I have one Smith & Wesson 1.0 got 9mm mags and the factory mags. 3 barrels for the 3 calibers. The 40sw mags hold 357sig rounds right in. I have loaded 9mm cartridges in the 40sw mags but occasionally get a malfunction.
@@ZombieWilfred not on my M&P, same slide, same recoil spring, different barrels, I didn't even get a "conversion barrel" I got a stock $75 M&P9 barrel and dropped it in the M&P40 slide, worked from the get go.
@linkbond08 Just because you can doesn't mean you should, because they do make a 9mm and 40 slide for those, the 9mm barrel doesn't fit the hole in the front of the 40 one, which could/should cause accuracy issues (the slight amount of lateral play shown,) and the breach face and extractor for 40 are for a larger diameter case head. Seems like something that, while it might work, shouldn't be as reliable or accurate, could cause strange wear to parts like the extractor, and doesn't seem like it would be recommended... I have a SIG 229R, originally in .40 and now have the .357 SIG barrel. Love both calibers. They just fell out of favor for the same basic reason as 10mm, too snappy for most to shoot well and quickly. Eventually, I'll get the 9mm conversion, which I'll definitely be getting the different slide for. Like the guy said in the conversion video, whether or not you want to trust your life to the 9mm barrel change only setup is up to you. I wouldn't, I'd get the proper slide, but if you've done it and tested it and it runs 100% and you want to, go ahead, I guess. I would say, though, that I consider my comment still technically correct as I don't think any manufacturer would recommend converting their guns in this way...
The P229 is one of my favorite pistols. I have several in 9mm, and managed to retain one in .40 S&W. I bought a genuine .357 SIG barrel for it, and I haven't swapped back to .40 since. Good round, but sadly not so widely popular.
I did the opposite with my P320, I bought it in .357, and recently bought a sig .40 barrel for it. I like the .357 better, but ammo for .40 is easier to find in my area.
@@filoIII Yep, definitely 45acp. You can include 10mm in there, too. That's common autoloader calibers that are clearly superior performing. Start talking revolver calibers and you add a bunch. But 9mm really underperforms its' reputation by any objective measures one applies.
People in the past actually went out of their way to hate on the 357 SIG and made every excuse to justify doing so. I've heard it all from, "the 357 SIG was an answer to a question no one asked," is the most common. Except that it was the Secret Service that were the original ones who asked for it.
@@almaadams3631 I hate feds, but like 9mm as well. I also like .25, .32 acp, 380, and .32 mag for pocket carry, .327 mag, .38, and .357 for regular carry. Then 10mm, .45, .44 mag, and 7.5 fk for the woods. Variety is the spice of life
Bought my first firearm a SigP229 in 40 in San Diego in MCRD in 1993. Still have the pistol and it has been shooting well for me since. I am now handing it over to my son which he seems to love shooting as well. Semper Fi bro. Coming from a navy retired squid.
I've been conceal carrying the .40 S&W for over 20 years now. Preferred round is the 155gr HP. Why carry a 9mm when you can carry a forty in the same size package?
40sw. with 135grn. Nosler narrows the gap between 357sig and 40sw. M&P 2.0 is the master class. Built around 40sw. ( Glock shoved 40sw in a 9mm. frame.) After all....it is 40 SMITH AND WESSON.
.357 sig is the most underrated common pistol cartridge. The only disadvantage to it is the price of ammo..it's a little challenging to hand load at first until you get the hang of it..
The price and availability are a big barrier to most people, as you're aware I'm sure. I have a hard time justifying anything beyond 9mm for practical purposes. If I wanted to go higher I would go a lot higher for special purpose, .44mag something like that.
@@zmbombr I bought both the lee 357 sig factory crimp for and the lee universal expander die because the Internet had me convinced my RCBS die set wasn't good enough.. turned out the lee universal expander was a big help,,you just barely kiss the case mouth with it,over expanding of the case mouth will basically cause just the crimp to be holding the projectile in place,which is not optimal..my RCBS seating die has a taper crimp that does a cleaner better looking job than the lee factory crimp die..With 9 mm I can absolutely seat and crimp in one pull on the press..with 357 sig you really don't want to do that. Seat to coal first,,then remove the seating stem and then crimp .it's a lot of steps, but it saves money and I enjoy it,, always make sure your primers are a little thicker cup to handle the higher pressures.
@@ManDuderGuy9mm is perfectly adequate for most defense purposes..I definitely agree with you there..but once in a while that extra performance is comforting.like in Bear county,and the fact that it fits in the same sized frame as a 9mm makes it a little more comfortable to carry than a large frame 10 mm or a revolver.
357sig is best girl I've been reloading it for 3 years, I'm never looking back. It started with a police trade in Smith & Wesson M&P40 1.0 ten years ago, swapped it to 9mm, got bored, swapped again to 357sig, amazing! But expensive, then started reloading. The KKM stainless barrels are awesome, they're 1:16 twist tho, you can email them to send you a 1:10 barrel if you want to shoot anything heavier than 147gr Now I load 125gr XTPs at 1400fps for $0.80rd.
@@beavismagnum I'll share some notes. Test 1: 158gr hard cast @ 1068fps average. This isn't an optimized load, this was just a "goofing load session", at that weight the speed is a bit underwhelming without heavy optimization or creeping closer to the high pressure territory, also the hardcast projectiles were marginally stabilized in my 1:16 twist 5" barrel, while shooting at paper targets some projectiles were hitting flat sideways, lead fouling was an issue. Test 2: 158gr XTP @ 1134fps average, stability issues, and fouling have been resolved with the new projectile, speed has been increased however still underwhelming, expansion in water was irregular, expansion in clay was good. 158gr projectiles are right outside the envelope to be viable, the increased projectile length, and limited cartridge length takes away enough prescious powder capacity leading to poor speed performance. Edit: to answer your question, get a 357 Magnum if you want to shoot 180gr flat points.
Glock 33 in 357 Sig, bought 500 rounds of Star Line Brass to go with it. Glock 22 LEO trade in, in 40 S&W, & a S&W M&P 40c I saw no reason not to own both cartridges & I love them both
A 40S&W Glock barrel will fit in a 357 Sig slide and vise versa. The same extractor, ejector, and mags are used for both. They just have different caliber labels. The case head and body of both cartridges are the same.
@@tonyyoung4223 Hi Tony, you posted this below my post of the pistols I bought. I bought the firearms I did because I liked them and can afford them. You do what you want. Why not post this in the open instead of below my post so other people will see it?
Great video Guy. I am a .357sig person. With reloading you can experience bullet setback. I highly recommend using the Lee factory crimp die to get a good crimp on the bullet.
you can only taper crimp the 357 sig...SAAMI specs shows the cartridge headspacing on the case mouth not the shoulder... I too have had problems with the 357 shoving the bullet into the case when feeding from the mag... if the round nose dives... it nearly always results in a bullet being shoved into the case. if the round manages to chamber and is fired...ive seen many instances of over pressure and some bulged cases where the brass isn't supported.
Same issue...a compressed load is the only viable answer because the crimp just won't hold over time. I have put a bit of tissue paper over the charge to prevent bullet setback but that is less than ideal. I now replace 20% of the charge with a low bulk density powder like Trail Boss or Triple 7 to get a compressed charge. .
I too have had bullet setback problems. Haven't fully tested it yet but I was going to try to seat the bullet without a case mouth flare and instead just use a chamfer inside the case mouth, to maximize case mouth tension. Have used a Lee factory crimp die and not really happy with that but it sort of fixes already loaded rounds.
The crimp is only to remove the flare made for bullet seating. If you crimp further you will also swage the bullet to a smaller OD, then after the brass springs back you end up with less neck tension. You also end up with an undersized bullet. Use AA9 powder in the 357 sig. It will fill the case and help prevent setback. Also make sure to only flare case minimally.
Great video. I always stop and watch anything 357Sig which isn't much these days. Thank you for putting info on the 357Sig out for the masses. Everyone should have one in their life. I Everyday Carried a Sig SP2340 357Sig from 2005-2021. Now I carry a M17. I like having a red dot and light as well as the 21+ capacity.
I love my former federal agency sig p229 in 357 sig. I run the 1450 fps 125 grain Speer gold dot factory loading around town and the underwood ammo 147 grain xtp in the woods. Fantastic cartridge and an excellent pistol for it. Fun fact is the secret service and federal air marshals both ran the sig p229 in 357sig
I have some Speer GD 357 Sig 125 gr, and it's rated at 1350 fps. I believe their 357 Magnum loads are rated at 1450 fps. If your 357 Sig SGD ammo is really rated at 1450, please let us know where you bought it because I definitely want some! I also have some Underwood 125 grain that's rated at around 1500 fps, but I haven't seen that level of velocity offered by any mainstream manufacturer. I also have a P229, and I agree, it's a great pistol.
My last batch of .357 Sig, factory Gold Dot, that I bought about a year ago, chrono'd right at 1475 fps. So Speer is kicking it up to where it was originally intended! Thank you for a comprehensive video of these cartridges that are slowly fading into history...at least the 357 Sig. is.
I'm a fan of the 357 Sig. I have a converted M&P, several Glocks and Sigs, converted Beretta 96, converted S&W Shield. My big problem is living in CA and not getting to go shoot very often (so I really couldn't tell you which I prefer, but leaning toward my SP2022 or Poly80 G31).
Great content, Guy. I am a huge fan of both cartridges and 10mm, among others. As a handloader, I find all three very easy to work with and have had excellent results with Longshot.
I bought my first 357 sig pistol (Springfield XD 4") 21 years ago. At first I purchased budget reloads and two years later I started reloading. I now also own a HK P2000 357 sig and used to own a Sig P226 all stainless gun. I use VV N350 under a Montana Gold 125gr JHP bullet. 8.8 grains gives me an average of 1416 fps with a spread of 26 fps for a deviation of 9.0. 8.6 grains tighten that up a bit for an average of 1391 fps with a spread of 10 fps and a standard deviation of 3.0. I got the idea of using VV N350 from someone saying they run it up to 1500 fps. I have not gone that far yet. My best bang for the buck is the Black Moly coated bullet from Precision Bullets. I've used their 125gr for a minimum of 1032 fps and a max of 1312 fps using Ramshot Silhouette. I also use Ramshot Zip with Black Moly 147gr bullets for IDPA competition at 870 fps. The 357 is very versatile for many uses. I stocked up on components years ago and my 357 sig rounds are costing me no more than my 9mm rounds did over ten years ago.
357 sig p229 is what I consider one of the best handguns. I've been shooting p229 357 since 1996. I love the fact that you can use the 357, 40 and 9mm with interchangeable barrels using the same magazine for all 3.
Started with a .40, Glock 22 & 27 with the Sheriff's office. Switched to the .357 sign due to the velocity we saw especially seeing the comparison on windshield testing. I used a g32 on duty and now retired I still use it giving personal and group lessons. When teaching at the academy and at the range we did switch to g17&19's so all new students had an easier platform to shoot. Only issue I have had is deformed brass on the .357 when reloading using once fired brass. When using nickel cases was not an issue. I am still the .357 sign fan!
Research conducted by Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow for their book Handgun Stopping Power, showed that the .357 Mag. with 125gr JHPs @ about 1400fps were the most consistent fight stoppers. The .357 Sig mimics that. With the improvements in self-defense bullet engineering since then, it's probably even mo' bettah. Dammit............Now I have to look for an M&P in .357 Sig.
I bought a new 229 in .357 Sig when they came out. I also have one of the first sets of RCBS dies, which have instructions in the box to just resize .40 S&W cases. That gun is long gone and has been replaced with a like new 4006 and a Springfield bi-color XDM 5.5 in 40. The Springfield has a 507C on it, and I use it for deer hunting. I use HS-6 powder, and VV-n350.
I love both cartridges. I regularly compete in USPSA with .40, and I keep my Glock 31 as my bedside gun and carry it whenever I’m on road trips. 357 Sig is a great round.
Very well done. I have to agree. I went 40 when I switched to auto over revolver in the late 90s. I have had a few various makes and models in 40. I now carry a full size M&P40 or the 1.0 M&P40c. I did buy the 357 Sig barrel and a 9mm barrel for them also. Great personal protection options in either or caliber.
Underwood does factory loads Lehigh “Xtreme defender” bullets in 357 Sig. They don’t mushroom, but they penetrate to optimal depths in gel without over penetrating and are barrier blind. Definitely worth considering for 357 Sig. There is a possibility that they tear tissue by redirecting body fluids into a high pressure point, but I haven’t seen proof on living tissue. But hunters using the bullets in other calibers have had good success. And even if they don’t tear extra tissue, the repeatable and good penetration is the most important part. The extra diameter of mushroomed JHP provides minimal extra stopping ability. Pistol calibers suck at stopping threats regardless. You will need to hit a vital organ or get a CNS shot. The mushroomed diameter isn’t going to buy you much extra chance of that. Shot placement and penetration are the key.
Really great job comparing these two! I usually have a lot of questions after a video like this but you were so thorough that I don't any. Thanks for the great info!
I’ve been carrying the .357 Sig 125 gr in 226’s and 229’s since they came out. Also .40 S&W 155 gr. in 226’s and 229’s. Use Gold Dot. Got lucky a while back. A friend in LE gave me a box of 1,000 Gold Dot 357 Sig when his agency switched to 9mm.
Once again, I want to complement you on a great presentation. First it was the 38 Spl & 357 magnum. Now it's two more of my favorites, the 40 S&W and the 357 Sig. As a duty weapon, I switched to a Glock 23 in 40 caliber around 1992. I've never looked back. I now have three Glocks in 40 caliber, and I must admit that the model 35 is the most fun. With a 5.3 inch barrel you can achieve some additional velocity. I also acquired a 357 Sig barrel for the Model 35 which also adds to the velocity of this cartridge. For a while, I was unable to find any 125 Hornady bullets but I did have some of their 115 grain bullets. I've also loaded some of the Hornady 147 grain bullets. I use the heavy bullets as backups in hog country. I size my 357 Sig brass with my 40 S&W tungsten carbide die . Afterwords I do the neck in the 357 die. It usually doesn't require any case lube. You might want to give the Hornady 147 grain bullets a try. They are easy to seat due to their base design. Looking forward to your next article.
During my time as a deputy sheriff in Los Angeles, I conducted a test comparing the .40 caliber with the .357 SIG. We used two 180-pound dummies, positioned them inside a vehicle, and fired from about 50 yards away through the car door. The performance of the .40 Smith & Wesson was somewhat underwhelming. In contrast, the .357 SIG, known for its high velocity, was remarkable. The .357 SIG managed to penetrate the door, pass through the first dummy, and embed itself in the second. I consider the .357 SIG to be highly effective for personal carry, more so than the .40 caliber. The .40 caliber penetrated the door but failed to breach the inner panel. I have experience using the .40 caliber during my tenure as a deputy sheriff. It served its purpose well, though I prefer not to delve into specifics. My partner and I concurred that the best feature of the .357 SIG was its recoil-or lack thereof. The minimal recoil allows for quicker, more accurate shots. I carry a Glock 31, chambered in .357 SIG, which can be easily converted to a .40 caliber with a simple barrel swap. The versatility of having two calibers in one firearm appeals to me, offering the flexibility to switch between them as needed. I do all my own reloading and have for over 50 years, and fid the 357 is easy to load for, as well as the 40 cal. Luckly for me I have about 1500 rounds for both. Be Safe, Shoot Straight.
When the Oklahoma Highway Patrol finally retired their SIG 220’s in 45 around 2002 they stuck with SIG & began issuing 226’s in 357 SIG. But they also issued 40cal barrels for practice since it was generally cheaper.
“I have experience using the .40 caliber during my tenure as a deputy sheriff.” How? The .40 has NEVER EVER been authorized for carry on or off duty for LASD. I was one for 34 years.
I've watched Guy's video when it came out & it is good to see more recent Ultinate Loader videos , most on Boobtube are several years ago videos. I have a glock 22 & 27 , both converts to .357 sig , I totally love the .357 sig round & reloading fmj in particular is a great thing as .357 sig availability in fmj in particular is a problem & expensive , Thanks Guy & btw , my name is Guy too ! Keep Shooting & Reload !
Excellent presentation, but you forgot to mention another advantage of the 357 Sig, which is the inherent reliability, do to the fact that you're loading a 9mm bullet on a 10mm chamber. Failure to load is virtually non existing on pistols chambered on 357 Sig.
Great Video Guy, always been curious about the 357 Sig. Thanks for the information. My edc for a few years was a Springfield XD-40 like the gun accurate and it taught me to control recoil on other guns. Like the gun like the round but for EDC had to go with a micro 9 more comfortable carry. Love Guys videos. Keep them coming fellas.
I have to ask because I have one as well. Was it originally a 40 or 357? And does it have a #8 rear sight and #6 front sight? Im looking to get the 357 barrel as well
34:08 is hanks for your knowledge. I carried a .40 Glock for a couple years recently (this is 2024) and I always carried 123 grain. I was thinking about transitioning to a 10 mm but this vid has given me pause. Not much because of the availability of the .357 sig though. Thanks for sharing
First, I enjoyed the video, very informative. I bought a used Sig P229 DAK in .40 S&W with one mag, no box for $380 total a few years back. I’ve always wanted an Sig in .357 Sig so I bought a new barrel, found the components to make it DA/SA, installed new grips and had it refinished. Very good shooter, a little heavy to carry everyday in Florida and I never found an IWB holster I really liked. Beginning of this year I came across a used Sig P229C SAS, same dealer they make me spend too much money. It was significantly more at $1,200 but it came in .40 S&W and had a .357 Sig barrel too. After doing a little research and learning it already had the short reset trigger, I decided to spend the money and bought it. I get all my practice and defense ammo on line, especially for .357 Sig. If you do find some at a Gun Store or Show, they want stupid prices for it. I’ve found Speer Lawman for practice and Underwood for defense on Ammo Seek. After practicing with this gun using both types of ammo, I’ve been carrying the P229C SAS with the .357 Sig barrel for a couple months now. I found a 1791 holster the same day I bought the gun and it’s okay. I like to carry cross draw and the metal clip on the 1791 holster wants to come loose from my Kore belt when I squat down to do something. I’ve had the gun almost fall completely off before I learned what was happening. I have a Wright Leather IWB holster being made and I hope it will work better. While the .357 Sig takes more work to carry, I feel it is a superior round and I want any advantage I can get should I ever have to use it in self defense. There is no such thing as a fair fight. If my wardrobe dictates, I have a P365 in 9mm and a pocket holster if it’s all I can carry.
357 sig is awesome and the 400 corbon is awesome. You can buy a 357 sig conversion barrel for your brand of 40 cal and you can buy a 400 corbon conversion barrel for your brand of 45 acp.
If you think the SIG is awesome, have a barrel made for the 9x25 Dillon, it is the SIG's big brother. Both Underwood Ammo and Double Tap stock multiple loadings so you do not need to be a handloader. Underwood even has boxes of 50 FMJ's for hunting/range and it is spicy 125gr 1,700 fps, 802 ft.lbs of muzzle energy (full power 357 Magnum).
@@georgesheffield1580 Have you ever tried 40 Super? It is pushing the low end of 44 Magnum power and velocity in an autoloader (Glock 45 cal or the like). Triton had a light load with 135gr JHP @ 1,800 fps and 971 ft.lbs of muzzle energy. The great thing about the 40 Super is it will chuck 220 gr hardcasts with authority too. The 40 Super is a bottleneck cartridge just like the 400 Cor-bon and 357 SIG, but not even close in power, the published numbers for the Corbon are 135 gr @ 1,400 fps and 588 ft.lbs of energy, 400 fps and 383 ft.lbs difference is huge. Wikipedia has a darn good write up on the 40 Super if you are interested.
I have a Browning Hi Power in 40 s&w. It's a good in the middle cartridge for someone who doesn't want the 10mm but still wants a semi auto. I still remember buying a bunch of 100 round boxes of 40 s&w that was on sale at Gander Mountain @ $19.97 a box so I could have the brass afterword's. The Browning hi power is my favorite platform except for the magazine disconnect. I use Longshot powder in my 9mm loads. It's a good powder and plan to try it in the 40 some day.
I really enjoyed the video, Guy! I've had two Sig's in forty S&W the first one was the SP2022 that I purchased used never cared for that model as it was kind of difficult to stripe for cleaning as it required remove the takedown lever. And also, the polymer frame. I then traded it for the P229 This pistol is so much nicer in disassembling and the ease of clean as you demonstrated in the video. there the same size the P229 has the allow lower frame which I preferer. I should look at a 357 Sig barrel as brass seems to be easy to come by.
I think the reason that the term "automatic" came to be used to describe semi-auto pistols is that the original term was "auto-loading," which is actually a more accurate term. Many people, however, seem to have a limit to the number of words they can maintain in their grey-matter dictionary, and "semi-automatic" and "auto-loading" eventually distilled into just "automatic." Just listen for how many people use the pronunciation "phenomenaw" because they lack the mental horsepower to keep the terms "phenomenon" (singular) and "phenomena" (plural) straight in their noggins and resort to just one non-existent, catch-all word for every occasion. Or how people blend the two entirely different terms "frustrated" and "flustered" into "flustrated." Or people who say something like "big kahonies" to refer to testosterone-driven macho behavior because they can't distinguish between "big kahuna" (Hawaiian origin, meaning chief) and "cojones" (Spanish origin, pronounced kō-hō′nĕs, meaning testicles). Or pronouncing NASA as if it were the capitol of the Bahamas, Nassau. And probably a thousand other examples.
I have many handguns but I have a Beretta Vertec 40cal model 96 in Inox finish that I carried as police officer. I purchased the gun in 2002 because it was something that hadn't been seen before and to this day I have not seen another like it and remains one if my favorite carry guns. It is by far my favorite handgun. For those out there that don't approve of the 40, well I'd say you're missing out. As far as recoil, I do not like plastic guns and that's why most don't like the 40 and 357 because of harder recoil. Stay off plastic guns and get a round that hits. I love a metal gun. I am not a fan of the fantastic plastic and if you're complaining about a few ounces in metal being heavier to carry well to tell you the truth I just don't see the issue. You have your preference, I have mine and I love these two calibers in a metal gun. I mostly have Sig Sauer, Beretta and 1911 handguns and you will enjoy shooting these rounds including 10mm and 45 in a metall gun over a plastic . Of course like everything else, this is a matter of opinion but I've been carrying for almost 40yrs and when the 357 and 40 came out I became an instant fan. Love the video.
My EDC is an M&P Shield in .40 with 165 grain Speer Gold Dot. Just picked up a G27 LEO trade-in in perfect condition for a steal and have ordered the Sig 357 mags for it. I’m just waiting for the G33 OEM barrel to get back in stock to convert it. I don’t understand why these two cartridges are so niche nowadays. .40 is an amazing EDC round: gives you a little more power and size than the 9, a little more velocity and capacity than the 45, and the recoil takes no time to get used to. I live in a state with a 10-round mag capacity limit, so I only carry 9mm if I have to pocket carry (Kahr CM9). Great video.
While I still like 40S&W, 357 Sig is awesome. I had two Browning HiPower 40s converted to 357 Sig, I have a P229 SAO converted to 357 Sig (requires small mod to manual safety), and a P239. I recently bought a Dan Wesson Valor bobtail (V-Bob) in 10mm, a DW 40S&W barrel from CZ, and I'm getting a KKM Precision 357 Sig barrel so I'll be able to shoot 10mm, 40S&W, and 357 Sig out of it. I'll carry it with 357 Sig. Fortunately, enough agencies still use 40S&W, the ammo is still plentiful and cheap relative to other cartridges. There are still ~20 factory loads for 357 Sig, putting it in the top 10 or so of centerfire pistol rounds in terms of selection. I can practice with 40S&W for less money, then switch to 357 Sig for carry.
I have a g31 and a 40 cal. Barrel that works great when I switch! I don’t have a problem with recoil from either caliber in fact I’m looking for the same in the size of my g26!….. good times 🎉!
Great video. I purchased a sig p229 in .357 sig a few years ago and added a .40 s&w barrel for it as soon as i could just in case 357 sig got scarce. Did the same with a S&W M&P compact. Still use the 357 in my guns and love how the cartridge performs. Unfortunately just like the 41 magnum sometimes good ideas just dont catch on.
I owned the P229, it was a very smooth shooting gun. I ended up trading it for a Remington Model 700 - 300 Ultra Mag. i still have yet to put any rounds down range with it.
My first Glock was a G23 g3 and I ground down the knuckle busting thickness of the lower trigger guard with a drummer (Hickok 45) and did a “25 cent” polish using Flitz and a q-tip. I fell in love with it and added a G27 to my carry rotation. The recoil is a little snappier than a 9mm, which does take it off target a little more, but nothing critical to me. Actually, working up loads for my P380 and Bersa Thunder, were far less enjoyable! I haven’t shot a .357 Sig, but these data tells the story there. Great presentation.
Like both and have both, in 40 and 357 sig, and also 45 acp they are excellent for CQB and defense purposes also have some revolvers in 327 magnum and 357 and 41 magnum, they are very accurate and effective
I had a 229 with 40 and 357 sig barrels. I found that when I swapped barrels, I had to run 50 rounds or more before they would print accurately. Sold it. I like both cartridges, but now I have two 239s, one in each caliber. Both shoot very fine.
357 sig is a Awesome very underrated cartridge! This cartridge hand loaded is even more impressive probably my favorite semi round. Do you like 10 for its application. But in some of my chronograph testing, I’ve had almost identical results as 10 mm loaded fairly heavy. Gun format, a smaller, and easier to handle with.the sig . We need more sig guns
Sig 239 in 40 S&W and absolutely love that combination for an EDC. The only thing I've run into is "Glock Bulge", (yes, I know that other platforms will do it as well,) on range brass. The best solution that I've found for that is the Redding push through size die, it definitely works.
I bought a Glock 22 police trade in several years ago. I took it apart and it looked like it hadn't been fired or carried a whole lot. I put a new set of sights on it and it is perfect for me. I had never shot a 357 Sig before, but I liked the similar ballistics to the 357 Magnum which was my caliber of choice before the semi autos got popular. I bought a SS barrel for a Glock 31 which is chambered in 357 Sig and put it in my Glock 22. I reload my own cartridges so ammo wasn't a problem for me. It shoots just as accurate with either barrel. It's a pretty good deal to have two pistols in one.
Weird the powder is the same amount in the load you did, considering the factory .40 XTP 155 gr got more fps at 1,250 fps than the 135 gr .357 sig did at 1,225 fps
Don’t forget you can get a 9mm barrel and magazine and practice with it. I’ve been doing just that for years. Run some of your 40 or 357 just so you remember what it feels like at the beginning and end of your practice session and you’re good to go. Excellent video sir.
I keep a h&k vp 40 by my night stand, I hunt with 10mm, i carry a 9 and 357 sig depending on weather. Love all of them. My worry for the 357 sig is my brass dying. How long does 357 sig brass last? I have about a 500 pieces now reload several times.
Same as .40 S&W and 10mm......about 7-10x before you should toss them if they are brass cases. If they are nickel plated you should only reload those 1x - 2x before junking them. Don't take chances and also the Redding Carbide GrX die (#96150) will extend their life. If you aren't using one of those I wouldn't reload ANY of them more than once or twice before tossing them.
Thanks, Marine, for this video. If a person needs a firearm to defend themself, the attacker is up close and personal. You mentioned needing a gun that conceals easily and goes 'bang' every time you pull the trigger; for me, a .38 special DAO snubby fit those requirements. Unlike the movies, rarely is more than six shots needed and often only one or two. If you shoot them after they've begun running away, expect legal problems. LET THEM RUN AWAY, unless they're going for a weapon in sight. I also own a S&W M&P .40 and considered the .357 Sig, which is what brought me here. Again, thank you and Semper Fi.
Dr. Gary Roberts answered this question 18 years ago. As the leading expert on wound ballistics. He knows the .357 sig is no better than 9mm. It just has extra recoil and muzzle blast with zero practical effect. .40 on the other hand expands larger and penetrates deeper.
I don’t have an issue with .357 sig prob will buy one someday, but I do think the .40 is better when you use the correct ammo (Underwood 135 gr is best HST and Critical defense is second best), or reload your own. The 135 gr Underwood nosler hits 675 ft lbs energy out of a Beretta 96A1, 610 out of a Glock 23, and 588 out if a Glock 27. It’s more energy than all Underwood .357 sig ammo, believe it or not, which is likely the most powerful factory .357 sig ammo, since Underwood generally is for every other caliber. I looked but I couldn’t find anything more powerful. For example though, the glock 33 got 548 ft lbs from the 124 gr Underwood Nosler, compared to 588 from the .40 nosler in the Glock 27. It was 640 in the Glock 31 which is 4.5” barrel. The .40 was 610 in a Glock 23 4” barrel and 675 in a Beretta 4.9” barrel, so probably similar energy in a Glock 22 to the Glock 31. But in the subcompacts, the .40 has a genuine lead.
Had a blowout with some .40 ammo some years ago. The ammo came from ultramax in a red white and blue box. Fired in both a Glock 22 and a Beretta 96A1 between the two pistols the Beretta was easier on the hand when the ammo blew out. I had both pistols checked over before firing them again. Been telling friends and family to stay away from ultramax ammo. They blew out on me but it could be worse for someone else
H&K USP C and I have both barrels. I pretty much just leave the Sig barrel in place. I load 124 gr. Defensive loads from DoubleTap. They load to the top of SAAMI spec. They claim 1415fps from a 3.5 in. bbl. My H&K is 3.6, so I won't argue it. The accuracy is very acceptable. The recoil is lighter than the .40, but the muzzle blast is more noticeable.
when I started really learning about caliber performance options paired with capacity, I had to have a 357 sig. it is the hardest hitting in sub- and compact options for and edc alternative. A G33/32 went straight to the get list. Because 40SW ammo is more available, I ended up with a G27, shopping for a 357 sig barrel to swap in. I also splurged on a p239 that came with both 40S&W and 357sig barrels and mags etc...I thought it was going to be an EDC but too heavy and limited capacity. Starting down the hand load rabbit hole too, so getting dialed in these 2 will be fun.
Started off with Glock 22 and 23. Can't knock them other than that they now compete for my bullets and powder sice I got into reloading 10mm. Nosler 135 grain JHPs can be pushed with longshot to 1434 via a 4inch barrel with 40. However this requires an aftermarket fully supported barrel (that is also good for hardcast). .357 sig pushes a 124 grain Hornady xtp to 1429 via longshot with a 4 inch barrel. .40s got a slight edge here (but uses a slight bit more longshot). SD would be better with 155 grainers for the 40. However, an aftermarket barrel swap makes .357 sig possible with same firearms without taking at least the bullets away from my 10mm reloading addiction. Solution: they are both pretty good so just get youself some quality aftermarket barrels for reloading and get some practice in. 😊
I purchased a H&K VP40 specifically to convert to a 357sig. I have 11 or 12 different handgun cartridge guns. By far the 357sig out performs all but my 44mag, which is impossible to conceal carry anyway. 357sig is an amazing caliber and with boutique ammo ( I shoot Underwood ) is phenomenal. It is by far my go to edc, 14 rounds that are like lightning bolts. I love the .40 and .45acp but the 357sig out performs them both not to mention the reliability is second to none!
I bought a 40s&w sigma pistol back in 1995. Very snappy gun,hard to shoot. I have a Glock subcompact now in 357.it’s amazing.shoots soft like a 9.very accurate and easy to shoot.
I bought all .40’s back in the late 90’s because you could shoot 9mm, .40 s&w and .357 sig out of one gun with a barrel and mag swap
Not even a mag swap for the .357 and maybe not even the 9
I have one Smith & Wesson 1.0 got 9mm mags and the factory mags.
3 barrels for the 3 calibers. The 40sw mags hold 357sig rounds right in.
I have loaded 9mm cartridges in the 40sw mags but occasionally get a malfunction.
You also need to swap the slide to shoot 9mm, different case head. There is no need to swap mags to switch between .40 and .357 sig, just the barrel.
@@ZombieWilfred not on my M&P, same slide, same recoil spring, different barrels, I didn't even get a "conversion barrel" I got a stock $75 M&P9 barrel and dropped it in the M&P40 slide, worked from the get go.
@linkbond08 Just because you can doesn't mean you should, because they do make a 9mm and 40 slide for those, the 9mm barrel doesn't fit the hole in the front of the 40 one, which could/should cause accuracy issues (the slight amount of lateral play shown,) and the breach face and extractor for 40 are for a larger diameter case head. Seems like something that, while it might work, shouldn't be as reliable or accurate, could cause strange wear to parts like the extractor, and doesn't seem like it would be recommended... I have a SIG 229R, originally in .40 and now have the .357 SIG barrel. Love both calibers. They just fell out of favor for the same basic reason as 10mm, too snappy for most to shoot well and quickly. Eventually, I'll get the 9mm conversion, which I'll definitely be getting the different slide for. Like the guy said in the conversion video, whether or not you want to trust your life to the 9mm barrel change only setup is up to you. I wouldn't, I'd get the proper slide, but if you've done it and tested it and it runs 100% and you want to, go ahead, I guess. I would say, though, that I consider my comment still technically correct as I don't think any manufacturer would recommend converting their guns in this way...
The P229 is one of my favorite pistols. I have several in 9mm, and managed to retain one in .40 S&W. I bought a genuine .357 SIG barrel for it, and I haven't swapped back to .40 since. Good round, but sadly not so widely popular.
I did the opposite with my P320, I bought it in .357, and recently bought a sig .40 barrel for it. I like the .357 better, but ammo for .40 is easier to find in my area.
@@joshuafrahm8778 Reloading 357Sig is very inexpensive…the only ammo cheaper to reload is 9mm….40S&W is more expensive to reload than 357Sig.
I'm a ride or die fan of .40 s&w but 357 sig is a damn good round. Certainly too good to be so rare these days.
IMO the .357 SIG is criminally underrated. Then again I'm a bit biased; it's my favorite pistol round!
I like it too. Heck of a cartridge.
357 SIG and 45acp are clearly head and shoulders above other autoloader calibers.
@@keithgraham9547 .45?????
@@filoIII Yep, definitely 45acp. You can include 10mm in there, too.
That's common autoloader calibers that are clearly superior performing. Start talking revolver calibers and you add a bunch.
But 9mm really underperforms its' reputation by any objective measures one applies.
@@keithgraham9547more people killed by the nine mm than any other. Course it's been in half the weapons of war for 120 or whatever many years.
People in the past actually went out of their way to hate on the 357 SIG and made every excuse to justify doing so. I've heard it all from, "the 357 SIG was an answer to a question no one asked," is the most common. Except that it was the Secret Service that were the original ones who asked for it.
I've only heard that about .40
Just my opinion. I'd stay with the 357.
Kids that believe the FBI and every 9mm.9mm.9mm. is the only pistol cartridge you could would should ever need.
@@almaadams3631 I hate feds, but like 9mm as well. I also like .25, .32 acp, 380, and .32 mag for pocket carry, .327 mag, .38, and .357 for regular carry. Then 10mm, .45, .44 mag, and 7.5 fk for the woods. Variety is the spice of life
@@lardomcfarty9866 do you hate your mom?
Bought my first firearm a SigP229 in 40 in San Diego in MCRD in 1993. Still have the pistol and it has been shooting well for me since. I am now handing it over to my son which he seems to love shooting as well. Semper Fi bro. Coming from a navy retired squid.
I've been conceal carrying the .40 S&W for over 20 years now. Preferred round is the 155gr HP. Why carry a 9mm when you can carry a forty in the same size package?
If you carry a 40, then likely there is a lot of extra ammo in the magazine you won't need!
Can you shoot 9mm out of a 40s&w gun@@robbieandbeckie
@craigfinley2507 maybe if you wrap it with a stick of juicy fruit. I would not recommend that
@@robbieandbeckie ha ha 👨🌾
40sw. with 135grn. Nosler narrows the gap between 357sig and 40sw.
M&P 2.0 is the master class. Built around 40sw.
( Glock shoved 40sw in a 9mm. frame.)
After all....it is 40 SMITH AND WESSON.
I'm a hand loader, and I load them both. I prefer the 357Sig, but I do not discount the 40 S&W one bit.
.357 sig is the most underrated common pistol cartridge. The only disadvantage to it is the price of ammo..it's a little challenging to hand load at first until you get the hang of it..
The price and availability are a big barrier to most people, as you're aware I'm sure.
I have a hard time justifying anything beyond 9mm for practical purposes. If I wanted to go higher I would go a lot higher for special purpose, .44mag something like that.
@william16845 tip and tricks for the hand loads?
It's awesome unless you shoot it without hearing protection, then your ears are wrecked.
@@zmbombr I bought both the lee 357 sig factory crimp for and the lee universal expander die because the Internet had me convinced my RCBS die set wasn't good enough.. turned out the lee universal expander was a big help,,you just barely kiss the case mouth with it,over expanding of the case mouth will basically cause just the crimp to be holding the projectile in place,which is not optimal..my RCBS seating die has a taper crimp that does a cleaner better looking job than the lee factory crimp die..With 9 mm I can absolutely seat and crimp in one pull on the press..with 357 sig you really don't want to do that. Seat to coal first,,then remove the seating stem and then crimp .it's a lot of steps, but it saves money and I enjoy it,, always make sure your primers are a little thicker cup to handle the higher pressures.
@@ManDuderGuy9mm is perfectly adequate for most defense purposes..I definitely agree with you there..but once in a while that extra performance is comforting.like in Bear county,and the fact that it fits in the same sized frame as a 9mm makes it a little more comfortable to carry than a large frame 10 mm or a revolver.
357sig is best girl
I've been reloading it for 3 years, I'm never looking back.
It started with a police trade in Smith & Wesson M&P40 1.0 ten years ago, swapped it to 9mm, got bored, swapped again to 357sig, amazing! But expensive, then started reloading.
The KKM stainless barrels are awesome, they're 1:16 twist tho, you can email them to send you a 1:10 barrel if you want to shoot anything heavier than 147gr
Now I load 125gr XTPs at 1400fps for $0.80rd.
What’s the heaviest you’ve loaded? I’m really interested in something to shoot 355-357 180 flat points
@@beavismagnum I'll share some notes.
Test 1:
158gr hard cast @ 1068fps average. This isn't an optimized load, this was just a "goofing load session", at that weight the speed is a bit underwhelming without heavy optimization or creeping closer to the high pressure territory, also the hardcast projectiles were marginally stabilized in my 1:16 twist 5" barrel, while shooting at paper targets some projectiles were hitting flat sideways, lead fouling was an issue.
Test 2:
158gr XTP @ 1134fps average, stability issues, and fouling have been resolved with the new projectile, speed has been increased however still underwhelming, expansion in water was irregular, expansion in clay was good.
158gr projectiles are right outside the envelope to be viable, the increased projectile length, and limited cartridge length takes away enough prescious powder capacity leading to poor speed performance.
Edit: to answer your question, get a 357 Magnum if you want to shoot 180gr flat points.
i am heading down this rabbit hole, TY!
Glock 33 in 357 Sig, bought 500 rounds of Star Line Brass to go with it.
Glock 22 LEO trade in, in 40 S&W, & a S&W M&P 40c
I saw no reason not to own both cartridges & I love them both
A 40S&W Glock barrel will fit in a 357 Sig slide and vise versa. The same extractor, ejector, and mags are used for both. They just have different caliber labels. The case head and body of both cartridges are the same.
@@tonyyoung4223 Hi Tony, you posted this below my post of the pistols I bought. I bought the firearms I did because I liked them and can afford them. You do what you want. Why not post this in the open instead of below my post so other people will see it?
Great video Guy. I am a .357sig person. With reloading you can experience bullet setback. I highly recommend using the Lee factory crimp die to get a good crimp on the bullet.
you can only taper crimp the 357 sig...SAAMI specs shows the cartridge headspacing on the case mouth not the shoulder... I too have had problems with the 357 shoving the bullet into the case when feeding from the mag... if the round nose dives... it nearly always results in a bullet being shoved into the case. if the round manages to chamber and is fired...ive seen many instances of over pressure and some bulged cases where the brass isn't supported.
Look into a compressed load. AA#9 is a good powder to use for that. Helps mitigate bullet setback
Same issue...a compressed load is the only viable answer because the crimp just won't hold over time. I have put a bit of tissue paper over the charge to prevent bullet setback but that is less than ideal. I now replace 20% of the charge with a low bulk density powder like Trail Boss or Triple 7 to get a compressed charge. .
I too have had bullet setback problems. Haven't fully tested it yet but I was going to try to seat the bullet without a case mouth flare and instead just use a chamfer inside the case mouth, to maximize case mouth tension. Have used a Lee factory crimp die and not really happy with that but it sort of fixes already loaded rounds.
The crimp is only to remove the flare made for bullet seating. If you crimp further you will also swage the bullet to a smaller OD, then after the brass springs back you end up with less neck tension. You also end up with an undersized bullet. Use AA9 powder in the 357 sig. It will fill the case and help prevent setback. Also make sure to only flare case minimally.
Great video. I always stop and watch anything 357Sig which isn't much these days. Thank you for putting info on the 357Sig out for the masses. Everyone should have one in their life.
I Everyday Carried a Sig SP2340 357Sig from 2005-2021. Now I carry a M17. I like having a red dot and light as well as the 21+ capacity.
Didn't know it was gone I just bought my 3rd 40cal this year and a couple boolits too
Amen brother!
Great video! I love the 40 but am leaning towards my 357 Sig!!
I'll take 357 sig over 40 any day of the week. Just my preference.
Mine too.
I would agree if it was wasn't for damn near non existent ammo, other than paying 10mm/44 rem mag prices for it online.
Same
I bought a 40S&W back in the nineties with the 8mm shortage, and I never looked back I still have it and still shoot it today
No reason for you to change. It's a great self-defense cartridge.
8mm shortage?
8mm is still in very short supply.
I love my former federal agency sig p229 in 357 sig. I run the 1450 fps 125 grain Speer gold dot factory loading around town and the underwood ammo 147 grain xtp in the woods. Fantastic cartridge and an excellent pistol for it. Fun fact is the secret service and federal air marshals both ran the sig p229 in 357sig
@nathanmanely4203 how is the p229 for EDC? more a full size carry 2x cap and bigger than the p239. ?
As do I, purchased in Germany in the 90's with 357 and 40 barrels. I have a soft spot for German steel.😊
@@zmbombr Carry mine in a Israel made Fobus holster for the past 30 yrs. EVERYDAY and won't quit for anything.
I have some Speer GD 357 Sig 125 gr, and it's rated at 1350 fps. I believe their 357 Magnum loads are rated at 1450 fps. If your 357 Sig SGD ammo is really rated at 1450, please let us know where you bought it because I definitely want some! I also have some Underwood 125 grain that's rated at around 1500 fps, but I haven't seen that level of velocity offered by any mainstream manufacturer. I also have a P229, and I agree, it's a great pistol.
@@JamesFontayne lucky gunner. Law enforcement overrun
My last batch of .357 Sig, factory Gold Dot, that I bought about a year ago, chrono'd right at 1475 fps. So Speer is kicking it up to where it was originally intended! Thank you for a comprehensive video of these cartridges that are slowly fading into history...at least the 357 Sig. is.
1475 is moving along! Wow...
I'm a fan of the 357 Sig. I have a converted M&P, several Glocks and Sigs, converted Beretta 96, converted S&W Shield. My big problem is living in CA and not getting to go shoot very often (so I really couldn't tell you which I prefer, but leaning toward my SP2022 or Poly80 G31).
Great content, Guy. I am a huge fan of both cartridges and 10mm, among others. As a handloader, I find all three very easy to work with and have had excellent results with Longshot.
I bought my first 357 sig pistol (Springfield XD 4") 21 years ago. At first I purchased budget reloads and two years later I started reloading. I now also own a HK P2000 357 sig and used to own a Sig P226 all stainless gun. I use VV N350 under a Montana Gold 125gr JHP bullet. 8.8 grains gives me an average of 1416 fps with a spread of 26 fps for a deviation of 9.0. 8.6 grains tighten that up a bit for an average of 1391 fps with a spread of 10 fps and a standard deviation of 3.0. I got the idea of using VV N350 from someone saying they run it up to 1500 fps. I have not gone that far yet. My best bang for the buck is the Black Moly coated bullet from Precision Bullets. I've used their 125gr for a minimum of 1032 fps and a max of 1312 fps using Ramshot Silhouette. I also use Ramshot Zip with Black Moly 147gr bullets for IDPA competition at 870 fps. The 357 is very versatile for many uses. I stocked up on components years ago and my 357 sig rounds are costing me no more than my 9mm rounds did over ten years ago.
Great! Glad that the 357 Sig is working out for you still.
357 sig p229 is what I consider one of the best handguns. I've been shooting p229 357 since 1996. I love the fact that you can use the 357, 40 and 9mm with interchangeable barrels using the same magazine for all 3.
Una pregunta, que tipo de cañón 9mm se le puede colocar a la P229 tengo una y solo tengo cañón de 357 sig y 40 y quisiera un cañón en 9 mm
Started with a .40, Glock 22 & 27 with the Sheriff's office. Switched to the .357 sign due to the velocity we saw especially seeing the comparison on windshield testing. I used a g32 on duty and now retired I still use it giving personal and group lessons. When teaching at the academy and at the range we did switch to g17&19's so all new students had an easier platform to shoot. Only issue I have had is deformed brass on the .357 when reloading using once fired brass. When using nickel cases was not an issue.
I am still the .357 sign fan!
Research conducted by Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow for their book Handgun Stopping Power, showed that the .357 Mag. with 125gr JHPs @ about 1400fps were the most consistent fight stoppers. The .357 Sig mimics that. With the improvements in self-defense bullet engineering since then, it's probably even mo' bettah.
Dammit............Now I have to look for an M&P in .357 Sig.
When resizing 357 sig, if you run them thru the. 40 die first you don't have to lube the cases as the sig die only has to resize the neck.
Dillon has a carbide 357 Sig Die! I was gifted one and made some videos last year.
@@cw2a link to your vid please. I recently threw down on Hornady loader and dies, got a bunch of "free" bullets to get started.
Picked up a P2000SK in .40 for an unbeatable price from a Christmas sale. Love it. Keep up the great videos.
Same. And I bought the 357 barrel for it.
Been shooting and loading .357 SIG for a few years now. Wife has a P226, mine’s a P229. Love the power and accuracy.
It's an excellent cartridge.
p239
Thanks. I know a guy with the 357sig. I’ll put it out to him to consider a 40sW barrel for practice and flexibility.
I bought a new 229 in .357 Sig when they came out. I also have one of the first sets of RCBS dies, which have instructions in the box to just resize .40 S&W cases. That gun is long gone and has been replaced with a like new 4006 and a Springfield bi-color XDM 5.5 in 40. The Springfield has a 507C on it, and I use it for deer hunting. I use HS-6 powder, and VV-n350.
I’m a .40 guy…I own a S&S SDVE, P-229 and a Glock 22!
Now do 10mm auto vs 9x25 Dillon 👀👀👀
I love both cartridges. I regularly compete in USPSA with .40, and I keep my Glock 31 as my bedside gun and carry it whenever I’m on road trips. 357 Sig is a great round.
Very well done. I have to agree. I went 40 when I switched to auto over revolver in the late 90s. I have had a few various makes and models in 40. I now carry a full size M&P40 or the 1.0 M&P40c. I did buy the 357 Sig barrel and a 9mm barrel for them also. Great personal protection options in either or caliber.
Underwood does factory loads Lehigh “Xtreme defender” bullets in 357 Sig. They don’t mushroom, but they penetrate to optimal depths in gel without over penetrating and are barrier blind. Definitely worth considering for 357 Sig. There is a possibility that they tear tissue by redirecting body fluids into a high pressure point, but I haven’t seen proof on living tissue. But hunters using the bullets in other calibers have had good success. And even if they don’t tear extra tissue, the repeatable and good penetration is the most important part. The extra diameter of mushroomed JHP provides minimal extra stopping ability. Pistol calibers suck at stopping threats regardless. You will need to hit a vital organ or get a CNS shot. The mushroomed diameter isn’t going to buy you much extra chance of that. Shot placement and penetration are the key.
Really great job comparing these two! I usually have a lot of questions after a video like this but you were so thorough that I don't any. Thanks for the great info!
I picked .40 S&W for my SIG 239 buy recently.
If I need to experiment with .357 SIG, a barrel is available.
This was an informative video so thanks!
I’ve been carrying the .357 Sig 125 gr in 226’s and 229’s since they came out.
Also .40 S&W 155 gr. in 226’s and 229’s.
Use Gold Dot.
Got lucky a while back. A friend in LE gave me a box of 1,000 Gold Dot 357 Sig when his agency switched to 9mm.
Once again, I want to complement you on a great presentation. First it was the 38 Spl & 357 magnum. Now it's two more of my favorites, the 40 S&W and the 357 Sig. As a duty weapon, I switched to a Glock 23 in 40 caliber around 1992. I've never looked back. I now have three Glocks in 40 caliber, and I must admit that the model 35 is the most fun. With a 5.3 inch barrel you can achieve some additional velocity. I also acquired a 357 Sig barrel for the Model 35 which also adds to the velocity of this cartridge. For a while, I was unable to find any 125 Hornady bullets but I did have some of their 115 grain bullets. I've also loaded some of the Hornady 147 grain bullets. I use the heavy bullets as backups in hog country. I size my 357 Sig brass with my 40 S&W tungsten carbide die . Afterwords I do the neck in the 357 die. It usually doesn't require any case lube. You might want to give the Hornady 147 grain bullets a try. They are easy to seat due to their base design. Looking forward to your next article.
During my time as a deputy sheriff in Los Angeles, I conducted a test comparing the .40 caliber with the .357 SIG. We used two 180-pound dummies, positioned them inside a vehicle, and fired from about 50 yards away through the car door. The performance of the .40 Smith & Wesson was somewhat underwhelming. In contrast, the .357 SIG, known for its high velocity, was remarkable. The .357 SIG managed to penetrate the door, pass through the first dummy, and embed itself in the second. I consider the .357 SIG to be highly effective for personal carry, more so than the .40 caliber. The .40 caliber penetrated the door but failed to breach the inner panel. I have experience using the .40 caliber during my tenure as a deputy sheriff. It served its purpose well, though I prefer not to delve into specifics. My partner and I concurred that the best feature of the .357 SIG was its recoil-or lack thereof. The minimal recoil allows for quicker, more accurate shots. I carry a Glock 31, chambered in .357 SIG, which can be easily converted to a .40 caliber with a simple barrel swap. The versatility of having two calibers in one firearm appeals to me, offering the flexibility to switch between them as needed. I do all my own reloading and have for over 50 years, and fid the 357 is easy to load for, as well as the 40 cal. Luckly for me I have about 1500 rounds for both. Be Safe, Shoot Straight.
When the Oklahoma Highway Patrol finally retired their SIG 220’s in 45 around 2002 they stuck with SIG & began issuing 226’s in 357 SIG. But they also issued 40cal barrels for practice since it was generally cheaper.
I find myself seriously interested in a 357 Sig.
357 SIG is NOT recoil friendly. Just shot my M&Pc in 357 SIG the other day, and it kicks like a mule
@@luckymanham302 - recoil is a very subjective thing. It felt really easy to deal with to me, but others may not perceive it the same way.
“I have experience using the .40 caliber during my tenure as a deputy sheriff.”
How? The .40 has NEVER EVER been authorized for carry on or off duty for LASD. I was one for 34 years.
Both these cartridges work great with Longshot especially loading close to maximum.
You are correct!
@@robbieandbeckie - Longshot is a great powder for both the 40 and the 357 Sig!
Shhhhhhh....keep that quiet.
I've watched Guy's video when it came out & it is good to see more recent Ultinate Loader videos , most on Boobtube are several years ago videos.
I have a glock 22 & 27 , both converts to .357 sig , I totally love the .357 sig round & reloading fmj in particular is a great thing as .357 sig availability in fmj in particular is a problem & expensive ,
Thanks Guy & btw , my name is Guy too !
Keep Shooting & Reload !
Excellent presentation, but you forgot to mention another advantage of the 357 Sig, which is the inherent reliability, do to the fact that you're loading a 9mm bullet on a 10mm chamber. Failure to load is virtually non existing on pistols chambered on 357 Sig.
Never thought of it like that. 💪🏽🍻
Great Video Guy, always been curious about the 357 Sig. Thanks for the information. My edc for a few years was a Springfield XD-40 like the gun accurate and it taught me to control recoil on other guns. Like the gun like the round but for EDC had to go with a micro 9 more comfortable carry. Love Guys videos. Keep them coming fellas.
I've had my Sig p229 for years. I have both barrels for it, but it seems to like the 357 more.
I have to ask because I have one as well. Was it originally a 40 or 357? And does it have a #8 rear sight and #6 front sight? Im looking to get the 357 barrel as well
@dylankorpi137 mine was 357sig, then added the 40 barrel, 165grs 40s&w shoot close to the same point of aim for 357sig, hope this helps
@ thank you. Mine is 40 cal now and I’m gonna have a gunsmith install the 357 sig barrel
34:08 is hanks for your knowledge. I carried a .40 Glock for a couple years recently (this is 2024) and I always carried 123 grain. I was thinking about transitioning to a 10 mm but this vid has given me pause. Not much because of the availability of the .357 sig though. Thanks for sharing
Thank you sir, for good thorough information.
First, I enjoyed the video, very informative. I bought a used Sig P229 DAK in .40 S&W with one mag, no box for $380 total a few years back. I’ve always wanted an Sig in .357 Sig so I bought a new barrel, found the components to make it DA/SA, installed new grips and had it refinished. Very good shooter, a little heavy to carry everyday in Florida and I never found an IWB holster I really liked.
Beginning of this year I came across a used Sig P229C SAS, same dealer they make me spend too much money. It was significantly more at $1,200 but it came in .40 S&W and had a .357 Sig barrel too. After doing a little research and learning it already had the short reset trigger, I decided to spend the money and bought it.
I get all my practice and defense ammo on line, especially for .357 Sig. If you do find some at a Gun Store or Show, they want stupid prices for it. I’ve found Speer Lawman for practice and Underwood for defense on Ammo Seek. After practicing with this gun using both types of ammo, I’ve been carrying the P229C SAS with the .357 Sig barrel for a couple months now. I found a 1791 holster the same day I bought the gun and it’s okay. I like to carry cross draw and the metal clip on the 1791 holster wants to come loose from my Kore belt when I squat down to do something. I’ve had the gun almost fall completely off before I learned what was happening. I have a Wright Leather IWB holster being made and I hope it will work better.
While the .357 Sig takes more work to carry, I feel it is a superior round and I want any advantage I can get should I ever have to use it in self defense. There is no such thing as a fair fight. If my wardrobe dictates, I have a P365 in 9mm and a pocket holster if it’s all I can carry.
This guy's right when he talks about "good trigger pull" it's very important.
357 sig is awesome and the 400 corbon is awesome.
You can buy a 357 sig conversion barrel for your brand of 40 cal and you can buy a 400 corbon conversion barrel for your brand of 45 acp.
If you think the SIG is awesome, have a barrel made for the 9x25 Dillon, it is the SIG's big brother. Both Underwood Ammo and Double Tap stock multiple loadings so you do not need to be a handloader. Underwood even has boxes of 50 FMJ's for hunting/range and it is spicy 125gr 1,700 fps, 802 ft.lbs of muzzle energy (full power 357 Magnum).
Like the 400 corbon in a 1911
@@georgesheffield1580 Have you ever tried 40 Super? It is pushing the low end of 44 Magnum power and velocity in an autoloader (Glock 45 cal or the like). Triton had a light load with 135gr JHP @ 1,800 fps and 971 ft.lbs of muzzle energy. The great thing about the 40 Super is it will chuck 220 gr hardcasts with authority too. The 40 Super is a bottleneck cartridge just like the 400 Cor-bon and 357 SIG, but not even close in power, the published numbers for the Corbon are 135 gr @ 1,400 fps and 588 ft.lbs of energy, 400 fps and 383 ft.lbs difference is huge. Wikipedia has a darn good write up on the 40 Super if you are interested.
I have a Browning Hi Power in 40 s&w. It's a good in the middle cartridge for someone who doesn't want the 10mm but still wants a semi auto. I still remember buying a bunch of 100 round boxes of 40 s&w that was on sale at Gander Mountain @ $19.97 a box so I could have the brass afterword's. The Browning hi power is my favorite platform except for the magazine disconnect. I use Longshot powder in my 9mm loads. It's a good powder and plan to try it in the 40 some day.
I really enjoyed the video, Guy! I've had two Sig's in forty S&W the first one was the SP2022 that I purchased used never cared for that model as it was kind of difficult to stripe for cleaning as it required remove the takedown lever. And also, the polymer frame. I then traded it for the P229 This pistol is so much nicer in disassembling and the ease of clean as you demonstrated in the video. there the same size the P229 has the allow lower frame which I preferer. I should look at a 357 Sig barrel as brass seems to be easy to come by.
The Sig P229 really impressed me. Seems to be a very well designed and well built handgun.
I suspect the "45 automatic" designation was to differentiate the 1911 from the .45 Colt revolvers back in that era.
Diggin my shield 2.0 .40sw with .357 sig barrel....awesomeness
I've heard people got rid of their 40 because of the recoil, and replaced it with a 10mm(?!?!?)
I think the reason that the term "automatic" came to be used to describe semi-auto pistols is that the original term was "auto-loading," which is actually a more accurate term. Many people, however, seem to have a limit to the number of words they can maintain in their grey-matter dictionary, and "semi-automatic" and "auto-loading" eventually distilled into just "automatic."
Just listen for how many people use the pronunciation "phenomenaw" because they lack the mental horsepower to keep the terms "phenomenon" (singular) and "phenomena" (plural) straight in their noggins and resort to just one non-existent, catch-all word for every occasion. Or how people blend the two entirely different terms "frustrated" and "flustered" into "flustrated." Or people who say something like "big kahonies" to refer to testosterone-driven macho behavior because they can't distinguish between "big kahuna" (Hawaiian origin, meaning chief) and "cojones" (Spanish origin, pronounced kō-hō′nĕs, meaning testicles). Or pronouncing NASA as if it were the capitol of the Bahamas, Nassau. And probably a thousand other examples.
English?... I speak Americanish 🤣🤣🤣
Let's not forget "prolly" instead of "probably". Laziness at its finest.
What about 38super? Light recoil. Gangsters in the roaring 20's shot thru the heavy steel car doors. 10 round capacity. Excellent accuracy.
It too is a great cartridge!
The 38 super is a fantastic cartridge. In the 1920s and 1930s it was know as armor piercing. I never see any videos on it tho.
@@blueduck9409 - I think Gavin wants me to get one so we can do a video... :)
Awesome video and it gets people into how to sensibly handload these cartridges
I have many handguns but I have a Beretta Vertec 40cal model 96 in Inox finish that I carried as police officer. I purchased the gun in 2002 because it was something that hadn't been seen before and to this day I have not seen another like it and remains one if my favorite carry guns. It is by far my favorite handgun. For those out there that don't approve of the 40, well I'd say you're missing out. As far as recoil, I do not like plastic guns and that's why most don't like the 40 and 357 because of harder recoil. Stay off plastic guns and get a round that hits. I love a metal gun. I am not a fan of the fantastic plastic and if you're complaining about a few ounces in metal being heavier to carry well to tell you the truth I just don't see the issue. You have your preference, I have mine and I love these two calibers in a metal gun. I mostly have Sig Sauer, Beretta and 1911 handguns and you will enjoy shooting these rounds including 10mm and 45 in a metall gun over a plastic . Of course like everything else, this is a matter of opinion but I've been carrying for almost 40yrs and when the 357 and 40 came out I became an instant fan. Love the video.
My EDC is an M&P Shield in .40 with 165 grain Speer Gold Dot. Just picked up a G27 LEO trade-in in perfect condition for a steal and have ordered the Sig 357 mags for it. I’m just waiting for the G33 OEM barrel to get back in stock to convert it. I don’t understand why these two cartridges are so niche nowadays. .40 is an amazing EDC round: gives you a little more power and size than the 9, a little more velocity and capacity than the 45, and the recoil takes no time to get used to. I live in a state with a 10-round mag capacity limit, so I only carry 9mm if I have to pocket carry (Kahr CM9). Great video.
Both the 40 S&W and the 357 Sig are fine cartridges. Should have remained popular.
Oorah! This must be the third time i have watched your very informative video! Thank you shipmate.
There's a written article on the Ultimate Reloader website if you'd like. It's got a little more info.
I have several .40s in my carry rotation.
remember when they said 10mm was dead
It sure has come back nicely.
Great point
While I still like 40S&W, 357 Sig is awesome. I had two Browning HiPower 40s converted to 357 Sig, I have a P229 SAO converted to 357 Sig (requires small mod to manual safety), and a P239. I recently bought a Dan Wesson Valor bobtail (V-Bob) in 10mm, a DW 40S&W barrel from CZ, and I'm getting a KKM Precision 357 Sig barrel so I'll be able to shoot 10mm, 40S&W, and 357 Sig out of it. I'll carry it with 357 Sig. Fortunately, enough agencies still use 40S&W, the ammo is still plentiful and cheap relative to other cartridges. There are still ~20 factory loads for 357 Sig, putting it in the top 10 or so of centerfire pistol rounds in terms of selection. I can practice with 40S&W for less money, then switch to 357 Sig for carry.
I have a g31 and a 40 cal. Barrel that works great when I switch! I don’t have a problem with recoil from either caliber in fact I’m looking for the same in the size of my g26!….. good times 🎉!
Have never used .357 sig, but have been interested, used the .40 a lot though and love it.
What a great video this really is a gem I'm so impressed with the professionalism of this channel and amazing topic such good information thank you
Thanks for watching!
Great video. I purchased a sig p229 in .357 sig a few years ago and added a .40 s&w barrel for it as soon as i could just in case 357 sig got scarce. Did the same with a S&W M&P compact. Still use the 357 in my guns and love how the cartridge performs. Unfortunately just like the 41 magnum sometimes good ideas just dont catch on.
Good analogy. The 41 mag was a great cartridge - but you're right - it never really caught on. I came so close to buying one... But didn't.
I owned the P229, it was a very smooth shooting gun. I ended up trading it for a Remington Model 700 - 300 Ultra Mag. i still have yet to put any rounds down range with it.
That is a LOT of rifle cartridge. I only had my 300 Rem Ultra Mag for about 6 months...
Believe the US Coast guard uses or did use the 357 sig chambering in the Sig 229 DAO
They are both going to be around for long time. As the 10 mm.
I sure hope so!
My first Glock was a G23 g3 and I ground down the knuckle busting thickness of the lower trigger guard with a drummer (Hickok 45) and did a “25 cent” polish using Flitz and a q-tip. I fell in love with it and added a G27 to my carry rotation. The recoil is a little snappier than a 9mm, which does take it off target a little more, but nothing critical to me. Actually, working up loads for my P380 and Bersa Thunder, were far less enjoyable! I haven’t shot a .357 Sig, but these data tells the story there. Great presentation.
Like both and have both, in 40 and 357 sig, and also 45 acp they are excellent for CQB and defense purposes also have some revolvers in 327 magnum and 357 and 41 magnum, they are very accurate and effective
I had a 229 with 40 and 357 sig barrels. I found that when I swapped barrels, I had to run 50 rounds or more before they would print accurately. Sold it. I like both cartridges, but now I have two 239s, one in each caliber. Both shoot very fine.
357 sig is a Awesome very underrated cartridge! This cartridge hand loaded is even more impressive probably my favorite semi round. Do you like 10 for its application. But in some of my chronograph testing, I’ve had almost identical results as 10 mm loaded fairly heavy. Gun format, a smaller, and easier to handle with.the sig . We need more sig guns
I like also but it ain't gonna happen
1996 G27 40 S&W . Ammo CORBON 135 grain jhp...AKA. THUMPER
Sig 239 in 40 S&W and absolutely love that combination for an EDC. The only thing I've run into is "Glock Bulge", (yes, I know that other platforms will do it as well,) on range brass. The best solution that I've found for that is the Redding push through size die, it definitely works.
I bought a Glock 22 police trade in several years ago. I took it apart and it looked like it hadn't been fired or carried a whole lot. I put a new set of sights on it and it is perfect for me. I had never shot a 357 Sig before, but I liked the similar ballistics to the 357 Magnum which was my caliber of choice before the semi autos got popular. I bought a SS barrel for a Glock 31 which is chambered in 357 Sig and put it in my Glock 22. I reload my own cartridges so ammo wasn't a problem for me. It shoots just as accurate with either barrel. It's a pretty good deal to have two pistols in one.
Excellent video!!!
Weird the powder is the same amount in the load you did, considering the factory .40 XTP 155 gr got more fps at 1,250 fps than the 135 gr .357 sig did at 1,225 fps
I have a beretta96a1 chambered in .40sw. I run Speer 165 gold dots.
Don’t forget you can get a 9mm barrel and magazine and practice with it. I’ve been doing just that for years. Run some of your 40 or 357 just so you remember what it feels like at the beginning and end of your practice session and you’re good to go. Excellent video sir.
I keep a h&k vp 40 by my night stand, I hunt with 10mm, i carry a 9 and 357 sig depending on weather. Love all of them. My worry for the 357 sig is my brass dying. How long does 357 sig brass last? I have about a 500 pieces now reload several times.
Same as .40 S&W and 10mm......about 7-10x before you should toss them if they are brass cases. If they are nickel plated you should only reload those 1x - 2x before junking them. Don't take chances and also the Redding Carbide GrX die (#96150) will extend their life. If you aren't using one of those I wouldn't reload ANY of them more than once or twice before tossing them.
I bought a .357 Sig conversion barrel for my Glock 27 and it's still pretty snappy!
Until you get weight on your pistol, recoil is going to be your life experience with a plastic pistol.
Because those cartridges were never meant for carry pieces.
They capitalized on Fudds wet dreams.
40 is awful in the G27. Like holding a pissed off greased piglet.
Glock 22 and 23 both Gen 5. I'd love to get my hands on a 27 for carry. Currently carrying a 26 gen 4.
Thanks, Marine, for this video. If a person needs a firearm to defend themself, the attacker is up close and personal. You mentioned needing a gun that conceals easily and goes 'bang' every time you pull the trigger; for me, a .38 special DAO snubby fit those requirements. Unlike the movies, rarely is more than six shots needed and often only one or two. If you shoot them after they've begun running away, expect legal problems. LET THEM RUN AWAY, unless they're going for a weapon in sight.
I also own a S&W M&P .40 and considered the .357 Sig, which is what brought me here.
Again, thank you and Semper Fi.
I have the SIG P320, Glock 33 and 32 in .357 SIG. It's loud, powerful and expensive to shoot. Still worth it for me when compared to 9mm.
Dr. Gary Roberts answered this question 18 years ago. As the leading expert on wound ballistics. He knows the .357 sig is no better than 9mm. It just has extra recoil and muzzle blast with zero practical effect.
.40 on the other hand expands larger and penetrates deeper.
Either caliber is a solid defensive load . Both offering more power than 9mm even at +p .
I don’t have an issue with .357 sig prob will buy one someday, but I do think the .40 is better when you use the correct ammo (Underwood 135 gr is best HST and Critical defense is second best), or reload your own.
The 135 gr Underwood nosler hits 675 ft lbs energy out of a Beretta 96A1, 610 out of a Glock 23, and 588 out if a Glock 27. It’s more energy than all Underwood .357 sig ammo, believe it or not, which is likely the most powerful factory .357 sig ammo, since Underwood generally is for every other caliber. I looked but I couldn’t find anything more powerful. For example though, the glock 33 got 548 ft lbs from the 124 gr Underwood Nosler, compared to 588 from the .40 nosler in the Glock 27. It was 640 in the Glock 31 which is 4.5” barrel. The .40 was 610 in a Glock 23 4” barrel and 675 in a Beretta 4.9” barrel, so probably similar energy in a Glock 22 to the Glock 31. But in the subcompacts, the .40 has a genuine lead.
Using up stock of .357 Sig, then switching to .40 in P229 for the future.
Had a blowout with some .40 ammo some years ago. The ammo came from ultramax in a red white and blue box. Fired in both a Glock 22 and a Beretta 96A1 between the two pistols the Beretta was easier on the hand when the ammo blew out. I had both pistols checked over before firing them again.
Been telling friends and family to stay away from ultramax ammo. They blew out on me but it could be worse for someone else
H&K USP C and I have both barrels. I pretty much just leave the Sig barrel in place. I load 124 gr. Defensive loads from DoubleTap. They load to the top of SAAMI spec. They claim 1415fps from a 3.5 in. bbl. My H&K is 3.6, so I won't argue it. The accuracy is very acceptable. The recoil is lighter than the .40, but the muzzle blast is more noticeable.
Use .40S&W carbide dies for the resize. Then Just load as normal in the .357 dies. No lube needed.
@macprince5667 only carbide? i have 40sw and 357sig Hornady Titainium nitrides
357 Sig for the win! I don't care how much it costs because i like what i like and when you like something it's never expensive.
when I started really learning about caliber performance options paired with capacity, I had to have a 357 sig. it is the hardest hitting in sub- and compact options for and edc alternative. A G33/32 went straight to the get list. Because 40SW ammo is more available, I ended up with a G27, shopping for a 357 sig barrel to swap in. I also splurged on a p239 that came with both 40S&W and 357sig barrels and mags etc...I thought it was going to be an EDC but too heavy and limited capacity. Starting down the hand load rabbit hole too, so getting dialed in these 2 will be fun.
Well, have fun! They're both cool cartridges. :)
Great video! Thank you Sir
Started off with Glock 22 and 23. Can't knock them other than that they now compete for my bullets and powder sice I got into reloading 10mm. Nosler 135 grain JHPs can be pushed with longshot to 1434 via a 4inch barrel with 40. However this requires an aftermarket fully supported barrel (that is also good for hardcast). .357 sig pushes a 124 grain Hornady xtp to 1429 via longshot with a 4 inch barrel. .40s got a slight edge here (but uses a slight bit more longshot). SD would be better with 155 grainers for the 40. However, an aftermarket barrel swap makes .357 sig possible with same firearms without taking at least the bullets away from my 10mm reloading addiction. Solution: they are both pretty good so just get youself some quality aftermarket barrels for reloading and get some practice in. 😊
I purchased a H&K VP40 specifically to convert to a 357sig. I have 11 or 12 different handgun cartridge guns. By far the 357sig out performs all but my 44mag, which is impossible to conceal carry anyway. 357sig is an amazing caliber and with boutique ammo ( I shoot Underwood ) is phenomenal. It is by far my go to edc, 14 rounds that are like lightning bolts. I love the .40 and .45acp but the 357sig out performs them both not to mention the reliability is second to none!
I carry a P226 in 40 S&W in the winter time wearing heavier clothing. P365 in 9mm for everything else. Love and trust them both!
I bought a 40s&w sigma pistol back in 1995.
Very snappy gun,hard to shoot. I have a Glock subcompact now in 357.it’s amazing.shoots soft like a 9.very accurate and easy to shoot.