What’s The Deal With .357 SIG? Is It Dead?

The .357 SIG pistol cartridge is one of those unicorns, rarely seen in the wild, but when spotted ignites awe and marvel at its mere existence. Is .357 SIG dead? Or, perhaps a better question to ask would be, was it ever even alive? I'm sure I just upset tens and tens of our readers who carry guns chambered in this venerable self-defense cartridge, and for that I apologize. Before we can discuss whether it's dead, was ever alive, or what's going on with it, we have to figure out where it came from.

(On a side note, yes I said “tens and tens” because, let's face it, there aren't that many of you carrying it. If I'm wrong, I'll eat my words when you prove it to me in the comments below)

Brief .357 SIG History:

Way back in the mid-90s, a team play by an ammo maker and a gun maker brought about something of beauty for the self-defense world. There is a lot of confusion out there about just what the .357 SIG is. Is it a short .357 magnum? Is it a .40 S&W sort of thing? Is it a 9mm? 10mm?

Well, I guess to some degree it can be summed up as all of those things in one. Truth be told, it has similar dimensions to .40 S&W because it's a 10mm auto parent case necked down to accept a .355 bullet (which is a 9mm). And that said bullet reaches .357 Magnum velocities in a much smaller package.

Law Enforcement:

I've spoken to several law enforcement officers who have the strict preference for .357 Sig chambered guns because the ballistics are fantastic. Some of them have pointed out that if they ever needed to have extreme velocities on their side in a smaller package than can be had in 10mm guns, the best thing to have would be a Glock 33 in .357 Sig (or something similar). When would they need those velocities?

On more than one occasion the police officer stated shooting through car doors as the reason why they needed a faster-moving bullet.

Learn more about shooting from within, around, and into a vehicle!

Whether or not shooting through cars is a worthy reason to own one remains to be seen, but, the number of agencies issuing guns chambered in .357 Sig is dying. The known number of issuing agencies, however, is not known.

But, it seems as if the main argument as to why they seem to be in decline in an official capacity is not because of a lack of effectiveness, but because .357 SIG is not cost efficient. In other words, it's just too much money.

Cost of .357 SIG:

For those who belong to the cult following of this less than popular cartridge, there is never an excuse of whether or not the cost to effectiveness ratio is worth it. Of course it is. But, for those of us on the outside who are unwilling to part from our undying 9mm parabellum or .45 ACP self-defense cartridges, we'd never consider it.

And that, my friends, is the main issue about why the .357 Sig was never really ever even born. It was never given a chance because it's been far too expensive for much too long. It never had a chance to catch on, even though, I believe, it is one of the most effective self-defense cartridges out there.

Availability:

Another thing that slows down the growth of this beautiful unicorn is the availability. I've only been able to find it in any real quantities in one local gun store. You can forget about seeing it in Wal Mart, but of course certain big box stores, like Cabela's have it, even though it ain't cheap.

This limited availability helps to drive up the price, by the way, because it's a supply and demand sort of thing. That gun store knows that they're the only place in town selling it so they can put any price tag they want within reason and someone will come in and buy it.

Conclusion:

Is .357 SIG a dead case? No, I don't think it is, nor will it be completely dead. Sadly though, it hasn't really ever caught on largely enough to have any real success, even though success is warranted and its performance speaks for itself. We've had this discussion before, when we discussed whether or not 40 S&W was dead, so when you're done proving me wrong about how many of you own and carry guns chambered in .357 Sig, head on over there and check that one out.

About Joshua Gillem

Josh is a lifelong practitioner and student of the gun. He grew up shooting/hunting with his dad, and was given his first gun, a 12 gauge shotgun, when just a small boy. After high school, he joined the Marines where his love for firearms blossomed as he qualified with an M16A2, an M9, and a 240G. Josh has been writing about firearms and tactics for several years, owns the blog Gunners Den, is a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, and believes that each individual person has the right to self-defense by any means necessary. Currently residing in gun-friendly NC, he carries a concealed gun on a daily basis, even in his own house.

21 Comments

  1. Michael Crutcher on April 25, 2018 at 9:02 am

    If cost and availability of ammo are a concern, just go to AmmoSeek.com and do a search on the brand, type of ammo, or a host of other parameters. Looking at a low price for Sig Sauer brand ammo (other brands can be found at a lower price!) with lower cost shipping, there can be a significant difference in the price between 9mm and 357 Sig for FMJ rounds, but for JHP rounds the difference was $1.41 per box, or about 7 cents per round. That seems to me to be a small price to pay for the increased power of the 357 Sig round, which is 511 lb/ft of muzzle energy vs 374 lb/ft for the 9mm. If you want “more serious” ammunition, I was able to find Underwood’s Extreme Defender 90 grain roundfor a price difference of only $1.32 per box, which is about 6.6 cents per round, but you get a round that exits the muzzle at 1700 FPS with 578 lb/ft of energy versus 1400 FPS and 392 lb/ft for the 9 mm. That is a significant difference for less than seven cents per round!

    • Hayden on March 12, 2022 at 11:42 pm

      I carry a sig sauer p229 legion chambered in 357. Sig and it’s a beast

  2. charles on April 26, 2018 at 1:37 pm

    lgs had more selection of .357 sig jhp than they did .40 sw. and the price was identical per round.

  3. ChefGuitarTX on April 28, 2018 at 11:09 am

    So I do carry a .357 Sig via Glock 33. For me, in Texas with the heat, I needed a small package with full power. With this 33, I get 10 rounds carry, and I carry a full 15 rd mag, so it has a ton of function. I’m not a LEO, so I only go through about 100 rounds a month for training, as this is not my favorite gun, but I can tell you it packs a HUGE punch (your hands get sore shooting this).

    I never considered a unicorn, but LOL I should have because back during the Obama ammo shortage, I was the only one who could find ammo in stock.

    I still think it’s the best defense round and I’ll keep carrying it.

  4. Bill E. Squire on May 1, 2018 at 10:05 am

    I nearly had the chance to use .357 SIG in a defensive situation a few years back. It was a scary adventure I don’t want to repeat. The thing is, my concealed carry was chambered in .357 SIG and that’s what I was carrying.

    I am in the same school as one of the other commenters. .357 SIG was still available and not astronomically priced during the ammo shortage of 2013-2015.

    The least expensive .357 SIG practice ammo is about the same price as mid-range .45 ACP. You can get a case of Speer Lawman .357 SIG for the same price as American Eagle or Winchester white box .45 ACP at several online retailers.

    A case of .357 SIG Speer Gold Dot is less expensive than a case of .45 ACP Federal Hi-Shok or HST. The .357 SIG Speer Gold Dot is also less expensive than Remington, Winchester, and a few other hollow point rounds I surveyed while writing this post.

    I don’t think it’s about price any longer with .357 SIG being the same or lower price as .45 ACP when bought online for someone who shoots .45 ACP. Price is mild factor if you shoot .40 S&W as the .357 SIG will be more expensive. Price is definitely a factor if you shoot 9 mm since the 9 mm is far less expensive than .357 SIG.

    Oddly enough, I can find .357 SIG practice and defensive ammo online that is less expensive than .38 Special from Federal, Remington, Winchester and other well-known brands.

    I think the lack of adoption is two-fold. 1. The snappy recoil makes it hard to shoot for less experienced shooters let alone new shooters. I’ve shot it in several all-day training classes and it does wear on you. 2. People are concerned that .357 SIG will become too expensive and/or unavailable if they only have 1 handgun and it’s in .357 SIG.

    Shooting .357 SIG will highlight weaknesses in your fundamentals, specifically weaknesses in your grip.

    I’ve got a case of Speer Gold Dot and a bunch of Lawman practice ammo so I’m spending the same or less money than if I was shooting .45 ACP.

  5. Kent Castleton on May 1, 2018 at 12:01 pm

    If you reload 357sig you’ll find that the bullet can be less expensive than 9mm: Montana Gold 124 fmj in 9mm is 9.5cents/per. Their 357sig 9.3cents. The brass cost depends on how/where you find it. I buy it used, but, like .40S&W, I find I get a lot of mileage out of brass in this caliber. 357sig uses a heavier powder charge than 9mm. I use it both for carry and competition; it feeds better than any other caliber I’ve shot. Ballistically it’s superior to most any other handgun cartridge at the range. Since I’m the only guy shooting it, no one wants the brass, so I usually go home with ever piece I shot. That’s good enough for me.

  6. St Patrick on June 8, 2018 at 4:41 pm

    Interesting article. It appears to be long on opinion and short on fact.

  7. Rob on October 19, 2018 at 1:21 pm

    I have been in Law Enforcement for 35 years, When I started my Department issued the 357 mag revolver. I like the 357 Sig because it has similar ballistics in a semi-auto hand gun. My Springfield XD chambered in the 357 Sig is flawless. I have a collection of firearms that include 13 calibers, the 357 Sig is a good one for every shooter/collector to have in the mix.

  8. E J Eby on November 3, 2018 at 2:44 am

    American Eagle 45 ACP ammo is $15.99. Sperry Lawman 357 Sig is $15.99. This is 50 round box pricing today online. It is no longer cost prohibitive to own a. 357 Sig pistol. Plus it is fun swapping barrels in my Glock 32 and shooting .40 S&W or 9mm with the same gun. But, the 357 Sig is still my EDC.

  9. Tuffy on November 7, 2018 at 4:59 am

    I like it and use it. Best handgun round period. Imo.

  10. mzzond on May 12, 2019 at 1:29 pm

    I’ve spoken with many Ex LEO and a few Ex FBI agents at gun shows and every one of them said the same thing the only reason the 9mm was chosen by the FBI and LEO was not because the 9mm was a better because they even said it wasn’t, it was because there agents and officers were only hitting their targets less than 30 percent or less of the time (look up the report) which they the LEO and agents blamed on recoil of 40SW and 357Sig and with the 9mm you got less recoil for faster follow up shots and 2+ extra rounds yet know the standard FBI and LEO 9mm round is now a +p or a +p+ round which know that so called recoil that they blamed on the 40sw and 357sig is worse with the 9MM then it was with the 40SW and 357SIG.

    So rather than offering better training for their officers and agents (which they do need) with the 40SW and 357 sig both which they all said was a much better and more powerful round at taking down people especially the 357 sig when loaded to where it originally was supposed to be (which originally was 1,450 + feet per second) for a 125 GR bullet and it still out performs any 9mm +p or +P+ round) and even after being watered down by ammo companies to 1350-1375 the 357 sig still out performed any 9mm +p and +P+ round that they the FBI and LEO had and they still opted to go with the less powerful 9mm which is under gunning there officers to a less lethal round.

    And for all the people who keep saying with today’s new bullet technology and new powders the 9MM is now better and faster, well guess what that same bullet technology and new powders also went into making the 40 SW, 357SIG and the 45ACP also a better round. Just look at how now there a making 45acp + p rounds and 40SW rounds going 50-75 FPS faster and that’s something that was never heard of ten years ago.

    Please watch the following 2 videos below in their entirety and just maybe if you can put politics aside you will understand how the 9mm though a good round and can get the job done in most cases is not the perfect defense round that people want it to be.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTTDgZZZFa0

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4DsaBrohV0

  11. Timothy Verner on August 23, 2019 at 11:45 am

    Like mine Glock 32 easy to hide and enough Ammo use it against coyotes.

  12. Taylor on September 2, 2019 at 12:29 pm

    I switched my Glock 23 barrel to 357 sig a few years ago and never looked back. I carry Underwood 125 grain and it is strong. if you look at it objectively it out performs ballistically and in the real world based on police shooting situations compared to other common LEO rounds. Yes it has recoil, so what? I have a gun that fits my hand well and I go to the range and work on a combat grip and stance. Practice double taps. A person can train themselves to handle almost anything.

    • James Midkiff on November 1, 2019 at 12:13 pm

      Target Sports currently has cases of .357Sig Speer Gold Dot LE ammo, 125gr, 1000 rounds, free shipping, for $399.

      I carry a Sig P229 Elite for CC, and a Glock 31 Gen2 open carry. There is no better round that fits in delivery devices of the same size. The 40S&W in 155gr (also on sale at Target Sports) is it’s nearest competition, both eclipsing anything possible from a 9mm Parabellum.

      • Walt Garvock on November 5, 2019 at 7:37 am

        I have a Sig P226 which was a .40s&w so I picked up a .357 Sig barrel. Practice with the .40 and have the .357 for self defense. I want to hand load to bring the cost down but I don’t shoot this pistol that much to bother with it. Should just buy 1000 rds and forget about the cost
        As far as recoil, I also shoot .500 S&W ,.44mag & 10mm so this isn’t bad for me

  13. Z.D. on January 14, 2020 at 9:40 am

    Carrying my G32 today and LOVE IT!

  14. Heisenberg on February 9, 2020 at 5:54 pm

    When I got my CCW license, there was no doubt which caliber I would use…….357 SIG.. The Glock 32/Glock 33 are my two primary CCW weapons with Remington 125 Grain JHP.

    More powerful than a .40, just as accurate as a 9mm and less recoil than a .45 (without the over penetration).

    Now if the ammo manufacturers could bring down the costs (universally), as well as the local guns stores/ranges, it would find a wider audience.

  15. dwight looi on May 5, 2020 at 7:32 pm

    I just load the 40 S&W with the 135 gr JHP to 1400 fps with Longshot or CFE Pistol. Even 1450 fps is safe. Beats the 357 SIG in muzzle energy. Totally fragments on impact going about 9″ deep with a 0.5″ neck and a 5~6 inch wide stretch cavity.

  16. Gavin on June 14, 2020 at 10:18 am

    I have an all stainless p226 with walnut grips chambered in 357 sig. the round is as marvelous than the gun. the design is based on the 30 luger, but with elements that are commonly used now, such as the 9mm bullet tip and the .40/10mm case.

    the 357 sig is a very fun caliber to shoot, it has excellent ballistics and it is a proven armor piercer. it is also expensive to buy and sometimes it is not stocked, but it is more likely to stay on the shelf during a ammo shortage.

    the other issue is some people say 357 sig is hard to reload. i have been reloading the 357 sig for about a year and though its not as easy as a straight-walled case, its not any harder than most rifle rounds with a few exceptions. having a smaller lip on the case mouth means it can be hard to get the right crimp on the bullet tip, usually you have to go with a truncated cone type bullet or another that gives plenty of flat space (or a cannelure) for the case mouth to crimp to. it is also helpful to use a9 powder or another powder that will fill the case, this will prevent bullet from setting back in the case if the crimp is not tight enough. the cases also have to be lubed before sizing. i can reload these for about 10 cents a round if i use my own cast bullets.

    what i like about the 357 sig:
    -fun to shoot, accurate.
    -impressive terminal ballistics.
    – many guns can switch between .40 and 357 sig with just a barrel exchange.
    – 357 sig uses the a 9mm bullet tip, which are cheap and highly available.
    – massive power that fits into a standard sized frame.

  17. Hottman on January 21, 2021 at 9:47 pm

    I’ve learned that a Glock 22 .40S&W can also use a Glock 31/357Sig Barrel without any other changes. Not to mention a conversion 9mm barrel. Seems like a good firearm to own considering every time I buy ammo that Sig 357 is on the shelf. Your thoughts ?

  18. kenneth TETERS on October 8, 2021 at 8:50 am

    I conceal carry .357 sig as it is my caliber of choice. Walmart use to carry FMJ ammo for it. Never have had a problem with locating the availability of ammo or

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