Why the 357 sig Cartridge is catching on

Written and Contributed By Peter Jordan

Why The 357 SIG Cartridge Is Catching On
SIG-Saur and Federal worked together to design the 357 SIG cartridge and bring it to market in the summer of 1994. This cartridge has continued to gain converts from all ranks: Citizens, Municipal Police, County Sheriffs, State Troopers, and at the Federal level (the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Marshals Service). Although the 357 SIG continues to catch on, it did not hit the mainstream as dramatically as the .40 S&W did. Discounting wildcat cartridges, the 357 SIG is the first bottlenecked handgun cartridge to hit the mainstream in over 75 years. Let's see why.
First of all, lets take a quiz. What does SIG stand for?
A. Sure Isn't Glock
B. Super Impressive Glock
C. Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft
D. "Sig"nificantly better
E. All of the above
F. None of the above
G. I don't know
Well, if you guessed that the longest line is usually the correct answer, then you passed. The answer is C. I kind of like C & D. Since SIG is truly an acronym, then each letter should officially be capitalized when referring to the 357 SIG cartridge, although this can make it a bit touchy for business competitors. The SIG acronym is part of the European parent company name, and many customers simply refer to their pistols as SIG's for short. Glock dropped the SIG part and simply refers to their guns as Glock 357's. Others like to de-emphasize the all-caps SIG, in favor of the more generic 357 Sig in lower case. Whatever you choose to call it, we are talking about the 357 SIG here.
You might have noticed that I do not use a decimal point in front of 357 SIG. That's because 357 refers to having the external ballistics of a .357 Magnum, even though the 357 SIG uses a .355 bullet. More about this later.
1. The nominal velocity of a 125 grain bullet from a 3.86" barrel is 1350 fps (169 power factor rating). The hotter loads from a 3.86" barrel can push the 357 SIG bullet up to 1418 fps (177 power factor rating). A 5" barrel can push a bullet to over 1500 fps (188 power factor rating). Or, a downloaded 357 SIG cartridge can emulate a full power, standard pressure 9mm Luger at 1160 fps (145 power factor rating; a lighter recoil spring may be necessary with some light loads). The 357 SIG has a wide velocity range to satisfy the various sporting and defense disciplines. And, the compact 357 SIG cartridge can easily fit into small, medium, and full sized tactical/defense pistols.
On the other hand, the 9x23mm Winchester cartridge also easily makes Major Power factors. Yet, because of its long cartridge length, it is by necessity, used in large framed pistols to house it. So while the 9x23mm Winchester is an excellent sport cartridge, it lacks the versatility of the 357 SIG --- See Attachment 4.
2. For those interested in a semiauto that has external ballistics comparable to a 357 Magnum revolver, but is more compact, kicks & flashes less, reloads faster, packs more rounds, and has faster follow up shot capability, the 357 SIG fits the bill. Although the SAAMI specs from a 357 Magnum test barrel is 1450 fps, a typical 4" 357 Magnum often generates about 1350 fps or so, which happens to be the same velocity as the 357 SIG caliber from a 3.86" barrel. A 4.5" - 5" barreled 357 SIG can push bullets over 1500 fps. An autopistol barrel length measurement also includes the chamber, while a revolver barrel length does not include the chamber --- See Attachment 6.
3. Typical 357 SIG bullets have a diameter of .355 - .3555 as opposed to the 357 Magnum with its .357 bullets. If other cartridges can be marketed in such a way that a .36 caliber bullet is loaded into a 38 Special cartridge, etc, then a 9mm (.3555) bullet has just as much right to be used in a 357 SIG cartridge :)
4. Perceived recoil of the 357 SIG varies a great deal, depending on whom you talk to. To me, the 125 grain 357 SIG round feels similar to shooting hot rounds in .40 S&W, .45, and +P+ 9mm, and the blast of all these "hot" rounds is somewhat similar to the 357 SIG as well. The power factor ratings between the hottest loads in 357 SIG and .40 S&W are virtually identical. In general, the greater the Power Factor rating, the greater the recoil. Ed Sanow states, "Given pistols of the same weight, action and ergonomics, the felt recoil of the .357 SIG 125-grain JHP is LESS than the .40 S&W 155, COMPARABLE to the .40 S&W 180-grain loads and MORE than the 9mm 115- and 124- grain +P+ and 147-grain loads".
5. Given the pressure levels and slide velocities of the .40 S&W and the 357 SIG, you can use the same recoil spring. Some people still like to increase the recoil spring tension an extra 2 - 4 lbs when shooting the 357 SIG. The 357 SIG slide action may even improve the functional reliability of your .40 S&W pistol, although some people subjectively interpret the faster slide as having greater recoil.
6. You get more feeding reliability *insurance* using a bottlenecked cartridge. As long as the magazine is feeding the 357 SIG cartridge correctly, then ramming a 9mm bullet into a 10mm chamber opening is a definite advantage.
Glock engineers actually took advantage of this bottlenecked cartridge when they engineered their .357 Glocks (M31, M32, & M33). As a result, the Glock .357 barrels have a fairly tight chamber and a well supported chamber in the 6 o'clock position.
7. You get another advantage with the bottlenecked 357 SIG cartridge. The velocity spreads can often be less than 20 fps, which is quite excellent.
Accurate Arms Company had this to say about the 357 SIG caliber: "This is without a doubt the most ballistically consistent handgun cartridge we have ever worked with. The standard deviation for every single load developed was less than 10 fps. The average SD was 5 fps. This is impressive for any cartridge but especially so for a handgun. The small bottleneck and high working pressure of the round must both contribute to this amazing consistency..."
I can attest to the validity of the Accurate Arms claim. Using a Dillon chronograph, I picked up these stats using a maximum 13 grains of AA #9 powder. (pistol: Glock 35 with a KKM 357 SIG barrel):
Hi: 1406; Lo: 1393; Extreme Spread: 13; Average: 1400; Standard Deviation: 5
8. The 357 SIG conversion kit is simply a drop-in barrel replacement into a .40 S&W pistol, although, the pistol must be built strong enough to handle the effects of the 40,000 psi pressure limits. The 357 SIG and .40 S&W can easily co-exist and be used interchangeably based on application needs.
This is one reason why I consider the .40 S&W and the 357 SIG to be the same gun. There is no "versus" here. It simply depends on your needs.
The following table combines the bullet weights of the 357 SIG & the .40 S&W.

Table Facts:

1. Alliant Power Pistol powder was used for both calibers.
2. 4" barrel length was used for both calibers.
3. The table facts are based on Alliant testing. The Power Pistol velocities for the 357 SIG by Alliant are virtually identical to tests performed by others and myself.
4. Caution: Each powder charge shown in the table is a maximum value.

Pistol Bullet Velocity Energy Power Powder
357 SIG 90 1715 587 154 11.4
357 SIG 115 1505 578 173 10.0
357 SIG 124 1435 569 178 9.5
.40 S&W 135 1340 536 181 9.3
357 SIG 147 1245 514 183 7.8
.40 S&W 150 1215 491 182 8.2
.40 S&W 170 1105 447 188 7.3
.40 S&W 180 1050 440 189 6.9
 
 

I found this table very interesting.

a. Notice the natural velocity decrease as you look at the lightest bullets and move down to the heaviest bullets.

b. Look at the velocity differences between the two calibers for the (124 & 135 grain) bullets and the (147 & 150 grain) bullets. If you extrapolate the velocity values of these two groups into the exact same bullet weights, then both calibers have quite similar velocities.

c. Obviously, the 357 SIG caters to the lighter bullets and the .40 S&W caters to the heavier bullets.

d. Notice the Energy values of both calibers. Once again you see a natural decrease in energy as you go from the lightest bullet to the heaviest bullet.

e. Look at the Power Factor values of both calibers. Usually, as the Power Factor increases, the felt recoil also increases. Notice that the Power Factor between the 357 SIG and the .40 S&W are fairly similar. The USPSA Rule Book, 14th Edition (United States Practical Shooting Association branch of the international organization, IPSC) lowered the Major Power Factor from 175 to 165. This makes the pistols easier to control and lowers the cartridge pressures, in general.

Question: How does the blast of a full power 124 grain 357 SIG round compare to a full power 135 grain .40 S&W round? To me, they're similar.

Question: Can you get the .40 S&W to emulate 357 SIG accuracy and efficiency using the 124/125 grain bullets? Probably not. If anyone does, please let me know. The lightest duty round for the .40 S&W is 135 grains.

Question: Can you get the 135 grain .40 S&W bullet to emulate the full power accuracy of the 357 SIG? Probably not. If anyone does, please let me know. The mellow 135 grain PDA .40 S&W round appears to penetrate very well, although I have not tested its accuracy against the 357 SIG. Feasibly, a bonded 135 grain .40 S&W bullet could be designed to match the penetration qualities of the 357 SIG, although, matching 357 SIG accuracy is questionable.

Question: Can you get the 357 SIG to emulate the .40 S&W using 155, 165, and 180 grain bullets? No.

Question: Can you get the 357 SIG to emulate the .40 S&W using 135 & 150 grain bullets? Probably yes.

Question: Can you get the 357 SIG to emulate a standard full power 9mm Luger round using 124/125 grain bullets? Probably yes.

Question: Can you get the .40 S&W to emulate a standard full power 9mm Luger round using 124/125 grain bullets? Probably not. But, the Federal 135 PDA and 165 HS .40 S&W cartridges do a relatively good job of it.

Question: Can you get the .40 S&W to emulate light 10mm loads? Yes.

The original SIG P229 in 357 SIG caliber is still going strong since its introduction in 1994. Sigarms now has a very durable polymer based Sigpro SP2340 357 SIG pistol that promises extended pistol life. The Glock 357's are holding up well. Other excellent pistol models have come out or will be coming out shortly, from HK, S&W, AMT, Beretta, Taurus, Steyr, etc. Barrel companies are supporting the 357 SIG caliber in the more popular pistol models.

I do know the .40 S&W and the 357 SIG calibers complement each other very nicely. As long as a .40 S&W pistol is built strong enough to handle a 40,000 psi cartridge, then it is flexible enough to use either the .40 S&W or the 357 SIG, depending on the exact performance characteristics you desire. Do you want big? Do you want small? Do you want fast? Do you want slow? Do you want high energy? Do you want more momentum? Do you want good accuracy? Do you want excellent accuracy? Do you want a practical bullet range of 90 to 180 grains? Folks, this is flexibility.

9. The lighter 357 SIG rounds, as opposed to the heavier .40 S&W rounds, produce more velocity, energy, and whatever else they mysteriously do, making them effective on the streets. The developing 357 SIG database is showing high marks. One famous shooting, as described by Ayoob, stated that a 357 SIG punched through a heavy duty truck cab to kill a gunman, while the .45 from his partner could not do the job. A state trooper, based on his experience, said that the 357 SIG can instantly stop opponents with no fatal wounds. And a city police officer was delighted that the 357 SIG could stop a vicious pit bull with one shot, while previously a pit bull soaked up multiple subsonic 147 grain 9mm rounds before being stopped.
10. The 357 SIG has less torque than the .40 because of using a smaller 9mm bullet. This means less twisting in the hands and a more straight up and down muzzle action, which can help provide better gun handling control. The faster slide action of the 357 SIG can also provide faster follow-up shooting.
11. Another advantage if you carry all day, is that five loaded 357 SIG magazines weigh less than five loaded magazines in .40 S&W and especially .45 ACP.
12. More and more ammo companies are supporting the 357 SIG. Low priced Blazer ammo runs between $8 - $11 per box, depending on where and when you buy it. --- See Attachment 3.
13. A reloading advantage of the 357 SIG over the .40 is that you can buy plated and jacketed 9mm bullets for aprox. $45 - $50 per thousand. This is an excellent price, especially when comparing it to plated/jacketed .40 S&W & .45 ACP bullets. Besides the fine quality Starline 357 SIG brass, you can now get once fired 357 SIG brass from Midway, and from Ken's Ammo & Reloading in Manchester, NH (603-622-1680), just to name a couple places.
Be sure to only use 9mm bullets that have a short nose so the bullet measures .355 at the crimp point. I like to use bulk Rainier and West Coast 124 grain copper bullets. I've pushed the Rainier 124 grain 9mm bullet over 1500 fps with no barrel leading problems. Rainier uses an electro-plating process that produces a molecular bond between the thin copper and the lead, which works very well. West Coast uses a thick copper jacketing process. You can buy Rainier bullets from Midway, Blue Press, etc. You can buy West Coast bullets directly --- See Attachment 5.
For the generations of American shooters who have never seen or fired a bottlenecked handgun cartridge before, here are the extra reloading steps needed for a "straight waller". Just like bottlenecked rifle cartridges, you lube the brass before resizing and dry it after crimping, as well as check the case length to make sure it stays within trim specs after firing. My 357 SIG reloads have never needed trimming. The 9mm bullet must have a short nose to seat properly, instead of a long tapered ogive, with a required diameter of .355 at the crimp point. The case mouth should be expanded to just "barely" squeeze the bullet into the case, to aid in bullet & neck friction; don't deform the bullet or brass during the crimping process.
Important Note: Safety means passing the thumb pressure test, so the bullet will not slip/set-back into the case. The cartridge should be able to handle around 50 pounds of pressure, while using your thumb to press the cartridge on a weighing scale, bullet first. My cannelured rounds can generally handle over 75 pounds before my thumb gives out. The bullet must be held firmly in the case so it can handle the forceful feeding into the barrel chamber. Factory ammo should also be checked too, especially if you continually reload the factory ammo back into your gun for months at a time. Don't assume ammo is OK and will always be OK just because it comes from the factory.
I prefer to use a light cannelure groove and an RCBS roll crimp (or a Lee roll/taper crimp), for the ultimate in bullet setback safety. The roughened surface from the cannelure groove helps hold the bullet in place at the crimp point. The only other ultimate safety technique, which is used by some ammo companies, is to use a glue or sealant to hold the bullet in place. The 357 SIG neck is short, but is quite adequate as long as the cartridge is manufactured and/or reloaded correctly!!!
It's fairly easy to load "new" 357 SIG ammo to headspace on the case mouth. But for remanufactured ammo and for reloads, it's a completely different ballpark, especially regarding the safety issue of bullet setback. I would like to see SAAMI re-evaluate the 357 SIG so that ammo companies, barrel companies, and firearms companies can agree how to handle this cartridge. This unity is necessary to make the 357 SIG a mature, safe cartridge for "ALL".
Even though the original stats from Federal state the 357 SIG headspaces on the case mouth, it should really be treated like a little bottlenecked rifle cartridge. Sigarms has stated it headspaces on the case mouth and shoulder, and has wisely made their pistols accordingly. Luckily, new 357 SIG pistols by other companies and barrel makers for that matter, appear to be copying Sigarms' lead. To be precise, the shoulder sets headspace when referring to the MAXIMUM length. Just as with other autopistol rounds, the 357 SIG sets its MINIMUM headspace with the extractor. In other words, no matter how far back you set the shoulder or trim the case mouth, the case won't move forward any farther than the extractor will allow it to.
I even know of a local ammo company that still resizes .40S&W brass into 357 SIG cases, which means the cases are too short. Yet, these reformed cases shoot perfectly and have been a popular low priced 357 SIG ammo alternative. However, I would not recommend using reformed .40 brass for reloading purposes --- the case is too weak for multiple 357 SIG firings.
Now, if the 357 SIG shoulder is out of place, the cartridge has severe problems. Go to the following site to read a good definitive study on the headspace issue with the 357 SIG: www.realguns.com/archives/001.shtml --- See Attachment 5.
14. You can now get a 'standard' +P+ 9mm-like semiauto (the 357 SIG) that is within SAAMI specs, unlike the standard 9mm Luger caliber. This can be an important point when agencies make pistol bids, and to standardize on the only REAL level of effective 9mm bullet 'velocity' that scores in the over 90% one-shot-stop category. Put another way, the 357 SIG is the most flexible 9mm duty cartridge available. If you like +P+ 9mm performance, the 357 SIG is just more of the same, with extra to spare --- See Attachment 3.
15. The strong brass was constructed to handle a standard 40,000 psi, as opposed to the 35,000 psi SAAMI spec for the 9mm and .40 S&W. The 357 SIG brass is stronger than .40 S&W brass. Even though the 357 SIG looks like nothing but a necked down .40, it's quite different. The 357 SIG case wall and the insides are beefed up to handle more pressure than .40 S&W brass is capable of.
16. The 357 SIG has the option of pushing heavier bullets like the 147/150 grainers, to higher, supersonic velocities than a standard 9mm pistol is able to do (1127-1218 fps from a standard 4" barrel) --- See Attachment 3.
17. The 357 SIG and .40 S&W 135 grain rounds both produce over 500 ft/lbs of energy. But the 357 SIG is clearly ahead if you have application needs using lighter bullets that penetrate well with excellent accuracy --- See Attachments 1 & 2.
18. The 357 SIG has the energy and trajectory of a lighter weight .40 S&W bullet, yet the 357 SIG penetrates like a 180 grain .40 S&W bullet. You get two for the price of one. Ed Sanow stated, "The Glock 31 (4.5" barrel) firing 357 SIG 125-grain JHPs has about the same felt recoil as a Glock 22 (4.5" barrel) firing .40 S&W 180-grain JHPs. With 50 percent more energy, the .357 SIG has better tactical penetration." --- See Attachments 2,3,& 4.
19. A major advantage of the 357 SIG over the .40 S&W is that a lot of people have proven that the 357 SIG is inherently accurate, while the .40 S&W is good, but not excellent in this arena. --- See Attachment 6.
20. Another 357 SIG advantage is that it's like having a little rifle instead of a pistol. The 357 SIG is accurate out to 100 yards. At 100 yards, using a 3.86" barrel, a 125 grain bullet is still traveling at a nominal velocity of 1080 fps, with an energy of 325 ft/lbs. And it has a trajectory of 0.2" at 25 yards, 0.7" at 50 yards, 1.6" at 75 yards, and 3.1" at 100 yards. Typical defense & sport scenarios don't usually occur at long distance. But it's still nice to know that the 357 SIG has this capability.
21. Here's some 357 SIG hardware: the AMT DAO Back up; 1911 conversion kits; SIG's P226, P239, P229, & Sigpro SP2340; Taurus Service Auto; Beretta Cougar; S&W Sigma; Glocks M31, M32, & M33; HK USP Compact 357; and the new Steyr M357 autopistol. Several barrel companies support this cartridge as well. I've also heard on occasion that some pistol companies are looking at strengthening their .40's to support the 357 SIG. In general, I believe the most durable 357 SIG pistols are the polymer and all-steel models. If there are any aluminum framed 357 SIG pistols that are still ticking after 20,000 rounds, please let me know --- with the proper mating of steel reinforcements and good engineering, I'm sure it is possible.
22. Many U.S. Citizens have adopted the 357 SIG for sporting and/or self defense purposes. Some simply use the 357 SIG because it's a simple drop-in barrel replacement for their beloved .40's.
23. A number of agencies are using the 357 SIG because it's an accurate, flat shooting, easy to handle 9mm magnum with excellent penetration characteristics through barriers. In fact, more and more 357 SIG ammo is hitting the market all the time, to handle various application needs (shallow and deep penetration), including specially made "Police Only" ammo. I've read more than a couple reports that new recruits and seasoned officers have done some of their best shooting using the 357 SIG.
A Short List of Agencies that issue or have as an option to carry the 357 SIG Cartridge (please send additions and/or corrections to petej88@hotmail.com):
Alameda County
Delaware State Police (First to adopt the 357 SIG)
Dallas, Texas Police
La Porte County Indiana Sheriff's Department
Laurence County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
New Jersey Division of Fish & Game
New Mexico State Police
Richmond, Virginia
Springfield, IL
Texas, DPS
U.S. Marshals Service
U.S. Secret Service
Virginia State Police
Etc
24. The 357 SIG caliber is recognized in the IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association), which has an edge on 'practical' defense shooting with stock duty/defense guns. The IDPA also uses a more realistic power factor rating for duty cartridges. Unfortunately, the IPSC/USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association) does not recognize the 357 SIG as a Major Power cartridge as of this writing, even though the streets beg to differ.
25. During most of the 20th century, straight wall cases have been the most popular in the U.S., since people wanted to generally push the biggest diameter bullets possible for the best stopping power. Since bullet and firearms technology has improved so much, there is a new interest in bottlenecked designs. This means that smaller bullets can be pushed at higher velocities to accomplish the same stopping power as the bigger bullets have been doing all along. And bottlenecked cartridges have some special advantages of their own.
26. The 357 SIG has sometimes been accused of having too much blast. Well, it depends. 357 SIG blast and flash is certainly less severe than a typical 357 Magnum revolver. Blast and flash can be controlled with various powders, flash inhibitors, and other components. Even a heavier bullet can lower the noise level. The 357 SIG simply speaks with authority :)
When I shoot, or when I listen to others shoot "hot" supersonic rounds in .40 S&W, +P+ 9mm, or +.45 ACP, the blast sounds fairly similar to a 357 SIG. And the flash is nowhere near what occurs in a 357 magnum revolver. As far as I'm concerned, all duty calibers are too noisy.
With recent advances in electronic ear protection, it's really a moot point. You can even have electronic ear inserts made. Unless you just have a split second to respond to a threat, use electronic ears with your gun, whether you're a Law Abiding Citizen, or a Law Enforcement Officer. Besides, electronic ears help you hear normal sounds even better, while muffling out the loud noise.
Here's a short list of Environmental Noise decibel ratings:
dB Environmental Noise
10 Normal breathing
50 Interior home noise
70 Crowded restaurant
80 City traffic
85 Hearing Damage Possible
90 Lawn mower
120 Threshold of Pain
120 Siren
130 Jackhammer
140 Jet engine at takeoff
152 .22 pistol
156 12 gauge shotgun
157 .45 ACP pistol
160 9mm pistol
164 .357 Magnum revolver
The decibel scale is a logarithmic scale, not a linear one. Each increase of 3 dB corresponds to sound that has twice as much energy (measured in pascals). Each 10 dB increase corresponds to a 10-fold increase in energy.
Loudness is a subjective thing. People might perceive a particular sound to be twice as loud when there is actually a 10-fold increase in energy. Most people cannot perceive differences in loudness of less than 3 dB.
Let's assume you have excellent electronic ear protection with an NRR rating of 29 dB. Let's use the quietest .22 caliber pistol, which has a noise level of 152 dB. Subtracting 29 from 152 still leaves you at a noise level of 123 --- Hearing damage is possible at 85 dB. Like I said, all the calibers are too noisy.
So why do some of us still have excellent hearing after shooting for so many years? Because, gunfire is a complex, short-lived sound wave, and it doesn't travel as well through hearing protection as pure sustained tones do. The NRR rating on ear protection might actually be higher than the nominal 29 dB rating, in regards to gunfire. Yet, for "continuous" noise, the NRR rating may be reduced by as much as 50% of the nominal 29 dB rating.
So there you have it. Clear as mud.
27. Many people have not even begun to tap into the versatility and capability of the new 357 SIG magnum semiauto --- See Attachment 7.
In summary, quoting from Handguns, April 1996:
"However, for the shooter who wants it all (high energy, flat trajectory, high velocity, extreme accuracy, high firepower and deep penetration) in a single cartridge that fits in a concealable, shootable handgun, the 357 SIG is just the ticket."
Attachment 1
Here is a comparison of Ed Sanow's penetration data comparing the Federal 357 SIG standard round with the Corbon .40 S&W 135 grain round:
Cartridge Penetration Expansion Crush C.C. Stretch S.C.
357 SIG Federal 125 gr JHP 13.7 .59 3.7 43.4
.40 S&W Corbon 135 gr JHP 9.8 .56 2.4 69.1

Note: The 357 SIG Federal bullet is engineered to not fragment, while the .40 S&W Corbon 135 gr bullet violently expands and fragments.
A number of agencies are buying the 357 SIG for the express purpose of penetrating through car bodies, glass, etc in order to get the job done. A Corbon 135 grain .40 S&W could not do this kind of work; but it's excellent for an open head-on confrontation.
Attachment 2
Here is a chart based on a FBI test comparing the standard 357 SIG 125 grain Federal load with a 155 grain Hornady XTP .40 S&W load. It's interesting that the chart is based on a SIG 229 3.86" barrel and a Glock 22 4.49" barrel, which gives substantial velocity advantage to the Glock. The velocity increase from a 4" to a 5" 357 SIG barrel is dramatic. I'm guessing that a Glock 357 SIG Carbine would be a real smoker.
FBI Eight Step Test Results: (Penetration in inches)
(357 SIG barrel: 3.86"; .40 S&W barrel: 4.49")
Cartridge 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
357 SIG 125 gr Federal 14.0 20.1 22.9 17.1 19.5 13.8 20.5 12.1
.40S&W 155gr Hornady XTP 14.5 18.1 23.0 14.0 18.3 10.7 15.9 12.1
115gr 9mm Win Silvertip 10.0 11.8 12.7 12.9 13.1 9.2 10.5 10.5
test1: Shooting into bare gelatin at 10 feet.
test2: Uses several layers of clothing over the gelatin at same distance.
test7: Same as test2, except at 20 yards.
test3: Simulates shooting through a automobile door.
test4 & 5: Simulates shooting through common building materials.
test6 & test8: The acid tests: Shooting at lightly clothed gelatin through automobile glass, which is extremely tough on hollow points.
Test6: shooting at gelatin through a piece of glass that is angled 45 degrees to the rear and 15 degrees to the left and simulates an oblique shot at an automobile windshield from the driver's side.
Test8: shooting straight on through a piece of glass that is angled backward at 45 degrees. This simulates a head-on shot at an approaching vehicle.
Attachment 3
Here is a non-exclusive chart showing several 357 SIG Factory Rounds:
Cartridge Velocity Energy Penetration Expansion
CCI-Speer 125 gr. Gold Dot 1385 533 16.5 .68
Cor-Bon 115 gr. Sierra JHP 1515 586 12.5 .58
Cor-Bon 125 gr. Sierra JHP 1440 576 13.3 frag.
Cor-Bon 91 gr. BeeSafe 1525 470 7.0 frag.
Federal 125 gr. JHP 1430 568 12.7 .62
Federal 150 gr. JHP 1140 433 18.0 .50
Federal 125 gr. Tactical 1410 552 12.0 .65
Glaser 80 gr. Blue Safety 1610 461 8.0 frag.
Glaser 80 gr. Silver Safety 1610 461 9.0 frag.
Hornady 124 gr. XTP-HP 1395 536 14.5 .55
Hornady 147 gr. XTP-HP 1210 478 16.2 .58
MagSafe 64 gr. Defender 2275 736 11.3 frag.
Remington 125 gr. JHP 1350 506 14.3 .57
Triton 125 gr. JHP 1440 576 13.8 frag.
Triton 115 gr. Quik-Shok 1425 519 9.0 3-frag.
Winchester 125 gr. Ranger T 1385 533 11.5 .75
As you can see, the 357 SIG doesn't base penetration on just one cartridge brand. And there are some 357 SIG rounds that have mild penetration characteristics and others that have slower, quieter velocities. As the 357 SIG catches on, I'm sure there will be more cartridges coming out to fill various niches. I'd like to see some factory downloaded 357 SIG ammo that equals full power standard 9mm rounds. Specially made "police only" 357 SIG ammo is now available from Winchester.
Attachment 4
Here is a Comparison of 7 different 9mm cartridge types along with the .357 Magnum cartridge (in order of Wound Area):
Cartridge/Factory Load Velocity Wound Area (sq. in.) Firearm Barrel Length
*357 SIG/Speer 125 gr Gold Dot 1374 25.95 SIG P229 3.86
357 Magnum/Winchester 125 gr jhp 1375 23.66 S&W M66 4.00
9x23mm CP/Elite Ammo 124 gr hp/xtp 1326 22.98 Colt 1991 5.00
356 TSW/Federal 135 gr Hydra-Shok 1199 22.47 S&W M3566 5.00
9mm Luger/Federal 135gr Hydra-Shok 1037 21.81 Glock M26 3.50
9x23mm Win/Win. 125 gr Silvertip 1463 21.07 Colt 1991 5.00
9x23mm Largo/Speer 124 gr Gold Dot 1197 20.51 Colt 1991 5.00
38 Super/Remington 115 gr jhp 1303 19.41 Colt 1991 5.00

Note: A longer 4.5" - 5" barrel Significantly increases the 357 SIG velocity. Some people have recorded velocities over 1500 fps in full sized pistols. And the 357 SIG can fit into small sub-compact pistols, making it extremely versatile.
Attachment 5
Here's some Reloading Information
SAFETY DISCLAIMER --- Use this information at your own risk. I am not responsible for your actions. It's much safer to use official Reloading Manuals and start with mild powder charges. This data is provided to simply give you some ideas about available reloading information, as well as show some powder types and charges that can be used for the 357 SIG. Under-charges can be just as dangerous as over-charges.
Non-exclusive list for 357 SIG reloading info:
Speer/Blount 208-746-2351
Accurate Arms Company 800-416-3006; (www.accuratearms.com )
Hodgdon (www.hodgdon.com )
Vihtavuori (www.vihtavuori.fi/vihtavuori/index.shtml )
Alliant (www.alliantpowder.com )
Sierra 50th Edition Reloading Manual
Dillon Blue Press (800-223-4570) makes an excellent carbide die set for the 357 SIG; http://bluepress.com
Midway (800-243-3220) www.midwayusa.com
Several barrel companies support the 357 SIG caliber:
Jarvis 406-961-4392
Bar-Sto 619-367-2747; http://Barsto.com
Olympic Arms
KKM Barrels
Plus others I have not had experience with.
Die sets I've used and like: Dillon, Lee, and RCBS. The best value is the Lee die set for $20. It resizes excellently and crimps very well. I like the RCBS roll crimper, even though I use Dillon dies for the other stations.
Corbin makes an excellent cannelure tool. (541-826-5211; www.corbins.com )
Pro-Ears provides excellent electronic ear protection. Various companies like Dillon, Midway, etc also sell electronic ears.
West Coast Bullets: www.westcoastbullet.com Nevada, 775-246-3941
Oregon Trail Laser Cast Hard Lead Bullets (122 gr flat point BB); www.laser-cast.com ; 800-811-0548
357 SIG cartridge:
Max over-all-length (oal): 1.140
My preferred over-all cartridge length (oal) generally ranges around 1.135.
Mouth: .381 (I crimp my reloads to .378 measured half way down the neck)
Nominal bullet size: .355 generally; .3555 for Rainier & West Coast copper bullets; .356 for Laser Cast hard lead bullets.
40,000 psi --- maximum average pressure.
Small primer.
Headspaces on the shoulder. Interestingly enough, a gunwriting source told me, Jan 4, 1999, that he called up Sigarms and asked whether the 357 SIG headspaces on the mouth or the shoulder. Answer from Sigarms: both. Treating the 357 SIG like a small bottlenecked rifle cartridge is the best way to go regarding safety. See item 13 above, in regard to reloading.
Max case length: .865
Trim-to length: .855
Check the length of the case to make sure it is less than the maximum allowable case length dimension, especially when using full power loads. Starline brass seems to hold its dimensions very well.
Don't resize 10mm brass or .40 S&W brass into 357 SIG brass. There is an abundant brass supply from Starline (800-280-6660; www.starlinebrass.com ) and from ammo companies. The 10mm has different internal construction along with large primers; As a result, the combination could be quite dangerous.
Another good reason to use real 357 SIG brass is because the internal 357 SIG case dimensions are more beefed up than the .40 S&W case.
Cleaning Note: With the new .357 bottlenecked cartridge, you must be very careful to actually clean the INITIAL *wide part* of the chamber. One way to do it, is to use a .40 caliber bore brush to clean ONLY the wide part of the chamber. Then, use the 9mm bore brush to clean the rest. Just don't get carried away and ram the .40 caliber brush all the way through the bore!
I prefer to use a light cannelure groove with a Rainier or West Coast 124 grain flat point bullet as described above in the item 13.
Sample reloading data (Note: visit www.reloadammo.com to view various powders that can be used with the 357 SIG):
1. The following data was taken out of the Alliant Reloading Manual (See above for their web site)
barrel: 4"
powder: Power Pistol (PP) (Note: Excellent powder for full power ammo)
Powder Bullet Max Charge fps psi
Power Pistol 90 jhp 11.4 1715 37,000
Power Pistol 115 jhp 10.0 1505 36,200
Power Pistol 124 tmj 9.5 1435 37,200
Power Pistol 147 xtp 7.8 1245 37,000

2. The following data was taken out of the Hodgdon Reloading Manual (See above for their web site)
barrel: 4"
powder: Universal (Note: Excellent powder for soft recoiling, downloaded ammo)
Powder Bullet Max Charge fps psi
Universal 90 jhp 7.0 1511 37,200
Universal 115 hp 6.1 1300 37,400
Universal 124 hp 5.8 1235 38,500
Universal 147 hp 4.9 1062 36,300
Attachment 6
Wiley Clapp states (from a SigArms Brochure):
"The .357 SIG cartridge is a police service or combat/defensive load intended to bring .357 Magnum performance to a high-capacity semiauto pistol.
"As long as you compare 125-grain .357 SIG loads with 125-grain .357 Magnums and keep the barrel lengths roughly comparable, the velocities will be the same, and in fact often favor the .357 SIG. Winchester's [Magnum] 125-grain JHP did not exceed the velocity of the .357 SIG until I went to a full six inches of barrel. Some of the time, 125-grain .357 Magnum JHP's will edge the new SIG round in four inch barrels, but not overwhelmingly so.
"I checked the accuracy of the new cartridge in the P229 by shooting 10-shot groups with the pistol mounted in the Ransom Rest and the targets placed at 25 yards. Four different lots of ammunition were used, including both old and new lots of the federal 125-grain JHP load, a single lot of the Federal 125-grain FMJ load, and one experimental lot of the Speer 125-grain Gold Dots. Accuracy is just plain outstanding. Twelve 10-shot groups, three with each lot of ammunition, averaged 1.99 inches. The best was 1.59 inches, but any gun and cartridge that will do two inches at 25 yards is just fine with me. And by the way, the hands-on shootability of the gun and ammo is excellent --- far better than that of a comparable revolver."
Attachment 7
It's really a moot point to state that the 357 SIG would never have survived if it were not a simple drop-in barrel replacement for .40 S&W pistols, since it can never be proven. Dido for the argument that the 357 SIG is just another money making scheme. And if you must, by all means go ahead and complain about various gun magazine writers if that makes you feel better. Finally, if you're really desperate, go ahead and say the 357 SIG is yet another new version of the old 9mm --- a solution to a non-problem.
But! Let's just look at the 357 SIG facts. To ignore the 357 SIG is to miss the point. A typical compact, 'easy to control' 357 SIG provides excellent, 'standard high velocity', 9mm-magnum-performance and it promotes an excellent feeding semi-auto (9mm bullet into a 10mm slot) for defense and sport pistols. The 357 SIG can also be downloaded to equal 9mm Luger ammo for the sake of versatility. The 9mm bullet in this new incarnation deserves a lot of Respect.
The Feb '96 issue of Handguns has a comparison article on the 357 SIG, .40 S&W, 10mm, and the 45acp. Conclusions: "There isn't a lot of difference between popular defensive calibers. Human variables are much more likely to matter than minor differences in recoil and theoretical controllability. Case in point: Jan did his fastest shooting with the 45 auto. Dave Arnold did his slowest. Both Jan and Dave were very impressed by the 357 SIG cartridge. Even though it generated the second highest muzzle energy, [357 SIG: 536 ft/lbs; 10mm: 584 ft/lbs], of the four [guns] we tried, it seemed easily the most pleasant to shoot, and both of us shot it fast and well. We think this cartridge may well be a real 'comer'. Given the inherent feed reliability of its bottlenecked case shape, it may well prove to be the best cartridge of all for combat auto pistols."
Walt Rauch stated in his .357 Glock article, from Autopistols Magazine, "The new .357 cartridge successfully duplicated the performance of the highly touted 125-grain .357 Magnum revolver load in a mid-framed autopistol."
Jan Libourel, reporting on the 357 SIG from Guns & Ammo, stated, "I don't think there's a sidearm/cartridge combination in the world that offers a better level of protection."
In "Handguns", Ed Sanow stated, "The .357 SIG is here to stay."
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Acknowledgments:
"Cop Talk', by Massad Ayoob, American Handgunner, Jul/Aug, 2000
"Getting The Most From The .357 SIG", by Cpl. Ed Sanow, GunWorld, May 2000
"Now hear This!", by Ralph Mroz, Combat Handguns, Sep 1998
"Glock's New .357s!" by Walt Rauch, Glock Autopistols, 1998 Vol. 4 No. 1.
Ed Sanow's 357 SIG article in March '98 Handguns.
"357 SIG: Powerful, Reliable And Going Strong" by Dick Metcalf, Shooting Times, Nov 1997.
"'HOT NINE' Cartridge Showdown: An All-Out Test To Name The Best!" by Dick Metcalf, Hand Gunning, Nov/Dec 1997.
"The 357 SIG: How Good Is It?" by Ed Sanow, Handguns, Jan 1996.
"FBI Tests the 357 SIG" by Dr Martin Topper, Handguns, April 1996.
"Critical Analysis: Inside the .357 SIG" by Charles Petty, Guns, June '96.
Official Sigarms Brochure with a 357 SIG article by Wiley Clapp.
Glock-l Email Group who have provided stimulating critiques.
www.glockmeister.com
www.glocktalk.com
www.thefiringline.com
http://odaiko.ss.uci.edu/sig/sig.shtml (unofficial SIG Page)
www.sigarms.com
http://www.greent.com
http://www.gunnery.net
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Pete Jordan; petermjordan@yahoo.com
http://petej55.home.mindspring.com