.40 S&W or .357 SIG?

[txhunter]

I generally like revolvers for home defense (GP100), but I have decided to get a carry permit. The problem is that while awesome as a home defense tool, the GP100 is a little difficult to carry during a hot Texas summer.
  I have never shot a 40 or a 357 SIG, but I have heard that they are both excellent man stoppers. Does anyone know where I can get ballistics/knockdown info on these rounds?
  I also have the delightful, but daunting task of deciding on the brand of firearm to carry. I really like the SIG arms pistols. My brother said that I should check out the Glock 32. Any recommendations. This is the tough part because both are accurate and reliable from what I have heard.
 

[Mikey]

txhunter:  both the Glock and the Sig are excellent pistols.  I prefer the Sig for its known quality and single action/double action trigger.  The Glock is a double action only mechanism.  I think the sights on the Sig are better than those on the Glock, which was designed as a military sidearm.

As to caliber, get the 357 Sig.  The ballistics are so close to the 357 magnum's 125 grain hollow-point at 1425'/sec famed 'one-shot fight stopper' that one couldn't tell the difference.  The 357 Sig is a nice tidy little bottlenecked cartridge (125 grain bullet at 1400'/sec)  that should jam or malfunction less than the straight-walled 40 S&W.  Then, after you have played with the 357 Sig for a while you can get an interchangeable barrel in teh 40 S&W and find out what that one is all about.  HTH.  Mikey.

[LMM]

Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum.  

[strider72]

Well,get a Glock 32 or a Sig .357,get a .40 S&W barrel and an aftermarket 9mm barrel...voila a versatile little pistola.

[williamlayton]

I have the Sig 239 in a .40 and .357. I am plesed by both though i really like the .357 much better and I really, really like the SIG,s.
Blessings

[rockbilly]

When I bought, I bought the .40 Sig.  Later I picked up a .357 Sig barrel.  Both are great shooters, I am please with accuracy and function.  With the Sig, buy either one, then purchase the other barrel (about $125.).  Nothing else to buy, it's just a drop in and you are ready to go.  I shot the .357 the first time when qualifying  for renewal of my CCW.  For out of the box ,and to the range with no practice shots, I was exceptionally well pleased.

The Texas DPS went from the .40 to the .357 Sig several years ago.  Their "experts" seem to think the .357 is a better overall performer.  I don't think you would go wrong with either one..............

[TScottW99]

I really like both calibers.  My duty weapon is a .40S&W Glock 22 so I chose a Glock 27 for my CWP weapon.  I really like the .40S&W especially in the 180 grain Gold Dot's.

I'm really thinking about getting a .357sig barrel for it, though I prefer the .357 in the Glock 32 size versus the "baby" glock size  :eek:

[sniperVLS]

I picked up a Sig Pro 2340 a few weeks back in .40 S&W For $500.00, I snagged it without hesitation.

excellent pistol, but now after reading some threads, Im temtped to pick up the .357 barrel.

out of the box accuracy is superb, and you cant help not to feel great about Sigs reputation for dependability. I grew up around them and will not settle for less.

[NYH1]

I have two Glock's, a G22 and G27 both in 40 S&W. I really like the 357 Sig. although I've never shot one. I like the "bottleneck" idea the most and of course the ballistics that are equal to the 357 Mag. I have two problems with the 357 Sig. First, I have to put all my pistol's on my permit, the make, model, serial number, caliber and barrel length. I don't know if I can put two different calibers with the same pistol. I'll have to check. Second, there isn't a lot of different ammo out there for the 357 Sig.

[CB900F]

Txhunter;

I went the .40 S&W route in an H&K USPc.  Not an inexpensive firearm to buy, but had several features that made it worth the money to me.  Not the least of which was how left-friendly it is.

One significant difference between the .40 & the .357SIG that I've been informed of by more than one .357 owner, is the fireball from the muzzle at night.  If you figure you're going to be doing a lot of carry during the night, get the .40 first & then play with the .357 later.

900F

[JJ79]

While I can't speak for the .357 Sig, I've owned 2 .40s; a Beretta that I ended up giving to a friend, and a Taurus 24/7 that is my current home defense gun.

I really like the .40 S&W; it is a nice balance between powerful & easy to shoot.  My Taurus shoots really well with the 180 gr Speer Goldots.  Also, if you're like me and don't reload, the .40 S&W will save you a few dollars per box.

As far as your gun choice, I'd pick the SIG; I shot one in .40 S&W at the local range and I was very impressed.  Don't think you could go wrong w/SIG or Glock though...  

[DEPUTY]

A handgun is not a man stopper period. it is a good portable defensive tool.

And by choosing one  a 9mm 40-357-45 etc....if it is worth shooting once it is worth shooting 2-3-4 times hit them hard and fast and multiply times period. be it 9mm 40 45 whatever it is but there isno such thing as a man stopping handgun!  ,,,

[NYH1]

A handgun is not a man stopper period. it is a good portable defensive tool.

Yup! Every "handgun" in the U.S. military is considered a "defensive weapon" with the exception of one. The Navy Seals use their "HK Mk 23 Mod 0" and "HK Mark 23" 45 ACP pistols as offensive weapons!

http://www.streetpro.com/usp/hksocom.html

[DEPUTY]

that it is due to the fact that is a special  weapon issued when misson requirements are need to be meet. such as suppresion to take out sentrys and other armed hostiles during RESCUE MISSIONS! THE STANDARD ISSUE IS SIG 226.that is why it has a desgination as an offensive weapon,  (% perscent of the time including  the sand box right now is 226 9mm trust me this i know