.357 SIG

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.357 SIG
357 SIG - FMJ - SB - 1.jpg,
.357 SIG cartridge
Type Pistol
Place of origin  Switzerland
 United States
Production history
Designer SIGARMS/Federal Cartridge Co.
Designed 1994
Produced 1994 to present
Specifications
Parent case .40 S&W
Case type Rimless, bottleneck
Bullet diameter 9.02 mm (0.355 in)
Neck diameter 9.68 mm (0.381 in)
Shoulder diameter 10.77 mm (0.424 in)
Base diameter 10.77 mm (0.424 in)
Rim diameter 10.77 mm (0.424 in)
Rim thickness 1.40 mm (0.055 in)
Case length 21.97 mm (0.865 in)
Overall length 28.96 mm (1.140 in)
Case capacity 1.27 cm³ (20 gr H2O)
Rifling twist 406 mm (1 in 16 in)
Primer type Small pistol
Maximum pressure 275.8 MPa (40,000 psi)
Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/type Velocity Energy
60 gr (3.9 g) Special Application Ammunition 2,410 ft/s (730 m/s) 774 ft·lbf (1,049 J)
115 gr (7.5 g) Bonded defense JHP 1,550 ft/s (470 m/s) 614 ft·lbf (832 J)
125 gr (8.1 g) FMJ-FP Match and Bonded defense JHP 1,450 ft/s (440 m/s) 584 ft·lbf (792 J)
147 gr (9.5 g) Bonded defense JHP 1,250 ft/s (380 m/s) 510 ft·lbf (690 J)
147 gr (9.5 g) FMJ-FP 1,255 ft/s (383 m/s) 514 ft·lbf (697 J)
Test barrel length: 4 in (102 mm) rifled barrel.
Source(s): DoubleTap Ammunition, RBCD Special Application Ammunition, C.I.P.[1]

The .357 SIG pistol cartridge is the product of Swiss firearms manufacturer SIG-Sauer, in cooperation with the American ammunition manufacturer Federal Cartridge. While it is based on a .40 S&W case necked down to accept 0.355-inch (9.0 mm) bullets, the .357 SIG brass is almost imperceptibly longer (0.009-inch (0.23 mm) to 0.020-inch (0.51 mm)). Proponents of the hydrostatic shock theory contend that with modern hollow-point ammunition, the .357 SIG round has sufficient energy transfer to create remote wounding effects known as hydrostatic shock.[2][3][4]

Contents

History

Developed in 1994, the new cartridge was named "357" to highlight its purpose: to duplicate the performance of 125-grain (8.1 g) .357 Magnum loads fired from 4-inch (100 mm) barreled revolvers, in a cartridge designed to be used in a semi-automatic pistol. Performance is similar to the 9x23mm Winchester.

The .357 SIG provided a self-defense cartridge close in performance to a 125 gr .357 Magnum, but from a semi-automatic pistol with greater ammunition capacity.

The .357 SIG was the first modern bottleneck commercial handgun cartridge since the early 1960s, when Remington introduced the unsuccessful .22 Remington Jet (1961), which necked a .357 Magnum case down to a .22 caliber bullet, and the .221 Remington Fireball (1963). Soon after the .357 SIG, other bottleneck commercial handgun cartridges appeared: the .400 Corbon (1996), necking the .45 ACP down to .40 caliber; the .440 Corbon (1998), necking down the .50 AE to .44 caliber, the .25 NAA (1999), necking the .32 ACP down to .25 caliber; and the .32 NAA (2002), necking the .380 ACP down to .32 caliber.

Cartridge dimensions

The .357 SIG has 1.27 ml (19.5 grains) H2O cartridge case capacity.

357 SIG.svg

.357 SIG maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions.[1] All sizes in millimeters (mm).

Americans would define the shoulder angle at alpha/2=18 degrees. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 406 mm (1 in 16 in), 6 grooves, Ø lands=8.71 mm, Ø grooves=9.02 mm, land width=2.69 mm and the primer type is small pistol.

Several sources have published contradicting information regarding .357 SIG headspacing.[5] According to the official C.I.P. (Commission Internationale Permanente Pour L'Epreuve Des Armes A Feu Portatives) 2007 guidelines the .357 SIG headspaces on the shoulder (P2-H1). Some US sources concur this C.I.P. ruling.[6] US reloading supplier Lyman once published the .357 SIG headspaces on the case mouth (H2).

According to the official C.I.P. (Commission Internationale Permanente Pour L'Epreuve Des Armes A Feu Portatives) guidelines the .357 SIG case can handle up to 305 MPa (44,236 psi) piezo pressure. In C.I.P. regulated countries every pistol cartridge combo has to be proofed at 130% of this maximum C.I.P. pressure to certify for sale to consumers.
The SAAMI pressure limit for the .357 SIG is set at 275.80 MPa (40,000 psi), piezo pressure.[7]

Conversions

Left to right: .357 SIG, 10 mm Auto, .40 S&W

Most .40 S&W pistols can be converted to .357 SIG by replacing the barrel, but sometimes the recoil spring must be changed as well. Pistols with especially strong recoil springs can accept either cartridge with a barrel change. Magazines will freely interchange between the two cartridges in most pistols. .357 SIG barrel kits have allowed this cartridge to gain in popularity among handgun owners. However, the .357 SIG is loaded to higher pressures than the .40 S&W (the C.I.P. and the SAAMI pressure limits for .40 S&W are 225 MPa and 35,000 psi), and may not be suitable for use in all .40 S&W-chambered pistols due to the increase in bolt thrust.

Performance

The table below shows common performance parameters for several .357 SIG loads. Bullet weights from 115 to 150 grains have been offered. Loads are available with energies from 488 (ft•lbf) to over 568 (ft•lbf), and penetration depths from 9 inches to over 16.5 inches are available for various applications and risk assessments. The Marshall and Sanow "one-shot stop" rating varies from 85% for the 150 grain JHP which produces a ballistic pressure wave of 621 psi to 92% for the Federal 125 grain JHP which produces a ballistic pressure wave of 854 psi. The average incapacitation times (estimated for a 170 lb male shot in the center of the chest) vary from 6.6 to 8.8 seconds.

Manufacturer Load Mass (grains) Velocity (ft/s) Energy (ft•lbf) Expansion (inches)[8] Penetration (inches) [8] BPW[9] (psi) PC[8] (cu in) TSC[8] (cu in) OSS[8] AIT[9] (sec)
Triton Quik-Shok 115 1425 518 frag 9.0 1100 4.1 43.2 (est) 90% 6.6
Winchester Ranger T 125 1385 532 0.75 11.5 884 5.1 45.0 (est) 90% 7.4
Federal Premium JHP 125 1430 568 0.62 12.7 854 3.8 49.5 (est) 92% 7.5
Speer Gold Dot JHP 125 1385 532 0.68 16.5 616 6.0 45.0 (est) 91% 8.8
Remington JHP 125 1350 506 0.57 14.3 676 3.6 41.7 (est) 89% 8.5
Federal Premium JHP 150 1210 488 0.60 15.0 621 4.2 39.4 (est) 85% 8.8

Key: Expansion – expanded bullet diameter (ballistic gelatin). Penetration – penetration depth (ballistic gelatin). BPW – ballistic pressure wave associated with remote wounding effects known as hydrostatic shock. PC – permanent cavity volume (ballistic gelatin, FBI method). TSC – temporary stretch cavity volume (ballistic gelatin). OSS – Marshall and Sanow “one-shot stop” rating. AIT – Average incapacitation time, time from unobstructed hit in the center of the chest until incapacitation for 170 lb male as determined from ballistic pressure wave model.

Because of its relatively high velocity[10] for a handgun round, the .357 SIG has a very flat trajectory, extending the effective range. However, it does not quite reach the performance of the .357 Magnum with bullets heavier than 125 grains (8.1 g). Offsetting this general slight disadvantage in performance is that semi-automatic pistols tend to carry considerably more ammunition than revolvers.

The Virginia State Police has reported that attacking dogs have been stopped dead in their tracks by a single shot, whereas the former subsonic 147 grain 9 mm duty rounds would require multiple shots to incapacitate the animals.[11] The energy available in the .357 SIG is sufficient for imparting hydrostatic shock with well designed bullets.[2][3][12] Recent publication of human autopsy results has demonstrated brain hemorrhaging from fatal hits to the chest with 9mm bullets.[4]

The bottleneck shape of the .357 SIG cartridge makes feeding problems almost non-existent.[citation needed] This is because the bullet is channeled through the larger chamber before being seated entirely as the slide goes into full battery. Flat point bullets are seldom used with other autoloader platforms because of feeding problems; however, such bullets are commonly seen in the .357 SIG chambering and are quite reliable, as are hollow-point bullets.

One disadvantage of the .357 SIG is that it fires a .355" bullet at higher velocities than most bullets of that caliber are designed for.[citation needed] Very few bullets have been designed specifically for the .357 SIG, and .357 Magnum bullets that are designed for the same velocity range cannot be used due to their slightly larger diameter. Because of this, there are fewer ammunition choices in .357 SIG than one might expect for a cartridge using .355" bullets. Another interesting point is since the 9mm luger comes in various ammunition loads, some ballistic tests have shown that the 9mm can duplicate or even outperform the .357 SIG in expansion and penetration power.[citation needed] Heavier 9mm loads like the 147 grain can well surpass penetration and expansion when shot through ballistics gelatin and raw denim.[citation needed] The 9mm +p 124 grain has also shown this quality.[citation needed] The only difference is that the 9mm still lags the speed at which the .357 SIG travels.[citation needed] This is why the 9mm's popularity in law enforcement has still gone unchanged in most states for its low recoil, low cost, and unmatched performance by any other medium cartridge.[citation needed]

Another potential drawback of the .357 SIG is its somewhat harsh treatment of pistols that are not designed to handle its high pressure that coupled to its case head area yields a high bolt thrust[13] for a semi-automatic service handgun cartridge. Firing .357 SIG through modified pistols that were originally designed to fire the .40 S&W can accelerate wear.

The "Accurate Powder" reloading manuals claims that it is "without a doubt the most ballistically consistent handgun cartridge we have ever worked with."[7]

Characteristics

The goal of the .357 SIG project was to offer a level of performance equal to the highly effective 125 grains (8.1 g) .357 Magnum load.[14][15] The .357 SIG accomplishes this with a 125 grains (8.1 g) bullet at a muzzle velociy of 1,450 feet per second (440 m/s) out of a 4 in (102 mm) barrel, which is generally identical to the velocity achieved by standard factory 125 grains (8.1 g)r .357 Magnum loads out of a 4 in (102 mm) revolver barrel.[citation needed] The .357 SIG gains extra muzzle velocity when fired from a longer barrel, like an after-market drop-in 6 in (152 mm) barrel.

With a simplistic approach to physics, recoil being directly proportional to "muzzle velocity x bullet mass" (due to conservation of momentum), the recoil of the .357 SIG is equal to or slightly less than that of the .40 S&W, and less than that of the full-power 10 mm Auto loads or the original .357 Magnum,[16] Handgun Recoil table as well as Federal and.[17] This simple approach to recoil is only part of the story as it is not only the properties of the bullet that produce recoil, a more important effect is the rocket like blast of propellant gases coming out of the barrel, after the bullet leaves the muzzle, that plays a greater role in the recoil felt.[citation needed] A more accurate view on recoil is that it is proportional to the mass of all ejecta x velocity of ejecta.[18] Even so, recoil calculated in this manner is only the starting point in a comparison with the .357 Magnum cartridge, since the latter is used in a revolver, in which all the recoil energy is felt recoil, while the .357 SIG cartridge is frequently used in a semi-automatic pistol of recoil operation, in which a significant portion of the recoil energy is diverted to cycle the action.

In comparing the energy levels of premium self defense ammunition the muzzle energy of 584 ft.lbs (792 J) of the 125 grains (8.1 g) 1,450 feet per second (440 m/s) .357 SIG load is higher than either the 475 ft·lbf (644 J) generated by a 155 grains (10.0 g) 1,175 feet per second (358 m/s) Speer GoldDot .40 S&W load or the 400 ft·lbf (540 J) generated by a 180 grains (12 g) 985 feet per second (300 m/s) Speer GoldDot .40 S&W load.[19]

Like the 10 mm Auto, the .357 SIG can be down-loaded to reduce recoil, to the point where recoil is similar to that of a 9x19mm Parabellum. However, since the .357 SIG uses bullets that are generally the same as those used in the 9 mm Para,[20] downloading it to this point would defeat the purpose of having the SIG cartridge in the first place, as recoil and ballistics would be identical to the less-powerful 9 mm cartridge.

Because the .357 SIG fires at relatively high pressures, muzzle flash and noise are significant with standard loads, even with longer barrels. Utilizing loads with specialized powders and experimenting with different bullet weights can reduce flash.

Oblique view of a .357 SIG FMJ cartridge.

Implementation

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The SIG-Sauer P229 in .357 SIG is currently one of the standard issue firearms carried by special agents and Uniformed Division officers of the United States Secret Service, the Bureau of Industry and Security, the Bastrop County, Texas, Sheriff's Office, Delaware State Police, Rhode Island State Police, Alameda County Sheriff's Office, Virginia State Police, Federal Air Marshals, Montana Highway Patrol, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. The Pennsylvania Game Commission replaced the .357 Mag. with the .357 SIG. In most cases, it has replaced 10 mm, .40 S&W and 9 mm loads. In 1995, the Texas Highway Patrol became the first government agency to implement the .357 SIG. The Tennessee Highway Patrol presently issues the Glock 31 pistol chambered in .357 SIG. The Mississippi Highway Patrol issues a special Mississippi model of the Glock 31 Generation 4 with their logo engraved on the weapon.[21][22] The Bedford Heights Police Department in Ohio currently issues the Glock 31/32/33. The Elloree Police Department in South Carolina Elloree Police also issues the Glock 31, .357 SIG and the Madison Police Department in Madison, WV issues the Glock 32 in .357 SIG. The Lexington Police Department in North Carolina issues the Sig P229 DAK in .357 Sig. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol issues the SIG-Sauer P226 in .357 SIG. The Paramus Police Department in New Jersey also issues the SIG P226 in .357 SIG. The West Grove Borough Police Department, West Grove PA, also carry the SIG-Sauer P226 in the .357 SIG caliber. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol uses Smith & Wesson M&P's chambered in .357 SIG The Herculaneum Police Department in Herculaneum, Missouri uses the P226 and P229 in .357 SIG

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "C.I.P. decisions, texts and tables - free current C.I.P. CD-ROM version download (ZIP and RAR format)". http://www.cip-bp.org/index.php?id=tdcc-telechargement. Retrieved 2008-10-17. 
  2. ^ a b Michael Courtney; Amy Courtney (2008). "Scientific Evidence for Hydrostatic Shock". arXiv:0803.3051 [physics.med-ph]. 
  3. ^ a b Sturtevant B, Shock Wave Effects in Biomechanics, Sadhana, 23: 579-596, 1998.
  4. ^ a b Krasja, J. Příčiny vzniku perikapilárních hemoragií v mozku při střelných poraněních (The causes of peripheral hemorrhages in the brain due to firearm injuries), Institute of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic, 2009.
  5. ^ 357 SIG handload reliability...controlling headspace By Joseph D'Alessandro Editor RealGuns.Com
  6. ^ The return of the giant .357 Headspace Part I By Joseph D'Alessandro Editor RealGuns.Com
  7. ^ a b ".357 SIG" data from Accurate Powder. Accessed 2009-06-09. Archived 2009-06-11.
  8. ^ a b c d e Marshall and Sanow, Stopping Power, Paladin 2001, p. 75.
  9. ^ a b From model in Courtney A, Courtney M: Links between traumatic brain injury and ballistic pressure waves originating in the thoracic cavity and extremities. Brain Injury 21(7): 657–662, 2007.
  10. ^ Ballistics By The Inch .357Sig results
  11. ^ Ayoob, Massad. (2002). The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery, 5th edition: Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87349-485-7
  12. ^ Courtney A, Courtney M: Links between traumatic brain injury and ballistic pressure waves originating in the thoracic cavity and extremities. Brain Injury 21(7): 657-662, 2007.
  13. ^ "A Look at Bolt Lug Strength By Dan Lilja". Archived from the original on 2009-04-19. http://www.webcitation.org/5g9ssS85o. Retrieved 2009-03-17. 
  14. ^ recorded results in Street Stoppers pg 173 .357 Magnum and Handgun Stopping Power by Marshall & Sanow
  15. ^ Michael Courtney; Amy Courtney (2007). "Relative incapacitation contributions of pressure wave and wound channel in the Marshall and Sanow data set". arXiv:physics/0701266 [physics.med-ph]. 
  16. ^ Lyman Reloading Handbook, 43rd Edition
  17. ^ Street Stoppers page 142 .357 SIG Recoil
  18. ^ http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=69535
  19. ^ Midway USA page
  20. ^ Lyman Reloading Handbook, 48th edition, 2002, Lyman Products Corp.
  21. ^ New Glock 31, .357 Testing & Evaluation
  22. ^ Mississippi Highway Patrol logo on Glock 31 Generation 4

External links

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