When .357 Sig is so much better why carry 9mm?

[marathonrunner]

My friend offered to go in half with me if I bought a case of HST 147. Considering it is $800 a case, it sounded great however, I have a case of HST .357 Sig so it's hard to justify getting 9mm when .357 Sig is way better than 9mm +P, 9mm +P+ so it makes no sense to buy a case of 9mm. Anyone else feel the same?

And with the ammo shortage, I think .357 Sig will be more plentiful than 9mm

 

[bigwheelzip]

If the firearm I prefer to carry came in that caliber, I'd consider it.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[Erich]

Whatever floats your boat.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Interesting questions. Interesting observations.

May I suggest that you try shooting 9X19 under simulated combat conditions (low light, no hearing protection, no eye protection, maybe inside a closed room or automobile, just like it will be when you need to defend yourself in the real world), then try the same exercises using .357 Sig. Let us know how that works out for you, okay? You like recoil, you like muzzle blast, you like mega-fountains of muzzle flash, you should really enjoy the experience.

Might even save a buck or two on ammo.

 

[marathonrunner]

Interesting questions. Interesting observations.

May I suggest that you try shooting 9X19 under simulated combat conditions (low light, no hearing protection, no eye protection, maybe inside a closed room or automobile, just like it will be when you need to defend yourself in the real world), then try the same exercises using .357 Sig. Let us know how that works out for you, okay? You like recoil, you like muzzle blast, you like mega-fountains of muzzle flash, you should really enjoy the experience.

Might even save a buck or two on ammo.

I carry a full size Sig P320 .357 and can rapid fire and put all shots at 21ft about a softball size group so that is not a problem. However, the loud deafening noise it would make yes that would be pretty awful on my hearing

 

[seldon14]

Because it's not......

 

[lrrifleman]

Well, there is carry, and then there is CARRY!

If I were carrying a 357 Sig, and were constantly within reasonable distance of my ammo cache, I can see where you are coming from. However, if I was going to be away from my home/ammo cache for an extended period and I couldn't bring the cache with me, with the prospect of needing additional ammo, I would think twice about taking the 357 Sig.

Looking at this from a very current perspective, how much ammo do you take with you on an extended trip? How many of you take a box or two, thinking that should be more than adequate? Or perhaps you would buy additional ammo as you need it? With the rise of "spontaneous" violent "protests ", do you still carry your normal "load-out"?

Personally, I would try to check out ammo availability along my route! In many respects, I can see the 357 Sig round as being an "exotic" round not available in all gunshops! It would be like carrying your 16 ga riot gun or 12 ga 2 9/16" riot gun and expect to find ammo at Wal-Mart! I would carry what would be most available!

Besides, when it comes to defensive ammo, can you ever have too much?

 

[Echo40]

My sentiments exactly. I don't see the point in carrying a 9mm Luger when I can carry the more powerful .40 S&W or .357 SIG in the exact same size firearm.

Folks can parrot the FBI's justification for downgrading to 9mm all they want, but their Ballistics Gel Testing is not the end all, be all, and actual human beings have bones which tend to be affected far more dramatically by bigger, heavier, and/or faster projectiles, not to mention suffer less deviation when they strike a hard object such as a bone, so I choose to carry something with more oomph.

Not to say that 9mm Luger isn't a capable duty cartridge, because it obviously is adequate for the task, I simply choose to carry something more because I can and to me the sacrifice of 2-3 rounds in the magazine is more than compensated by the increase in kinetic energy.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I like the "whatever floats your boat" concept. I don't need another caliber - I'm totally happy with 9mm for SD, I can always switch to .45 ACP, and my self defense revolvers are stoked with .38 Specials, sometimes +P, never .357 Magnum except in the woods. YMMV

 

[Univibe]

357 sig won't do anything 9mm won't do.

 

[epj]

If you think you need more gun, go to the .40,.45, or 10mm.

 

[marathonrunner]

My sentiments exactly. I don't see the point in carrying a 9mm Luger when I can carry the more powerful .40 S&W or .357 SIG in the exact same size firearm.

Folks can parrot the FBI's justification for downgrading to 9mm all they want, but their Ballistics Gel Testing is not the end all, be all, and actual human beings have bones which tend to be affected far more dramatically by bigger, heavier, and/or faster projectiles, not to mention suffer less deviation when they strike a hard object such as a bone, so I choose to carry something with more oomph.

Not to say that 9mm Luger isn't a capable duty cartridge, because it obviously is adequate for the task, I simply choose to carry something more because I can and to me the sacrifice of 2-3 rounds in the magazine is more than compensated by the increase in kinetic energy.

I have seen tests where both 9mm and .357 have same penatration but the kinetic energy from .357 cannot easily be measured.

My everyday carry is usually my FN57 because the cartridge is totally bad *** but when I am not carrying that my .357Sig is my next logical choice.

I do prefer to plink with 9mm however

 

[spdguns]

Interesting questions. Interesting observations.

May I suggest that you try shooting 9X19 under simulated combat conditions (low light, no hearing protection, no eye protection, maybe inside a closed room or automobile, just like it will be when you need to defend yourself in the real world), then try the same exercises using .357 Sig. Let us know how that works out for you, okay? You like recoil, you like muzzle blast, you like mega-fountains of muzzle flash, you should really enjoy the experience.

Might even save a buck or two on ammo.

In a real gunfight, you won't hear the shots. You won't see the muzzle flash. You probably won't even know how many shots you fired. Been there, done that. Just sayin'.....

 

[ContinentalOp]

Folks can parrot the FBI's justification for downgrading to 9mm all they want, but their Ballistics Gel Testing is not the end all, be all, and actual human beings have bones which tend to be affected far more dramatically by bigger, heavier, and/or faster projectiles, not to mention suffer less deviation when they strike a hard object such as a bone, so I choose to carry something with more oomph.

Except it's not just gel tests. Results from real-world shootings show very little difference in actual effectiveness among the service calibers, from 9mm to .45ACP.

So carry what you want. They all have the potential to work if you can get rounds on target. If OP doesn't want to invest in 9mm, then don't.

 

[challer61]

Because 9mm gets all the ballistic Developmment money. 357 Sig doesn’t as sales don’t justify it. Today’s 9mm is far more impressive if you chose the right ammo. And I can still train with bucket o bullets if I chose. I still keep a 45 for nostalgia and silencer use. As always, shot placement and gun reliability are the two most important considerations.

 

[Sheepdogged]

Interesting questions. Interesting observations.

May I suggest that you try shooting 9X19 under simulated combat conditions (low light, no hearing protection, no eye protection, maybe inside a closed room or automobile, just like it will be when you need to defend yourself in the real world), then try the same exercises using .357 Sig. Let us know how that works out for you, okay? You like recoil, you like muzzle blast, you like mega-fountains of muzzle flash, you should really enjoy the experience.

Might even save a buck or two on ammo.

I have done that with a SIG P229 chambered in .357 SIG (great gun). I was in a small closed room, low light, no ear protection (left ear next to a wall), no eye protection, and no problem whatsoever. I also did it with Underwood 65 gr. ammunition rated at 636 ft. lbs. which is considerably more powerful than the HST .357 SIG ammo. The recoil is very light being a 65 gr. bullet (lighter than a 115 9mm but with more muzzle blast). My left ear rang for a day or two as if I went to a Metallica concert (I won't do that again, but that would have happened with 9mm as well with my ear next to a wall) but my right ear didn't ring at all. The ringing would have been perfectly acceptable in a real world situation if it put the guy down faster and it certainly is no worse than a 10mm or .44 Magnum, that's for sure. There was no problem with flash as my vision was not affected at all. Other than price, there is NO advantage to 9mm in my opinion as a .357 SIG is a 9mm (.355") bullet. It's essentially the same projectile with the capability of more velocity when needed, and it requires one less round on average to stop someone, one-stop-shots are higher, and it is more accurate, so those are advantages in my book. I still love and prefer 9mm for smaller guns (compacts, subcompacts, "single" stacks, etc...), but in a full-size or SIG "compact"-size gun I would choose .357 SIG even over 10mm unless I was shooting a brown bear. LEO's with experience also claim it does a better job than 9mm dispatching canines and even black bear.

 

[Sheepdogged]

357 sig won't do anything 9mm won't do.

That is somewhat true but not completely true: An Alternate Look at Handgun Stopping Power | Buckeye Firearms Association.

Even the Secret Service was going to stick with .357 SIG until they tested the G32 and the G19. Because Glocks are significantly lighter than the P229, they felt 9mm handled better for the AVERAGE person than .357 SIG, and I concur depending on the shooter (women & smaller statured men), especially after owning a Glock 33. It is slightly better at virtually everything than 9mm by a few percentage points because of the velocity. That might not sound like a lot, and it's not, unless someone loses their life by a very close call. Certainly it is a bigger difference than those choosing between 9mm, 9mm +P and 9mm +P+. That's what makes me scratch my head. Why do all these 9mm guys (like myself) insist on 9mm high pressure cartridges but feel .357 SIG offers no advantage? I can undertand someone only shooting standard pressure, but not 9mm +P & +P+. Either way, .357 SIG has a modest advantage that may or may not make a difference. But if .357 SIG was more affordable, you could load it EXACTLY like any 9mm cartridge while maintaining the ability to increase its velocity to negotiate barriers better or to get that modest edge in ballistics generally.

 

[Sheepdogged]

If you think you need more gun, go to the .40,.45, or 10mm.

.357 SIG is more powerful on average than .40 S&W or .45 ACP. For all practical purposes it is as powerful as 10mm but with less recoil. What I mean is that you can load 10mm to have more energy, but at that point you're going to over penetrate with its heavier bullet and spend any advantage unless you're shooting bears or something. The average .40 S&W and .45 ACP is about 450 ft. lbs. of muzzle energy. The average .357 SIG is 526 ft. lbs. My 65 gr. Underwood .357 SIG XD rounds are rated at 636 ft. lbs.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I was deeply committed to 9mm and .45, years before there even was .40S&W or .357Sig.......... Guns, magazines, holsters, ammo. So I chose to pass on these young upstart calibers.

9mm,.45 , 357 ,.38sp,.380 and .22lr were enough calibers.... with track records..............................


Then 10/12 years ago I had the chance to get used but anib Sig 229 with both .40 and .357 sig barrels and 4 mags and night sights for about $500. Bought a couple (3or4) more mags and put my only.40/.357 gun in the safe. (with 50 rds of .40 and .357sig)

In 2013 after Sandyhook ....... the shelves were bare of 9mm,.45 and .40..... but .357 sig was still there....... IIRC I bought 2 50rd boxes ($60) a week for about 7-9 weeks. Picked up a few hundred rounds of .40 as it began to reappear.

Today the whole package represents my last ditch emergency stash.


Never hurts to have options and back ups to your back up plan!!!!!!!!

 

[Sheepdogged]

This comes from the same study of course and can put this in perspective a little better...

In terms of killing people, rifles and shotguns are much better, but in terms of incapacitating someone, even centerfire rifles don't have much of advantage (.357 SIG and centerfire rifles both fail to incapacitate 9% of the time).