Best .357 SIG Ammo
Compare loads for defense, target, competition & more
The .357 SIG is a bottleneck pistol cartridge developed in 1994 by SIG Sauer and Federal. It was designed to duplicate .357 Magnum ballistics in a semi-automatic pistol. The cartridge necks down a 10mm Auto case to hold a 9mm (.355") bullet, pushing a 125-grain projectile to 1,350-1,450 fps from a 4-inch barrel.
Law enforcement agencies drove early adoption. The Secret Service, Texas Rangers, and numerous state highway patrols selected .357 SIG for duty use. The cartridge's consistent velocities from semi-auto actions appealed to agencies that wanted magnum-level performance without revolver limitations. The bottleneck case design also feeds more reliably than straight-wall cartridges.
For civilian shooters, .357 SIG offers genuine advantages over 9mm and .40 S&W in certain applications. The higher velocity produces flatter trajectories and better performance through intermediate barriers. The trade-offs include sharper recoil, louder report, higher ammunition costs, and limited availability compared to mainstream calibers.
All .357 SIG Loads
Compare ballistics and prices across 7 products
| PRODUCT ↕ | GRAIN ↕ | VELOCITY ↕ | ENERGY ↕ | BC ↕ | USE CASE ↕ | BEST PRICE ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Federal American Eagle .357 SIG 125gr FMJ Ammo
125gr
• 1350 fps
• Target & Range
|
125gr | 1350 | 506 | .165 | Target & Range | $1.29/rd |
|
Federal Premium HST .357 SIG 125gr JHP Ammo
125gr
• 1360 fps
• Self-Defense
|
125gr | 1360 | 513 | .15 | Self-Defense | $2.37/rd |
|
Fiocchi Range Dynamics .357 SIG 124gr FMJTC Ammo
124gr
• 1350 fps
• Target & Range
|
124gr | 1350 | 502 | .162 | Target & Range | $0.96/rd |
|
Hornady Custom .357 SIG 147gr XTP JHP Ammo
147gr
• 1225 fps
• Self-Defense
|
147gr | 1225 | 490 | .212 | Self-Defense | $1.79/rd |
|
Speer Gold Dot .357 SIG 125gr JHP Ammo
125gr
• 1350 fps
• Self-Defense
|
125gr | 1350 | 506 | .148 | Self-Defense | $0.97/rd |
|
Speer Lawman .357 SIG 125gr TMJ Ammo
125gr
• 1350 fps
• Target & Range
|
125gr | 1350 | 506 | .163 | Target & Range | $0.84/rd |
|
Winchester USA .357 SIG 125gr FMJ Ammo
125gr
• 1350 fps
• Target & Range
|
125gr | 1350 | 506 | .165 | Target & Range | $0.92/rd |
.357 SIG Trajectory Calculator
Calculate drop, velocity, and energy at any range
Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros
- Matches .357 Magnum velocities (1,350-1,450 fps) in a semi-auto platform
- Bottleneck case feeds more reliably than straight-wall designs
- Flatter trajectory than 9mm or .40 S&W at typical pistol distances
- Better barrier penetration than most service cartridges
- Proven track record with multiple law enforcement agencies
- Available in common platforms like Glock 31/32/33 and SIG P226/P229
Cons
- Sharper recoil than 9mm makes follow-up shots more difficult
- Ammunition costs roughly 50% more than 9mm
- Limited selection at most retailers compared to popular calibers
- Louder muzzle blast, especially indoors
- Fewer pistol options than 9mm or .40 S&W
- Barrel life may be shorter due to higher operating pressures