Posted: 10/10/2008 1:13:12 PM EDT
| I've heard similar ballistics to .357 mag. Would you trust it as a backpacking gun in bear country? |
|
The 357 Sig round was developed so that the officers of the law could have the "357 mag like" performance in an autoloader. I am by no means saying anything bad about the round, it is SCREAMING fast and there are quite a few highway patrol units that use the 357 sig because they know it can punch a hole clean through a car door and still have enough punch to poke holes in the bad guys. The only problem with the 357 sig for civilian use is that the rounds are VERY expensive still (which could be overcome by buying the 40sw barrel) and the muzzle flash on the 357 sig is almost oppressive (my buddy has a p229 in 357 sig and he calls it his "fire breathing dragon"). The way I figure it though...you can get a conversion barrel for 165 shipped from top gun supply. if you go to cheaperthandirt.com, a box of 40sw will cost $15.49 ($0.31 per round) and a box of 357 sig from the same manufacturer will cost 30.07 ($0.60 per round) so that is a $0.29 per round savings. Thus if you get the 40sw barrel, and shoot 569 rounds you will pay off the barrel and THEN you will be able to shoot both and recoil for both rounds is ALMOST exactly the same. That is my $0.02 |
|
.357 Sig is NOT twice the price as .40 S&W as suggested above. Perhaps at CTD, but no where else i buy at. Would i trust using it in backpacking country where there are bears? It beats a knife or sharp stick...Don't you have a friend that could borrow you their Ruger-S&W-Colt-ETC .44 Magnum, .454 Casull or .45 Colt? Go to the zoo and have a look-see at how big bears really are. They are SHOCKINGLY HUGE up close. Many bear guides in Alaska and up north pack .375 H&H, .458 Win Mags and .460 Weatherbys LoL Bring the biggest firearm you can comfortably hike/backpack with you. If you're hiking/b-packing in Wisconsin-Minnesota-Michigan, you'll be fine with the .357 Glock for black bears. If you're going into Grizzly/Brown bear country, it's a good idea to notify park rangers or someone your hiking plans and destination. And watch out for those mama bears and their cubs.... |
|
The .357 Sig is a small step up from the best 9mm loads. There are far fewer "bad" .357 Sig loads than underperforming 9mm loads. Almost all of the available 125 grain JHP loads in .357 Sig are pretty good at pepetrating well, wounding well, penetrating intermediate barriers, and expanding reliably after penetrating intermediate barriers. Michael Courtney |
|
Quoted:
The .357 Sig approaches mid-level .357 Magnum loads, and only with 125 grain bullets. Anything heavier, and it's hardly the equal of the Magnum, and I consider the Magnum very light for animal that wish to eat me. +1 the ,357mag holds a vastly huger edge w/ the variety of bullet loads and weights/constructoin you cant exactly find a .357sig thats 180grs in hard cast lead 
|