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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