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.357 SIG isn’t Dead

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The .357 SIG cartridge offers some rather compelling advantages for serious use… particularly in law enforcement, self-defense, and other tactical applications. Here’s why:

1. Superior Ballistic Performance: The .357 SIG delivers outstanding muzzle velocity, typically between 1,350 to 1,450 fps with 125-grain loads, and energy around 500 ft-lbs. Which somewhat mimics the famous (for good reasons) .357 Magnum revolver round, but in a small-framed semi-automatic pistol. This provides excellent stopping power and penetration, critical for effective threat engagement.

2. Flat Trajectory and Accuracy: The high velocity results in a flatter trajectory compared to other handgun rounds like 9mm or .40 S&W, enhancing accuracy at longer ranges (up to 50 yards). This makes it ideal for scenarios where precision is crucial. And with a projectile that gets to the target in a hurry… It makes hitting a moving target so much easier.

3. Barrier Penetration: The .357 SIG performs very well against common barriers, such as windshields, Vehicle Doors, and such… And with a good projectile choice, and can still perform in an acceptable manner on Soft Targets after the barrier is defeated.

4. Getting One: I’m not sure if any gun company is currently producing anything in .357 SIG anymore, one might thing the cartridge is “Dead”. This is untrue. Since the cartridge is based on the .40 S&W, you can convert most any .40 cal pistol to a .357 with a simple barrel swap, and new and used .40s are out there in the wild on gun store shelves just waiting to be picked up. And you’re going to find these lonely pistols rather well discounted. MidwayUSA or Brownells, Inc. or Lone Wolf Distributors will probably have a barrel for that pistol, in .357, and they can mail that directly to your door.

5. Ammo can be found online as well, through reputable dealers, and that too can be shipped directly to your door. So there is no problem finding this stuff. Balance of Power and Capacity: While it carries slightly fewer rounds than 9mm in similar-sized magazines, the .357 SIG offers a better balance of power per shot compared to 9mm and similar capacity to .40 S&W, making it a practical choice for those prioritizing terminal performance over maximum round count.

Drawbacks: Higher recoil and cost are the downsides. However, modern training mitigates recoil management issues, and the cartridge’s performance justifies the cost for users prioritizing effectiveness over economy. It’s more expensive than 9mm to be sure. But that’s due to the Economy of Scale, it is the same as with .45. Fewer people are buying .357 SIG and that means factories are producing less of it. The upshot, in the last 3 Ammo Runs, where people are panic buying and emptying shelves… .357 SIG is one of the last pistol calibers to be snatched up. So you got that going for you.
The other drawback to the .357 SIG is that it is a High Pressure Round. It’s loud. It’s going to hurt your ears. You want to put your Ear Pro with the Gun in your Go Bag or in your Night Stand Safe. It’s unpleasant to shoot. It’s not a FUN cartridge. It’s not one to pass around on Range Day. This is a cartridge to get things done with.

.357 SIG is not Dead. It’s just Underappreciated.

Weapons

Golden Age of Tactical Lever Actions RIfles

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It was back in 2012 that I was pushing the concept of the Tactical Lever Action Rifle. The reason being was that California and other States were really mad at the AR-15 and the Lever Action Rifle was a lower profile option that was legal pretty much everywhere. The lever action is also a platform that was on day one, designed to be a Tactical Rifle. What do I mean by that? I mean the Lever Action was designed to be a rifle used in Conflict. The first ones were chambered in rather small calibers, had large (for the time) capacities and if you remember your history… Came out and gained popularity during the Civil War where some units acquired and outfitted everyone with those Lever Action Rifles.

Often called a “Cowboy Assault Rifle“, its purpose was crystal clear, and today things are no different. In fact, it’s better. We’re in a golden age of Lever Action Rifles. Everyone that makes a Lever Action Rifle – makes a version, or several versions that are dedicated to just that purpose. Conflict Resolution. Maybe even less Fighting Rifle and more Fight Stopping Rifle. They are coming out of the gate with features we only dreamed about back in 2011. Handguards with light mounts. Out of the box with ghost ring sights, optic rails, and even threaded barrels for making it un-loud. We can get rifles with these configurations in chambered in Pistol Caliber Cartridges from .38 Special, all the way up to .500 S&W Magnum. And rifle cartridges from .30-30 on up to .45-70.

Henry, S&W, Marlin, Winchester, Browning, Rossi, Mossberg, Patriot Ordinance Factory, Taylor, Chiappa, Uberti, Pedersoli… And I’m sure there are other brands out there… So many great options to choose from, regardless of what flavor you want. And companies such as Henry who had only ever made more traditional styled rifles… are no making them in Black, with those tactical upgrades already on the gun, in the box, straight from the factory.

Back in 2011 I think it was… these options didn’t exist. At that moment when I had to replace a broken stock on my then “Green Marlin”, the only option for a light weight stock, was Ramline. Here’s that rifle wearing that stock, with a rail on top, and a Red Dot. This configuration wasn’t the first, but it was one of them. One of the first “Tactical Lever Actions” in appearance as well as function.

Nowadays, things that require Customization can now be ordered off the cuff…

The problem with these builds is that they tend to delete those characteristics that make a Lever Action so delightful to use. The slim nature that makes it easy to grab and run with… The narrow profile that makes them easy to slide into and out of rifle sheaths… the light weight that lets them come up on target quick and easily.
The advantages they give are good though. Still sleaker than an AR or AK type. Lower profile so they stow nicely. Quicker to operate than a bolt action. And generally they are punching bigger holes than AR’s.
Another Downside to the Tactical Level Action. You used to be able to get into one and start building your setup for as little as 500 bucks. Now days a new one is going to cost you 1200 to 2000 and any and all Used Lever Action Rifles have all been scooped up.

Weapons

Springfield Kuna

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I finally got the chance to shoot the new Kuna from Springfield Armory. By buddy Ben has one, and brought it out with him when we met at the Buckskin Hills Shooting Complex, outside of Vernal, Utah. The Buckskin used to be my old stomping grounds, so it was great to revisit it. And with the Kuna in attendance, meant I got the opportunity to put a couple magazines through it.

I don’t need to do a full review on it… You’ve already read enough of those and have watched all the videos about it… So I’m just going to give you my assessment. The Springfield Armory Kuna is easily one of the very best “Large Form” 9mm Pistols you could buy. Period. Regardless of Price.

It has fantastic ergos, and one of the best triggers for this type of firearm. The recoil is negligible and the accuracy seemed to be above par, even though I only shot it standing and unsupported. The weight was impressively light. The Kuna performed exactly as advertised and we didn’t see a single malfunction. Even while in the hands of much younger and inexperienced shooters. The gun was flawless.

The only question is, how does it compare to the other large form 9mm pistols out there?
MP5K? A lot lighter with better controls, sights, and trigger, and about 1/3 the Cost.
Stribog? Better ergos, and you can get 4 extra magazines for your Kuna at the same as the Stribog.
There’s a lot of AR-15 type 9mm’s out there, but I like the fact that this was designed from a clean slate to be a .40 Caliber/9mm SMG.

Needless to say, I was extremely impressed. I didn’t expect Springfield to be delivering one of the very best SMG type firearms to the US Market. But they absolutely did. If you are looking for this type of solution to your tactical problems… you can stop looking. Get the Kuna.
I had been thinking about getting an MP5K to go along with my full sized MP5… But I’m no longer interested in doing that. I’ll get a Kuna.

Weapons

My Most Fun Rifle?

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Not a Review, just some Commentary in General. Easily the most fun rifle I own is the S&W M&P 15-22. A simple .22LR chambered AR-ish rifle that produces more grins than any other rifle. Easy to shoot for most anyone. Not too loud. No recoil. No reason not to just go ahead and dump the magazine.

The nicest thing about the M&P 15-22 is that it’s fantastic for training New Shooters in the Art of Basic Rifle Marksmanship.

For New and Less Experienced Shooters, learning on this rifle, versus something like say, the Ruger 10/22, is that when it’s time to upgrade to a Center Fire AR, the transition is seamless thanks to the uniformity of Controls and Manual of Arms.

Another nice thing about the S&W is that you can train all day at 25 yards, on private property, and nobody gets disturbed, bothered, annoyed, or grumpy. Because Rimfire is rather quite to start with thanks to the lack of overpressure at the muzzle.

Weapons

Sold on Pistol Optics

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Okay, Guys. I’m sold – SOLD – on Pistol Optics. This is 15 yards, 5 rounds, 1 Hole Group. I did this having only bore sighted the dot to irons. The Springer Echelon 4.0c is a Shooter! Fantastic trigger, feel, accuracy… I honestly expected it to be just “Meh” and one of those “compared to a Glock it just comes down to personal preference” kinda things. Nope.

The Echelon is far superior to Glock. In this case, compared to the G19, the 4.0c outshines it in every metric. There is no reason for the Glock to even exist anymore. There, I said it. The gun is so comfortable in the hand, during recoil and trigger is so dang good… The gun is ACCURATE. The above group was fired at 15 yards, off hand, and that’s 5 rounds in 1 hole. Few of my pistols are this accurate.

More thoughts on the Red Dot: It’s slower than Irons, so far. But I believe I’ll be able to speed up in time with more practice. The Hex Wasp is an “Okay” unit… But I think I will eventually splurge on an actual GOOD optic, once I get out of the Training Wheels stage with pistol Optics. Maybe next year. And I’ll probably go with a dot larger than 2 MOA.

Weapons

I took the plunge

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When I acquired my Echelon 4.0c, Springfield Armory had a GEAR UP promotion rolling on it. They offered a free Range Bag, 3 spare magazines, and a Micro Red Dot. The MRD had 2 options. 1 being a little unit from Crimson Trace, and the other from this outfit called Hex and the unit was called the Wasp. I’ve seen the CT unit before and hated it, and I’ve heard some not so great things about it… and for the Wasp, well, I didn’t know anything about it and had not even seen one before. So I rolled the dice on the Wasp.

I’ve honestly never seen myself owning a pistol with an optic on it, but since it was FREE, well, might as well give it the old college try, eh? Well, the Gear Up promo took some time to get to me. SA says 8 to 12 weeks. Not sure how long it was for me… but just over 8 weeks seems about right. I had honestly forgotten about the promotion until I received an email from S.A. saying it was shipped.

Credit given to where credit is due… The mounting system S.A. has on the Echelons is very clever. I needed no adapter plate and the optic mounted low enough, I still have my Sights. And that’s important for a reason I’ll mention in a bit. The trick to the mounting system is the pre-drilled hole patterns that allow most MRD’s to get mounted. What makes it work are the different Pin Sets that, when changed, alter the base dimensions for support contact and stabilize the optic. After a few moments of “WTF is This?” it all dawned on me and was a breeze fixing the MRD to the gun nice and secure.

And I immediately hated it. Because it’s different and I’m not used to it. But as I said, I’ll give it an honest go and see how I like the whole pistol optic thing. What do you guys think, a 200 round trial or should I go 400 to 500 before I make a decision?

If I do decide that a Pistol Optic is my Jam, I have two other pistols that might get them. But regardless of if I like it… The little Wasp will be getting replaced. Here’s why. There’s no Seal on the bottom and as good and solid as it mounts – water will be able to ingress and cause problems. And by problems, I mean kill the sight. There are other units that are better suited for South Carolina weather, and I’m not about to spackle on Flex Seal on this. Although, that is a good idea for other applications! I’ve not shot this pistol with the optic on it yet… But will soon enough.

Weapons

HK MP5 Clone

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MAC makes one of the best MP5 Clones on the market, and does so at a very reasonable price. A fellow I know who has had one for a while has run 5 cases of ammo through his and gave it a positive report. 2 Malfs early on, and then a bad primer later. But I’d say that’s pretty solid and reliable.
The included cleaning kit is a bit of a joke and the bottle for your gun oil is even worse. The strap sucks too… But the gun and the magazines are about as solid as it gets. I’ll report more when I take it out to shoot it. It needs a Brace, Rail for an Optic, and eventually a suppressor.

Details:
Caliber: 9MMBarrel Length: 4140 8.9″ Button Rifled, Fluted Chamber, Chrome LinedGrip Module: Reinforced Polymer, Glass FilledTrigger: SEF Pattern, 4.25lb Pull (Approx)Finish: Laquer Paint Over Manganese PhosphateFront Sight: Hooded Front Post, Elevation AdjustableRear Sight: Diopter Rear, AdjustableOptic Mount: HK® Claw Mount Compatible (Not Included)Magazine: 30rd Standard (Two Included)

Update:
100 Rounds: 0 Malfunctions. Ammo: CCI Blazer. Accuracy: Meh… Unsupported, Standing, awkward. I’ll measure groups after I put a sto… a brace on it.

Update #2: The MP5 is ready for some Accuracy Testing. Well go hit the range later this week.

Weapons

Springfield Echelon 4.0c

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I fell in love with the Springfield Armory Echelon the moment I first held one in my hands. It looks freaking cool. And it feels even better in the hand. But I had no use for a full sized railed pistol… And then Springfield brought it out in the same size as a Glock 19 recently. And it still feels excellent in the hand.

The idea of running a Micro Red Dot on a pistol has been something I had been avoiding as I didn’t like it the first time I tried one. However people I know and respect have been adopting them all around me… so maybe there is something going on with that. I have two other pistols that could rock a red dot, but neither seem to be a good platform for an RD. Also, I didn’t want to spend 300 bucks or more on something I just wasn’t absolutely sure I wanted. And then I browsing TFB I saw that Springfield was offering a killer cool Gear Up package deal that included an MRD, 3 extra magazines, and a Shooting Bag. That pushed me over the edge. Okay. Let’s try this. So I have sent away for the Gear Up Kit… and I’ll update this when that comes in. Back to the gun in question…

I liked the White U Rear sight on most of the Echelons. But I’ve grown up with 3 Dots and I’m just more used to that. Especially in dark situations… If I’m going to pay for Tritium, I want all my Tritium! This Tritium is nice and bright, the way you want it.

The rear sight is also shaped right too. Not a ramp like with Novak sights. So if racking one handed is required, I can hook the rear sight onto something and push. Trying to that with a Novak is impossible, and then you’re trying to push off the front of the slide or something. Awkward. This is just so much easier. I like easy. I also like Smooth. And racking the Echelon is very smooth. The 4.0c is no different. Very Smooth. Much smoother than a Glock.

Trigger is better than a Glock too. A Glock has a weird wall before the break, and at the moment it goes, the pistol gets a little “shrug”. There’s a little bit of a jump. This, like all good triggers, doesn’t do that. The trigger has a little slack to take up, then it breaks very nicely without a jump. But it’s not a “Crisp” break… it just breaks. Like it just fall off and there it goes. Reset is excellent. I have no complaints about this trigger and I suspect it’s going to get very nice after some use. This is just Out Of The Box.

I really love the way the gun feels in my hand. Seriously one of the very best factory grips I’ve ever felt. The contours are just about perfect for my hand… I couldn’t imagine it getting any better. But I guess if I needed a dimensional change, there are a couple alternative backstraps to try out… One slightly larger, and one smaller. But this is perfect out of the box. It’s going to stay like this. Wait, it gets better! The texture is a fine stippling type affair that doesn’t snag on my clothes and isn’t abrasive to the hands… but when I apply normal shooting grip-force, it locks into my hand like super-glue. This is excellent texturing. And with that good grip, I can still hit the slide and mag releases without problem and without changing my grip. It doesn’t get any better than this. And it gets even better. For those of you who are SIG guys, or 1911 Guys… The Echelon’s grip angle is going to hit right. For me, it’s extremely “Pointable”. It comes up just right on target, without any adjustment. It points naturally like few pistols do… Like a 1911, like a SIG, like a CZ, like a Browning Hi-Power. It’s awesome.

This just might be… the most perfect striker-fired pistol… (Pause like Jeremy Clarkson) In the world.

I’m not going to put this into my Carry Rotation for a while. I still need to put it to the test of a bare minimum of 200 rounds… Prefer 400 or more. But I’ll do the bulk of that shooting after I mount and zero the MRD. I’ll keep you posted. Cheers!

UPDATE:
Initial Testing: 100 rounds, 2 boxes of really old mixed Cheap Stuff: ZERO malfunctions. Even in the rain. Just out of the Box. Next step is clean and lube with a good oil, and try to wait patiently for the Micro Red Dot to show up. Accuracy was good, but I wasn’t really shooting for accuracy. I was just breaking it in. And when I say this was old cheap ammo… We’re talking stuff I had left over from living back in Utah. (2013) Some Federal Blue Box, Winchester White Box, CCI Blazer, and Speer Lawman.

Weapons

SHOT SHOW 2025

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I was asked about my thoughts on all the new products from SHOT SHOW 2025. Honestly there was just a whole lot of MEH for me. Companies are still trying to make ARs look like other guns and other guns look like ARs. So much of it was just lost on me.

I am a big advocate for the use of Shotguns, and there are 2 shotguns that caught my eye and I will eventually acquire one of them for sure. PSA’s new 570 Shotgun is one of them. They’ve taken the best features of the 870 and the 590 and rolled them into one. If I was going to design a pump action shotgun, this PSA is what it would have come out like. And it’s modular so that you can build it up exactly how you want it, instead of buying a gun kind of like what you want, and then buying new parts to replace parts you don’t want. I LOVE that. And the shocker is they can also make it a Semi-Auto. That’s just icing on the already excellent cake.

The other Shotgun is the new Mossy with the AR furniture and Safety. This isn’t just window dressing but a good option for those new Shooters who have only been running ARs all their lives. Yeah, I know that kinda makes fun at my first paragraph here, but having familiar fire controls is a distinct advantage. I see this shotgun becoming very popular with smaller Law Enforcement Agencies. I may have to get one, just because.

PSA has also brought out some other interesting things… Under PSA’s H&R decision is a CAR-15 analog, which I ADORE as the CAR-15 was my first issued weapon out of Basic and AIT. I’m going to have to get one. I just have to. All the Retro H&R Arms rifles are cool. FN brought out a line some years ago of service rifle analogs, but FN priced them into oblivion… PSA and H&R Arms are doing it RIGHT.

Everything PSA is doing is being done right… The new flavors of JAKL and SABRE are just awesome. Is there anything that PSA is doing that’s NOT awesome? I’ve got my hands on a couple JAKLs now and I’ve got to tell you… I like them. A lot. I might get a couple JAKL uppers to finish up some builds.

Weapons

Springfield Echelon

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Since working at Basin Sports, myself and all the fellas there… there’s the habit of planning out that Next Gun Purchase. Or in the Basin Sports methodology, when something comes off layaway, what’s going to go on next? That habit has stuck with me ever since. Even as I bring one gun home… What’s Next!?

For me, I was planning on another 10mm… and FN has a glorious option for that. But then the more realistic side of me decided that perhaps that wouldn’t be the best choice. So I reconsidered and have landed on Springfield Armory’s Echelon pistols. The full size and the compact are both very attractive options and I’m thinking that one of them will be the next pistol to come home to my Safe.

When the full size Echelon came out, I was very impressed with the gun, the sights, the trigger, and the feel of the grip in the hand. And it’s even a good looking pistol. Not like looks are all that important, but it’s a factor. I would have snagged it on the spot, but I really had no need whatsoever for a full size 9mm.

The compact version, being Glock 19’ish in size, really does become something of a good packing size. Similar in size to my SIG M11A1, but a lot lighter. Now, I still absolutely adore my M11A1… But for a Cake Eating Civilian, the gun is a bit heavy for Pants On to Pants Off EDC. Even with a Good Holster and Good Belt. Weight is still weight. And cutting that weight in almost half, is a good thing. Now, I do have smaller and lighter guns that I like. I’ve had the HK VP9SK for a long time now… Just never had the right rig for it so I never carried it. And if I’m honest, kind of even forgotten about it. It was when I got my FN REFLEX, that I ordered a new holster from a company I’ve never ordered from before, and saw that they had the same rig for the VP9SK too… So I ordered both at the same time. Vedder Holster and the rig is called the Comfort Tuck. And it is. I like the rig. Simple. Sturdy. I’ve no complaints or criticisms of them, and that’s high praise for me.

Between the HK and the FN… I find I like packing the FN a bit more due to the much smaller grip frame, and the little gun’s ability to evaporate under a covering garment. Even my wife, who knows what I’m packing and where… can’t see it. So a huge advantage for concealment with the FN. The HK does hide well, just not as well. Now, I love the HK… I do… The trigger is good and the sights are great, and it looks cool as hell. But I’ve found that I carry the FN most of the time, and the HK when Concealment isn’t as important. And if I’m in that situation, I might as well carry my SIG, but then I’m full circle on that carry-weight situation. This is why I’m leaning heavily toward the Echelon Compact.