Which Caliber? - AR15.COM

Posted: 8/2/2005 4:27:26 PM EDT

I have been looking at getting a back-up gun in either 40cal or 357sig. I have read different articles but still have questions. What are the pros/cons of each caliber and is one better than the other? I have shot both but on different platforms, i.e. 40cal: XD40, Walther and Sig p226 and 357sig: Tuarus revolver. The gun that I am currently considering is a Sig P229R. Any info would be great. Chances are I will get the P229R in 40cal and eventually buy a 357sig barrel.

Posted: 8/2/2005 4:33:42 PM EDT

[#1]

Quoted:
I have been looking at getting a back-up gun in either 40cal or 357sig. Chances are I will get the P229R in 40cal and eventually buy a 357sig barrel.

Because of the relative ease of swapping calibers between .40 and .357Sig, your idea of the 229 and two barrels is both practical and $$$-smart. Buy the 229 in .40......shoot the crap outta' it with "relatively cheap" .40 ammo, and if you feel the need to "upgrade" to somthing hotter & faster, drop in the .357 barrel.

Posted: 8/2/2005 4:40:33 PM EDT

[#2]

My uneducated guess is that real world difference between the two is marginal.

I don't even know anyone with a .357sig. I've read articles in the gun rags touting it as a great performing while still being able to punch through front window glass on a car, and other barriers.

Posted: 8/2/2005 5:14:22 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
I have been looking at getting a back-up gun in either 40cal or 357sig. I have read different articles but still have questions. What are the pros/cons of each caliber and is one better than the other? I have shot both but on different platforms, i.e. 40cal: XD40, Walther and Sig p226 and 357sig: Tuarus revolver. The gun that I am currently considering is a Sig P229R. Any info would be great. Chances are I will get the P229R in 40cal and eventually buy a 357sig barrel.

I heartily recommend a "back up" gun in the same caliber as your primary gun, and...if at all possible...one that can use the same magazines (if an auto) or speedloaders. Much better for staying alive.

Posted: 8/2/2005 7:15:40 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Quoted:
I have been looking at getting a back-up gun in either 40cal or 357sig. I have read different articles but still have questions. What are the pros/cons of each caliber and is one better than the other? I have shot both but on different platforms, i.e. 40cal: XD40, Walther and Sig p226 and 357sig: Tuarus revolver. The gun that I am currently considering is a Sig P229R. Any info would be great. Chances are I will get the P229R in 40cal and eventually buy a 357sig barrel.

I heartily recommend a "back up" gun in the same caliber as your primary gun, and...if at all possible...one that can use the same magazines (if an auto) or speedloaders. Much better for staying alive.

+1 for ikor

Georgia State Patrol gets issued the Glock 22 and Glock 27. That way, if anything happens to the primary weapon (G22), at least the full-size mags can be utilized with the G27.

On my old dept, buddy of mine got one of the Glocks chambered in 357sig. Needless to say, he was told he couldn't carry it as a primary or back-up weapon. He was on the SWAT team too. My old dept allowed us to carry 9mm, 40s&w, 45auto, and 357 magnum.

What caliber is your primary weapon? Generally, back-up guns are the same caliber or smaller than the primary. The best caliber should be your primary, not back-up. Just my $0.02

Posted: 8/2/2005 11:49:17 PM EDT

[#5]

I would go .40 just because the price of ammo and it is easy to find.

Posted: 8/3/2005 4:41:27 PM EDT

[#6]

One of the things I noticed at a semi-dark indoor range was the difference in noise and flash between a .40 and .357. The .40 definitely seemed a lot tamer.

I also second the .40. Then go buy lots of ammo to go practice. I personally picked up some really good "Montana Gold" 180grain .40 reloads to practice with. I can't tell the difference shooting between that and the factory 180grain loads.

Posted: 8/3/2005 5:38:11 PM EDT

[#7]

~~Your backup gun should shoot the same caliber as your main gun (ideally).~~
Already been said sorry and
+1 on that.

Posted: 8/3/2005 5:45:00 PM EDT

[#8]

.357sig

all of the benefits of .40sw+lighter 'snap'+flatter shooting+faster projectile w/ respectable weight

h/w, .40sw: easier to find ammo

Posted: 8/4/2005 7:23:08 PM EDT

[#9]

I recently had this same problem when I went shopping for an XD. I like the idea of a .357 Sig, but turned away due to it being hard to find ammo here for it. But, the XD like the Sig can be converted to either one with just a barrel change. So I bought the .40, and will eventually get the .357 Sig barrel. Plus the .40 had an o.d. green frame, which I thought looked nice, so that persuaded me also.

Posted: 8/4/2005 8:31:04 PM EDT

[#10]

.40 S&W, just for ammo availability.

Posted: 8/5/2005 3:29:17 AM EDT

[#11]

The best caliber is the one you can shoot the best and have the most confidence in.

Because as we all know, shot placement is key. If you can put a .22 into somebody's heart, they'll drop a lot faster than a .45 in the shoulder.

Posted: 8/5/2005 5:28:54 PM EDT

[#12]

I read an article a while back warning of the 357 sig bullet getting pounded down into the brass after being chambered only a few times. Apparently this can happen with any caliber when cycling your slide, but because the 357 sig is necked down it is more likely to happen and a recipe for a Kaboom.

The 357 sig is a 9mm bullet in a necked down .40 cal case. I'm sure it travels a bit faster, but I doubt that the stopping power is much different.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Which Caliber?

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