So I really want to like the idea of .357 Sig. One, I'm a Sig fan (as if that really mattered). Two. I'm a 357 Magnum fan.
The idea of semi-auto .357 load sounds amazing. Higher capacity, fast shooting, powerful load, it all sounds wonderful. My understanding is the 357 Sig was specced to be similar to .357 mag by making it 125gr at 1450 fps. This makes sense to me. Especially in the penetrating auto glass and shooting through car doors kind of application. I get why the Secret Service and State Troopers would use it. Heck, even in self-defense scenarios you can find footage where shooting through barriers was necessary. However, none of the big brand ammo manufacturers are loading their .357 Sig at that velocity. It's all 1350 fps or slower. At that point, why not just start using hot +p 9mm loads? I just don't see the advantage. Sig brand .357 Sig has slower fps loads, Federal, Hornady, pretty much everyone mainstream are all 1350 or slower.
I realize Underwood, Buffalo Bore, Double Tap, etc make hotter loads closer to the "original" spec, but why do all the big manufacturers under spec them in terms of velocity? Watering it down due to recoil doesn't make sense. Consumers don't buy .357 Sig to feel light as a 9mm, they'd just stick to 9mm if that was the case. And what about the US Secret Service and others who use it? Are they using Underwood?
I don't know that any of these questions are easily answered but I am curious as to what y'all know. I need answers so I can justify buying a Legion P229 in .357 Sig someday. ;-)
The idea of semi-auto .357 load sounds amazing. Higher capacity, fast shooting, powerful load, it all sounds wonderful. My understanding is the 357 Sig was specced to be similar to .357 mag by making it 125gr at 1450 fps. This makes sense to me. Especially in the penetrating auto glass and shooting through car doors kind of application. I get why the Secret Service and State Troopers would use it. Heck, even in self-defense scenarios you can find footage where shooting through barriers was necessary. However, none of the big brand ammo manufacturers are loading their .357 Sig at that velocity. It's all 1350 fps or slower. At that point, why not just start using hot +p 9mm loads? I just don't see the advantage. Sig brand .357 Sig has slower fps loads, Federal, Hornady, pretty much everyone mainstream are all 1350 or slower.
I realize Underwood, Buffalo Bore, Double Tap, etc make hotter loads closer to the "original" spec, but why do all the big manufacturers under spec them in terms of velocity? Watering it down due to recoil doesn't make sense. Consumers don't buy .357 Sig to feel light as a 9mm, they'd just stick to 9mm if that was the case. And what about the US Secret Service and others who use it? Are they using Underwood?
I don't know that any of these questions are easily answered but I am curious as to what y'all know. I need answers so I can justify buying a Legion P229 in .357 Sig someday. ;-)