[big shrek]

For a first handgun, I usually tell folks to start with a revolver. It helps folks get used to GOOD shooting habits early.

If you start with a 9mm, You might end up bypassing .40 Short & Wimpy alltogether and going to 10mm

Although it kind of depends on how physically sizeable & strong you are as to what you can shoot comfortably.

MLN1963 is purt near dead on...I've come close to getting a Glock in .357SIG just so I could use the .40 & 9mm barrel/mags.

The reason I'd start with the .357SIG chambered pistol, is that they are made for somewhat higher pressures than the .40S&W and can easily handle 9mm+P+.

To relate that, (and this might be a bad relation, but I'll do it anyway)...you'd be firing basically .40+P+ if you bought a .40 S&W and used the .357SIG barrel/mags. I honestly don't know how many MFR's made their .40's solid enough to handle the higher pressures of the .357SIG. I WOULD ask S&W (the company itself, not the gunshop whores) how that particular pistol would perform with a .357SIG barrel swap, just to be sure that if you fired high-power loads over the LONG-TERM that the slide stops/other parts would last.

I'd rather err on the side of Safety than play with the ragged edge

Well...with SOME things...LOL...at least with Firearms

[MLN1963]

BS

I will bet you a nice cold one that only the minimum items are changed to save the all mighty dollar. Smith and Wesson would be foolish to design a frame and other components for each of the three calibers.

Yes, the 357 Sig can operate at higher SAAMI pressures than the 40 S&W but I don't think the major components of the gun are different. Yes, the barrel has to be different. I bet the slide is only different in the markings and nothing else. The recoil spring may be heavier on the M&P 357 than the M&P 40.

Glock is the original modular pistol and would be the same IMO.

[JJJ1988]

That is something for me to think about Big Shrek. The M&P 357 is harder to find and tends to be a bit pricier side though lol

[KW Gary M]

My worry about the .357 Sig is how long will it be around for? I have the same thoughts about the .45 GAP. Am I going to own a gun 10 years from now that I can't find ammo for? We know that 9MM, .40, .45ACP, .38, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum ammo will be around a lot longer than any of us. Will the ,357 Sig be as well?

[Elvis Is Dead]

Quote:       Originally Posted by KW Gary M

My worry about the .357 Sig is how long will it be around for? I have the same thoughts about the .45 GAP. Am I going to own a gun 10 years from now that I can't find ammo for? We know that 9MM, .40, .45ACP, .38, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum ammo will be around a lot longer than any of us. Will the ,357 Sig be as well?

I agree 100% with the .357 Sig not being around years from now but getting back on topic I believe a new handgunner is better with a 9MM to start. I love my .40 but it can be tough to handle and might discourage a new shooter if they miss the paper 9 out of 10 times.

[big shrek]

Quote:       Originally Posted by KW Gary M

My worry about the .357 Sig is how long will it be around for? I have the same thoughts about the .45 GAP. Am I going to own a gun 10 years from now that I can't find ammo for? We know that 9MM, .40, .45ACP, .38, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum ammo will be around a lot longer than any of us. Will the ,357 Sig be as well?

Right now there are a lot of Heavy Duty departments using .357SIG, it's not going anywhere.

Federal Air Marshalls
Secret Service
Texas H.P.
Tennessee H.P.
Virginia State Police
North Caroline S. P.
Delaware S.P
Rhode Island H.P.
And that's just the State/Federal types that I know of. LOTS of county & city depts like 'em



for MLN1963, from another thread...

Quote:      

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 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.

Those pistols made After the .357SIG came out...have a higher tendancy to survive as some MFR's figured that more folks would do the .357SIG mod...and engineered for it.

We've all heard of Guns going KABOOM because someone ran hot handloads in 'em. Same concept Just make SURE that the gun you choose can handle .357SIG by checking with the MFR...and you are set

Me, I'd start with the stronger .357SIG chambered pistol in the first place, and shoot anything I want thru it

[JJJ1988]

I emailed Smith & Wesson and asked them. I will see what they say

[MLN1963]

BS

I'm not sure why you are so dead set that the M&P 357 can't handle 357 Sig round. The 357 Sig was around long before the M&P series pistols were designed. Do you have some information that we are not privy to?

In this day of litigation first, personal accountability second and common sense non-existent I find it hard to believe that S&W or ANY firearms manufacture would risk selling a gun not up to handling the pressures of the round it's to fire.

On that note can you tell me of any gun that you have found was designed around the 357 Sig? I bet your beloved Glock is just another modular pistol with the required parts to bring out the 357 series of guns.

JJJ

Do you really think they will tell you that the M&P 357 is anything other than safe to use? If it wasn't they wouldn't sell it.

[MLN1963]

BS

In your picture it says 327 Sig but I'm sure you meant 357 Sig.

On a serious note. Why does the 357 Sig build so much more pressure than the S&W 40 when it has less case capacity and a bullet with less surface area for drag?

[Ninja Piper]

Quote:       Originally Posted by MLN1963

I bought the M&P40 specifically so I could get a 9mm conversion barrel or a stock 357 sig barrel. This opened up all the doors. Yeah, I paid $174 for a Storm Lake barrel and two S&W 17 rd magazines but when I shoot a lot the price is made up fairly quickly with 9mm being $10 a box and 40 S&W being $15 a box. Plus I can shoot whatever is available at the time. That is how I justified my purchase. You'll have to determine if that works for you.

Great idea! I've got the M&P .40 and will definitely be following your lead on that one! Around here 9mm is $11.99/50 and .40 is $12.99/50. Not much different, but they always seem to have 9mm where it is hit or miss on .40.

[deserthobbies]

I was talking to the gunsmith where I bought my M&P .40 and my 357sig barrel and we compared them both a .40 and 357.sig they are exactly the same even the slide spring. both use the same Magazine. pressures dont really matter because the 357sig barrel is designed for the 357sig pressures.

[JJJ1988]

MLN1963, What I asked them was, is it safe to shoot the 357 SIG in the M&P .40 or would it be better to get a M&P 357 sig. And here is what the reply was.

Quote:      

They are made on the same frame, the barrel conversion on the 40 is fine. PG

So I guess I will get the M&P .40 and get the 357 sig and 9mm barrel conversions for it Thank you guys for your help

[deserthobbies]

the M&P was designed to be accepted as a police and military weapon so im sure they didnt cut corners on its design. mine has proven itself both as a .40 and 357 sig. kinda like havin one of them famous ruger wheelguns with the interchangeable cylinders to fire different rounds so you can have your cake and eat it to.

[FortyXDM]

I ran every bit of data ever printed on this matter since the beginning of time thru my home soup er computer and the answer was decisive and clear:
Get the .40 and start shooting.

[Dallas Jack]

Hi, I'm a new member here and I saw this post which is the perfect place to ask my question.

I have a M&P 40c and I purchased a Storm Lake 9mm barrel along with some 9mm mags. I have assembled it but have not fired it yet. Now for the question. Is the stock 40 caliber extractor going to work with the 9mm case? I didn't think of this until I had already bought the barrel. It does hand cycle snap caps but like I said I have not fired it as a 9mm yet.

Did I waste my money or is it going to work reliably?
Thanks for any help.
Dallas Jack

[MLN1963]

DJ

I have the M&P40 full size and Storm Lake Barrel. I tried looking up the extractor number to see if they were different but I couldn't find any where that they had them listed.

I have about 300 rounds through mine and I've had ZERO problems. I use the WM Federal 9MM ammo so that is all I can speak for.

[Metronome]

Quote:       Originally Posted by KW Gary M

As you shoot more you will probably become addicted to it like most of are and you will buy more guns as you shoot more. You can always get comfortable with the 9MM and move up to a .40 or .45 later down the line. Every time I buy a new gun I tell myself that's it for 2 years and rarely make it 6 months without buying another.

Truer words were never spoken!

Premium .40 ammo is on the shelves here, but no practice FMJ ammo. The Premium 9mm stuff is inflated in price ($1.25 per round), but 9mm FMJ ammo ($13.49 per 50) is available in my usual haunts. Funny thing is Walmart constantly has .357 SIG FMJ ammo ($23.50 per 50) on hand... but nothing else.

[Metronome]

Quote:       Originally Posted by MLN1963

Smith and Wesson would be foolish to design a frame and other components for each of the three calibers. Yes, the 357 Sig can operate at higher SAAMI pressures than the 40 S&W but I don't think the major components of the gun are different.

Also remember that th M&P was designed around the .40 S&W and .357 SIG rounds, since the LE market was where they were aiming. Not to mention, I am more than positive they took into account that agencies that issue 9mm's frequently use +P and +P+ loads, which generate even more pressure than the larger cartridges.

[Dallas Jack]

MLN1963, thanks for the info. I'll give mine a try.
Dallas Jack