.357Sig or .40S&W short barrel?
 

I'm looking to add another sub-compact, thinking about higher density social carry (my kid's getting older, I'm going to be spending more time in crowded places).

I'm kinda looking for an excuse to get another .357 Sig, but as most folks know about me - I like big diameter bullets, so I'm also thinking about another straight 40 also.

Planning on a 3-3.5" model, so I'll give up a bit of velocity over a mid or full size. As I've been playing with necked down pistol and revolver cartridges, I'm seeing more and more that the extra pressure in a bottleneck has its advantages too.

Both are "right answers," but figured I'd shake the trees and see what falls out - anybody been using a sub-compact .357Sig or 40?

I've used a Glock 27 sub compact in .40 as a duty backup pistol in a BUG holster sowed on a a BP vest. It shoots fairly well but you lose some precision due to the shorter sight radius. The shorter height means the bottom of the mag is still on the palm of your hand instead of below it. If you're just using it as point and shoot or shorter range where you shoot just over your sights at 15 yards or less, it's pretty effective. If you're shooting past 15 yards, you notice an extra half second or so to aim for precision shooting.
I've also carried it CCW in a gun bag and the bag almost dwarfs the pistol.

I haven't shot a .357 SIG so can't comment on it. I've noticed the .40 is a little hotter than a 9mm but it's really not that bad. Currently, I'm carrying a compact .45 (G30SF) which is compact but points and shoots well. It's not a sub-compact but isn't much bigger than one and it's a bigger bullet. ;)

I didn't mention the laundry list of pistols we have, but I do have a few other Glocks, Full and compact, and a 43 super-mini, among several others - but I don't yet have a sub-compact.

I'm looking to bridge the gap between a mid-sized 45 and a pocket pistol 380 or 9mm. The 6.5"x4.5" with 3-3.5" barrel sub-compact is where I'm looking. I thought about the 45acp G30, but kinda changed gears to the higher capacity, flatter shooting 40 & 357.

I MAY be looking for a good excuse to get a Sig P224 also... But a P320 .45acp wouldn't break my heart either...

I have a full size 357Sig, wouldn't mind having a sub-compact to go with it, so I'm weighing out the consequence of the lighter 357sig against a 40S&W.

This is what I carry most times, with the extended magazine it fits my hand just right. I also put a set of Crimson Trace grips on it for low light. You can find much better prices than the one listed.

https://www.kahr.com/Pistols/Kahr-MK40.asp

You can get the Kahr CM40 for half-the-price of the linked P40 in the post above.

The Kahr CW380 was my 2nd choice when I purchased my new Ruger CLP380 last week.

Popularity of 40s has waned, since the advent of conceal carries. The Kahr CM45 has less felt recoil than the CM40. When dealing with hand-sized guns, people aren't stupid and have adapted to what's more controllable in their hands.

It's nice to say you closed the bridge with your own personal lineup of at-home pistols. But why buy something that you really don't need and uncomfortable to shoot?

Want a nice horsepowered sub-compact? The 9mm is enough (sure you already have that) and the 45 is more-than-enough. The 40s are dying and it's understandable why. Plus, the home/gun owner with multiple guns (40 included) may not kill the 40 by selling it, but in most cases it collects dust and hardly used.

I sold five muzzleloader rifles a year ago. Why?....... hardly used and no need to have more than just a few. The most days I can hunt in muzzleloader season is three consecutive. So I keep three in my gun safe, not eight like I used to own. I'll shoot a different one every morning for those three days and the gun gets used..... as it should.

Do I need one of every style of ML to close a bridge? I hardly ever used that bridge - didn't even need any stinkin' bridge, so I decided one day to burn the bridge down.

Done with this. No need to reply to me.... I won't be reading it. Once you convince yourself you need that bridge, then there's no reason for me to come back here and try to talk you out of it.

But please have a good answer for yourself, on why you need such a big bridge. If you don't have the proper answer to your inner-self, then you don't really need that bridge.

And please, don;t use the adage a civil war might occur and I need all the guns I can get.
If that's how you feel, then why are you here seeking help to begin with?

I doubt he was seeking help, he probably has more experience with handguns than you do. He ask if anyone had experience with the the .357 Sig or a small .40, not recommendations on other calibers or a letcture about how many guns he should own, nor does he owe you a what you think would be a good answer. I have experience with both, I carried a Glock .357 Sig as a duty weapon on a duty belt and I have carried the Kahr in my post for a long time concealed. I like it, I still qualify with it yearly back to 25 yards. It is good concealed carry handgun. Both the .357 Sig and the .40 S&W great calibers and certainly better than a .380. There was a need to respond to that nonsensical rant.

Talk about someone going completely off on a tangent/rant compared to what the OP started!

I sort of expected the Kahr's to come up - I do have a PM40, great pistol. I've been carrying a P938 a bit more lately, getting spoiled by single action triggers, but I can't bring myself to accept manual safeties - it just doesn't fit my mentality for SD pistols. Getting into something with a DA/SA will be an advantage for my mental comfort.

So I HAVE shot the short 40 quite a bit, but not a short .357Sig.

I suppose to the point of "bridging gaps," well, frankly, if I sold off until I only had left the guns I NEED, I'd be able to buy a d@mn nice sports car after selling all of the guns I HAVE. I'm not to worried about spending another $1,000 on another pistol and kit.

Really just trying to decide whether I prefer to have my 500ft.lbs. KE in the form of a 147grn at 1250fps or a 180grn at 1150fps... I reload for both already, brass supply is the same for both too... I'm a "big and heavy" bullet guy, but this one kinda has me on the fence - kinda like how I'd rather have a .357mag than a .44spcl snubby, I'm leaning towards the .357Sig over the 40S&W, despite it's smaller, lighter bullet.

And for guys who don't know me, I suppose I should have mentioned, recoil won't be an issue. Either cartridge in a sub-compact will have less recoil energy than a .357mag steel snubby, let alone a 357mag LCR I carry around, or any of the 44mag, 454C, or .475Line revolvers with which I hunt. The PM40 and my wife's SR40c are pop guns compared to the rimmed handgun cartridges I run.

And also for guys who don't know me, I'm not a zombie apocalypse, SHTF, mall-ninja, prepper, tacticool, conspiracy theorist type. "I'm just a peckerwood that lives in the hills with too many guns..." - 'cept I don't have any hills...

But I AM in the market for a DA/SA, subcompact 357sig or 40S&W with the interest of carrying in larger crowds where my EDC Ruger LCP380 might be wanting for range and power, and I'm trying to decide which cartridge I favor...

I've always thought the short answer for that bridge issue is because I want one. :D

You mentioned a "43 super mini." Are you talking about the Glock 43 in 9mm? If so, how does it shoot, CCW, etc.? I still need to go by a gun store and look at one.

I like the .357sig. Don't have one, but hope to someday. I have shot it though. That's the way I'd be leaning. Not because either one is the "right choice" I don't think you can mess up this decision really
-Jake

Nope, I agree, either one is a good choice. I favor the .40 S&W but I have carried the .357 Sig, both will do the job but I don't think you can get a .357 Sig as small as a .40 S&W, I could be wrong.

I like the S&W M&P40. I had both the compact and the std model but sold off the compact. This handgun fits the gorilla paws I inherited from my pop nicely with the large backstraps. But even so, it has interchangeable backstraps for all size hands.
I got the same model in the .22 lr version for plinking and practice.
Another 40 that I liked and could kick my butt for selling was my Steyr M-40. That was a slick pistol and those "triangular" sights were great for rapid fire shooting.
As for the 357 Sig - I saw guys using them at a couple bowling pin matches and they didn't impress me. The only thing that was cool was the huge ball of flame that spouted from the muzzle!

Yup, I had picked up a 42, then the 43 came out, and it definitely caught my attention. The 42 is a bit longer than the LCP I've carried for so long, then the 43 a touch longer than the LC9, either are easily concealed. The Feel is completely different in the 43 than the LC9, trigger completely different too (than the LC9, more similar in the LC9s). Both have been reliable, feel is better in my hand for the Glock than the LC9, both are very accurate. The sights are a little more "snaggable" on the Glock, but a little better overall too.

Given the same price, if I could only own one, it'd be the Glock. The LC9 is a great pistol, but the super thin, concave grip just feels off in my hand. I have to add a grip wrap to my LC9 to properly engage my palm, not so on the Glock's.

I suppose the easy answer, that I've somewhat neglected, is to just pick up a spare barrel for whichever pistol in the opposite cartridge.

Awwww, what's the fun in that?? :D:D:D

Right?

My wife and I are kicking around getting a .357sig for me and a .40s&w for her, but then again, it probably pays to NOT have us carrying incompatible ammo in compatible magazines. So we'd have to both get two barrels. Not a barrier to entry, just something to ponder.

The P224 is a fat bottomed girl, it feels great in hand, and is heavy enough to knock off some recoil. But it's also a little heavy and a little bulky for concealed carry. But, it does have a nice capacity number, the right manual of arms and a great trigger for what I'm wanting, factory tritium sights, and is just small enough to be concealed well for our frames and dress. It stands very tall over the hand, kinda unusual in profile, but I think it's the right model for our application. Just gotta decide which caliber. Or buy 2 spare barrels!

I started with a P226 and then shifted to a P220. SIG is smooth like a Cadillac, just an awesome pistol. Never did like the S&W 4006's they wanted to issue back then. When we went to Glocks, I've carried a G22, G23 and now a G30. The G30 is a compact 45 with a 10-rnd mag, not bad at all. Out of all those pistols, I think the G22 is arguably the best platform I've seen for gun fighting, room clearing and CQB when those fractions of seconds count and smooth makes you faster. For CCW purposes though, I still like the G30SF although I really want to check out a G43 just cause.

Cal, I agree with the comment on the S&W 4006. I was issued a S&W 4506 for plain clothes and I hated it, while I could shoot it the first shot on the double action trigger was a bear, I got permission to carry my own gun because I had to think so much about that trigger pull.

CHP carries 4006's and most seem to love them. They have target type sights and can be very accurate but I really prefer a Glock for combat and/or duty purposes. IMHO, that magazine safety (gun won't fire without a magazine inserted) is extremely dangerous if you're doing a tactical reload in a gunfight, etc. I like SIGs a lot also but the Glock is made for combat and gives you just that little bit more of an edge in speed, smoothness and efficiency.