[Eric in the Ozarks]

I am thinking that Sig will be my next handgun. What are the advantages to this new .357 Sig round vs .40 cal ?

[bandleader]

I think that you'll find that the .40S&W is a better load,not to mention the fact that ALL manufacturers make pistols chambered for .40S&W!

[Mulder]

I am thinking that Sig will be my next handgun. What are the advantages to this new .357 Sig round vs .40 cal ?

Recoil is slightly snappier with the .357 Sig, and it's significantly louder at the range, which is a moot point with proper hearing protection.

I think the 357 Sig round has slighlty more energy than the .40 caliber round, but both are effective defense rounds. Personally, I prefer the 357 Sig.

The really cool thing is you can get one and switch to the other caliber by replacing the barrel ($150), which can be done in about 15 seconds. If you get the 226 or 229, you can also use the same magazines for both calibers. If you go with the 239, you'll need a separate mag for each caliber.

[donmeaker]

The sig .357 im most loadings has the same powder, so it is about as difficult to shoot as the .40, but makes a smaller hole at the target end. That is an advantage in the game of target shooting, but a disadvantage in practical/tactical shooting. Given penetration to the vitals, compare the area of the round to compare likelihood of hitting something important. Both rounds will have the same expansion ratio in properly designed bullets. The larger caliber gives you an edge. Beyond 800 fps, higher velocity (against human targets) only helps extend range.

If you are interested in hunting with the pistol, consider looking at the 10mm, it is one of the few pistol rounds that is useful for hunting. Aside from that, you get pushed to revolvers, where the .45 Colt, .44 Mag, .41 Mag, and .357 Mag are useful hunting rounds. The .44 Special, .41 Special (rare), and .38 special each pair nicely for self defense rounds with the same revolver. The .45 Colt is a great hunting and self defense round, the single best revolver round ever developed, imho. The .45 ACP was intended as its ballistic equivalent, and is darn close to it in capability. I would recommend, unless you are recoil shy a sig in .45, over any lesser caliber.

No, I don't believe the Marshall and Sanow books. Each subsequent book that comes out from that pair contradicts the previous book, in a way that can not be accounted for by added data. I also have enough statistical insight to know that their methodology is bogus, finding far too much agreement with a predetermined theory than is likely against a complex and varied target population. My conclusion is that they are very successful liars.

[JoeGar]

I love my Sig P-229. It is easy to conceal and fires the .357 Sig round. I like its safety -- the trigger. Don't pull the trigger and it won't fire. I keep a round chambered in mine since it can fire double-action -- ready-to-go. The .357 Sig round is more expensive and harder to find than the .40 cal round though. My gun range carries the ammo but most country stores do not.

[Mad Dawg]

What's better about 357 Sig? (It's not all THAT new a round.) I'm not going to get into that controversy. Not smart enough. Here's one discussion that's really good:
Sig Forum
(I hope these links work), and here's another:
Tactical Forums

I like shooting the round. It's not cheap.