.357 Sig - lets hear some opinions people.

[BallisticSheepDog76]

So this summer I picked up a Glock31 used at one of the gun stores I frequent (The Armory in Kresgeville). This is the first firearm I've ever owned chambered in .357 sig. Now I've shot/owned most if not all of the "standard" handgun calibers and even a few of the exotic ones (454, .50AE, 500s&w etc) but the .357sig kinda stuck with me as a personal favorite for a couple of reasons.

For one, the bottle neck cartridges enhance feeding reliability - I've certainly never experienced any sort of malfunction. Another thing I really like is that you get a decent capacity in a double stack magazine (15 rounds magazine sit flush). The recoil is "snappy" but not much different than that of a .40 so it's relatively easy to shoot and supposedly (I have not tested this) it's great from defeating things like car doors/ auto glass without having a significant impact on the trajectory of the round. All of that makes it a gun that I truly love to shoot and carry 90% of the time.

What do you guys think of .357sig? The perfect round? Overpriced crap? An answer to a question no one's asking? - let's hear some opinions people.

[Brian Ahearn]

I have a custom 1911 in that caliber ,it's a blast to shoot. I could carry a pistol in that caliber as well, I like round , I have never been a fan of .40 cal. The bulk of my pistols are 9mm and 45acp. I have one pistol in 357 sig and one in .40 cal. If 357 sig ammo was cheaper I would have more pistols in that cailber ,I like the performance and velocity of the round.

[BallisticSheepDog76]

I have a custom 1911 in that caliber ,it's a blast to shoot. I could carry a pistol in that caliber as well, I like round , I have never been a fan of .40 cal. The bulk of my pistols are 9mm and 45acp. I have one pistol in 357 sig and one in .40 cal. If 357 sig ammo was cheaper I would have more pistols in that cailber ,I like the performance and velocity of the round.

A 1911 in .357sig......you just added something to my Christmas list lol. Who makes that?

[theunrulychef]

After going without a good "compact" size carry gun for a while, I decided to get a Glock again. I did some more research on calibers & decided on 357 sig, so I got a G32. I also have a 9mm conversion barrel & G19 mags. Most of my buddies who have shot both prefer the 9mm to the 357. The recoil & flash can be a bit intimidating I guess. I've never been a macho guy or anything, but recoil has never seemed to mess with me too much (other than the really big-boy revolvers). It does have a stiff recoil, but I've found that I shoot pistols better with a very firm "crush" grip anyways.

I like the 357 sig for the same reasons you mentioned. The capacity is really great for a round that truly does best 9mm+p+ (if you believe the numbers - which I tend to). I've been loading with Hornady XTP 124 grainers & they've been very reliable. I haven't put any through the chronograph yet, but I would guesstimate them at about 1300-1400 - in the neighborhood of Buffalo Bore's numbers for their 9mm +p+, and there's room for more powder if I wanted to push them faster. I will say that if I wasn't a hand loader, I would probably get rid of it just because the ammo is so ding-dang expensive.

I would like to get a G23 barrel to compare 40 along with the other 2 rounds in the same gun.

[Pizza Bob]

A 1911 in .357sig......you just added something to my Christmas list lol. Who makes that?

Sig finally got off the dime and made them available - it only took about 4 to 5 years after the announcement.

Your assessment pretty much nailed it. Great cartridge.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

[BallisticSheepDog76]

I also have a 9mm conversion barrel & G19 mags.

I'm extremely interested in doing this. What do I need? I already have a g17 barrel, do i need a new extractor? New Recoil Spring? I know converting my g21 to shoot 10mm was pretty easy but for ultimate reliability its barrel, extractor and recoil spring that need replacing.

[theunrulychef]

I'm extremely interested in doing this. What do I need? I already have a g17 barrel, do i need a new extractor? New Recoil Spring? I know converting my g21 to shoot 10mm was pretty easy but for ultimate reliability its barrel, extractor and recoil spring that need replacing.

It might matter about the gen, but I don't know. For me, it's just the 9mm mags & barrel. The recoil spring in the gen 4 is stronger than previous generations if memory serves me correctly. My extractor is stock for the g32.

[BallisticSheepDog76]

It might matter about the gen, but I don't know. For me, it's just the 9mm mags & barrel. The recoil spring in the gen 4 is stronger than previous generations if memory serves me correctly. My extractor is stock for the g32.

Does switching calibers change the point of impact?

[theunrulychef]

That's a good question. I imagine not by too much as I haven't noticed anything, but I'm generally not shooting for super tight groups. If I can shoot tomorrow, I'll give it a test.

[BallisticSheepDog76]

That's a good question. I imagine not by too much as I haven't noticed anything, but I'm generally not shooting for super tight groups. If I can shoot tomorrow, I'll give it a test.

Yeah that would be greatly appreciated theunrulychef I can tell you just for reference sake that when I put the 10mm barrel in my g21 it changes the point of impact slightly to the right at 25 yards. But I think we are in similar boats - not looking to shoot super tight groups, just looking to maximize the versatility of the firearms I already own. Really appreciate all your help with this one, apparently this is the one question google can't give me a definitive answer to.