M&P.357 vs .40?

A

ARV

New member
So I’m thinking of buying a compact M&P in either .357 sig or .40...any thoughts? Plan on going to S&W to try out both within the next week or so. I've also read conflicting reports on the Mass compliant triggers. Some have said it feels (to them) to be smoother and more positive even going as far as to recommend having it installed, others have reported hating the 10lb pull. Living in lovely ol' Mass I don’t have much choice in the matter. If I do end up liking the gun enough after trying it out, I can always have the Performance center run a trigger job on it, although they did tell me they would NOT change out the springs for me after purchase, and doing so would void the warranty. I’m about 90% sure I’m going to buy it, now it’s mostly down to the caliber...
 
Having fired both, I believe I would go with the 40. 40S&W ammo is so much more available, affordable and controllable. I cannot however speak intelligently about the effectiveness of the rounds comparitively.
 
Unless your mind is already made up as to caliber, have you checked out the M&P9mm? After looking at the cost of 357sig and availability, and the cost of the 40 caliber ammo just for practicing could run you a fortune if you don't reload yourself. I own the M&P9 and it has all the power you need, and with the cost difference in ammo you could buy another pistol in a couple of months if you shoot much. 20.00+ per box of 40 vs 12.00+ per box of 9 vs 30.00+ to 50.00+ per box of .357sig. And you can always get 9mm ammo.:pleasantry:
 
THE DUKE OF ESSEX said:
Unless your mind is already made up as to caliber, have you checked out the M&P9mm? After looking at the cost of 357sig and availability, and the cost of the 40 caliber ammo just for practicing could run you a fortune if you don't reload yourself. I own the M&P9 and it has all the power you need, and with the cost difference in ammo you could buy another pistol in a couple of months if you shoot much. 20.00+ per box of 40 vs 12.00+ per box of 9 vs 30.00+ to 50.00+ per box of .357sig. And you can always get 9mm ammo.:pleasantry:
Click to expand...

The M&P 9c is my carry gun. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!
 
I will have to cast a vote for the M&P40c. Have one and love it. Plenty of defense ammo choices with great stopping power in that caliber.
Target ammo if you shop at Wal-Mart, is about ¢50 more per 50 round box than the 9mm so cost is not really a big issue for practice. It conceals great in a CrossBreed SuperTuck with shorts and a tee-shirt. It's the same price as the 9mm, but .40 S&W has better ballistic performance... The .357sig ammo is harder to locate and will cost more.

Link Removed

Don't worry about the trigger, that can be fixed. I have done the "adjustment" to both my M&P45 and the 40c and have smooth 6lb trigger pulls. A good gunsmith can rework it easily.

Just my opinion.

Where in MA may I ask? Use Private Message if you would rather not post location in open forum.

Peace...
 
Buy the .40 and check with Bar-Sto or one of the other pistol barrel makers and buy a .357 Sig barrel for it and have it fitted by your local gunsmith. That way, you have both calibers available.

The rim diameters of both rounds are the same (so no extractor change should be needed), so all you need to do is change barrels and MAYBE (but I doubt it) recoil springs. The .40 mags should feed the .357 Sig ammo, too, since it's just a .40 round necked down to take a 9mm bullet.
 
kn1080, yes I do reload myself, been doing it for years in .38spl & .45. It’s half the fun of going to the target range for me. I only have a single stage press, so a box of 50 .38's runs me about an hour to make, but while some people might sit down and read to relax, I occasionally indulge in an hour or two of reloading. As to 9mm...I’ve shot many over the years, and this is just personal opinion, I didn’t like them that much. I would love to have one of the Kel-tec 9's, esp. for the summer. But as you all know, the Kremlin has dictated that all guns must pass the scrutiny of the KGB. Those Kel-tecs might be too "unsafe" for us consumers :sarcastic:

6shootercarry I actually checked out the CrossBreed the other day on the website. Right now I carry my .38 in the small of my back, or in the winter a shoulder rig when a change seems in order. The crossbreed looks very appealing, that extra bit of leather protecting my back from the hammer spur. The only issue I have with having the trigger re-worked is that S&W told me in no uncertain terms that doing so immediately voids the warranty.
 
ARV said:
kn1080, yes I do reload myself, been doing it for years in .38spl & .45. It’s half the fun of going to the target range for me. I only have a single stage press, so a box of 50 .38's runs me about an hour to make, but while some people might sit down and read to relax, I occasionally indulge in an hour or two of reloading. As to 9mm...I’ve shot many over the years, and this is just personal opinion, I didn’t like them that much. I would love to have one of the Kel-tec 9's, esp. for the summer. But as you all know, the Kremlin has dictated that all guns must pass the scrutiny of the KGB. Those Kel-tecs might be too "unsafe" for us consumers :sarcastic:

6shootercarry I actually checked out the CrossBreed the other day on the website. Right now I carry my .38 in the small of my back, or in the winter a shoulder rig when a change seems in order. The crossbreed looks very appealing, that extra bit of leather protecting my back from the hammer spur. The only issue I have with having the trigger re-worked is that S&W told me in no uncertain terms that doing so immediately voids the warranty.
Click to expand...

The SuperTuck works well with the M&P compact. The other holster guy I like for custom stuff is Gary Brommeland. Not as cheap as the Crossbreed, but great design and comfort.
Holsters Concealment Systems Gunleather Concealed Carry for Weapons

Yes it will void the warranty. I took mine to the range and popped about 100 rounds through it looking for any issues. Found none so I took it home and took it apart. I have this insatiable urge to see how things work at the detailed level.:biggrin:

Peace..
 
jtg452 said:
Buy the .40 and check with Bar-Sto or one of the other pistol barrel makers and buy a .357 Sig barrel for it and have it fitted by your local gunsmith. That way, you have both calibers available.

The rim diameters of both rounds are the same (so no extractor change should be needed), so all you need to do is change barrels and MAYBE (but I doubt it) recoil springs. The .40 mags should feed the .357 Sig ammo, too, since it's just a .40 round necked down to take a 9mm bullet.
Click to expand...

The magazine for the M&P40c is marked for both .357sig and 40S&W...

Hummmm. Food for thought... I'll ask the smith I know...

Peace...
 
I know on my Sig P229, the mags work for both the .357sig and the .40sw , I just need to swap out the barrel...

As far as caliber vote, I would agree to go with .40SW.... I have both and really do like the .357sig. As mentioned, its more expensive , especially in good defensive stuff. Also, it has been my experience that the .457sig has the same problem as the .357 magnum in that it produces excess muzzle flash, which aint good in a low light shooting situation.
 
I have the 40c my wife has the 9c. We love them both. I too thought about the 357. I decided to get the 357 drop barrel, probably the one from Storm Lake. Its only a hundred bucks or so and I figure with all the range time we will put in its worth the price. I'll probably even get the 9mm drop barrel just to shoot cheaper ammo. It beats buying more guns. The 40 mags will work and no other parts need to be replaced, just change the ammo out. I wanted the 357 for our hiking trips (live in Fresno, close to National Forests). The 40 cal will be my everyday carry and the 9mm can be my range ammo. Currently paying $11-$13 for 9mm, 40 cal is costing me between $15-$26. I think 357 is more than that. So it can cost me a bit. Trying to keep it real.
 
jibbster said:
I know on my Sig P229, the mags work for both the .357sig and the .40sw , I just need to swap out the barrel...

As far as caliber vote, I would agree to go with .40SW.... I have both and really do like the .357sig. As mentioned, its more expensive , especially in good defensive stuff. Also, it has been my experience that the .457sig has the same problem as the .357 magnum in that it produces excess muzzle flash, which aint good in a low light shooting situation.
Click to expand...

I would think at that caliber it would create quite a flash...:sarcastic:

Sorry I noted the typo and had to "go there"... It's all good...:biggrin:

Yea I have to agree. I love my .357 revolver, but the muzzle flash is bright and large.

For me it was a choice between a .380auto (which for me is kinda not enough) and the 40S&W. My local dealer bought the one I have now, back from a guy who was moving out of state (to NY I was told) and had to leave it behind. Only 100-150 rounds through it! He made me a sweet deal on the 40c and because I had the M&P45 full size already and loved it, the decision was made easier.

Peace...
 
6,

Here's something that will save you some leg work.:biggrin:

Midway is listing having a factory Smith and Wesson M&P .357 Sig barrel @ a heart stopping $77.99 as in stock at the moment. It's Midway part number 339103.

I don't know if the same weight recoil spring is used on both the .357 Sig and the .40 S&W (they may be the same for all I know and it is possible they are) but, other that having the second barrel fitted to the gun, that's the only other minor obstacle I see in setting your gun up to be convertible between the two calibers.

Oh, the smitty you use shouldn't charge you an arm and a leg for fitting the barrel. Most likely, it's semi fitted already and should only take a little tweaking to get it to function in your particular gun.
 
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