Quote:
Originally Posted by shawn mccarver
Recall that the last revolver round regarded as devastatingly effective (as opposed to merely adequate) used by LE prior to the en masse switch to semi-auto pistols was the .357 Magnum 125 grain JHP at 1,400 to 1,450 fps. The .357 SIG falls short of this goal and instead performs more like a .357 Magnum in a snub or a hotly loaded 38 Special in a 6 inch barrel.
Compare:
125 grain .357 SIG at 1,350 fps
115 grain 9mm +P+ at 1,300 fps
127 grain 9mm +P+ at 1,250 fps
These are, for all practical purposes, the same and I doubt any criminal hit with any of these could tell the difference.
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You're saying the 125 gr. .357 Magnum, at 1400-1450 FPS, is vastly superior to the 125 gr. .357 Sig, which you later quote at 1350 FPS, a difference of 50-100 FPS, or roughly 3.75-7.4 percent...however, the 127 gr, 9mm +P+ at 1250 FPS is "for all practical purposes, the same", even though the .357 Sig load is 100 FPS faster, or roughly 8 percent? So...an 8 percent superiority of the .357 Sig over the 9mm +P+ renders them essentially "the same", but the .357 Magnum managing a 3.75-7.4 percent superiority over the .357 Sig is "devastatingly effective", and therefore the .357 Sig "falls short"? I see.
I'm not saying the .357 Sig is the end-all be-all. It ain't. It's yet another compromise, as are all handgun cartridges, in an attempt to balance portability, shoot-ability, accuracy, capacity, and terminal effect. Not many here, I believe, have intended to advance the .357 Sig as vastly superior to the .40 S&W, or necessarily any other cartridge. Most of us who like the .357 Sig happen to like its penetration, and particularly (for me, at least) appreciate its flat trajectory, which makes longer range hits a bit less difficult.
Yes, I acknowledge that those shooters buying their .357 Sig ammo "off-the-shelf" are going to pay a premium over .40 S&W. Part of that extra cost is derived from the lower demand for the .357 Sig, therefore shorter manufacturing "runs", which drives unit cost up. And that higher cost keeps the demand low. Pretty similar story to the 10mm (another favorite of mine). It's a catch-22. So, personally...I'd love to give the .357 Sig (and the 10mm!) a boost to increase popularity, and drive down the cost...which in turn should increase the popularity!
It always seems to boil down to "my bullet is better than your bullet"! Yeah, and my Father can whip your Dad's butt, too!
Tim