Bullets, Bullets, Where Are The Fast Handgun Bullets....

The following are representative of factory-max loads for each caliber.

+p+ 9mm 115 grains from a 4" barrel: 1395 fps
+p+ 9mm 124 grains from a 4" barrel: 1295 fps

.357 magnum 125 grains from a 4" barrel: 1600 fps
.357 magnum 158 grains from a 4" barrel: 1400 fps

.357 Sig 115 grains from a 4" barrel: 1550 fps
.357 Sig 125 grains from a 4" barrel: 1450 fps
.357 Sig 147 grains from a 4" barrel: 1250 fps

.40 135 grains from a 4" barrel: 1375 fps
.40 155 grains from a 4" barrel: 1275 fps

Conclusions: To all who've offered that hot-loaded 9 mm's are the equal to .357 magnums, put down the wacky-weed and welcome to 2007. The wonder 9's don't giddyup like a Sig let alone a magnum. And unless you've a burning urge to go super-light with the Sig, there isn't anything it will do that a .40 caliber won't do.

The advantage of the 357 Sig over the .40 is in the proliferation of different types of bullet configurations from different manufactures, but the ballistics are very nearly a dead heat, with the slight edge to the .40.

Some like their ammunitions light and fast, others slow and heavy, and still others fast and heavy. Like the 10 mm and .357 mags. From either the 10 or the 357, 170 grain bullets can be made to travel as fast as the 9's 115 grains, and 180's as zippy as a 9's 124. And let's not even get into 200 grainers from either of the bigger boys.

And, since I haven't picked on Box O' Dimwittles for a time, my Winchester 1894 chambered in .357 magnum is the ballistic twin of any of his AK-variants. Except of course for the fact that I do not have to rely upon fmj's or old fashioned soft-points. Hell, I'd rather use a Ranger .38 +p from a carbine then pinhole someone into submission like the AK's. The understanding of this would of course lay waste to his neverending mantra of "rifle bullets are rifle bullets and handgun bullets are handgun bullets", so I'm glad he doesn't tune in to anything remotely resembling a modern treatise on ammunition and weaponry.

Circa 1950 he'd have been the cats meow.

Circa 2007 his horrid advice might be deadly.

And yes, but sorry again. The new Corvettes ARE faster than a Stutz Bearcat.