[xrp]

I currently have a Glock 17 9x19 pistol and was wondering if anyone had any opinions on the Sig Pro 2009 or 2340.

Also, I've only shot 9mm and .357 (.357 out of a S&W revolver). I'd also like to hear pros/cons on 9mm vs .40 S&W vs .357SIG rounds.

Thanks for anyone's help!

[Lauretij2]

I have a Sig Pro 2340 with a .357 Sig barrel in it. I have both barrels, but prefer the 357.

The only real downsides are that they 12 round mags are a little harder to come by than say Glocks. You can get them, but most (if not all) will have the AWB 'leo only' stamps on them.

Also, the plastic finishing is easy to mark up. I tried cleaning it with Q-tips once, and it basically wiped away some of the stipled finish on the frame.

Other than that, I love it. Never had a misfire at all, very accurate.

[de Buillion]

Speaking only of various calibers, .357 is one of the most lethal personal defense choices. It has to be in a revolver. 9MM is good for practice. .40 S&W and .357 Sig are excellent choices for self defense. I believe that "felt" recoil is about the same, and OK for ladies. The TX DPS uses .357 Sig. They were using .45ACP, and declared that .357Sig was more effective. I personally would not count on a 9MM to save my life. Hope this helps.

[paul51]

Before you purchase, check the Sig classics. If you like the size of the 17, maybe the P229. You can get it in .40 or .357 Sig and switch out the barrels and shoot either with the pistol. If you like a larger model, see the P226 in .357 Sig / .40 (barrel can be switched on this one also or the P220 (.45). I'm not very familiar with the Pro line because I'm partial to metal frames but you won't go wrong with any Sig. I'm also no big fan of the 9mm but again, just personal preference. I take one when I travel because I figure no matter what, I will always be able to find plenty of ammo if necessary. I have 9mm, .357 Sig. .40 and .45. Out of all, I prefer shooting the .357Sig

[7thOF7th]

I'm a big fan of the Colt 1911 with 230 grain rounds. In close quarters, it packs the punch required. Anything outside 30 meters I'm going to a long rifle.

[Myrddin]

Glock 23 is a fine .40 S&W. You can swap a .357 Sig barrel into the slide and use the same magazine. A two for one deal. I acquired a Glock 23C with a replacement Jarvis barrel after the first owner tried to remove a squib with an electric drill. The Jarvis barrel fully supports the case head so you can reload the brass. Normally you don't reload brass fired from a Glock factory barrel as the extra relief of the feed ramp permits the case head to balloon slightly.

[BigCinBigD]

LOL
Since the week of Christmas I have bought a Smith and Wesson 9mm Sigma. A Kel-Tec .380 and a Glock model 30 .45 ACP for concealed carry.

Since then I traded the Kel-Tec to a friend for a 20 year Smith and Wesson model 586. A beautiful old revolver.
AND there's a gun show tomorrow! Two miles from my house.
:)

[IYellAtMyTV]

Recently had the same dilemma, and ended up with a Glock 22 (.40 S&W).

Probably the biggest consideration would be what your planned use is. I was looking for a good CQC weapon ie: home defense - distances to 12 yds. I have several 9's and a 1911 A1. My reason for the .40 was, it had similar ballistics to the .45, but (especially with the Glock's low barrel position) was much softer shooting, meaning quicker back on target and the wife is MUCH happier putting in time at the range!

I like the .40/.45 not only for the stopping power, but with relatively slow (850-900 fps) rounds I worry less about 'over penetration'.

I've seen 9's (1000 to 1200 fps) blow right through 'targets', walls behind them, and through the neighbors wall. Also, it may take considerably more shots to accomplish a put-down, and this is with frangible rounds.

As for the .357SIG (1300 + fps), I really like them for outdoors (urban combat) situations. Powerful and flat shooting, it would be my choice for 50+ yds. or targets through car doors, etc. The down side is pretty sharp recoil, and the above mentioned over-penetration when in a home defense situation.

Also, Lauretij2 mentioned problems with the finish on the SIG Pro, I know of two people at my club with the same problem. Doesn't seem to affect the performance of the weapon, but looks crappy.

Hope this is some help, but then you know the one about a**holes and opinions... ;-)

[MyDogAllah]

In a 9mm, there are very few weapons better than your Glock 17. High capacity, extremely reliable, and a proven design. With proper ammo, performance comes close to .45acp.

If you absolutely, positively must have the newest and perhaps best 9mm out there, check out the brand spanking new Smith & Wesson MP or M&P. This pistol might possibly be the start of a new generation in plastic nines. I won't spend my money on it, or any other 9mm, but if you're on the lane next to me at the range, I might just be really nice to you and ask if I can put a mag-full downrange.

.357 sig was an advertising gimmick. Nothing more. See Fackler or Roberts.

I found the recoil on .40 cals to be very sharp, no matter the platform, but you should be aware that this sensation of sharpness is very subjective and not felt by everyone.

In ballistic gelatin tests, 230 grain .45acp is still the way to go. Which gun? Depends on your budget and if you prefer single action, double action, or double action only. I prefer H&Ks, but many Americans have a very powerful fetish for Saint John Moses Browning's model 1911.

My advice? If your Glock 17 is reliable, keep it, make sure you load it with excellent quality ammo, then forget buying another pistol. Instead, use the money you saved for training. Then save up more money for more training. Then have your wife get a 2nd job, so you can afford more training. Win the lottery, so you can train every day!

Remember, there is a triad when it comes to personal defense. This consists of weapon, mindset, and training. You need all three to win a gunfight. Do NOT be deficient in any.

BTW, you do have long guns, right? A shotgun or rifle is far superior to any pistol.

[bad company]

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs9.htm

http://apollo.demigod.org/~zak/firearms/fbi-pistol.php

http://www.firearmstactical.com/hwfe.htm

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~gnappi/10fbi.htm

Start here for ammunition comparisons. I Have the glock 17. A few years back a gun magazine took a glock 17 up over 200,000 rounds in a torture test. Far beyond the life of other firearms. From the links you will see that the 9mm is an effective round, you just need to be more selective with the type of bullet to use for effective defensive use.

[Erik Latranyi]

The 1911 pistol is making a huge comeback with our military who are sick and tired of the Beretta 9mm.

Discussions with holster manufacturers indicate a large number of people are now purchasing holsters to conceal 1911-style pistols.

The old warhorse is still one of the most reliable, powerful pistols ever made.

[LibKill]

Leaving caliber alone for a moment, in my old age I am turning into a revolver man.

In my military days I was very fond of automatics. Particularly those designed by John Moses Browning.

However, even the best automatic jams every now and then.

Revolvers never jam.

[AngryJawa]

Not to muddy the waters, but if you like your Glock, you may also want to look into the Springfield XD line of pistols. Lots of calibers and barrel lengths to choose from including a new 4" .45 Auto.

[jrp]

Since you already have a Glock in 9mm, why not try something different? I recommend a Sig P229 in .40 S&W. Alloy frame, stainless slide, night sites if you'd like. Beautiful gun, very well made and accurate. The felt recoil is not bad at all. I'm not familiar with the new polymer- frame Sigs. I also have a G19 & G23. I like 'em, and admire their simplicty and ruggedness, but the Sig is a more refined weapon.

[mr_hammer]

I am going to get flamed for this, but here goes.

I am 5'6", 175lbs and find it incredibly hard to conceal my Smith 59 or 4" .45. The damn things bulge out of my suit like a tumor. I like caring my 45 with winter outer wear, but in the summer it is hard to conceal.

I picked up a Sig230 and love it! Very concealable, 7+1 in the can, accurate; hand held 6" inch groups at 50ft. Kinetic energy on the light side. No safety's just pull the trigger.

Looked at a Kel-Tec 9MM, did not like the trigger pull and seemed hard to control "for me"

The compact Glocks also seem tough to conceal because of how thick the are.

[ExSoldier]

Sig P239 SAS edition.

[joseph20]

I'd recommend the SIG classic line instead of the SIG pro. The pro line has a plastic frame, whereas the classic has an anodized aluminum frame.

On the issue of 9mm: It's an excellent self-defense round. With the proper cartridge selection, it performs just as well as the .357SIG, .40S&W, or the .45ACP.

And remember: Any miniscule difference in terminal effectiveness between the 9mm, .357SIG, .40S&W, and .45ACP is FAR OUTWEIGHED by the consideration of shot placement and accuracy.

Compared to the other three rounds, the 9mm inherently allows the shooter to more quickly re-acquire sight picture after firing. The lightness of shooting a 9mm allows for faster and more accurate shooting.

Unless you are an expert that trains once a week or more, these are important issues to consider. As a beginning shooter, you'll be much less likely to develop bad shooting habits that develop from firing the other 3 rounds. One of these bad habits is "compensation", wherein the shooter flinches thier hand downward as they pull the trigger, in an attempt to compensate for the harsh kick upwards. These sorts of problems are much less an issue with the 9mm.

There really is no justification for obtaining a .01% increase in terminal effectiveness, only in exchange for lots more muzzle kick, flash, and bang.

Additionally, the 9mm double-stack magazines can hold upwards of 17+1 rounds. The other 3 rounds mentioned cannot achieve this level of magazine capacity.

[CodeToad]

40 S&W is a popular round so you will find many manufacturers and bullet types available.

It is a great round as far as destruction of the target.

If you reload, the 40 S&W is a real easy round to load because of its straight wall construction and the loads are easy on the brass.

Recoil on a 40 is a bit rough compared to a 45 or 9mm, but it is still very controllable. I like the velocities of the 40 that are around 1100-1200fps. They shoot straight while packing a good punch from a 155gr bullet.

A Sig is a good firearm, so you really can't go wrong.

[christabel]

Is there a good .22 pistol for less than a hundred dollars?