Subject says it all. From what I've read .357 is superior round w/ excellent penatration. But not sure that's what I want for ccw. This has probably been beating to death but was hoping some thf members w/ experience could chime in thanks

I went with g23 because of ammo cost

^
This.

x3. Although, a few years ago when ammo was scarce....the only thing at the shelves at Academy and Walmart was 357 Sig and 9mm makarov.

This question actually came up when I was buying some camo at Cabela's.

A guy was talking to the salesman behind the counter and he was asking what would be better. And the Joe talking to the salesman next to him stopped talking and said you need .357 sig, it more expensive, its better for carry.

I was astouneded, because that is not right. I bit my tongue.

I carry .40 cal because the ammo is more readily available. But like Bryan said, it's a popular round.

Good luck.

I've heard you can get over penetration out of .357 sig but I guess that can go for any round with the right circumstances in place

.357 sig can be snappier than .40.

I have a Glock 23 so I'm also biased hahah.

.357 sig bullet is faster but lighter than the .40. So it'll penetrate a lighter bullet deeper into the target. The .40 will send a heavier bullet with a wider wound channel and it'll still penetrate plenty deep to do the job.

Either would make a damn fine CCW. I'd buy either one without hesitation if I were starting out. I own a number of .40's and will keep buying that caliber just to keep them the same but I wouldn't hesitate to apply that same concept to the .357 Sig.

This. I can buy 50 BMG for nearly what .357 sig cost.

I've never carried either, always used 9mm, 38, or 45. I thought about 357 Sig but since I reload, it seemed like it would be hard to reload the necked down cartridge. After reading about the purpose of the 357, a higher velocity 9mm to penetrate car windshields and the like. I decided to buy my 1st 40, always avoided that round, but I bought a Glock 23.

It's been a great gun for CC and worked well at the range, a little snappier than 9 or 45. And I made a bunch of 180 gr hp reloads at about $9 a box!

Long story short, I think the 357 sig is more appropriate for law enforcement who need the ability to shoot thru cars or other obstructions.

You can buy interchangable barrels for .40 s&w and .357 sig (i.e. Glock 23..you can get a 40-9mm conversion barrel also)

Best of both worlds

I would say .40 it's just cheaper and easier to come by.

This is interesting. When someone asks for recommendation on a 380 pistol everyone chimes in and votes for the Sig 238 even though it is twice the cost of a Bersa or Ruger LCP.

However, when it comes to the caliber of pistols, it is opposite, no one wants to shoot the higher priced ammo--too costly. Can't afford to shoot it. Costs way too much.

Similar with some rifles. Don't get that old-fashioned 30-30, buy a jacked up super sonic magnum express. Go with the best, don't worry about the cost of ammo.

So on my g-23 I can get a drop in barrel in .357 sig ?

Yep

http://glockstore.com/blog_detail/72_Convert_Your_Glock_357_40_Caliber_and_Vice

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1238

I reload so I went with a Glock 32.

My 125 grn loads are the same as my .357 magnum 125 loads as far as FPS go. Nothing like having 14 rounds of .357 magnum at your disposal.

I load Speer gold dots and I have no doubt they will do the job.

There are tons of 9mm bullets that can be loaded for practice rounds. Somebody gave me 1000 .357 sig hulls so I'm set.

I couldn't imagine having to buy those rounds. They are about 1.00 each for decent loads.

I would do get a .40 cal if you like to shoot a lot and get a .357 barrel for carry like somebody else suggested.

Or get the Glock 32 and get the .40 cal barrel for it.

Same magazines.

I say go eith whatever you want. But when you can't find 357 Sig ammo, and it's twice the cost of 40 cal, don't start a new thread about it!

I have the G32 and get my practice ammo at Georgia Arms. Decent prices, still a little higher than .40 but not too bad. I also have a Glock OEM 40 barrel and a Lone Wolf 40-9 conversion barrel with some KCI 9mm mags so I can shoot 3 different calibers with one platform.

Yep, Glock 23 is like a Swiss army knife.

.357 sig is a direct drop-in and you can use the same magazines as as the native g23.

9mm is a drop in "conversion" barrel (which compensates for the g23 .40 S&W extractor placement) and uses glock 19 magazines.

I have the g23 and 9mm conversion barrel(and a g19 15 round magazine).

Can you drop in a 9mm barrel for the g-23 as well

Caliber will never replace shot placement though.

When times get tough, shot placement will come from muscle memory and practice/training.

= it is always a good thing for them to feed their ego and buy the Sig or whatever else, and or the latest greatest rifle caliber or = it is always easy to spend the other person's $.

It took them a while but the gun and ammo manufactures finally figured out the power of the internet. Get a bunch of press cheap from the various web sites and forum's. Get all the wanna be johnny come lately hunters along with wanna be urban commando's all hyped up and watch the profits flow. Add election fears whether they are real or imagined is now matter and life is really good.