M&P in 357 Sig

[anchors]

What are the opinions on this pistol in this caliber?
I was originally thinking of one in 45 but now I don't know.

 

[anchors]

What are the opinions on this pistol in this caliber?
I was originally thinking of one in 45 but now I don't know.

 

[MCVenner]

When I decided that my first pistol would be an S&W M&P I came very close to going with 357Sig but, mainly due to ammo price and availability, chose .40S&W instead. Having, since, purchased both an M&P40 and an M&P40C (with which I have been very pleased) it no longer seemed quite so impractical to have a 357Sig option and, indeed, picked up a new M&P357C just last week. My wife and I each put only four rounds through it (we were a bit rushed at the time) so, until we have a chance to get back to the range (hopefully this weekend) can offer only the following: 1) The felt recoil is sharp but all our rounds were well placed; 2) The report is quite loud and drew no small amount of attention; and 3) The muzzle flash is intense. I think this will make a good personal defense weapon if for no other reason than even a poorly place shot will likely leave an assailant scared to death.

 

[G-ManBart]

The NMSP have adopted this as their primary sidearm. All the guys I know seem to like them and in the last two shootings they've had, the ammo performed up to expectations (125gr Speer if my memory is correct).

The primary downside is the cost of the ammo and the higher cost of the brass for reloaders. If you reload and there's a local supply of it for free like we have locally, it's a much better deal. .40 is quite cheap now just based on the volume of sales, and you can get .40 ammo that's right in the same ballpark as .357 Sig without much trouble.

What some folks have done is to buy a gun in .357 Sig and get another barrel for it in .40 to use cheap ammo. Even the mags are the same.

As MCVenner mentioned, they tend to bark quite a bit, have a snappy recoil, fair amount of flash (depends on the exact ammo) and it's honestly more than a lot of people are comfortable with so they wind up selling them or shooting them less.

 

[conn ak]

Originally posted by MCVenner:
When I decided that my first pistol would be an S&W M&P I came very close to going with 357Sig but, mainly due to ammo price and availability, chose .40S&W instead. Having, since, purchased both an M&P40 and an M&P40C (with which I have been very pleased) it no longer seemed quite so impractical to have a 357Sig option and, indeed, picked up a new M&P357C just last week. My wife and I each put only four rounds through it (we were a bit rushed at the time) so, until we have a chance to get back to the range (hopefully this weekend) can offer only the following: 1) The felt recoil is sharp but all our rounds were well placed; 2) The report is quite loud and drew no small amount of attention; and 3) The muzzle flash is intense. I think this will make a good personal defense weapon if for no other reason than even a poorly place shot will likely leave an assailant scared to death.

That and a hit anywhere on the BG will probably ruin his day. Awesome gun, still haven't had the opportunity to handle one.

 

[Anton Chigurh]

The .357 SIG seems to be more of a HWP sidearm......that high velocity will bust out a window better than a .40, certainly more than a 9mm.........but can be a real bastard of a penetrator, sometimes when you don't need it, in a home defense situation.............

 

[MCVenner]

To anyone considering 357Sig I would recommend the following articles:

Why The 357 SIG Cartridge Is Catching On ...
http://www.handguninfo.com/Archive/www.Pete-357.com/357.defend.htm

FBI Tests the 357SIG Caliber ...
http://www.handguninfo.com/Archive/www.Pete-357.com/357.fbi.htm

Practical .40 S&W and 357 Sig Comparison ...
http://www.handguninfo.com/Archive/www.Pete-357.com/40.357.compare.htm

9mm Luger and 357 Sig Comparison ...
http://www.handguninfo.com/Archive/www.Pete-357.com/9mm.357.compare.htm

I take no issue with the previous contributor's concerns about "penetration" in a "home defense situation" (357Sig was not my first choice and I do regard my new M&P357C to be more of a carry gun) but the last of the above-linked articles includes this quote from an official of the Virginia State Police: "At first, there was some concern that the 16 inches of gelatin penetration by the 357 SIG would indicate over-penetration on the street, but this has not happened. Every single bullet fired into a suspect has mushroomed and been recovered from the opposite side of the body, or from the suspect's clothing. We've put a million and a half rounds downrange. It's working great." Noteworthy also, I think, is the fact that 357Sig is the caliber used by the Federal Air Marshal Service.

 

[cxm]

Get the M&P in .357 SIG and then you can just buy a .40 barrel from Storm Lake and you have both...

Easy as can be.

Chuck

Originally posted by anchors:
What are the opinions on this pistol in this caliber?
I was originally thinking of one in 45 but now I don't know.

 

[KNezz]

I have the M&P in a .40. Is there a barrel for the .357Sig yet?

 

[XTrooper]

I'm completely satisfied with my M&P357.

 

[cxm]

I talked to Storm Lake in Sept... they said they would have the M&P barrel in .357 SIG for the full size very soon... I wanted one for the compact...

I'd check with Storm Lake... they probably have a barrel for the full size M&P in .357 by now.

FWIW

Cuck

Originally posted by KNezz:
I have the M&P in a .40. Is there a barrel for the .357Sig yet?

 

[army_eod]

I should be picking mine up today or tomorrow.
I love the 357 Sig and the recoil or noise is no issue. It is accurate and powerful.
Cost is not really a big deal either. Esp when you can get at LEO prices.

Range report soonest.

 

[M29since14]

What are the opinions on this pistol in this caliber?

I have had a full-size gun for about a year now and have mostly shot Remington's low-priced 125 gr. FMJ loads. The gun is very accurate, considering its trigger. As I get older, I have become something of a recoil sissy. The M&P357 actually bothers me less than peppy 40 S&W loads in my M&P40. But, it is LOUD!

I would think the main drawback is the cost of ammunition. I have yet to start reloading for my gun, but have helped a friend get started. In test-firing a few of his loads, we see that the cartridge is not impossible to handload for - as some would have us believe. In fact, since I like to shoot conservative handloads for practice, the 357 may have some advantage in a fixed-sight gun. The handloads are a bit slower than factory, but they still shoot nicely to point of aim, in my gun. My M&P40 will shoot quite high with similar handloads.

If you have to choose between the 357 and 45, it is more a matter of your philosophy than whether the M&P357 is a good gun. I'm with XTrooper - completely satisfied with mine, too.