secret service likes 357sig
 

Walked by the White House today and saw a uniformed Secret Service guy. I usually look at what sidearm guys carry, and saw the familiar Sig log. Struck up a conversation and asked if it was a p229. He said yes, chambered in 357Sig. They switched awhile back when a perp surprised a plain clothes guy and demanded his wallet. He said it was in his car, and when the perp let him go to get it he drew. Ended up emptying the clip (9mm) into him but he was still going. They also worry about guys with body armor, so hence 357Sig in the sidearms. But he said if anything really hit the fan they just make a radio call and the big armor appears from various hiding places.

Bottom line? I wasn't going to hop the fence and make a run for a private meeting with GWB ;)

Yeah I really woudn't want to mess with one of the SS guys. They view everyone as a target, must be an interesting lifestyle nonetheless.

I thought the Secret Service had adopted FN's Five-Seven -- using the AP SS190 round?

Doesn't the FBI use .40S&W?

Who uses 9mm anymore? Stopping power is the only thing that's going to keep that dust-head off of you.

The SS fall under the jurisdiction of the Dept of the Treasury, right?

U were going to have a meeting with GW? Now thats impressive...

No. That round should only be for armor piercing ammo. And even then it's a stupid round. It has similar ballistic characteristics to hot .22 rounds.

The difference between .357sig and +p+ 9mm ammo is basically nothing. .357sig is designed as a penetrator round (windshields, auto-bodies, etc). 40 S&W is a man stopper. It is a compromise (a good one) between a fast bullet (9mm) and big bullet (45ACP).

The FBI's own ballistic studies show that stopping power is a combination of penetration to vitals and %chance of hitting something vital.

40 S&W penetrates better than 45ACP and it leave a bigger hole than 9mm. A fast, hot, expanding 45 is what I use for self defense rounds (45ACP Gold Dots).

Blasphemy! Or at least that is what some of the fanatics of the Five-Seven would call your comment.

I would agree with your assessment; in fact, I was banned from one Five-Seven forum for suggesting something similar.

The AP capability of the weapon and round sure is neat though!

I have to admit I went and fondled a p220 last weekend. I'd like to shoot a 357sig but for actual use I'd worry about shooting the neighbors 3 doors down.

Plus I love the feel of a single stack. If I actually carried, my p225 would be the choice.

Re: secret service likes 357sig
 

Hunter S Thompson had a good quote of that in his book
at some meeting he had to hide his bottle of wild turkey, and it ended up in the trunk of the SS car...and he actually got the key to go refill"

i'll type it over when i get home... it's a really funny section