To be completley honest with you I realy don't think it matters what caliber you go with. 9mm 40 cal S&W .357 sig .45acp 10mm .38special .380 .357mag. or any others out their if you put a few in the boiler room well the job is done. Thousands of people have been shot and stopped or killed with all of them. Yes some will out proform others but the simple fact is shoot an inraged derranged crackhead lunitic in the chest 5 times with any of them chances are hes still going to come after you till he falls into circulatory failure which will can take 10-15 seconds even if thier heart is blowed up, or a round does enough dammage to their CNS to render em useless. Handguns suck at stopping people. With that said I still carry a handgun 24-7. They have their purpose and I would shoot that crackhead to protect myself but ya better expect to still fight or run. The nice thing about glocks and a few other manufactures is you can get a barrel swap for the .40 and .357 all ya got to do is change the barrel. So if you get one and think ya might like the other better just buy a barrel for 150 bucks or so and try the other. My work gun and EDC is a .40. If you serch the internet you will find hundreds if not thousands of articals stating that ya got to have a .357 or a .40 because the other one just plain wont work and bla bla. Ive fired both and like both calibers in question, but personaly Id go with the .40 and get the .357 barrel. .40 is alot easer to find and usually cheaper. I have shot wild pigs in Florida with both calibers. In all cases one shot to the heart lung area brought them down. I know many people do it but Im not suggesting going hunting with one of these. The pigs I shot where trapped and shot from a distance of about 10-15 feet. However I will admit that the .357 sig did seem to do a little more dammage but not a huge significant ammount and well the pig I shot with the .357 sig seamed to die a littel faster but I did not time it and any hunter will tell you for some reason some critters just dont know they are dead and run a zillion yards with a broken shoulder and no heart or lungs.
.357 sig vs .40
Just looking for some input fromthe members. I'm looking to purchase a new handgun for ccw. I am leaning to either a compact or subcompact glock in .357sig or 40. I carry a sp101 now, but feel as though self protection in the future may need more then 5 rounds, especially with the growing threats or terrorism in public places.
Any input would be great
thanks in advance
Any input would be great
thanks in advance
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
My $0.02:Just looking for some input fromthe members. I'm looking to purchase a new handgun for ccw. I am leaning to either a compact or subcompact glock in .357sig or 40. I carry a sp101 now, but feel as though self protection in the future may need more then 5 rounds, especially with the growing threats or terrorism in public places.
Any input would be great
thanks in advance
It boils down to which camp you're in. The Fast Light Bullet Theory, being that increased hydrostatic shock (which, in simpler terms means flesh being shoved out of the way) can incapacitate a Bad Guy just as well, or better, than putting a big hole in him. Or, the Big Heavy Bullet Theory, being that bigger wounds bleed out faster, and that heavier bullets tend to penetrate deeper, meaning, overall, more wound.
Like zapzoo stated, a simple barrel swap is all you need to switch back and forth between those two cartridges, so you could carry the .357 Sig for defense and use the .40 S&W barrel for lower-cost practice.
My winter carry gun is a Sig P229. I got it with both .357 Sig and .40 S&W barrels, and I chose the .40 S&W for carry, because I lean toward the Big Heavy Bullet Theory camp, myself. I wouldn't feel I'd make a mistake if I was to carry with the .357 Sig, but I'd just prefer the .40 S&W.
Between the .357 Sig and .40 S&W:
Gun types: More in .40 than .357
Magazine capacity: Tie
Ammo availability and cost: .40 wins
Noise: .357 is louder
Recoil: .40 kicks a little harder
Reliability: .357 might have a slight theoretical edge due to bottleneck shape, but I've never seen it demonstrated
Effectiveness: It would be hard to detect a difference with good loads in each
Cool factor: .357, I guess
Compliance with Rule 4 (never bring a handgun to a gunfight, the caliber of which does not begin with at least a "4"): .40 (Duh...)
My choice: .40, but I won't argue with one who chooses the .357
Gun types: More in .40 than .357
Magazine capacity: Tie
Ammo availability and cost: .40 wins
Noise: .357 is louder
Recoil: .40 kicks a little harder
Reliability: .357 might have a slight theoretical edge due to bottleneck shape, but I've never seen it demonstrated
Effectiveness: It would be hard to detect a difference with good loads in each
Cool factor: .357, I guess
Compliance with Rule 4 (never bring a handgun to a gunfight, the caliber of which does not begin with at least a "4"): .40 (Duh...)
My choice: .40, but I won't argue with one who chooses the .357
Both are actually pretty equal with a penetration edge going to the .357 Sig, which matches 125 grain .357 Mag loads.
I really like the .357 Sig, but it requires you to reload for shootability. I'm not aware of anyone making cheaper plinking ammo for .357 Sig.
.40 S&W is the caliber I shoot for USPSA competition and my concealed carry handgun is .40SW. You can find .40 nearly everywhere you can find 9mm and .45ACP anymore. Its usually priced in between the two and you can get all kinds of plinking and hollow point defense loads.
Either caliber is pretty awesome, but if its your first, I'd go with .40 then get the .357 when you start reloading.
I really like the .357 Sig, but it requires you to reload for shootability. I'm not aware of anyone making cheaper plinking ammo for .357 Sig.
.40 S&W is the caliber I shoot for USPSA competition and my concealed carry handgun is .40SW. You can find .40 nearly everywhere you can find 9mm and .45ACP anymore. Its usually priced in between the two and you can get all kinds of plinking and hollow point defense loads.
Either caliber is pretty awesome, but if its your first, I'd go with .40 then get the .357 when you start reloading.
im going upper chest , neck an face..thats if i get a good first shot at an armed bg..after the leads flying i ll leave the clint eastwood stuff to him..
especialy with a handgun..the reason is theres much better chance of hitting something vital to his continueing aggression....you got the wiring the 2 major arteries ,the adams apple,all packed in tight in the upper chest an neck..the face shot is i believe gonna stop a bgs aggression quicker also..even if you just blew his nose off or such...jmo slim..
especialy with a handgun..the reason is theres much better chance of hitting something vital to his continueing aggression....you got the wiring the 2 major arteries ,the adams apple,all packed in tight in the upper chest an neck..the face shot is i believe gonna stop a bgs aggression quicker also..even if you just blew his nose off or such...jmo slim..
Beyond the caliber difference, there's a notable difference in price between the ammo. Even bargain 357Sig is about the same price of bargain 40SW. For penetration and velocity, few beat the 357Sig. I have a 40SW but have a drop-in barrel conversion for the 357 on order.
If you do buy a Glock, either the 357sig or the 40, they use the same magazines and the barrels are swappable.
So, I would buy it in a 40, get good with it, then pick up a 357sig barrel for it.
If it were me, I would actually go buy another SP101 and a couple speed loaders. I'd trust my life to one of my 357Mag wheel guns any day.
Realistically, in an auto, I would rather have straight wall cases.........
So, I would buy it in a 40, get good with it, then pick up a 357sig barrel for it.
If it were me, I would actually go buy another SP101 and a couple speed loaders. I'd trust my life to one of my 357Mag wheel guns any day.
Realistically, in an auto, I would rather have straight wall cases.........
I second the a reliable magnum revolver - specifically the SP101.
I haven't worked with the 357 Sig cartridge and have wondered how good a service round it would be. For defense, I carry a S&W 340 PD, 357 Magnum. If the bullet doesn't kill the perp, they will have heart failure with the flash and the report.
My other concealed pistols are 9mm, 45 GAP and 45 ACP, I have problems with carrying concealed, I am 5'7" and 145 pounds, only during the cooler seasons can I carry a large or even an in between sized semiauto. During the warmer months, the 340 does me well, it is a Scandium and Titanium so it will not rust from my sweat. The barrel liner is Stainless Steel.
If you carry, really practice regularly and there is no fixed distance, so use 5', 10', 15' and 20' as your distances, shoot one hand and with two hands. Here is the hard, shoot with the parallel and close to your chest.
Most people find it difficult to shoot accurately at 3 to 5 feet, but your close enough to cause fatal damage with one or two hits any where in the chest. Every 4 or 5 years I take the NRA Basic Pistol training just to get a refreasher. I try to practice twice a month.
Jerry
My other concealed pistols are 9mm, 45 GAP and 45 ACP, I have problems with carrying concealed, I am 5'7" and 145 pounds, only during the cooler seasons can I carry a large or even an in between sized semiauto. During the warmer months, the 340 does me well, it is a Scandium and Titanium so it will not rust from my sweat. The barrel liner is Stainless Steel.
If you carry, really practice regularly and there is no fixed distance, so use 5', 10', 15' and 20' as your distances, shoot one hand and with two hands. Here is the hard, shoot with the parallel and close to your chest.
Most people find it difficult to shoot accurately at 3 to 5 feet, but your close enough to cause fatal damage with one or two hits any where in the chest. Every 4 or 5 years I take the NRA Basic Pistol training just to get a refreasher. I try to practice twice a month.
Jerry
The Conservation officers in New Jersey are armed with
Glocks in .357 SIG. It would be interesting to know if
any of them ever had to use one in self defense. I do
know they kill a lot of deer that have been hit by cars.
Zeke
Glocks in .357 SIG. It would be interesting to know if
any of them ever had to use one in self defense. I do
know they kill a lot of deer that have been hit by cars.
Zeke
This is pretty much the old "Ford-vs-Chevy" & I went through it myself a little over a year ago.
Most everyone has already pointed out the pros & cons and I don't dispute any of them. Although I think the recoil is subjective.
I went with a Glock 31 (.357 Sig) & have a .40 S&W barrel to change out. I carry with the .357 bbl and let the city buy my ammo for qualification. When I gotta feed it; I use the .40 bbl cause it's cheaper & easier to reload.
If you're able. Borrow identical guns, but in each of the different calibers. Shoot em side by side & decide if there is a big enough difference to sway you 1 way or the other.
I made my decision after just such a comparison. The only real difference I could see was in how fast steel plates went down with the faster .357. Both were controlable & I could not tell any big difference in concusion or recoil. I based my decision after talking with people who had studyed performance of both calibers; both in the field from actual shootings & range studys. But I wouldn't feel disadvataged with either.
As others point out, any of the more common "self defense" calibers will work with good hits.
Most everyone has already pointed out the pros & cons and I don't dispute any of them. Although I think the recoil is subjective.
I went with a Glock 31 (.357 Sig) & have a .40 S&W barrel to change out. I carry with the .357 bbl and let the city buy my ammo for qualification. When I gotta feed it; I use the .40 bbl cause it's cheaper & easier to reload.
If you're able. Borrow identical guns, but in each of the different calibers. Shoot em side by side & decide if there is a big enough difference to sway you 1 way or the other.
I made my decision after just such a comparison. The only real difference I could see was in how fast steel plates went down with the faster .357. Both were controlable & I could not tell any big difference in concusion or recoil. I based my decision after talking with people who had studyed performance of both calibers; both in the field from actual shootings & range studys. But I wouldn't feel disadvataged with either.
As others point out, any of the more common "self defense" calibers will work with good hits.
We have both in service here in this area and the above break down sums it it well. From a terminal ballistics stand point, using the best available ammo, it's pretty much tie there too. The cost, availability of ammo and the ease of reloading the 40 would make the logical choice the 40.Between the .357 Sig and .40 S&W:
Gun types: More in .40 than .357
Magazine capacity: Tie
Ammo availability and cost: .40 wins
Noise: .357 is louder
Recoil: .40 kicks a little harder
Reliability: .357 might have a slight theoretical edge due to bottleneck shape, but I've never seen it demonstrated
Effectiveness: It would be hard to detect a difference with good loads in each
Cool factor: .357, I guess
Compliance with Rule 4 (never bring a handgun to a gunfight, the caliber of which does not begin with at least a "4"): .40 (Duh...)
My choice: .40, but I won't argue with one who chooses the .357
I personal carry the
sp101 or S&W 66 most of the time but when I carry an auto it's the 9mm. (With the best defence ammo)
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
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