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In the early 2,000’s, single stack 9mm handguns were the hot trend in the concealed carry market. Most of the gun manufacturers were competing to create the smallest handgun that would hold six or seven rounds. This included the extremely popular M&P Shield and the highly anticipated Glock 43 (albeit a couple of years later than originally thought after the Glock 42 release).
Then Sig Sauer reset the standard at the 2018 SHOT Show with their release of the high-capacity micro-compact P365 9mm pistol. The name evokes the idea of allowing you to carry more, everyday – 365 days a year. I still remember when I first got my hands on the 365 demo at a local gun range. It blew my mind that they figured out how to fit 10+1 rounds into a micro-pistol as small as my Kahr CM380. It also struck me how great it felt in the hand with it’s superb ergonomics. I knew immediately that I wanted one, but at the time they were extremely hard to find. (Author’s note: Kel-Tec actually created the category back in 1995 with their P11, but the Sig P365 brought it into the mainstream.)
Shortly after that I began hearing about issues with the early models such as broken firing pins, trigger-return spring issues and faulty Sig-Lite night sights. Of course, Sig fixed the issues on the guns that customers sent to them. However, I decided to be patient and let Sig work out the bugs before getting mine. I ended up waiting to buy the 3rd generation, and I’ve not experienced any of the aforementioned issues.
Features
Sig designed the magazine first and then built the rest of the pistol around it. They call it a “modified double-stack magazine”. I describe it as a double-stack magazine that tapers down into a single-stack at the top. This design allows the frame and slide to keep it’s slim 1-inch width that most single-stack pistols have. The P365 is also 4.3 inches tall, and 5.8 inches long with a barrel length of 3.1 inches. It weighs just 17.8 ounces with an empty magazine. You really have to hold this gun to fully appreciate its small size.
An optional 12-round extended magazine equips this micro-compact pistol with full-size 13-round capacity. To me the size of the 365 with the extended magazine is equally impressive, because it has only two rounds less than a Sig P320 or Glock 19 while still being really close to the size of a Glock 43. Again, you have to see it in person to grasp how small it is even with the extended mag.
Grip
The unique grip design, texturing and higher grip to bore axis reduces perceived recoil and makes the P365 as comfortable to shoot as many mid-sized pistols. A generous trigger guard undercut also allows for a higher hand position and a full grip for most shooters, further increasing control and accuracy. The polymer frame includes a slim-line rail that will accommodate proprietary Sig light or laser accessories.
The narrowing magazine design allows the upper part of the grip to be contoured to fit the shooter’s thumb when fired. In the author’s opinion, the P365’s overall ergonomics are the best in its class of micro-compact 9mm pistols, including those that have come out more recently. It feels like a natural extension of the shooter’s hand to point and shoot.
Sights
The stainless-steel slide comes standard with front and rear serrations for easier slide manipulation, as well as XRAY3 Day/Night Sights for fast sight acquisition under all lighting conditions. If you haven’t seen these sights on other higher end Sig models, they are extremely impressive. The front sight is a tritium vial surrounded by a bright green circle that is very easy to pick up in sight acquisition and rapid strings of fire. The rear-notch sight works more like a blacked-out rear sight in the daytime, but the two tritium dots show up very nicely in low light. I feel like we really benefited from the early Sig-Lite night sight issues to get the upgraded XRAY3 sights as standard on the P365.
Trigger
The P365’s trigger is also outstanding. In fact, it’s nicer than any of the P320s I’ve dry-fired and shot in the past. Sig says the standard trigger weight is 6 pounds, but it just feels lighter than that. This is most likely due to how smooth and crisp the trigger break is, especially for a micro-compact striker-fired pistol. The reset is also short, audible and tactile. The P365’s trigger is best in its class of micro-compacts in this author’s opinion.
Range Time
The true test was to see how all of these features and innovations translated to “shootability” on the range. I was shocked how easy and enjoyable the P365 was to shoot due to the low recoil and excellent ergonomics. I was also pleasantly surprised how accurate this micro-pistol is with it’s excellent sights and trigger. In fact, I found it easier to shoot more accurately than most of the single stack pistols I’ve shot and owned, many of which were quite snappy.
I did the group testing using four factory loads using a rest at 7 yards and fired two, five-shot groups. It was a warm summer day with temperatures in the mid 80s and calm wind. Results were good, particularly for such a small handgun designed for self-defense purposes.
PMC 115-grain FMJ
First, I tested the PMC 115-grain full metal jacket load. I shot a few rounds of the ammo on a steel target, and then fired the test groups with it. This round produced a 1.75-inch average group. Now I was ready to test some self-defense loads.
Sig 365 115-grain V-Crown JHP
Next up was the Sig 365 115-grain V-Crown jacketed hollow point ammo. Sig says they designed this round for the micro-compact P365 barrel length and to reduce recoil. Ironically, it produced the largest average group size of 2.13 inches in my testing. With that being said, I wouldn’t have any concerns carrying this ammo for self-defense purposes.
Federal Premium HST 147-grain HP
The third load was the Federal Premium HST 147-grain jacketed hollow point ammo. I’ve had excellent performance with this ammo in other 9mm pistols, and it certainly didn’t disappoint in the P365. It produced the best average group size at 1.38 inches.
Underwood Xtreme Defender 90-grain +P
Last but not least was the Underwood Ammo Xtreme Defender 90-grain +P round. Underwood’s website states that the bullet is monolithic solid copper and is fluted to produce a larger wound channel than a traditional hollow point. This round produced a 1.85 inch average group size, despite its higher velocity and recoil.
If you’re looking for a high-capacity micro-compact pistol that is pleasant to shoot, the P365 9mm is an excellent choice. It’s surprisingly accurate and fun to shoot for its size, and has many features that you will appreciate. Today, there are quite a few variants and sizes of the P365 to choose from, but the original is still a solid option. For more information, visit sigsauer.com or call (603) 610-3000.
Factory Specifications
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 10+1 rounds flush fit, 12+1 extended (not included)
Barrel Length: 3.1 in.
Overall Length: 5.8 in.
Width: 1 in.
Height: 4.3 in. (with flush magazine)
Weight: 17.8 oz. (w/empty magazine)
Sights: XRAY3 Day/Night Sights (3-dot)
MSRP: $549 (street $450-500)
Where To Buy
Performance
| Ammunition | Average Group Size (5 shots, 7 yards) |
| PMC 115gr FMJ | 1.75″ |
| Sig 365 115gr V-Crown JHP | 2.13″ |
| Federal Premium HST 147gr JHP | 1.38″ |
| Underwood Xtreme Defender 90gr +P | 1.85″ |
This article originally appeared at ShootingSavvy.com.
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It’s modular.
XL slide on standard grip for the 10 round limit grip/mag.
Shot my friends 365. It seems ok but others are doing the same for less $. A lot of others.🙄 Choice is good.
Lots of others…
h ttps://youtube.com/watch?v=KJ2RuKjYpqI&feature=shared
nope.
I have zero experience with this pistol. I do have four or five of their full size handguns. All are excellent. However, a good friend bought one of these early on. He kicked his Glock 43X to the curb.
He kicked his Glock 43X to the curb.
LOL.
Nope.
Not so much.
No youngsters, Kel-Tec invented this market in either 1995 or 1996. Not Sig. Kel-Tec.
Sig makes a better gun, and Kel-Tec has retired the P11, which after the AWB sunset, actually held 12+1. Terrible trigger though. Same size as the Sig P365, just 20+ years earlier. And ignored to the point that writers like this one seem to be unaware. Mine worked fine… for 23 years until I replaced it with a P365.
Kel-Tec invented the pocket double-stack nine. Learn your history.
I came here to say the same thing. Kel-Tec created the category way back in 1995, not Sig in 2018. The P-11 is just as small, lighter, and the 12 rounds magazine is the same size (flush fit) as the 10 rounder.
The trigger on the P-11 is terrible, and the gun looks kinda cheaply made. I eventually replaced mine with a Ruger Max-9.
Never had any idea the Kel TEC did such a pistol and on closer research it looks like they made variations in 40sw and 357 Sig as well……… If nothing else I will always enjoy how Kel TEC pushes the boundaries of what is possible/practical with no regards to cosmetic appeal or refined products. That company is a mad scientist lab that occasionally makes functional firearms.
Keltec definitely was first out of the gate, but their reputation as a “credible” maker has never been established – in the press. Gunwriters simply weren’t incentivized to publicly appreciate their line of economical firearms. Glock learned that lesson early on and lapdanced their way into thousands of LEO contracts which not only cemented their innovative design but also bought them credibility. Seems their faux pas with parts failures and upgrades gets a pass when others are raked over the coals for less.
Just keeping the history in perspective – there was a time when firearms were compared to AMERICAN products as the standard. The P3I65 is American, SIG Germany is distanced from ownership and day to day control – or it wouldn’t be able to bid DOD contracts.
The P365 was a watershed design in a lot more than just it’s configuration, like Stoner’s M16, some features were the first to be seen in the American self defense handgun market. As said, it’s modular – the owner can swap parts on it to their hearts content, using the same trigger module in each iteration. For a feature that seems to have Glock wary they can’t force owners to buy a complete new firearm, the trigger module actually created an increase in sales where no other would have – for the user who wants to leverage certain features to their benefit. A P365 per se, like I bought, is a small self defense pistol albeit not that closely to the Kahr 380 – I saw and felt differences to mine. But, with some different parts, it can be a full size duty pistol – and is becoming an option in that role. It can be a specialized speed competition pistol, too, something that is much different and has its strengths and weaknesses for daily use. It can be kitted with a red dot, or not, short ten shot mags, or a 15 round backup – which I carry.
It can be bullt up to the point it is every bit as much to carry in weight with capacity exceeding a 1911 – which some dispute is a grail for self defense yet that accessorized view is splashed in pictures across the internet. And it has attracted haters, too, just like Glock did during it’s startup. However, one simple feature to counteract the biggest complaint about Glock is that SIG offers a safety which is easily retrofitted – at home – and used by tens of thousands of owners who bought them off the shelf or added them. I did – having used military pistols in carry, it was easier to conform to that manual of arms later in life than experiment with a less safe trigger design that the public proved to be insufficient for their use. You just may need to be a professional to safely carry a gun with trigger that always goes bang when anything touches it – I will control that ability, thank you very much, as I respect the lack of human perfection to do it right every single time over decades of use.
The P365 has pushed Glock into a corner – Gaston managed an ground breaking design and his choice of engineers in multiple fields accomplished a significant engineering challenge in a manufacturing market that wasn’t using new materials and methods. But, like Browning, SIG moved from their renown early design into the modern era and created their HiPower, which has set the stage for decades of commercial expansion. It’s notable that Glock gets their design copied as it ages past it’s patents, but few improve on it. SIG has already been copied already – other makers are offering trigger group modules, and that expansion of a feature won’t be stopped. Eventually, Glock will, too. If they want contracts.
“like Stoner’s M16”
actually it was Colts, not Stoner’s. They bought the patent of an Armalite design by Stoner which was an ‘adaptation’ design of the original AR-15 design which was created as a semi-auto civilian ‘sporting’ rifle based on a scale down and military-style-cosmetically of the Armalite AR-10 with this done by Jim Sullivan. Colt did re-design of the patent to turn it into what was designated the M16 by the military.
Unfortunately, Stoner’s ‘adaptation’ design of the original AR-15 civilian design, the Stoner version was also designated the AR-15 as his was in the same design cycle and didn’t change in a major way as to warrant another designation design cycle.
Armalite back then was the original Armalite, not the Armalite of today which is owned by a different company and does not hold the Armalite AR-15 patents nor the information from the original Armalite company. The Armalite company of today is an entirely different entity who basically purchased the Armalite name and what was left of Armalite.
The Armalite back then in the AR-15 creation days did design cycles and named their rifles for the design cycles and not a specific design model. If a rifle went to market it carried forth that design cycle designation (the AR-15 says this is the 15th rifle design cycle for Armalite thus the designation ‘Armalite Rifle 15’ known as AR-15). In an Armalite design cycle there could be multiple designs and variations of the same rifle all designated the same i.e. there could be, for example, 20 different AR-1 rifle designs all designated AR-1. This is how Stoners ‘adaptation’ design of the original civilian AR-15 design retained the AR-15 designation and in the patent Colt bought. In reality, the AR-15 was originally designed intended to be and was created as a civilian only semi-auto ‘sporting’ rifle with military style cosmetics that was intended to be marketed but never was.
In reality the AR-15 has never been a military rifle and was not originally created to be a military ‘assault rifle’ like anti-gun claim. Even the Stoner ‘adaptation’ design was not in military service and never has been. It was the Colt re-design that went into military service designated as the M-16 and not the Stoner AR-15 or any Armalite AR-15 designated design or rifle.
clarification for “‘adaptation’ design”
This was really a conversion design for which Stoner adapted the original civilian AR-15 design.
yeah, but Kel-Tec invented the 1.5 stack magazine and proved it worked. Took 20 years for the Johnny-come-latelys to wake up and improve upon it. While the market waited…
Pathetic.
Nothing for them to be proud of on that front. Giant marketing failure, frankly.
Judge Rejects Illegal Immigrant’s Second Amendment Argument.
h ttps://bearingarms.com/tomknighton/2024/11/25/judge-rejects-illegal-immigrants-second-amendment-argument-n1226987
Lifelong Democrat Gay Guy Who Left the Left and voted for Trump.
h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZWiGD3AtDg
Your State’s Most Important Gun Law, And Why They Want To Get Rid Of It.
h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Keri3sowDU8
(Warning shot across the bow:) Congress Moves To Delete The ATF.
(note: A new bill will be introduced as soon as the new congress takes their seats in January that aims to ‘eliminate’ the ATF. A bill was formerly introduced by Matt Gaetz to abolish the ATF, but we already knew that wasn’t going anyplace in the democrat held regeim. R. MO, Eric Burlison is to re-introduce but maybe in a different form.)
h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3moheWdOyXM
Turns out Kamala didn’t really have the ‘endorsements’ from celebrities and interviewers as was portrayed. Her campaign paid The View, Oprah, and others so they would give her interviews and endorsements but we already know about those. And now it turns out that Al Sharpton was also paid (by contributions to his nonprofit group). Campaign of fake.
“MSNBC Says It Was ‘Unaware’ of Harris Campaign Contributions to Al Sharpton Nonprofit—But Won’t Say Whether It’s Taking Action
Sharpton conducted softball interview with Harris shortly after the campaign paid his group $500,000”
h ttps://freebeacon.com/media/msnbc-says-it-was-unaware-of-harris-campaign-contributions-to-al-sharpton-nonprofit-but-wont-say-whether-its-taking-action/
In other words, a big part of the campaign was graft. Why were they blowing millions playing ads in unwinnable red areas? That’s how they get paid! They went into debt making the rich richer. Typical democrats. That’s exactly how they govern.
I bought my Sig 365 SAS in 2020 – the only problem I had with it was the “fiber tritium night sight”. The top of the sight became hazy and formed micro cracks. I guess all the tritium escaped since the sight stopped glowing in the dark. Sig replaced the sight under warranty.
Anyone with average-sized hands or larger will want the extended mag.
Oh – and my P365 hasn’t had an un-commanded discharge….ever.
I’m kinda slow so bear with me. How does this not have a safety trigger like most all other striker models?
There are versions with a safety and have been for a few years now. User preference and aftermarket options vary.
It has a revolver style trigger therefore it’s more a hammerless revolver that accepts magazines. And of course the 1/100 ounce pull dingus thingy inherent with the striker fired trigger is by no means the safety. Therefore the safety for most striker fired is a plug inserted behind the trigger which the dumbfuks on this forum bark at like the mangy dogs they are.
Bitching about your retarded ideas being called out accurately again? Well need something to howl over I guess, try to contribute something of value preferably where you begin to have an idea what you are talking about.
The best safety is to keep your finger off the trigger until you intend to fire. Oh, and carry the firearm in a holster that covers the trigger.
“a hammerless revolver that accepts magazines”
That made me chuckle a bit.
I have the X, same slide with a 12 round mag. Now mod the mags with a Magguts kit, which replaces the factory spring, follower, and baseplate and voila! A 14+1 365! Been carrying this for 2 years and it’s the best carry rig I’ve ever owned.
I own a 365 with a SS slide, I like it. What I hope to see from SIG is a 938 in a double-stack!
Can’t be too hard to CAD CAM!
Very Nice Gun Thanks for share it
I have the 365 in both 9 and .380
It’s a fantastic gun in both calibers.
The .380 has no recoil at all.
I’ve put crimson trace lasers on them and that means I longer have to bring the gun up to eye level to make accurate hits
No one addresses the fact that the 365 magazine is hard to load more than 7-8 rounds with aged fingers. I bought the Uplala loader and cand get the full 12 rounds in mine. This is my favorite carry gun.