Check out .357 Sig for self-defense and weigh in on the facts to see if you get one of your own.
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.357 Sig Self-Defense Round | What You Need to Know
.357 Sig Self-Defense Round
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The .357 Sig pistol cartridge is one of the most underestimated and undervalued self-defense cartridges ever invented. Shooters who truly understand its performance carry this round for every day carry (EDC) and vow to never go back to carrying anything else.
There is a lot of confusion out there about it and where it came from. Is it like a .357 Magnum? Or, is it like the .40? Truly, this cartridge is misunderstood.
Let's dispel some of the myths flying around the .357 Sig ammo self-defense round, so keep on reading!
In order to get a true grasp of what this pistol cartridge is capable of, you need to think of it as a 9mm, .40S&W, and .357 Magnum all at once—taking some positives from each one, without some of the negatives.
Bullet Size
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Comparing the .357 Sig vs 9mm, both ammo essentially has the same size. Both 9mm and .357 Sig ammo are basically in 124 or 125-grain bullet sizes with a .355 diameter.
This is the same diameter as the Parabellum round. The good thing about using this size projectile is superior penetration—sometimes to the point of over-penetration.
RELATED: 5 Calibers For Self-Defense | Self-Defense Firearms
Cartridge
The casing for the .357 Sig pistol cartridge is nearly the size of a .40 S&W. When I say “nearly,” I mean it is close. The Sig's casing is just a bit too long to call it a .40.
Why is this significant? Well, you are essentially taking the same amount of powder used to shoot the .40, with a smaller grain size bullet, causing devastating effects on those who are on the receiving end.
In fact, some have clocked the Sig to .357 Magnum velocities, which is the plus factor it gets from that cartridge.
Damage Potential
When you take everything that we have talked about so far and realized that the extra powder propels a smaller projectile to Magnum speeds, you begin to realize just how much potential this smaller self-defense round actually has.
There are some reports where they have been used to shatter automotive glass, something that many of the other self-defense cartridges tend to ricochet off of.
Buying Issues
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Sadly, this venerable self-defense round is not without its own problems. Even though more law enforcement agencies are picking them up as a standard issue, the .357 Sig is harder to find and can be a bit expensive if you don't know where to look.
Buying .357 Sig in bulk is always an option. Hopefully, as more people climb on board and buy it, prices will dive down as more companies will eventually manufacture it.
Know more about the .357 Sig in this video courtesy of Jordan Winkler:
The .357 Sig is a mighty alternative to your current EDC. It has stout ballistics and is capable of keeping up with and even surpassing the most deadly of self-defense cartridges.
Take a bullet basically the same size of a 9mm with a cartridge size to that of a .40. This combination spells more penetration power for the .357 Sig.
Do you carry .357 Sig or know someone else who does and can't live without it? Tell us your story in the comments section below.
Up Next:
- Shooter’s Guide To Choosing The Best Self-Defense Cartridge
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- 9mm vs .40 vs .45 | Which Is Better For Self Defense?
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on June 26, 2018, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.