I like s&w 357 mag revolvers 686-4"
But I am being told pistol is better way to go?
Sig p220 45
what is your opinion from police officers and/ or security officers
I live in California

I'd pick the sig over the .357 magnum if you're going to be carrying and / or planning to use indoors.
Going partially deaf after you fire a shot isn't my idea of a good time and there really is a difference in the acoustics between shooting on an indoor (or outdoor) range and in an office complex or wherever you will be carrying.

The .357 Magnum is about 160-166 db depending on barrel length (pistol, and will actually go higher if you use a 2" barrel or something absurd). A .45 will be about 157ish db. The numbers look more or less the same, but every 3db, the amount of sound energy doubles, so the .357 magnum has between FIVE TO TEN TIMES the sound energy of the .45 and while this comparison isn't exactly precise, listening to one round of .357 being fired is the same as hearing 5+ .45s being fired at the exact same time. Not that a .45 isn't loud to begin with.

That all said, I know from personal experience that my ears start to ring if someone fires off a .357 mag within 10 feet if my muffs are off (in a open area, outdoors). Whether it does for you, I don't know, but if I'm in a firefight, "whiseeeeeeeeeeeeee" is not something I want to hear.
A .357 bouncing off something can go a fair distance. Hit a sprinkler pipe or something on angle, bounce and penetrate several walls of sheetrock? Probably a bad idea indoors. The same goes for the .357 magnum going through the bad guy and sailing off "somewhere"

Outdoors? I'd say the .357 magnum. I don't want to make it sound like the entire purpose of firing is to let others know that you are in a bad situation (and to send help), but I think that is a pretty positive side effect for you. Granted, if you hear the .357 magnum, you'll probably hear the .45, but .357 magnum is hard to miss or mistake for something other than a gunshot.

Depends how you handle the recoil too. If you're 110 pounds, the .45 might be more appropriate. I'm 250 (although I have to admit it mostly isn't muscle) and wouldn't feel comfortable using the .357 Magnum. Don't pull the standard macho act and carry something just because Dirty Harry did.

In the end, it is always a toss up, what if the bad guy has body armor, weighs 520 pounds etc, etc.

The choise has alot to with your individual experance and training.
I carried a revolver for the first 14 years and an auto the last 12 years of my police career. And am comfortable with both.
The auto requires more training and parctice to be proficient and stay that way. (not so much accuracy but stoppage clearing training and practice)
As stated above the 357 is louder but the probability of you using it is extremly low. But if you do need to use it your proficiently is much more important than the noise it makes.
The primary reason the police community went to the auto is for the increased fire power. This is over rated, but a legimant consideration.
If you are considering this as an individual decission the confidence you have in your equipment and training (ability) is a primary consideration. If this is an institutionsl consideration the cost in equipment and training time can be the majior consideration.
Hope this helped.
Jim :)

ahooker:
While working as a Police Officer, I worked using both the Auto, and the wheel gun. For pure reliability, the Revolver has fewer problems. I do prefer the Auto, and am proficient with both. The auto requires more practice than the revolver. especially since there is more chance of stoppages. An auto requires it to be kept cleaner than a revolver, and to maintain good quality Magazines. For starting out a new shooter, I prefer to teach them with a Revolver first. I beleive that it is best for a person to carry what feels best to them, be it revolver or Auto. Most P.D.s switched to Auto's for the increased firepower. Usually after learning to master the Auto most shooters tend to increase their scores, which is an added bonus.
Revolvers do tend to have a wider range of ammunition available to them in a given caliber than the Auto which may be a factor in it's choice.
Try the Auto, than make your choice based upon your prefferences. Remember it's your capability that determines your ability to preform at your best.

Lee L.

what do you think about the 40 S&W?

I am not as good as you guys with guns and I do not know that much about guns. However, I have tried afew kind of side arms. over all I really like Glock 23s and HK USP .40s.
45s are too much for me.
Regards

auto in .357sig, power of the 357mag and the capacity of an autoloader. I have a glock 32 chambered in this caliber and i like it alot seem to be a very acurate gun

Whatever you shoot the best, try both and lets your hands/eyes decide for you. If it doesn't "fit" your hands, you won't shoot it well. If possible, try several kinds of grips on each to find one you like.

And if a gun grab is a possibility, an auto has some serious advantages, if you can carry it on safe. Me, I carry a revolver because that's what's allowed in St. Louis. Were it up to me, I'd carry a revolver, because that's what I shoot the best, and train constantly with! But if firepower is a legitimate concern, an auto with a couple of backup mags is hard to beat, especially if you work solo patrol!

Papajohn