Personal Protection: .357 Sig vs .357 Magnum
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- Paul puts two .357 caliber cartridges head to head. Which will come out on top?
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Brad Nelson - minutemantheory.com
![357 sig vs 357 mag - How Many Paper Plates? [VERY SURPRISING RESULTS]](/img/n.gif)
You know Paul has the best channel when you would rather watch a re-run of his videos then a new video by the other gun channels.
i swear i've watched this video 4 or 5 times in the last 2 years
i've just watched this again after 'liking' it the first time. Just wish I could 'like' it again. And I'll watch it again later for sure...
I've watched this twice. Going to get a .357 S&W 686 7 shot.
Watching it again now.
I literally stopped watching a video about .357 sig and just started rewatching this one
Re-watching Nov 2024. Something about the beautiful scenery, Paul’s engaging presentation, and the knowledge of his passing, made me tear up a bit. Miss you Paul.
RIP ……. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of watching your videos.
I’m a huge fan of 357 sig... however the 357 mag is that old dog that just can’t be beat. Great round!!
.357 Sig is a really neat cartridge, but it can be challenging to handload. My only brown-pants moment shooting my reloads was with a .357 Sig bullet that went more than 1,600 FPS over the chronograph. The sound and recoil told me something seriously bad had happened even before I looked at the velocity. I put the gun down instantly and waited for my heart rate to regulate itself. I had overlooked a potentially dangerous step in my process that had worked just fine for several straight walled cartridges. The length of bullet shank inside the case neck is VERY short, and the powder is loaded right up to the bottom of the bullet.
@@chipsterb4946 Yep. That's why I use Blue Dot primarily... Blue dot likes to be compressed a little bit , so if you have bullet setback it's not as much a problem than if it was a different powder.
Diktator Alexander - thanks! I used AA No. 7 for the same reason, but it’s great to know about an alternative.
@@chipsterb4946 Yes I've seen AA No.7 mentioned a lot, along with No. 9.
Right now I'm gonna experiment with Longshot for .147 grain bullets. I want to create a good deer load for this caliber.
10mm is the modern 357 mag.
This is why I appreciate your videos, no BS. I'm an old dude and like my revolvers. One well aimed shot with a 357 mag or a 357 sig is absolutely effective. That said, I am more comfortable with a revolver and I shoot better. Carry the gun you shoot the best.
I am a middle aged gun guy, a fan boy of almost every gun maker. And I spend A LOT every month on guns/ammunition.
I own sigs, hks, colts, 1911s, kimbers, MAGNUMS, compacts dozens of handguns... my wife took a LONG time to like anything other than revolvers (cowboy guns). But, out if DOZENS of hand guns, the one that she had thr FASTEST point and shoot, and MOST accurate.... Browning high power. Old, 1970s high power...
She likes how light the Hk usp is. she has a sig p229 in her dresser drawer (under the toys). But, on road trips, she opens the safe grabs her high power for the "door" gun. And she grabs the benelli m4 for the trunk gun. (A kimber micro 9 LIVES) in the "get home bag" in her trunk.
But, she has TRUST in the Browning.
My dad was a Vietnam Marine and lifelong police officer. He passed on his lifelong love of 357 magnum, and also passed on his old police 357 revolvers to me. They're my favorite guns to shoot, and to carry.
I tell ya, if nothing else, these presentations have sold me on Remington green and white box ammunition.
David Herbst Me too!
Don't let those numbers affect your better judgment. Those are plinking rounds. Nothing more. Unless, of course, they are all that you have to defend yourself or others with. They are not very accurate. Nor, do they perform as well as a dedicated defensive round when speaking terminal ballistics.
what are you on about, in nearly every damm comparison paul does the G/W box is just as accurate and often has just as or nearly as good expansion as the hyper ammo.
@@PriVateJoe7 The tactitards enjoy spending 25 dollars on 20 rounds instead of 50.... Its their money to piss away.... I've shot 9BPLE, Buffalo Bore, +P bonded sabers, +P HSTs.... Remington green and white box does the same thing, has the same expansion or close to it, and is literally HALF the price.... People call FMJ plinking rounds, yet neglect to acknowledge those plinking rounds have killed millions of people at war the last 100+ years....
You definitely can't argue with their consistency.
I want that two hour "Revolver vs. Autoloader," video.
The answer to the revolver versus auto loader debate is, “yep. “
@Da Sheat 17 rounds of +p 9mm Fort Scotts 80 gr TUI (shoots through two bullet proof vest stacked together, a 3a+ and a 2a, Paul Harrell himself did it from a pistol, and several other channels shot through at least one 3a+) or 147 grain +p HST’s
So much common sense without the “black ops” drama and bravado. Thanks Paul!
Ray Paget,,,, I totally agree. Seems to be a common theme with many of the gun review channels,, so many have a beard, mustache, tattoos, and some sort of tactical or military clothing.
hipster tactical.
You need a beard to be an operator. It's in the job description.
You guys complaining about the stupidity of gun channels ought to try Forgotten Weapons. The host is so well-read and civilized it's gonna blow your mind xD
@@KurwaRomek Gun Jesus.
Outstanding!! This is the first video from Paul Harrell I've seen. As a former US Army Ranger/ Combat Veteran , I was extremely surprised with how much actual information less personal bias ( and TactiCool) there was. Paul is a very effective speaker, well balanced conversation from a practical approach. I will definitely recommend his videos to others.
-HOOUAH! 😎🇺🇸
I say Hooah!
I'm a little skeptical when the host has a shaved head, tattoos, and a fu man cho playing Mr badass.
I just love how much thought he puts into the composition of a target to represent human anatomy as best as he can.
I Am The Denimist I wonder if those boys in Texas are sending him the ears?
@@may2888 ?
I will never find Paul explaining the meat target redundant.
Or the improved high tech fleece bullet stop!
I really want that fleece. It's a good bullet stopper. Also, in cold weather, I probably wouldn't mind wearing 21 layers of it.
I bet there is a parallel dimension where a man made of oranges and pork builds a meat target with human lungs to simulate oranges, a human pectoral pork chop and a human's ribcage to simulate pork ribs.
Ate too much acid Major?
Did I miss the episode where he went from the "High Tech Fleece Bullet Stopper" to the "NEW AND IMPROVED High Tech Fleece Bullet Stopper?" Man, technology never sleeps...
I realize this is odd, but the other day I was in my car repeatedly saying “Pork chop pectoral” to myself.
Very. Odd.
and behind that our New and Improved High Tech Fleece Bullet Stop.
If its new how can it be improved and if its improved how can it be new?
Baaaaahahahahahaha
literally LOL
🤣
I looked over at my GP100 and said "Mr. Paul is talking about YOU, big guy!"
Charles Carter .... lmao
Yup
KIMBER K6s 🇺🇸🏁
Nope. he has a Security Six. That would be your GP100's "Dad." (Ruger no longer makes Security Six, although I think it's by far the best revolver I own.)
LMAO
I started a 30 + year career in 1974 carrying a 357 magnum. It worked well in those incidents I needed it. In the mid 80’s we did switch to semi autos. Yes they held a whole lot more rounds, but I never felt outgunned or under gunned with my revolver. I still love and shoot them.
We miss you, Paul. Rest in peace.
I am blown away by the thoroughness and thoughtful consideration of all relevant factors concerning the subject matter. Unsullied by bombastic proclamations and flashiness. This is what serious viewers want and need even if they don’t know it yet. Don’t change a thing that will compromise these strengths.
As one of my professors once said, “Everybody’s trying to be different around here. You want to be really different..., do things right!”
Has anyone ever told you, your head is huge?
Paul is very intelligent, thoughtful and respectful. Love this guy.
Indeed ... a lot of content !! Very thorough. Just bought a Taurus RT 605 2" (yes! 2") revolver, 5 .357 mag shots, as backup gun ... and this video is a nice complement to my informed training
He does the test, so I don't have to.
Personal preference.. I like the availability of 357 mag and 38 special ammo myself.. Plus I like a nice wheel gun...
There is no wrong answer as long as your gun works every time and you hit your target every time.
@@thatguy22441 - I'm in full agreement with the both o' yez. I chose .357 mag because I wanted a powerful anti-intruder handgun, in a revolver to eliminate shooter mistakes that might happen with a pistol, also, to encourage aiming during a firefight. I know about "point 'n' shoot" when there isn't time to aim, but if there is time to aim, I want to take the extra fraction of a second to aim. I used dbl action revolvers and cock the hammer before using, to slow the firing rate and put a round on the intended target area. I've never been in a gun fight, but I would imagine that I would be in a "fight or flight" mode, and I fear that I would be firing too quickly to aim if I used a pistol. I do a little practice at the gun range of using the long pull of the double action, finding that I will have to aim low and to the left, to hit center torso.
@@mu99ins My advice is train, train, and train some more. Train until proper target acquisition becomes reflexive, until you can't fire without instinctively getting a proper sight picture. It's said that your "training takes over" and it's true. Practice on it long enough and you'll do it without even thinking about it.
Exactly you can fire .38 special out of a .357 magnum revolver.
Nice touch on the added problem of user induced failures with autos. Both are highly capable rounds.
Yep that's the trade off for having over double the capacity
This is still one of Paul's top 12 (or 15 since there are so many Harrell YT videos) produced. Consider that he covered two rather comparable cartridges, two different platforms (Auto vs. Revolver), respective effectiveness of either round, touched on statistical issues, actual incidents and emphasized that the viewer is to be the judge when selecting a gun/cartridge combination ALL in under 20 minutes of run time. In the past, I've encountered university professors incapable of making so many relevant points on a subject within 2 hours. That's a big reason I keep coming back to Mr. Harrell's previous presentations.
My understanding of 357 sig is it was actually designed to be a autoloading cartridge with comparable power to 357 Magnum I would say that that was a success
I'm thinking about getting a conversion barrel for my .40 to shoot this. I can go with 10mm and 357sig with just a barrel swap. Which would you convert to in a glock 27?
Comparable in one area only though, self defense . It was designed to emulate the 357 mag with 125gr bullet from a 4” barrel. What is considered the gold standard for self defense loads. And it gets pretty close in that regard. But the mag is a much more versatile round , capable of many bullet weights and velocity’s for everything from self defense to hunting deer.
Stepping up to a 10mm will get more of an auto 357 mag result ballistically, though the fan boys like to think it’s way more , it really not.
It’s very similar to heavier, hotter mag loads. Much more so than the sig.
@@megastick9324 what about 9x25 Dillon with 180gr hard cast? I'm sure the "sectional density" might be a little crazy but it pushes it pretty quickly. I shoot 10mm "short" lol but was curious about this round
@@anthonysmith3132 ive never owned one. I have two buddies that reload and they’re really into them. I’m sure it’s a great round, 9mm mag so to speak. But I don’t reload so I stay away from a lot of great cartridges because they aren’t readily available .
@@megastick9324 yea I hear you. I'd love to experiment with 40 super 400 corbon etc. I forget you're original post so if you've already said it sorry but what's your preferred self defense cartridge?
Does anyone remember the 1990s when NBC had Thursday night “Must See TV” with Seinfeld and other shows? Now Thursdays are UA-cam “Must Watch Videos” with Paul Harrell. As always, great video!
He does seem to attract a nicer crowd.
NBC are they still around?
Yeah, but they now have “Nothing But Crap TV”.
In clinical work, we differentiate between "statistically significant difference" and "clinically significant difference." Like, the patient is attempting suicide 2 times per week, down from 5 per week. It's statistically significant, but clinically insignificant. Paul, every time you've said, "significant" or "significant difference" your meaning has been sparklingly clear by your context.
👍
Yup, Effect Size VS significance (p-value) : give me both!
+gnpahcd. How come you can measure that on a per week basis? Your patients ought to be dead within two weeks. Not enough to do the statistics.
That's a very interesting question, and it helps draw out another factor. The example I gave is a famous one in academia, and I have never heard it in a clinical setting. So, we also have the differences (pun intended, I suppose) between what academics say and think, and what those closer to real-world say and think.
+gnpahdc. It would be more realistic to pick an example from the world of endocrinology. Serum tests provide a multitude of cases where the count can vary, say, between 0 and 100, yet a threshold of 5 or 10 is considered normal, i.e. clinically significant.
Story time with Paul? We need more of this please!
There are many gun channels. Some are fun. Some are informative. Some are for the advanced shooter. Some are for the beginner. I like them all. Paul's is the one channel I keep coming back to. I shot Rifle and Shotgun as a kid. I was a beginner 5 years ago on hand guns. Paul Harrell's videos have something for every level of gun enthusiast.
Probably the best reviewer on UA-cam. Nothing but substance. Only shoots the number of rounds needed to make a point, no small talk just useful information provided in an objective manner. Well done!
Paul you are made to be in front of the camera and teaching, thank you for everything you do.
Don’t think an hour of anecdotes would be boring. Another fine video!
We all can appreciate the quality of information this gentleman provides his viewers. His very intelligent in-depth analysis make this channel one of the best top 5 firearms channels on YT.
I have noticed after reading the comments here that most all can write correctly in English. It shows the quality of those who watch your videos over others. You and your videos are just that, the best!
I absolutely love the way Paul does his tests, without any personal bias or criticism he simply educates you on the pros and cons of things without telling his personal opinion on the matter. Very professional and to the point.
Dylan Thomas I somewhat disagree, he definitely gives his options, however, he tries to make sure we understand that they are JUST opinions, he doesn’t present any info as if what he says is 100% the way it is...
I really appreciate this guy going to the range in the middle of winter and freezing his balls off to answer the questions I've never asked. Top notch quality content 👌
Hands down this is the best guns and ammo reviewer on UA-cam.
Love your work Mr Harrell.
While Paul isn't the largest gun channel I'm subscribed to, he is the only one who gets 5,180 views and 1,113 thumbs up in the first two hours after uploading.
Outstanding channel with great content.
Paul has a very dedicated fan base!
Information coming from an old school Texas Highway Patrolman, .357 Magnum with 125 gr jhp kills like lighting. And anytime someone comes up with a new defensive round they automatically compare it to the .357 Magnum with 125 jhp bullets. That's why Sig came up with the .357 Sig for auto loading pistols and most defense ammo is 125 gr. Most Texas Highway Patrolman carry this combination and that is why I carry this combination.
Thanks for the comparison, Paul. I'm still a .357 magnum fan. My first handgun was the Colt Trooper with a 6" barrel, 6 rounds per cylinder purchased in 1964 for use in combat. My current one is a 4", 7 round .357. I have a couple of speed loaders or I can carry a compact semi-auto.
I just bought a lever action.357 mag rifle can’t wait to shoot it I have yet to ever fire a .357
Just discovered Paul's videos a few weeks ago and really know he is top notch and knows what he's talking about. After I retired from my "real" job, I worked part time at a gun range. Did RSO on the range, was a certified NRA pistol instructor and trained new shooters, etc. One slow Sunday we found an random box of open ammo and a ton of it was .357 Sig. There was about 1000 rounds and four of us, so we ran a bunch of drills and shot 250 rounds apiece in a couple of hours through the range Glock. I'm pretty recoil insensitive, but was never so happy to see the end of that ammo. My wrists, shoulders and elbows were way sore. I'm not a Glock fan, but will say, we shot the hell out of that gun and it never bobbled. Thanks for the very high quality vids you do.
These round comparisons are some of the most useful information I’ve seen on the internet.
I`d only add that another pro for the .357 Magnum is the ability to have your sidearm in the same caliber as your carbine, with the availability of lever actions in that caliber.
Ruger needs to make a .357sig model of their PC.
@@rickc2102 god i wish, imagine .357 sig from a long barrel.
@@kumaflamewar6524 Aero survival rifle has you covered. IIRC they do a 3-pack deal so you could have e.g. 10mm (/.40), .357 SIG & 9mm.
Might be an old statement, but Ruger makes a bolt action that fires it too lol.
Plus you can fire .38 special from a .357 magnum.
Another SIGNIFICANT addition to the firearms reference canon. Informative and concise without being dry and entertaining without any fluff.
Again, well done, Sir. Thank you.
On the topic of capacity, yes, revolvers are truly adequate in probably 95% of all defensive shootings (unless the round is ineffective), but that added capacity, for most people, myself included, can contribute greatly to the shooter's confidence. You can never have too much ammunition. Unless, of course, you're on fire.
I love my s&w 686+ it always go boom when I need it too! Thanks Paul.
Barrel conversions for caliber and barrel length are also a potential semi advantage. Where the wheel gun may shoot .38s the 357 Sig can be shooting 9s, and even suppressed, if desired. Perhaps add a light or a quick reset trigger and the semi really out shines in the modularity comparison.
Favorite Channel
I will try to add to the conversation something useful that I know.
That is when you're talking about Auto loaders, on many makes and models of pistols it is possible to purchase different barrels, to allow you to shoot other calibers.
For example.
I Carry a Smith & Wesson m&p full size pistol, I purchased it on caliber 40 Smith & Wesson, that's the caliber it came on at the price point I could afford at the time, it was a police trade in.
because at the time 40 Smith & Wesson was a bit expensive for me, I decided to purchase a 9mm barrel and 2 magazines.
The amount of money that the 9mm conversion saved me per round of training ammo made it basically pay for itself.
Sometime after I grew confident enough on my shooting, that I wanted to hunt small to medium size game with my pistol, and I also heard of 357sig and it's greater speed and relatively flat trajectory inside of 50 yards, and I knew the original .40s&w magazines that originally came with my pistol were fully compatible with 357sig cartridges.
So I went and purchased a 357 barrel.
Now I carry 357sig for home defense and personal protection, and I train with 9mm when I go to the range.
I believe this method could be used on the same breath of the 357 Magnum switching calibers to save on ammo.
Yes you have to purchase extra hardware to do that, but in my experience it has been well worth it, because now I can shoot 3 calibers on the same handgun, and in most recent times where ammo went all but extinct on the shelves, being able to switch calibers was very very useful..
Thank you, Paul, for another great informative video. I had the opportunity to see the damage to an A-pillar caused by a .357 Sig versus a 9x19 and the .45 ACP during range qualification at my former agency, it was very impressive, and all good as long as the agency was buying the ammo, not so much when it came to me buying it, my 45 ACP worked just fine.
You continue to be one of the finest instructors on Common Sense Firearms knowledge and use anywhere, not just on UA-cam!
Thank you for your time, your effort, and your expertise, and presenting valuable knowledge that can help save lives, and save budgets too!
Long live the Meat Target!
I have to admit I was impressed with how much the sig rocked that meat target. I didn't think it would have been that close to the magnum. Great, well thought out video. Thank you Mr. Harrell.
Physics doesn't care about marketing.
Same here. Everything I have looked at data wise puts the 357 sig quite a ways behind the 357 mag, although still quite capable. Very impressed with the similar velocities.
My wife wanted me to help her bake cookies for her Christmas party at work. I saw this video pop up and was like "Can't help ya, Paul just uploaded a vid." I'm in the dog house but I don't care!
Just make sure the dog house has wifi and you're good to go.
I watch long youtube videos while cooking, lol
@@ChucksSEADnDEAD there's the answer!
I save my dog house mess ups for when I buy guns without telling her lol
This is just what I wanted to see! Thanks for taking other viewers and my comments into consideration.
Like the .357 Sig cartridge, so your thorough comparisons, especially the chronograph ( laser ? ) gadget you use to get your average muzzle velocities have convinced me to buy a pistol that is built around this great necked down cartridge. And that pistol must be a Sig Sauer, of course!
No doubt - Paul Harrell's gun/ammo videos are the best on youtube. Very detailed, but not boring or monotone like so many others. And importantly, as with this video, he wraps it up with stating that when push comes to shove, when comparing ammo, it still always comes down to what works best for the individual who is shooting.
Mmm orange marinated smoked ribs...
I always think that too.
Mmmmm. Just don't marinate too long or the citric acid will start to decompose the meat.
Well, I figured that would go without saying. Get it over with quickly.
With just a hint of GSR. Delicious.
Doesnt sound half bad, actually.
One big reason I like revolvers is that they aren't ammo picky.
Concerning reliability between revolvers and semi autos I used to believe that mechanically that revolvers were much more reliable than autos but recent revolver purchases have shattered my illusion of that.
Two of my 357s have failed me quite frequently and have had to been sent back to the manufacturer for repairs.
I’m 50 and I’ve never had this problem before.
One of them was an expensive “Performance Center” 357 that went back twice.
On the other hand I have one auto that I’ve owned for 10 years and has never failed me, ever.
Not only that, when a revolver goes down it's mostly done for good and needs to be repaired. But when an autoloader fails it's usually just a second or two remediation and it's back in the fight.
I had a brand shiny new S&W N frame that had cylinder drag when fired more than 12 rounds. Ended up getting a gunsmith friend true up the cylinder locally and turn the barrel in one turn. Didn't want to wait for A&W to fix it. So yes, revolvers can have problems too.
You have pointed out the real problem with the modern Smith & Wesson vs the old Smith & Wesson. The modern S&W values company profits above all else while the old S&W valued quality above all else. Hence, the older Smiths are far and away better in every way. My favorite Smith is an older 686 that has the most wonderful double action trigger I have ever used. My newer Smith is a 649 pro that has a horrible double action that feels like it is 15 pounds. I only have it because my brother wanted to trade for an auto I had.
Great video. I have a SIG P229 in .357 SIG, but I also have a 9mm Bar-Sto barrel in it for practice just for the reason you pointed out at the end.
Thanks Paul, Revisiting this video.
The Sig is very impressive for an auto cartridge.
ATM/AttractedToMoney look on line at manufactures like Grizzly and you will see 2000 fps and 700 foot lbs. 1500 to 1600 is easy to come by.
.357 Sig is criminally underrated.
It's just not common enough. Bottleneck shells are better than straightwalls but convention rules.
@@Smokeless1167 why are bottleneck > straightwalls?
@@alphaspartan Feed purposes
Agree
.357 mag on the other hand is rated quite highly by criminals
Good video, Paul. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!!!
I'm always impressed with the quality and content of your videos on any subject related to firearms use. Easily the most informative UA-cam channel on safe and effective firearms selection and use.
It so happens I own a H&K USP Compact chambered in .357 SIG. I love shooting it for a variety of reasons, not least of which is it (1) ergonomically fits my hands better than any other pistol I've ever fired, (2) can be shot either in double action or single action, (3) and has a de-cocker and a manual safety. That said, your comments on the availability and price of .357 SIG ammo are very true. I find buying such ammo is generally a huge hassle. Most gun stores don't carry .357 SIG at all or only carry one brand, often a cheap and poorly designed round. Quality .357 SIG ammo costs A LOT more than you'd spend on other calibers. That higher ammo cost really strikes home if you shoot the volume of ammo needed to train properly. So the H&K gets little training time and I spend far more time training with my Colt Government Model .45 ACP. I shoot better with the latter pistol but that's solely because I train with it far more frequently than with the H&K USP Compact.
Please continue your good work and professional presentations. Semper Fi!!
I just discovered this channel. I am an avid reloader and love content like this. Paul, you nailed these videos with a scientific outlook that tries to compare apples as closely to apples. Most guys are all over the place with ammo and caliber comparisons. Well done brother. Thank you.
I never realized for thr .357 sig. I have a sig p229 in.40 (and I bought thr sig 357 sig barrel) tomorrow I am picking up a HK USP in .40 (going to get a 357 sig barrel for it as well).
Any advise on bullets to run? -- I have a butt load of 115 grain from Xtreme bullets.. (can the copper washed 115 grain 9mm take thr pressure of thr sig)?
Thanks John
Paul could make a video on the proper fitment of range glasses interesting.
Notification squad! Pull over and watch Paul doing what he does best!
Excellent, spot-on video, Paul, and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
A big difference I noticed in your reloading procedure between revolver vs auto-loader was, you took your eyes off the target and looked down at your revolver cylinder while reloading, while with the auto, you kept your eyes on the target and brought your workspace up in front of your chest. A target can displace to a new location in a lull in fire and it's best to always keep your eyes up on target at all times. This is a plus for auto-loaders. Great video Paul!
I like your videos. You're one of the few people I've seen on here that actually knows what you're talking about. Most people talk like they know a lot, but having been around guns since I was about 6 years old (so about 30 years now), I can usually tell when people are either repeating shit they've read or heard or just having know idea what they are talking about. If I really want to learn something I default to your videos. I also like that you explain how "studies" and "statistics" aren't always what they seem to be. I had a psychology class on this subject in college and ever since I look at "studies" and "statistics" in a very different light. I like that you point this out and explain how they can be skewed, but unfortunately people still have a tendency to say, "but studies say this...," or, "statistics say that....." people tend to believe anything they read or see on TV as absolute fact. I don't know why this is, maybe people are losing the ability to think for themselves (which I truly do believe). Sometimes it's easier to argue with a brick wall than it is with people who "already know everything about the subject." great videos dude.
Woot Paul video, means a good night.
Another EXCELLENT VIDEO ! Being a Revolver man , the .357mag is the King of the Road for me . However , I'd feel well protected with a .357 sig .
This presentation was seriously top notch, even for a Paul Harrell video
I've been doing my own research on the three fifty seven sig for concealed carry thank you for your Added information. Is great to see you as always.
Thank You for the comparisons. Personally I shoot the Ruger GP 100 match champion with 38 special rounds. There are many loads and bullet weights available in the 38/357 mag corner but the key (for me) is practicing often. The cost of practice is less expensive using 38 special (except self defense rounds) instead of 357mag and much easier to find given todays shortages.
For training with 357 sig, you can typically find conversion barrels from 40/357 down to 9mm. That isn't ideal for "serious" purposes, but works well for practice and is certainly better than a .22 conversion.
I also love when Paul gives a little snark towards a comment.
I love semi-autos but I grew up on revolvers and have always enjoyed shooting them more than semi-autos because, for me, ammunition tends to last longer on the range with revolvers. I've always had a .357 Magnum revolver and carried one for many years on the job. I retired by the time they switched to semi-autos but today the world is a very different place. Law enforcement officers nowadays only carry semi-autos, many of which carry THREE spare mags. In my day we had a 6-shot revolver with 2 speedloaders totalling a mere 18 rounds.
You faced the same threats with only 18 shots. You faced them anyway with less.
Mr. Harrell will live on through his videos. Thanks to him my vocabulary centers around ad nauseum, ad astra, and ad infinitum.
Paul, please do one or more videos on the stories you briefly mentioned here. Even if all you do is "the boring part where I just talk" and no shooting, I guarantee that a whole bunch of us will gladly sit and watch! Your experiences and the information you have collected over the years are fascinating.
He always says "I could talk for hours about these different scenarios." I wanna meet him and hear these stories.
Yes! Definitiv one of the people on my list to spend an evening having some beer if ever possible! (Invitation when he ever comes to the old kontinent)
Yeah he is really too cool LOL!
Another impressive and informative video, Paul. Because of your videos I have changed my home defense habits. I now have a
.357 revolver (all six chambers loaded) as my primary defense weapon, with a .22 magnum revolver as backup. I used to have a .45 Springfield XD semi-auto for that purpose, but concerns about leaving the mag loaded all the time caused me to switch to the revolver. At some point in the future, I may buy a seven or eight round .357, but for now this is all I think I need. Thanks.
Reality is if we don't get it done with 12 rounds, we probably aren't going to get it done.
When you say " I could go on at length...." and then proceed, I always figure you should do just that in a separate video where those of us who care can view and appreciate it. Keep up the good work.
Thanks. Answers many of the questions I had about the .357 Sig.
Just to Inform you guys. A 357 sig. is a .40 s&w case necked down to take a 9mm bullet. When you take a 10mm case and neck it down to 9mm it becomes a 9x25 Dillion caliber. A Glock 20 with a 9x25 Dillon barrel will fire a 125 grain projectile at 1700 FPS w/ 800 Ft. lbs. of muzzle energy. I have this set up for my Glock 20. It’s definitely awesome. Underwood and Doubletap both load this Ammo. It’s basically the same price as 10mm or anything else.
For all of you guys that watch this channel I salute you. Paul Harrells videos in my opinion are the best ones I’ve seen here. Thanks Paul!!!
Or shoot 125gr Underwood 357 magnum ammo out of a 6” barrel for the same fps and energy.
Thanks for another .357 mag video. They always make me want to keep my snubbose wheelgun. I'm using 125 grain hornady hollow points and now know I'll keep using that grain. I was impressed with your meat targets. Looks like they will do fine.
*_Yeah, but you can't get that in the Remington Green And White Box._* [Sorry. I thought Paul was short on "yeah, buts."] I think I am going to try some Barnes TAC-XPD when I know I get some range time. I have the Hornady for the 9mm.
Ellison Rodgers oh, I do use my .357 mag. for ccw. It's easy for me to conceal, virtually no print. I've recently changed my ammo to 125 grain hp, and was wondering about the characteristics of the round. Paul's vid. Showed me what I wanted to know. I think 125 grain will be fine for ccw, and maybe bump back up to 158 grain sp for when I'm fly fishing in bear country. It's hard to find many load choices in my area. Your right my younger buddies all carry the latest autos. So I get teased alot. Guess I'm old school.
My first gun was/Is a .357 S&W 686 and I've always had a great respect for the magnum. The Sig round never interested me. This video peaked my interest in it. That was pretty fun. It's also interesting that you get pretty good results with green and white box, while the other "experts" only talk about the expensive stuff.
I hike a lot in the back country and don’t need 15 rounds. However I do like carrying 180gr hard cast bullets for bear. Advantage magnum.
I carry a 10mm with 15 rounds. Hard Cast. I also carry bear spray and will use that first. Use bear spray past 50 ft cause their sense of smell is 300 x better than a bloodhounds. (That is what I was told in bear spray class and check the wind)
Buffalo Bore 180 .357 , my woods load.
Your presentations remind me of a college course. Also you’re so relaxed when you explain. Thank you.
I watched this five years ago. Here I am again. Thanks Paul.
I've owned a security six .357 magnum 4 1/2" for over 45 years and also realoaded that long. It's my opinion that it's one of the most versatile calibers that has ever been made. I can shoot light hi velocity rounds in .355 up to heavy rounds in .357. It is one of my favorite guns. It's also very accurate. Great presentation Paul.
This corroborates everything I had already suspected. Thank you for the evidence of such, Mr. Harrell.
Paul !
You do a great job explaining things
I really like your videos
Both are such great rounds for thier respective platforms, great video Paul.
Another awesome video done by you and you are one of the best with how you put it out there , thank you.👊🏻🇺🇸
My Glock 33 in .357 Sig is one of my carry guns. I feel confident if ever needed it Will get the job done. Pray I don't. But....another great vid Paul ! tyvm
Oh, and let me say a big "DITTO" to the commenter who suggested regular story time videos. That is a great idea. Stories/anecdotes and lessons learned from CCW, police situations, hunting situations, real gunfights, etc. "The Harrell Files". Kinda lime the Ayoob Files, but better☺. Thanks for listening
As John Taffin would say: "Buy em both!"
I'd be happy to be able to afford just one of them.
I actually shoot more .45 ACP than 9mm because I have more pistols chambered in it at the moment. If I was already shooting .357 Mag or .357 Sig it wouldn't be so bad but to begin shooting a new caliber plus the cost of the gun is a bit more than I can afford at the moment. Most of my fun budget has been going toward reloading equipment the last few years and I'm just about to the point where I can reload every caliber I have. Once I get there adding .357 Mag or .357 Sig probably wouldn't be too much of a strain. I'd love to get a .357 Sig, a buddy of mine let me shoot his p226 chambered in it and I loved it. Thing shot like a laser and kicked like a hot 9mm.
Great advice ! I own both ! The best of two worlds 👌🏻
I think this one is one of the more informational videos. You touched a little bit of everything with this.
Thank you for a very objective analysis. i watch all your presentations that I come across with close attention.
Im sorry but I have to do this. "Mess with the lords hour, get the sig sauer"
With Sig iron on his hip. Sig iron on his hiiiiiiiiip.
What makes Paul a “ what you’d call a professional?” Well, partly the thorough and logical approach to the subject matter, but, also the total lack of “ fan boy-ness” in his videos. Yes, he often states a personal preference for a particular firearm or caliber. Yet he gives HIS reasons why it suits HIM and doesn’t push on others why they must agree with HIS preferences or they’re just stupid.
He even addresses the MANY whiners in the comments that ALWAYS crop up when their particular fan boy load or weapon doesn’t blow away the compared one. Yes this particular load in that particular weapon may out perform the one tested, but the ones tested are generally the ones MOST people would likely use in said weapon. With all that said, is Paul one of the best channels on firearms….you decide….
Another thoughtful and useful video, Paul. Well done. I am on the .357 Mag side of this in part because of the .38 Special flexibility, but mainly because of hunting capability. Neither is ideal for me for self defense, since I am not a cop. But for deer size game and below at closer ranges? The .357 Magnum in an accurate revolver is tough to beat. And with .38 Specials it is a great jackrabbit/coyote gun.
In defense of the .357 Sig though, all you need to do to convert it to say 9mm or .40 S&W is a simple barrel swap. While a .357 Magnum gun can do that as is out of the box, it's still not a bad investment. I too am on the side of .357 for the same reasons you listed. For personal defense however, there are plenty of good loads like the Remington 158gr SJHP, which is well proven out of a 4 inch barrel to not over penetrate and give excellent expansion and penetration well within safe parameters for collateral risks.
Truly, the .357 Sig is not a bad round though... but it was originally intended for duty use, and in that capacity it's a fine caliber. I feel the .40 S&W while also being designed for the same roles is a bit more versatile like the .357 Magnum in terms of what it can be used for and is often much cheaper than the .357 Sig. Both .357 Sig and .40 S&W can be loaded up hot and limiting their defensive capabilities and pushing into hunting territory, but with standard loads or hot loads, the .40 S&W doesnt push those boundaries as hard.
I feel the .357 Magnum is just more practical for a lot of people. Simple to understand, versatile, and effective for whatever you might need it for with either .38 Special or otherwise.
Since having a hunting .357 Magnum myself I'm leaning more towards having a .38 for self defense honestly. A .357 sig would just be a luxury.
+Brian Schimdt The Medusa Revolver was capable of such a thing, however it is highly inaccurate using anything aside from .357 and .38 Special in most cases. Ian at Forgotten Weapons did a video on one, kinda revealed them to be an utter piece of crap novelty gun. But yes, a .357 cut for moon clips is definitely capable of quite the array of calibers that are effective however and it makes for one handy little package as a whole.
Likewise, you can do this with .32 caliber revolvers like a .327 Federal Magnum or a .45 caliber revolver like a S&W .460 Magnum or a Taurus Raging Judge Magnum. I have a .327 and the Raging Judge cut for moon clips, the .327 is capable before conversion of firing .32 S&W Short/Long, .32 H&R Magnum, .327 Federal Magnum, and .32 ACP reliably. The .32 ACP bit is iffy with certain brands however. But when cut for moon clips, it can fire .32 NAA, .30 Luger, .30 Carbine, I've heard some say 7.62 Tokarev but have never tried nor want to as well as 7.63 Mauser. There's a wide variety of .32 caliber rounds I'm confident it could handle as well but I think the point is made. Likewise a .460 S&W Magnum can handle around 9 different calibers including the .460 S&W, probably more with all the .45 caliber wild cats out there, the Taurus can handle all the same rounds minus the .460 S&W Magnum of course.
The reason I feel a .357 though would be better for most people is the fact that 9mm caliber rounds are far more common. However, I'd avoid using ultra hot ammo on the regular or even semi regularly. As when they get cut for the clips it does weaken the cylinder a little bit and hotter rounds dont get handled as well which could cause some safety issues if you're not careful. You start to see wear over time, but a good strong .357 from the get go should be just fine.
Doby: Have to agree for the most part. BUT, load it with Hornady 38 special 110 grain Critical Defense rounds and you'll have a very capable self defense gun. Brian: having a gun that is capable of firing multiple calibers? Your best bet is an H&R single barrel shotgun in .410. Watch the videos from Iraqveteran8888. Basically if you can shove it in the chamber it would fire it. It's UNBELIEVABLE what they fired through it with absolutely no problem, up to and including 50 AE.. Granted most wouldn't hit the broad side of a barn but DAMN, it shot it.
+Dale Harper Ordinarily I'd agree on such matters, however their pressure levels are FAR within safe limitations of what the gun can handle in a .327 Federal Magnum gun like a Ruger SP101 or GP100 or even their Single Seven/Six line. While I personally have had no desire to test the Tokarev round, it doesnt generate more pressure than a .327 Federal Magnum and the gun would handle it I'm certain.
I think the issue would be getting rounds to fit the chamber with some of these guns. Thing with .357 Magnum not chambering 9mm is because of different bullet diameters, this is where that Medusa Revolver solved it by how it was unique with it's cylinder. However, that is an expensive venture that no company really wants to make. So it's much simpler to just make a 9mm revolver.
It really depends on the revolver though, some will be able to, others wont and most that will are typically extremely inaccurate using 9mm or anything like that.
One advantage of the .357 Mag revolver is that if you hand load, you can create rounds that are extremely mild for introducing a new person to shooting and then work your way up to .38 Special level and then to .357 Mag level... Plus, straight wall cases like the .38 Special or .357 Mag are easier to hand load than the bottle neck rounds like the .357 Sig... At least for me... I often carry a Sig P229 in .357 Sig, but if I'm just plinking, I'll more often than not use one of my .357 Mag revolvers so that I don't have to bend down to pick up my spent brass...
I am amazed at the consistency of your form. May have to adopt that.