Opinions on the glock37 .357sig

[MAUSERMAN]

I'm planning to buy a new piece of combat tupperware the Glock37 in .357sig.  I would like to hear the pros and cons to the caliber, and from any of you that own the g37.

[fightingquaker13]

On its own, it seems like ballistically nice round. It just seems expensive and potentially hard to find. I guess the real question is what will it do that 9mm,.40 or .45 won't? I get the flat shooting thing, but we are talking about a Glock here. For IDPA or SD it doesn't seem like it really matters, and for punching paper you can get more acuracy from a nice 1911. What attracts you to the round?
FQ13

[fightingquaker13]

Here is a link to the Gunblast review (of the .357 SIG with some mentions of the Glock). Its a pretty informative article. I'm still not sold, but it did make me think. The interchangebility with the .40 is a strong point. Does it go both ways though? Can you shoot .40 from a .357 SIG or is it like .556 and .223?
FQ13

http://www.gunblast.com/RKCampbell_357Sig.htm

[WIshooter]

Isn't Glock 37 the 45 GAP?

I've shot an XD 4" service in .357 sig quite a bit.  Is a bit snappy, but also snaps back on target quick. 
Seems to be alot louder to me than 9mm in the same size xd.  If you had to use it to save your life, your hearing would probably be more jacked for the immediate aftermath than with the 9 (borderline deaf).
I have seen .357 sig hollow points blow clear through some surprisingly thick pine trees.

My good buddy swears by the caliber. 

[TAB]

If you reload you will have to treat 357 sig( as well as any higher presure bottle neck cartrage) as if it was a rifle round.

[Sponsor]

[billt]

The .357 Sig was designed to achieve .357 Magnum performance in a conventional auto pistol. Up until it came along about the only gun that could accomplish that was the Coonan Arms .357 that was built along the lines of a modified 1911. It has become somewhat of a collectors item. I heard it is back in production, but I've yet to see one for sale anywhere.

The .357 Magnum achieves 97% one shot stops with 125 gr. Jacketed Hollow Points for those who put faith in such things. I think that is what they were trying to replicate in the evolution of the .357 Sig. It does have a good selling point with it's interchangeability with the .40 S&W. With the popularity of auto pistols in the self defense market, I think it is a round that will have enough of a following to keep it around, much like the .41 Magnum has in the high powered revolver market. I would consider getting one, but I don't shoot the .40 S&W. In auto pistols I stick with 9 MM and .45 ACP. If I want .357 Magnum performance I have several revolvers that fit that category nicely. I am not one who believes the wheelgun is destined to disappear like the Betamax and the 8-Track tape player. At least not anytime soon. But as for the .357 Sig itself, much like most of what we own, it is a nice want that does not require to be justified as a "need" to purchase. If you like it, go for it and enjoy it. And as far as the Glock it comes in, well let's just say how can you possibly have too many Glocks?  Bill T.

[fightingquaker13]

Bill
Does the interchangability of the .357 SIG go both ways? I know you can shoot .357 SIG out of a forty (with a different barrel). Is the reverse true?
FQ13

[Texas_Bryan]

The .357 SIG is a nice round, I've shot lots of it through Sig P226's.  The only thing that's required for the interchangeability to .40SW is a barrel, or reverse.  The frames were made to fit each other and so were the magazines, .357 SIG is a necked down .40SW.  As far a price and availability goes, I see them at Wally World for not much more than 9mm all the time.

I can't say anything on Glock's, but going for the .357 SIG wouldn't be a bad decision.  I wish someone made a pistol carbine for it though.  And remember the caliber is here to stay, lots of LE agencies have been using it for almost fifteen years.

[billt]

Bill
Does the interchangability of the .357 SIG go both ways? I know you can shoot .357 SIG out of a forty (with a different barrel). Is the reverse true?
FQ13

I'm not entirely sure, but I believe so. .40 S&W magazines can be used in both, and the .357 Sig is based on the .40 S&W case, so the extractor, etc. is the same as well.   Bill T.

[Bill Stryker]

The .357 SIG is a fine round. I have a SIG P239 in .357 SIG which I bought for more punch that I get from a 9. I also have a .40 barrel and several .40 magazines for the pistol. The .357 SIGs will function in the .40 mags but the .357 mags have a shoulder that prevents the .40 from functioning in it. That may be a SIG single stack only issue. I under stand that the P226 mags are the same for .357 & .40 but they are double stack and the P239 mags are single stack. I use more .40 mags than .357 for practice, but when I carry I use the .357 mags.

The best recommendation I have heard for the .357 SIG is that it is what the Secret Service uses even though the Justice Dept is a .40 outfit for most. Another biggie is that the Texas Rangers use .357 too. If it is good enough for those guys it is good enough for me.

The Air Marshal's guns are .357 SIG as well.

I use a Dillon 650 to reload the .357 SIG and shoot quite a lot of them -- obviously. That keeps the cost down. I got most of my empties for free several years ago and am still working on them. It is a good round and reloads well. I do not reload the .40. And have rarely fired it with that barrel in place. I am not a fan of the .40, which is a good round but I prefer others.