliber until you gain the proficiency you need.
Shot placement is king. Better to hit with a lower powered round since the noise of a higher powered one only startles the roaches.
Shot placement is king. Better to hit with a lower powered round since the noise of a higher powered one only startles the roaches.
9MM is fine for home defense. Modern JHP ammo has made the 9MM competitive to other popular SD rounds, plus as others have said, practice ammo is less expensive.
In addition, do you really want the extreme noise and muzzle blast indoors that comes with .357 Sig? 9MM is loud enough.
In addition, do you really want the extreme noise and muzzle blast indoors that comes with .357 Sig? 9MM is loud enough.
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