Sig Sauer P365 Sub-Compact 9x19mm Semi-Automatic Pistol

by Jeff Quinn

photography by Jeff Quinn & Boge Quinn

July 12th, 2018

 

YouTube Video Link

 

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Reversible mag catch.

 

 

 

 

Accessory rail.

 

 

Size comparison: S&W Shield 9mm (left), Sig P365 (right).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This pistol is small. It is small enough to be a game-changer. There are other 9mm pistols on the market of similar size, but what makes the Sig unique is its magazine capacity. They pretty much built the pistol around the magazine, and have held dimensions to minimums, while still having a magazine capacity of ten rounds, for a loaded capacity of eleven rounds of 9x19mm cartridges. That’s a game-changer. Sig-Sauer has many 9mm pistols in their stable, but this new P365 is the smallest, and for many people, it is the ideal size for a concealed-carry pistol. I carry a 1911 45 ACP every day, but the fact is, most people just won’t do that, so they seek a smaller, lighter carry gun, which is perfectly okay. Every handgun is a compromise. We each have to decide our own balance of weight, bulk, and power. The Sig P365 has a very good ratio of weight and size to firepower. Eleven rounds of 9mm hollowpoint is certainly adequate for most instances of self-defense, but the Baby Sig also comes with an extra ten-round magazine, which takes up very little space in a jeans pocket.

The big feature on this little pistol is size, and comparisons to similar-sized pistols will be made, so let’s make them. The P365 is similar in size to the Ruger LC9s, Smith & Wesson Shield, Glock 43, and the Kahr PM9, but the Sig has a larger magazine capacity. In fact, the Sig holds ten rounds in its magazine, just as does the Glock 26, but the Sig is much thinner than the 26.

The Sig P365 is a striker-fired semi-automatic pistol built on a polymer grip frame containing a Nitron-finished stainless steel frame with a stainless-steel slide wearing the same black finish.  The trigger is steel and has a smooth surface. The disassembly latch, slide lock, and magazine release are all made of steel. The slide has serrations front and rear to facilitate a secure grip for operation. The magazine bodies are also made of steel.

The P365 wears an excellent set of sights. Unlike some on the market, the Sig’s sights are made of steel. Sig-Sauer likes steel. The sights are also of the three-dot pattern, with tritium inserts for use in low-light situations. Perfect. The front sight wears a large green dot, which makes getting on target faster for me, and for most others who have tried such a sight. Both front and rear sights are dovetailed into the slide and can be drifted for windage adjustment.

The trigger pull is smooth and relatively light on the P365. It releases with slightly over five pounds of resistance, and the trigger reach is shorter than some of its competition. The magazine release is reversible, if desired, and pushes in to drop the magazine. The magazines load fairly easily, but I still like to use an UpLula for loading, as it just makes things easier. The grip is textured for a positive hold. I have large hands, but can still get a good purchase on the little pistol. One of the magazines has an extended baseplate to accommodate the little finger of the hand, but even using the mag with the flat base plate, the feel was very comfortable.

Critical specifications for the 9mm Sig P365 are listed in the chart below. Weights are listed in ounces. Linear dimensions are listed in inches. Trigger pull is listed in pounds of resistance, as measured with my Lyman digital trigger pull scale. Height includes sights and magazine base with the standard flat-base magazine in place. Maximum width is measured across the top of the frame and includes the slide lock.

Chambering 9x19mm
Weight with Empty Magazine 18.4 ounces
Trigger Pull 5.1 pounds
Barrel Length 3.1 inches
Barrel Diameter 0.532 inch
Overall Height 4.32 inches
Overall Length 5.8 inches
Grip Thickness 0.978 inch
Frame Width 0.9 inch
Slide Width 0.9 inch
Maximum Width 1 inch
Trigger Reach 2.62 inches
Magazine Capacity 10
Magazines Supplied 2
Accessory Rail YES
Magazine Disconnect Safety NO
Sights Drift-adjustable, 3-Dot Tritium
MSRP as of July 2018 $599.99 US

I fired a variety of ammunition over the chronograph to check velocities, with the results listed in the chart below. Velocities are listed in feet-per-second. Bullet weights are listed in grains. JHP is a jacketed hollowpoint bullet. DPX, Buffalo Bore Lead Free, and Double Tap Tac-XP are hollow nose homogenous copper bullets that are made by Barnes Bullet Company. Guard Dog is an FMJ with a soft plastic core to promote rapid expansion. FMJ is a full metal jacket roundnose bullet. FMJ-FN is a full metal jacket flat nose Buffalo Bore Penetrator bullet. PB is Pow’RBall, a specialty bullet from Cor-Bon. Glaser is a pre-fragmented bullet. Velocities were taken at an elevation of 541 feet above sea level, with an air temperature of ninety-two degrees Fahrenheit. Velocities were recorded at ten feet from the muzzle.

Ammunition Bullet Weight Velocity
Sig Sauer FMJ 115 1030
Sig Sauer JHP 115 1033
Remington Home Defense JHP 124 1001
Super Vel JHP 90 1370
Buffalo Bore Lead Free HP 95 1376
Buffalo Bore Lead Free HP 115 1165
Federal Guard Dog 105 1102
Double Tap TAC-XP 115 1013
Double Tap FMJ 147 997
Atomic HP 124 1111
WCC NATO FMJ 124 1010
CCI Blazer Brass FMJ 115 1012
Fiocchi FMJ 115 1056
Buffalo Bore FMJ-FN 124 1212
Buffalo Bore JHP 115 1287
Buffalo Bore +P JHP 115 1327
Buffalo Bore +P JHP 147 1036
Cor-Bon Glaser 80 1567
Cor-Bon JHP 115 1301
Cor-Bon Pow'RBall 100 1225
Cor-Bon +P DPX 115 1137
Cor-Bon JHP 125 1259

The little Sig handled every type, shape, and weight of ammunition that I tried with flawless reliability. I used both standard-pressure and Plus P ammunition in the 365, as it is built for both. Every cartridge, fed, fired, and ejected perfectly. I don’t bench test small pistols like this for accuracy as I do larger handguns, instead shooting it like it was intended to be shot, standing and holding it on target at varying distances. The little Sig will shoot. On many small pistols, it seems as if the sights are just an afterthought. The folks at Sig Sauer put real, visible, useful sights on this little pistol, which really helps the shooter to place the bullets on target accurately. A pistol such as this P365 is likely to be the only gun available when trouble presents itself, and hitting the target is of top priority. Misses don’t count. Hitting with this P365 is much easier than with many subcompact 9mm pistols on the market. The fact that this little pistol holds eleven rounds is also important, holding roughly forty percent more ammo than competitive pistols of the same size.

I have head rumors, unsubstantiated to me, that some of the early P365 pistols had some issues. I know nothing about that, as I can only review whatever gun that I have here in my hands. Judging by this one, and the others of which I am personally aware, the P365 is a dandy little 9mm pistol.

Check out this and other Sig Sauer products online at www.sigsauer.com.

For the location of a Sig Sauer dealer near you, click on the DEALER FINDER at www.lipseys.com.

To order the P365 online, click on the GUN GENIE at www.galleryofguns.com.

To order quality fighting ammunition, go to www.buffalobore.com, www.doubletapammo.com, and www.luckygunner.com.

Jeff Quinn

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Click pictures for a larger version.

 

 

 

 

Sig Sauer 9mm ammunition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disassembly latch (left), slide lock (right).