[RedboneCH]

I would like to know from persons with first hand experience how the .357 Sig (G32) compares to the .45 ACP (G30s). I have no local ranges to test the G32. I am interested in the G32 for many reasons, but simply would like the input from others.

Cost of this round has come down over past few years and supply has increased. Also there are the conversion barrels in the .40 and 9mm. Lone Wolff and Storm Lake and Glock Store's Diamond. Thanks in advance.

 

[GunQuest]

G32 is a fantastic gun and a great round in the .357 sig. It fits my hand way better than the G30s
G30s is thicker and did not fit my hand well. Ymmv
The .357 round has an excellent reputation on the street.
I have ballistic gel tested my G33 and the Underwood 125gr Gold dot bullet penetrated to 19 1/2" with full expansion .584". The Corbon DPX 125 gr penetrated to 17" with excellent expansion .680
The standard Speer gold dot has an excellent reputation as well in .357SIg
I carry the G33 with Corbon DPX
The .357 is louder and snappier than the .45. You would be well armed with either model. I forgot to mention I owned both. I now no longer own the G30s. I carried the G32 for YEARS until NY restricted round limits on us and now it's the G33

 

[WeeWilly]

Here you go.

http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

Use 230gr for the 45 bullet and 125gr for the 357SIG bullet. Use 900fps for the 45 and 1330fps for the 357SIG. Use 6.5grs of powder for the 45 load and 9.0grs for the 357SIG. You can get the weight of the guns from the Glock website, not exact but at least in the ballpark.

 

[Mike-M]

In pistols of similar size and mass, a reasonable comparison of relative recoil may be made by comparing the muzzle momentum...i.e, the "power factor" which is equal to bullet weight (gr) times muzzle velocity (ft/s) divided by 1000.

Example:

Underwood 125gr JHP. 357SIG from G32 (1485 ft/s) yields PF=186, muzzle energy=612 ft-lbf.

Buffalo Bore 230gr JHP .45ACP +P from G30S (928 ft/s) yields PF=213, muzzle energy=440 ft-lbf.

CONCLUSION: The heavy-load 357SIG round from a G32 produces much greater bullet energy, significantly lower recoil, and flatter trajectory due to much higher velocity than does the heavy-load .45ACP round from the G30S. Similar results will be found in every comparable case of .357SIG vs. .45ACP.

 

[OBG17]

Willy, thanks for the site. I've been considering a G32 or G31 so let me ask this. Based on the values you provided, the .45 ACP has a recoil value of 1.03 the .357 Sig's is .90. Yet the site states "The numbers calculated here do not relate to "felt recoil." Felt recoil is different for each person, what is excessive for me might not be for you and vice versa." Which, as we know, means that "felt recoil" is highly subjective. In terms of "felt recoil," how much snappier is the G31 vs. my G21 or the G32 vs. my G30.

 

[Steve in Az]

LOVE the .357 Sig, wish it had a bigger following.

 

[WeeWilly]

Willy, thanks for the site. I've been considering a G32 or G31 so let me ask this. Based on the values you provided, the .45 ACP has a recoil value of 1.03 the .357 Sig's is .90. Yet the site states "The numbers calculated here do not relate to "felt recoil." Felt recoil is different for each person, what is excessive for me might not be for you and vice versa." Which, as we know, means that "felt recoil" is highly subjective. In terms of "felt recoil," how much snappier is the G31 vs. my G21 or the G32 vs. my G30.

Personally, I think the recoil of the SIG is sharper feeling, the 45 Auto more of a push a longer cycle.

Felt recoil is a very puzzling and individual thing. I can take the same exact gun, load it to the exact same velocity with two different powders, one low flash and relatively lower report and one big flash and concussive report and people will swear up and down the big flash load is a LOT more recoil.

If you are comparing two very different guns with the same numbers, things like bore axis, grip size and shape, whether the gun is optimally sprung all will make a pretty big difference in felt recoil.

The only thing that seems to be consistent is the more you shoot the less recoil plays a role in what you think about a gun or caliber. Focus starts to move to what are the sights doing?

 

[Lil]

LOVE the .357 Sig, wish it had a bigger following.

It seems when people want something more than 45/40/9, they gravitate toward 10mm - which takes the wind from 357Sig sails.

Personally, I think the recoil of the SIG is sharper feeling, the 45 Auto more of a push a longer cycle.

Agree.

 

[07amf]

Having shot both, I would go with the 32. The recoil was less and it fits better in the hand.

The 30 was the worst recoiling 45 I have shot. It is nowhere near as soft shooting as the full size 21.

 

[Church Key]

I have a G20 (10mm) with LW .357 and .40 barrels. Shoot all three calibers. Had a G20 (.45) for many years and sold it in a moment of stupidity. Anyhow, the only ammo/caliber that gives me any recoil issues is the 10mm Underwood 180 gr. solids that are snappy and jamb up regularly.

The .45 is somewhat softer to me than the 10mm, but not enough to worry me. I shoot a 1911 in Wild Bunch competition and don't notice the recoil. The .357 is about the same to me as hot .40's, again no big deal or difference. The .357 seems to be the most accurate of the bunch and I'll probably get some dies and load it. Been using Freedom Munitions factory reloads which are kind of wussy (e.g., 1271 fps), but work OK and are cheap. I currently load all the others for heavier loads.

The bulk of my shooting is in competition (CAS, WB, and IDPA) and I concern myself worrying more about being able to move OK (I'm 79) than gun recoil.

 

[HauntedAlabama]

I own a 32 and a 30 both Gen4. To me the G30 is a soft shooter. I sold my Gen 3 32 that I carried for years when I ordered the Gen 4 model. I enjoyed shooting the Gen 3 but I haven't enjoyed the Gen 4 as much as I thought I would. The grip bites into my hand and the dual spring doesn't negate the recoil as much as I thought it would.

 

[GunQuest]

I own a 32 and a 30 both Gen4. To me the G30 is a soft shooter. I sold my Gen 3 32 that I carried for years when I ordered the Gen 4 model. I enjoyed shooting the Gen 3 but I haven't enjoyed the Gen 4 as much as I thought I would. The grip bites into my hand and the dual spring doesn't negate the recoil as much as I thought it would.

Get an Agrip for your 32. It will put the joy back into shooting it. Best thing I ever did for my G32

 

[mboylan]

In pistols of similar size and mass, a reasonable comparison of relative recoil may be made by comparing the muzzle momentum...i.e, the "power factor" which is equal to bullet weight (gr) times muzzle velocity (ft/s) divided by 1000.

Example:

Underwood 125gr JHP. 357SIG from G32 (1485 ft/s) yields PF=186, muzzle energy=612 ft-lbf.

Buffalo Bore 230gr JHP .45ACP +P from G30S (928 ft/s) yields PF=213, muzzle energy=440 ft-lbf.

CONCLUSION: The heavy-load 357SIG round from a G32 produces much greater bullet energy, significantly lower recoil, and flatter trajectory due to much higher velocity than does the heavy-load .45ACP round from the G30S. Similar results will be found in every comparable case of .357SIG vs. .45ACP.

...and a smaller wound channel. Energy just doesn't produce practical results (hydrostatic shock) until you get into the 1200 - 1500 fp range.

 

[Joco34]

While I love my G21 and G19 my next Glock purchase will be the G32. Same size as the G19 with more punch than the G21. My G31 has less recoil IMO than the same weapon with a 40S&W barrel and more accurate. The G21 is perhaps my most accurate Glock for me but it's a duty gun for Short chubby me.

 

[clarkstoncz]

I've had a G30 (soft shooter) and a G36 (snappy) and 3 of the
Glock .357s.
http://s204.photobucket.com/user/czrami/library/DOUBLE TAP 357 SIG?sort=3&page=1
The Glocks (and M&P357C) were nicer to shoot than the G36.

We only sold our .357 SIGs due to the fact that we couldn't find
any practice ammo online or locally.

Miss the awesome power and terrrific accuracy, though.

9mm and .45 don't compare, and the Glock 10mms kick too hard.

 

[TRIGGER_1]

When I use the .357 Sig barrel in my G35 it shoots like a laser beam....

 

[Rocky7]

Had a 33 and a 30s, recoil as described as felt impulse vs sharp vs longer push. Unlike most I prefer a fast lift, the slower and longer push seemed to delay acquisition for me as plate rack times were slightly faster with the 33....4.1 with the G33 vs 4.3 with the 30s.

 

[GRR]

Shooting 147 HST in 9 vs 180 HST in 40 and 230 HST in 45 in my 19, 23 and 30s respectively, I can't really feel any noticeable difference in recoil.

 

[DSRTEAGLE357]

why not a 45 GAP if you want to compare to a . 45 ACP i would think this would be a better comparison than 357 SIG. just curious

 

[GRR]

why not a 45 GAP if you want to compare to a . 45 ACP i would think this would be a better comparison than 357 SIG. just curious

The OP mentions an interest in 357 sig, not 45 GAP.