.357 Magnum vs. .357 Sig

[allingeneral]

Need to order .357 ammunition? Make sure you get the right stuff! Usually, when you order ammunition online, it cannot be returned for any reason - even if you buy a bunch of ammo that won't fit your firearm! So, let's talk about the differences between a .357MAG and .357SIG for a moment, shall we?

Order .357 Magnum and .357 Sig ammunition online

First, a .357 Magnum is generally used in rifles (carbines) and revolvers. On the other hand, .357 Sig is a semi-auto pistol round.

The .357 Magnum uses a .38 Special cartridge which is a longer cartridge, cylindrical in shape, and can handle heavier powder loads and heavier projectiles. The .357 Sig is a necked down .40 caliber pistol round that's short and fat.

[attachment=0]357Mag_357Sig.jpg[/attachment]

Here are the measurements of the .357 Magnum from wikipedia

Parent Case .38 Special
Case type Rimmed, straight
Bullet diameter .357 in (9.1 mm)
Neck diameter .379 in (9.6 mm)
Base diameter .379 in (9.6 mm)
Rim diameter .440 in (11.2 mm)
Rim thickness .060 in (1.5 mm)
Case length 1.29 in (33 mm)
Overall length 1.59 in (40 mm)
Primer type Small pistol, magnum
Maximum pressure 35,000 psi (241 MPa)

.357 Magnum on Wikipedia

Here are the measurements for the .357 Sig

Parent case .40 S&W
Case type Rimless, bottleneck
Bullet diameter 9.02 mm (0.355 in)
Neck diameter 9.68 mm (0.381 in)
Shoulder diameter 10.77 mm (0.424 in)
Base diameter 10.77 mm (0.424 in)
Rim diameter 10.77 mm (0.424 in)
Rim thickness 1.40 mm (0.055 in)
Case length 21.97 mm (0.865 in)
Overall length 28.96 mm (1.140 in)
Case capacity 1.27 cm³ (20 gr H2O)
Rifling twist 406 mm (1 in 16 in)
Primer type Small pistol
Maximum pressure 275.8 MPa (40,000 psi)

.357 Sig on Wikipedia

Order .357 Magnum and .357 Sig ammunition online by clicking here. You'll be hard pressed to find a better price, especially when you figure in FREE SHIPPING on orders over $125.00! (All ammunition orders must be shipped via UPS Ground)

[Diomed]

So ... someone order .357 Sig in error and try to return it? Maybe pitching a fit?

I'm very intrigued by the Sig round. I'd love to try it in a subgun - I wonder if it would see a power boost in a longer barrel like .357Mag does.

[CowboyT]

In typical handguns of 4", the ballistics seem to be about the same between .357M and .357 SIG. However, when the barrels get longer, since the .357 Magnum round has a greater powder capacity, you can use the slower burning powders (e. g. 2400, H110/W296) and get greater velocity in, say, a carbine.

My choice would still be the .357 Magnum for the following reasons:

1.) It's easier to vary your loads from "mild" to "wild", given that .357 Magnum handguns are typically revolvers. Semi-auto handguns have a more limited range that way.

2.) Brass and bullets for the .357M are plentiful. That for the .357 SIG is more scarce and thus typically more expensive.

3.) One can fire inexpensive .38 Special out of a .357 Magnum revolver. To my knowledge, there is no equivalent "cheap ammo" for the .357 SIG guns.

3.) Several good carbines exist for the .357 Magnum. Quite a few of these digest .38 Special very nicely as well. There may well be carbines for the .357 SIG round, but I haven't yet seen one in any gun store I've been to.

Others may have different situations than mine, and those people may well choose a .357 SIG-chambered firearm. Ain't it great to be in a country in which we can still make that choice?

[M1A4ME]

A .357 magnum revolver (a good one like the S&W 586/686) are wonderful handguns for plinking, hunting, self defense. The 125 grain magnum loads are pretty tough to beat performance wise. The accuracy of a good revolver is amazing if you can shoot it as good as it shoots. I've only fired one revolver more accurate than my S&W 586 - another S&W but it was a model 14 in .38 special. Except for making bigger holes that model 14 shot as good as my Ruger Mk1 bull barrel.

Now, for the .357 Sig....while I've only shot the one I liked it. I reload so I can make my own cartridges for it. I like the idea of having 15 125 grain (okay, 124 grain) hollowpoints before I have to reload (and then I get another 15 of them). The more I think about the less reasons I can come up with not to seriously look for one at the upcoming gunshow at the Show Place.

Believe it or not (if not, go do some shooting) those 125 grain HPs out of even a snub nosed .357 magnum will penetrate metal much better than my favorite .45 acp 230 grain hardball ammo. Not as good as my .44 magnum, but still better than the .45 acp.

I'll eventually be doing some reloading/experimenting with different bullets/powders and stacks of wet newspapers, magazines, old car doors, milk jugs of water, trees (section of trees anyway.

The .357 Sig ammo is not as common as many other calibers at the store either. Once again, reloading will be an important part of it.

[allingeneral]

So ... someone order .357 Sig in error and try to return it? Maybe pitching a fit?

Close. Discussions with the guy led to him mentioning that he needed .357 Magnums and then he promptly went to the website and placed an order for .357 Sigs. So, I emailed him and he was VERY appreciative that I caught the mistake.

Definitely no fits. The guy was a pleasure to deal with

[dorminWS]

I've got a Sig P226 in .357 Sig that I bought in a bucket with two other pistols, one of which was a 1911 that I actually wanted. I've never fired it. Ain't never got around to buying any of them funny little bullets. It only came with 2 or 3.

[totes6]

I've got a Sig P226 in .357 Sig that I bought in a bucket with two other pistols, one of which was a 1911 that I actually wanted. I've never fired it. Ain't never got around to buying any of them funny little bullets. It only came with 2 or 3.

Any interest in selling it? Hate to see any gun be a safe queen.

[dorminWS]

Nah........... I've never sold one in my life, and I'm too old to start now. I have traded a few for other guns. Reckon someday I'll get around to buying some bullets and try her out.