Bulzeye

While I like a45 for myself, I know two friends that are in the process of narrowing down their search for a defensive handgun for carry, and want something smaller, both in size and recoil. They have a short list of quality gun models in mind, and the main question now is caliber.

Both want semi-autos,at least a 9mm, but I want to steer them in the direction of a 40 or 357sig, since both have more punch than a 9mm, but come in essentially the same size guns.

I'm very satisfied with the performance of the 40, but have no experience with the 357 sig, other than severalgovernment agencies issue them, and have not changed yet.

devil dog

I wouldnt stear to hard away from the 9mm, since they came out with the hevier 147gr bullits and slowed it down a little has done wanders for wound cavities, I myself use a Glock 30 compact with 185gr silver tips and am impressed with the 9. As far as the 40 compared to the 357sig, I would get the 40 just for the fact that you are going back to a 115gr fast bullit in the 357sig. Ive also done some testing on an old level one vest, the 40 accualy penetrated the vest, the 185gr silver tip came in a close second with about two layers left un-penetrated, the 357sig cleared three layers, and the 147gr 9mm penetrated four layers. Now not to say the 357sig isnt a good carry gun, Im just saying that it ranks the same as the 9mm befor they came out with hevier bullits, my thoughts are the hevier the better.

nchawkeye

If I carry a revolver...It will be the original, .357 Mag, loaded with 125 Hollow Points...

If I carry a semi...its a Glock 23...40 S&W

I just don't see the advantage of a .357 Sig over a .40 or a .45...

bigcountry

I have experience with the 357sig, and don't like it. I have 3000 pieces of once fired brass, set of lee diesand a barrel for a glock 27 sitting here, that I plan on selling. Very difficult to reload, and bullet slides back in the case easily. You have to use a factory crimp die to get it to stay put. And factory ammo I ahve found, can move too. One has to get his feeding ramp polished or modified some.

Love the 40, love the 9mm.

oldsmellhound

Between the .357 Sig & .40 there's no question - go with the .40. The .357 Sig is a fairly new and not very common or popular caliber. You friends could easily find themselves 10 years from now in a gun store, looking for that doggone .357 ammo, either not finding it, or only having 1 option to choose from. The .40 is a more well-established caliber, and lots of people and police departments use it. You shouldn't have to worry 10 years from now about finding a good selection of ammo. Not to mention, the .40 offers a wider variety of bullet weights and has proven stopping power.

Follower

Definately agree with the above. Other than someone that wants to be the only one at coffee that has a .357 Sig, and is dieing to reload for it, go .40 S&W. Larger frontal area, and not really sure, in this type of weapon (and what its used for) why someone would want the smaller caliber? What does the extra velocity really do for you in this particular circumstance? But like I said above, you will probably be the only person you know that has a .357 Sig.

Cloudwalker

The NC Dept. of Corrections recently switched from S&W model 65 revolvers (.38 cal.) to the S&W .40 cals. Many of the female staff have commented that the gun was much easier to control and get back on target during timed firing. Many of them also stated that they shot their highest score using this weapon.

I don't have any experience with the Sig so I can't comment on that. ~sorry

ranger56528

I just bought the S&W 908 9mm for my new CW,took it to the range and shot 100 roundsat 15yrds I was at center mass(farther then I like to shoot)the trigger pull is very nice and out of the box its very accurate,I also have a CW40 Kahr for back up(sold the CW9)but prefer to carry the 9mm for concealment reasons.....
Its called concealed for a reason and its hard to conceal a big handgun.

biscuit jake

I have not heard of any performance probems on the 40 from any officer that had to use it. However, if smaller and less recoil than the 45 is really an issue...then thattakes them to the 9. The 357 Sig is just not issued thatmuch and I am aware of only one duty shooting with it. If had a bullet path problem like the mid bores have, on occasion. There are a whole bunch of really well made 9's. I would be interested in hearing from 40 shooters if they think that the 40 has less recoil than the 45; I have never done a side by side shootingwith the 2.