Is a light grain 40 S&W similar to a heavy grain 357 sig?

[airwolfe1]

I have a Sig P226 Equinox in 40 S&W and have been thinking of getting a 357 Sig barrel for it. I understand how the 357 Sig is supposed to shoot flatter and faster, but looking at some reloading data out of Hodgdon's 2009 annual reloading magazine, it seems as though one of the heaviet 357 Sig load uses .355 125gr bullet and has 1438 fps and the lightest 40 S&W load uses a .400 135 gr bullet and gets 1434 fps. Does anyone know if the ballistics and accuracy would be similar between the two? Does a light 40 S&W equal a heavy 357 Sig?

[MasAyoob]

I'd be a bit leery of the .40 load you mention. The hottest factory 135 grain .40s run 1300 to 1325 foot-seconds. The load you're mentioning is what I'd expect from full power 10mm Auto.

A 135 grain .40 in the low 1300 fps range (CorBon, DoubleTap) is giving you about the same ballstics as a 125 grain .357 out of a shorter barrel revolver. The wider bullet will generally give a wound channel that's about 10" deep, and very wide, assuming a good hollow point.

[Doc Wesson]

Mas is Mas again.. and not Gail!!!
Mas, did you finally remember the password!!!

[MasAyoob]

Naw, Doc, just finally got home to my own computer for a while.

Multiple personality disorder is hell.

I can tell you from personal experience.

And so can I.

And me...

[staysafebob]

So...........if a person with multiple personality disorder threatens to commit suicide would that be considered a hostage situation?

[airwolfe1]

Thank you for your response Mas. So there is probably no real benefit to go to a 357 Sig Barrel for my 40 S&W except for the fun of having the ability to shoot both. You folks at Pro Arms are great! I'll have to make a point to stop by next time I get down to FL. 

[Cade]

here's a question...

what about those 90ish grain prefragged Beesafes out of a .40?

Out of my sigma, they were chronoed at 1800+ fps.

THAT'S MOVING!!!!!

[Chris]

Goat,
"specialty" ammo only works under special circumstances. I wouldn't use them. I would prefer a load ( Gold Dot, HST, Win Ranger) that has an actual street record. If we could pick our SD situation, we could pick out specialty ammi. Since we can't pick our SD situation, I'll use what has proven to work in LE circles.
Chris Christian

[Cade]

Idk if there is a thread on this...but my major concern is and always has been overpenetration.

I have no problems pulling the trigger in a bad situation..wish I did actually.

But wouldn't a round with 600 ft/lbs of force behind it be better than a round with 400 rounds of force behind it.

I admit I have the beesafe loaded...but I also have 180 grain hydras waiting if the SHTF.  and a couple of other clips in the door of the car for variety and situation.

seems like to me though, these specialty ammos would be better suited to stopping an attacker than a 180 grain hydra.

I've seen an armadillo get rolled from a hydra, and run 50 yards or more before dying.  I've seen another one eat a douple tap from powerball and do the same thing.

I've also seen tons stopped with 1 shot from a .22

So persons are for or against lighter and faster?

[Chris]

Use whatever you want. I'll use what I know works. Overpenetration?  I'll worry about that overrated issue when I survive.

BTW... if you want to troll for an issue... this is the wrong place. I am a Moderator. I won't tolerate trolling, and quick responses to trolled questions for the sake of starting an argument. Discussion, yes. Trolling, no. We send trolls packing. At least, I do. And, quickly.
Chris Christian

[Cade]

I think perhaps someone drank too many cups of coffee that day.

I asked an innocent question and got a fiesty answer.

I run 147 grains in the 9mm...I was just curious.

Sorry, but overpenetration is NOT an overrated issue...you're responsible for what your bullet hits...no matter what it goes through, and I'd hate to deal with accidently killing someone unintended.



I responded quickly because I'm standing at a computer for 12 hours a day with nothing to fill the time.

I'm honestly quite curious about the different grains.

those beesafes I listed have a TON more energy than say, a 180 grain federal hydra...for now I carry both.

[unit1069]

Goat,
"specialty" ammo only works under special circumstances. I wouldn't use them. I would prefer a load ( Gold Dot, HST, Win Ranger) that has an actual street record. If we could pick our SD situation, we could pick out specialty ammi. Since we can't pick our SD situation, I'll use what has proven to work in LE circles.
Chris Christian

Hi Chris,

I recently listened to the podcast where the panel members mentioned their favorite rounds for the various calibers they like.  (How I found this web site.)

Reading your recommendation above I recall that Mas Ayoob said that the 125-grain Speer Gold Dot in .357sig has been performing just like the legendary 125-grain .357 Magnum round, according to anecdotal testimony from LEOs. 

I have some Double Tap 125-grain Gold Dot ammo and reading some remarks by people on other firearms web sites some consider the DT "hyped" and not all it's cracked up to be. 

My question is, do experienced shooters consider the Double Tap Gold Dot round as effective as the Speer Gold Dot?  My guess is that since the bullet performs the act of stopping the attack it doesn't matter whose name is on the cartridge as long as it's quality stuff.

Thanks
Steve

[Chris]

Steve,
I have no experience with any Double Tap loads, so I can't comment on their quality control and consistency. But, you are certainly correct... it's the bullet that does the job and if the velocity it's launched at is within the design parameters of the bullet, then it makes no real difference whose name is on the case head.
Chris Christian

[unit1069]

Thanks, Chris

I've shot several boxes of Double Tap and had no issues at all.  From what I recall most of the quibbling has to do with advertised velocities.  At .357sig velocities I really couldn't care less if DT is traveling 25-50 or even 100 fps slower than the advertised 1450 fps (from 4" barrel) as long as the components and manufacture conform to established standards.  And that's not to suggest that DT isn't as advertised.  I'll be keeping an eye out for some Speer though.

Steve