40 S&W vs 357 Sig, why would you choose 357 Sig? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

mcb · 11-14-2005, 07:35 AM

I did a quick search but did not see anything specifically on this topic so here we go. Just a good little discussion not meant to start an all out flame war, well maybe a little flames would be OK.

What are the practical advantages of the 357 Sig over the 40 S&W? I am not seeing many reasons to choose the 357 Sig over 40S&W

- In the same frame/magazine size you get the same number of 40S&W cartridges as you do 357 Sig cartridges so there is no capacity limit advantage.

- The 357 Sig does shoot flatter due to its higher velocity projectiles but out to 50yrds the difference in drop is less than an inch in comparing most loads. So within the practical ranges for self-defense, practical pistol type competition, and similar practical used of the two cartridges there is of no real advantage.

- The 357 Sig shoots a fast light bullet compared to bullets commonly loaded in the 40S&W. Fast light bullets are more likely to fail structurally and do funky things in terminal ballistics. Sorry this one is a bit subjective.

-The 357 Sig because of the fast light bullets is going to have a louder report, not much louder than the 40S&W that operates at about the same chamber pressures just lower velocity but certainly not quieter.

-The 357 Sig is more difficult to reload and more expensive to shoot or reload for. The bottle neck cartridge is more difficult to size, reloading dies are more expensive and the brass is more expensive to produce due the to the extra processing for the bottle neck cartridge.

+ The 357 Sig's bottle neck cartridge may aid in being a more reliable cartridge for feeding in a semi-auto handgun. The smaller diameter bottle neck cartridge will guide the round on to the larger chamber diameter.

I'm sure I missed something but if I had to choose between 40S&W and 357 Sig it would be an easy choice for me as I see very little reason to use the 357 Sig. If you have chosen the 357 Sig over the 40 S&W I would love to hear your reasoning.

Rambling
mcb

ichy_trigger · 11-14-2005, 09:14 AM

I like the .357 sig for carry. I think it boils down to personal preferance.
I like the feeding charicteristics, the speed and it tends to be a more accurate round. I think it has more energy too, either way, I dont want to play catcher to either round

mcb · 11-14-2005, 09:17 AM

Hmmm... Some more information at the following link.

http://www.handguninfo.com/Archive/w...57.compare.htm

+ The 357 Sig operates at 40,000psi (I had assume it was closer to the 35,000 of the 40 S&W) so the 357 Sig should be able to develop higher muzzle energy without exceeding SAAMI spec. Upward of 14% assuming you can make full use of the extra pressure withing the length of a handgun barrel.

-The extra 5000 psi is going to make it much louder than I first expected (never shot one without my ears on) This will become worse as the barrel gets shorter.

mcb

R/T Performance · 11-14-2005, 09:37 AM

I just wonder how long before old school moves this to the polling section

40 x 3 For me easy to get cheaper ammo and I reload now

mcb · 11-14-2005, 09:42 AM

Oops, I did not realize that all polls had to go in a special subsection. The moderator are free to move this were it belongs.

Sorry about that
mcb

View Poll Results: Which would you pick if you had to choose?
40 S&W	15	75.00%
357 Sig	4	20.00%
I really hate threads like this! (null vote)	1	5.00%
Voters: 20. You may not vote on this poll

11-14-2005, 07:35 AM	#1
mcb XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: North East Ohio Posts: 2,038	40 S&W vs 357 Sig, why would you choose 357 Sig? I did a quick search but did not see anything specifically on this topic so here we go. Just a good little discussion not meant to start an all out flame war, well maybe a little flames would be OK. What are the practical advantages of the 357 Sig over the 40 S&W? I am not seeing many reasons to choose the 357 Sig over 40S&W - In the same frame/magazine size you get the same number of 40S&W cartridges as you do 357 Sig cartridges so there is no capacity limit advantage. - The 357 Sig does shoot flatter due to its higher velocity projectiles but out to 50yrds the difference in drop is less than an inch in comparing most loads. So within the practical ranges for self-defense, practical pistol type competition, and similar practical used of the two cartridges there is of no real advantage. - The 357 Sig shoots a fast light bullet compared to bullets commonly loaded in the 40S&W. Fast light bullets are more likely to fail structurally and do funky things in terminal ballistics. Sorry this one is a bit subjective. -The 357 Sig because of the fast light bullets is going to have a louder report, not much louder than the 40S&W that operates at about the same chamber pressures just lower velocity but certainly not quieter. -The 357 Sig is more difficult to reload and more expensive to shoot or reload for. The bottle neck cartridge is more difficult to size, reloading dies are more expensive and the brass is more expensive to produce due the to the extra processing for the bottle neck cartridge. + The 357 Sig's bottle neck cartridge may aid in being a more reliable cartridge for feeding in a semi-auto handgun. The smaller diameter bottle neck cartridge will guide the round on to the larger chamber diameter. I'm sure I missed something but if I had to choose between 40S&W and 357 Sig it would be an easy choice for me as I see very little reason to use the 357 Sig. If you have chosen the 357 Sig over the 40 S&W I would love to hear your reasoning. Rambling mcb __________________ If at first you don't succeed; RELOAD _ _ _ _ My web site

11-14-2005, 09:14 AM	#2
ichy_trigger XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 7,417	I like the .357 sig for carry. I think it boils down to personal preferance. I like the feeding charicteristics, the speed and it tends to be a more accurate round. I think it has more energy too, either way, I dont want to play catcher to either round __________________ "The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member2645.png

11-14-2005, 09:17 AM	#3
mcb XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: North East Ohio Posts: 2,038	Hmmm... Some more information at the following link. http://www.handguninfo.com/Archive/w...57.compare.htm + The 357 Sig operates at 40,000psi (I had assume it was closer to the 35,000 of the 40 S&W) so the 357 Sig should be able to develop higher muzzle energy without exceeding SAAMI spec. Upward of 14% assuming you can make full use of the extra pressure withing the length of a handgun barrel. -The extra 5000 psi is going to make it much louder than I first expected (never shot one without my ears on) This will become worse as the barrel gets shorter. mcb __________________ If at first you don't succeed; RELOAD _ _ _ _ My web site

11-14-2005, 09:37 AM	#4
R/T Performance XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Saranac Mi Posts: 3,491	I just wonder how long before old school moves this to the polling section 40 x 3 For me easy to get cheaper ammo and I reload now __________________ XD-9 Tacticle Tru-glow tfo's 3# Canyoncreek trigger Dillon Rl550 1911 Springfield Champion loaded 45 acp Kahr p40 Watch me shoot http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...32660329653237

11-14-2005, 09:42 AM	#5
mcb XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: North East Ohio Posts: 2,038	Oops, I did not realize that all polls had to go in a special subsection. The moderator are free to move this were it belongs. Sorry about that mcb __________________ If at first you don't succeed; RELOAD _ _ _ _ My web site

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