Sig Sauer P365 Nitron Micro-Compact Semi-Auto Pistol – 365-9-BXR3

DESCRIPTION

The Sig Sauer® P365 Nitron Micro-Compact Semi-Auto Pistol is a lightweight polymer-frame, striker-fired pistol that’s small enough to conceal and big enough to deliver major firepower. The pistol operates with 3 simple and familiar controls: takedown lever, slide lock/release, and magazine release; it does not have an external manual safety. A smooth, consistent trigger pull permits precision shot placement as well as rapid, controlled fire. An ergonomic textured grip provides instinctive pointability and a non-slip hold, even with sweaty hands. A unique grip design provides a high grip-to-bore axis to fire control; and the frame features an integral slim-line rail that is compatible with Sig Sauer light or laser accessories. The frame encloses a serialized, stainless steel fire control unit (FCU). The corrosion-resistant, Nitron™ coated stainless steel slide features front and rear serrations to enhance the shooter’s ability to pull the slide back for loading and clearing the action. The slide is nicely chamfered and de-horned for enhanced concealment. Electro-Optics™ X-RAY3 high-visibility, 3-dot tritium sights are quick to acquire in most any lighting. The Sig Sauer P365 Nitron Micro-Compact Semi-Auto Pistol safely fieldstrips in seconds, without using tools or pulling the trigger.

Polymer-frame, striker-fired
Smooth, consistent trigger pull
Serialized, steel fire control unit
Nitron coated stainless steel slide
Front and rear slide serrations
Ergonomic textured grip
X-RAY3 tritium sights
Integral slim-line rail
No external manual safety
Easily fieldstrips without tools
SIG P365 Review

By ALEX LUFFO FROM gunspatrol.com

The SIG SAUER P365 (model # 365-9-BXR3) may just be the subcompact 9mm against which all others will be judged.

The modern firearms market is flooded with excellent small, concealable, reliable carry pistols, so any company looking to introduce a new concealed carry handgun needs to introduce something that gets attention. That was the marketing plan with the SIG SAUER P365 (model # 365-9-BXR3), and it seems to have paid off.

As I said, the market is flooded with quality compact and subcompact carry guns, several of which are made by SIG, so SIG knew it had to bring something to market that could capture the spotlight — and the resulting sales. So with the P365, SIG introduced a subcompact striker-fired 9mm semiauto 9mm roughly the same size as its competitors while offering vastly improved capacity.

In photos the SIG P365 for sale looks bigger than it actually is, at least to my eyes, because it seems to have the proportions of a larger gun. But the misperception disappears as soon as you pick it up. I’ve owned .380s that were bigger than the P365. The name of this pistol isn’t a random accident of corporate nomenclature — SIG specifically designed this pistol to be small and comfortable enough to carry all day every day. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

The SIG SAUER P365 for sale (model # 365-9-BXR3) has a double recoil spring system to tame 9mm recoil in such a light gun. The slide rides on a stainless steel chassis set in the pistol’s polymer frame.

The SIG P365 has a Nitron-coated stainless steel slide and a polymer lower half, although technically it is a stainless steel frame inside a polymer grip module. Like the SIG P320, the serialized part is the steel chassis inside the polymer “frame.” However, unlike the P320, SIG doesn’t want you removing the frame from the grip on the P365, and you won’t find any instructions on how to do it in the owner’s manual.

The P365 sports a 3.1-inch barrel and is rated for +P ammunition. Overall it is 5.8 inches long, 4.3 inches tall, and an even inch thick. The flush magazine holds 10 rounds of 9mm. What do those numbers mean exactly?

I process my test guns through Double Action in Madison Heights, Michigan, which is a pretty big retail operation with a relatively comprehensive display of concealed-carry firearms on display in the counter. Seeing a new gun tends to get everyone there excited, and as I filled out the paperwork on the gun, a number of employees took the opportunity to paw over the little auto. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

They were impressed with the size of the SIG—especially considering the capacity of its magazine—and proceeded to compare it with samples of perhaps the two biggest-selling 9mm subcompacts: the Smith & Wesson Shield and the Glock 43.

The SIG P365 for sale is smaller than the Shield in every dimension except width across the grip, where the SIG is slightly thicker. The P365 is so close in size to the Glock 43 —slightly larger in some dimensions, slightly smaller in others—that overall it’s a draw in size.

When it comes to capacity, of course, the SIG (10) handily beats both the S&W (seven) and the Glock (six). At 17.8 ounces unloaded, the SIG is lighter than both of them as well, and if you pull the top end off the gun you’ll see why. The streamlined design of the trigger group inside the frame makes most guns look cluttered.

SIG calls it a micro-compact frame. I think the six-shot Baby Browning .25 Auto would better fit the description of a “micro-compact” pistol, and the P365 actually reminds me of that gun, perhaps because it is so size-efficient. It is bigger than the Baby Browning, but it packs a lot more wallop. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

The P365 comes with two steel 10-round magazines, one of which sports a flush base pad and one has an extended base pad. The undercut trigger guard on the P365 makes a difference, and in combination with the extended base pad, most people will be able to get all of their fingers on the front of the pistol, although the rear of the frame is noticeably shorter. With the flush magazine in place you might find half or all of your pinky dangling below the grip, depending on whether your fingers more resemble hot dogs or shoestring French fries.

The SIG P365 comes with two 10-rounders—one extended base pad, one flat base pad—and SIG sells a 12-round mag for $55 as well. It’s the most firepower you’re going to find in such a small package

SIG does offer an extended 12-round magazine with a textured grip sleeve that is only slightly longer than the 10-round magazine with an extended fingerhook base pad. The 12-round magazine retails for $55. Frankly, I wish companies would stop making extended fingerhook base pads and just offer extended mags the length of said fingerhook. Yes, extended base pads allow you to more securely grip the gun, but they don’t offer any more capacity to go along with the extended length. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

If you’re wondering how SIG fits 10 rounds of 9mm into a gun this size, it’s because the P365 is fed by a double-stack magazine. The magazine starts to taper surprisingly early, which allows the portion of the grip that’s even with the trigger to be nicely slender. Most of the other subcompact 9mms on the market offer single-stack magazines, Smith & Wesson’s Shield with its stack-and-a-half magazine being one exception.

Some of you might be arguing the P365 should be compared to the 10-shot Glock 26 instead of the Glock 43 because it has a double-column magazine. But, honestly, there is no comparison. The “baby” Glock 26 is bigger in every dimension than the P365 and weighs almost 25 percent more. Plus, the P365 feels good in the hand while the chunky G26 doesn’t because the grip is too fat for its length. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

However, one thing I noticed right away about the P365 is its vertical grip angle. In that respect the P365 reminds me of SIG’s P320, which has gotten so much attention lately. I prefer more of a grip angle on my handguns, but that’s never prevented me or anyone else from being able to shoot the P320 well, and I experienced the same pleasant range time with the P365. It points nicely, and the grip feels like it was intended for the human hand—something missing from a few competing designs.

Tarr likes the forward cocking serrations on the P365. The gun also has a proprietary frame rail, and lights and/or lasers to fit it should be available from SIG by the time you see this.

The grip’s texturing, as well as the texturing on the fingerhook base pad, is the new modern aggressive-as-stippling texturing that wasn’t even possible until a few years ago, thanks to improved injection-molding techniques. I love it. To complement the aggressive gripping surface, SIG provided the P365 with forward cocking serrations. So many small guns are simply difficult to either hold onto or manipulate, but I didn’t have that experience with the P365.

The magazine release has the same triangular shape as on the P320, but it has a much lower profile and is angled to match the curve of the grip. I expect a lot of people will want to carry this pistol in pockets or briefcases where a protruding magazine release could be accidentally depressed much more easily—although if you use a pocket holster as you should, the point is moot. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

Both the takedown lever and the slide release are small and designed to be unobtrusive. The grip module has a proprietary accessory rail, and SIG debuted its Lima and Foxtrot series of lights and lasers to fit it, with other companies likely to follow.

The sights on many guns this small are often junk, plastic or both. The sights on the P365, on the other hand, are SIG’s X-Ray3 day/night sights, which have steel bodies. The rear sight has a tritium insert on both sides of the notch. The front sight has a tritium insert for low or no light, and around it is a large green circle designed to be highly visible in daylight.

The P365 comes with SIG’s excellent X-Ray3 steel day/night sights, one of the features that make this gun stand out from its competitors. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

The X-Ray3 sights are much better than standard black or even the ubiquitous three-dot sights, but I wish the green on the front sight was brighter because I don’t think it’s as visible as a simple white dot would be. Still, the sights on the SIG are steel, and you’re getting factory tritium night sights standard on a subcompact auto that retails for $599.

For decades, a long, heavy trigger pull was considered a safety feature on subcompact pistols, which is why most of these guns have subpar triggers. This is now falling out of fashion, thank goodness, and the P365 has a trigger pull that borders on awesome. Total trigger travel length was not much more than an eighth of an inch, and the trigger broke as crisply as striker-fired guns can break at 5.5 pounds. The trigger itself is a one-piece smooth metal unit that feels good under the finger.

Carry guns are always compromises. Small guns are easy to conceal and carry but harder to shoot as they recoil more and have short sight radiuses. Is the P365 as easy to shoot fast and accurate as any size P320? Of course not. But for what is a tiny gun, the P365 shoots like a much bigger piece, and it is easy to hit a pie-plate-size target as fast as you can pull the trigger at any realistic “defense of self” distance. Unlike most subcompacts, shooting at 10 yards and beyond was not frustrating but rather fun. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

After firing the gun for testing and for a week of filming for “Handguns and Defensive Weapons” I chose to carry the P365 while on vacation. As I walked around town and did a little hiking, the SIG P365 for sale was so small and light that half the time I forgot I was carrying it. It was invisible under a Hawaiian shirt and a long-sleeve knit cotton shirt.

Yes, this is a small gun, but I’m not lying when I say it shoots like a much bigger gun, and that I chose the SIG P365 to carry and defend myself and others should tell you how I feel about it.

I carried it in a DeSantis Inside Heat inside-the-waistband holster made for the S&W Shield, but the rig seemed to fit the pistol just fine. SIG offers several different Kydex holsters for the P365, including an IWB and a dedicated appendix holster, and other companies are already making holsters for it. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

With the flush magazine in place, the P365 is small enough to carry in a pocket, but if you’re going to do that you should be using a pocket holster. It will keep the pistol oriented the proper way for a faster draw and protect the trigger guard. Also, whether or not you’re using a pocket holster, don’t put anything but the pistol in that pocket. The last thing you need is for something to get wedged into the trigger guard of this (or any) handgun

.Guns the size of the P365 used to be compromises to one degree or another. They lacked capacity or shootability, a good trigger pull or proper sights. Not anymore. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

The P365 has everything you need for a self-defense gun — up to 12+1 rounds of 9mm +P — in a size that works for everyone. I’m pretty sure that the SIG P365 soon will be the subcompact pistol against which all others are judged.

SIG SAUER P365 Specs

Type: striker-fired semiauto

Caliber/Cartridge: 9mm

Capacity: 10+1

Barrel: 3.1 in.

OAL/Height/Width: 5.8/4.3/1.0 in.

Weight: 18.6 oz.

Construction: black polymer grip module w/stainless steel chassis; black Nitronfinished stainless steel slide

Sights: SIG X-Ray3 day/night

Trigger: 5.5 lb. pull (measured)

Safety: drop

Manufacturer: SIG Sauer, SIGSauer.com

REVIEW: Sig Sauer P365

By FRED TOAST FROM gunsdiscreetsupplies.com

Man oh man did SIG make a huge splash when they announced their 10+1 capacity 9mm micro-compact pistol.

What had stunned and stopped me, and left me stuttering is disbelief and doubt was the dimensions of Sig Sauer P365 pistol. The initial press release showed what’s a small gun, but showed nothing for scale.

What was shocking was the fact the SIG P365 was roughly the same size as the Glock 43 but carried a total of 10 + 1 rounds of 9m

After finally getting to handle one at SHOT 2018 I was impressed and knew I had to have one.

So now I have one.

It took some time because the gun had teething issues and production was stopped, but finally it’s here again

We’ll cover tons of stuff and by the end you’ll know all about the P365 and if it makes sense for your carry and shooting needs. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

Initial Impressions

The SIG P365 is a tiny gun.

It’s effortless to carry and super comfortable. It packs ten rounds and comes with two 10 round magazines. One is flush fitting and the other features a slight pinky extension.

The P365 also has a factory 12 round magazine that extends the length of the gun overall just a hair. This would give you twice the capacity of the Glock 43, and nearly twice that of the capacity of the S&W Shield and Walther PPS M2.

Sig Sauer does advertise heavily that it’s a 10 + 1 gun, which is true, but it can be a hassle to load that full magazine with one in the chamber. You have to force the magazine in when it’s full.

This iteration of SIG also comes with the SIG Sauer XRay3 night sights, which are amazing. The front sight is a high visibility day and night sight. The front sight has a high visibility green ring around a tritium vial.

The rear sight rocks two tritium vials and besides that are blacked out. The rear sight is serrated to reduce glare in bright environments.

Compared to the Competition

The CCW market is a crowded one. There are more guns than ever designed for concealed carry that is small, potent and easy to carry. To keep this an apples to apple comparison, we are only comparing 9mms to 9mms.

Glock 43

The Glock 43 was a huge deal a few years ago, which is true whenever Glock releases something new. The G43 is a single stack 9mm that features the same simplistic design Glock fans have come to know and love.

Here is how they stack up size wise.

Sig P365

Glock 43

Width:

1″

1.02″

Length:

5.8″

6.26″

Weight:

17.8oz

17.95oz

Barrel Length:

3.1″

3.39″

Height:

4.3″

4.25″

Capacity:

10+1

6+1

Walther PPS

The original Walther PPS was one of the first single stack carry guns and came out well before the Shield, the XDs, or the Glock 43. The PPS M2 was a bit of a modernization of the design with a more Americanized magazine release, a rounder grip, and a lack of rail.

Sig P365

Walther PPS M2

Width:

1″

1″

Length:

5.8″

6.3″

Weight:

17.8oz

21.1oz

Barrel Length:

3.1″

3.18″

Height:

4.3″

4.4″ to 5.3″

Capacity:

10+1

6 to 8+1

Smith & Wesson Shield 2.0

The Shield is the American heavy hitter in the single stack polymer frame firearms realm. This little guy was and is extremely popular, affordable, and very easy to find. Outside of the trigger, there isn’t too much you can say is bad about the gun.

Sig P365

S&W Shield 2.0

Width:

1″

.99″

Length:

5.8″

6.1″

Weight:

17.8oz

20.8oz

Barrel Length:

3.1″

3.1″

Height:

4.3″

4.5″

Capacity:

10+1

7+1 or 8+1

Glock 26

Since I’m comparing it to nothing but single stacks lets take a minute to compare it to the Glock26. The Glock 26 is a favorite 9mm double stack, subcompact Glock designed for concealed carry.

Sig P365

Glock 26

Width:

1″

1.18″

Length:

5.8″

6.41″

Weight:

17.8oz

21.17oz

Barrel Length:

3.1″

3.42″

Height:

4.3″

4.17″

Capacity:

10+1

10 to 33+1

Looking at a variety or single stacks and a few double stacks tell me SIG designed this gun the right way. They’ve given it double stack capacity in a gun the size of a single stack. This could potentially be a revolution in the CCW handgun industry. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

Speaking with local dealers, they say they can’t get enough of them. My favorite gun store has a waiting list with about a dozen people on it. It could be the next big thing in CCWs and create a trend in the industry for smaller, double stack 9mms.

SIG designed the magazine first and then built the gun around in. If that’s true, the design works and is brilliant.

Ergonomics

Let’s talk about ergonomics here. They can make or break a gun. A lot of single stacks have a few different issues, and they are often related to compromises made to the grip to reduce size.

The SIG sports a very functional and comfortable grip. It has a tremendous little palm swell that fills the hand well. The trigger guard has a nice undercut that allows you to get an excellent and full grip on the gun.

With the 10 round magazines rocking the pinky extension I can fit my entire hand on the grip. There is no hanging pinky here, and I like that. A better grip means more control. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

Small guns tend to be hard to control, so the more control, the better.

The gun’s controls are simple and easy to reach. The slide lock is small but textured with a ‘step’ that allows your thumb to reach it with ease. The gun’s magazine release is triangular and is a low profile design.

It’s not hard to reach, but it’s not like the magazine release you’d find on a fighting pistol. It’s small, but its something you have to expect from a little gun.

The trigger is brilliant. I’ll say it now it’s superior to the other pistols we’ve compared the P365 too. It’s crisp, gives a very clean break, and a tremendous audible and tactile reset. It’s not a match grade trigger, but as a stock trigger, it’s impressive.

On the Range

Shooting the SIG P365 is more fun than it should be. Over time I’ve gotten pretty used to shooting small handguns, but you can always feel the discomfort associated with that hand slapping recoil.

The P365 isn’t a Glock 17 regarding comfort, but it does have high marks for comfort.

A significant portion of this comfort factor comes from the excellent grip. It doesn’t feel like I’m holding a board like the PPS and Glock 43. The higher undercut allows me to get a full grip on the gun and this also helps mitigate recoil and even muzzle rise.

Hitting accurate double taps is pretty straightforward. If you take a peek at my target here, you’ll see it marks out the critical areas of a man-sized opponent. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

I can quickly place a double tap in the vital areas of the chest and pelvis area.

Accuracy is also top notch, thanks to the combination of great trigger, great sights, and a little practice with the fundamentals.

Backing out to 25 yards placing shots into the chest or pelvic area isn’t a challenge. I can group an entire magazine where they all need to be.

At 35 to 50 yards I can even ring my 21-inch Shootsteel popper if I take it slow. Of course, I’m not hitting 100% of the shots, but at least 70%.

Lastly, I want to say the gun itself is quite easy to rack. More so than most small firearms, and if you have weaker hand strength, I think this is an excellent choice. It’s not a compromise like the S&W 380 Shield EZ

Conceal Carrying It

This has also been my carry gun for the last month or so and I’ve been carrying it in my No Print Wonder V3 in the IWB configuration. This holster is quite lovely, and one of my favorites so far. The holster can only do so much.

The SIG P365 is a tiny gun; it’s so comfortable and just one of those guns you’ll forget you’re carrying. The SIG P365 is a great little carry gun, and it’s been a welcome entry into my waistband.

It’s currently May in Florida (at the time of writing this…), which is like August everywhere else. I’ve been rocking regular summer clothes and light shirts and pants and had zero issue toting it. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

The P365 conceals extremely well, without compromising comfort or my ability to draw the gun.

Ammo Bears Mentioning

Lastly, I want to mention the new SIG 365 ammunition. Named 365 this ammo is designed for tiny guns, like the P365 or the Ruger LC9, or Glock 43, or any other pocket pistol 9mm.

It’s light recoiling, uses reduced flash powder, and best of all comes in both defensive and training ammo.

The training ammo is 115-grain FMJ, and the defensive ammo is 115-grain JHP. The rounds are identical, except for the projectile of course. The cartridges are even loaded on the same machines.

What this gives you are rounds that feature the same recoil, muzzle rise, and point of aim. You’ll be able to effortlessly switch between training ammo and defensive ammo without missing a hitch. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

The only problem with the SIG P365 ammo…it’s harder to find in stock than it is to find a P365 itself!

Alternative options

Thankfully, SIG isn’t the only company – or even the first – to offer a line of ammo that is designed for short barreled sub-compact pistols.

Federal HST is a long established defensive ammo but it now comes in a new flavor – HST Micro.

Designed for small guns, the HST Micro has less flash, less recoil, less noise, and fires subsonically.

Best of all? It still expands like you would expect from standard Federal HST ammo. Check out the Lucky Gunner Ballistics Test for more science goodness.

By The Numbers

Reliability: 5/5

I had zero hitches with any of the ammo I used. This includes the 365 training and defensive ammo, Speer 124 Grain JHPs, Tula, Winchester Steel, and more. No jams, failure to ejects, or magazine failures occurred.

This is even after I dropped magazine after magazine while practicing my reloads. The gun works, and I’ve never cleaned it, or even added oil after receiving it from SIG. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

Ergonomics: 3/5

While the ergonomics are solid for a small gun, it’s still a tiny gun. The magazine will often catch your hand while reloading and fail to drop free. I’m almost always resting my thumb on the slide lock, which creates a situation where the slide rarely locks to the rear after the last shot.

Other than that the gun is comfortable to shoot, has a great trigger, and very minimized recoil and muzzle rise.

Accuracy: 4/5

For a small gun, it’s quite accurate. The short sight radius is an issue, but when it comes to defensive use, this gun is more accurate than it needs to be. The great sights and trigger make it a smooth shooter. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

Accessories and Upgrades: 4/5

Before this was an abysmal 2/5 because the only things you could get were holsters.

Update! Streamlight has made a TLR-6 Light for the P365. We love ours so far.

Not the brightest at 100 lumens…but plenty enough for night time identification. And we love the push-button on/off.

Bang For your Buck/Value: 3/5

With an MSRP of 599.99 and magazines running between 35 to 48 dollars, this gun is priced a little higher than other competitive pistols. That being said it’s not priced too much higher. The magazines are a tad pricey, but they are well made.

I would have upped the score a point is they included a 12 round mag instead of two 10 round magazines. Are 48 bucks worth an extra two rounds? I haven’t decided yet. Sig Sauer P365 Nitron

Overall: 4/5

Conclusion

The Sig Sauer P365 is now one of the most popular CCW pistols due to its large capacity, reliability, tiny size, great trigger, and upgrade potential. Plus it’s fun to shoot and comes in several varieties like the P365 XL and SAS models.

It’s my favorite subcompact 9mm so far. I enjoy shooting it, carrying it, and I never feel likes it’s too much or too little. It’s one of the few pocket pistols I’ll take out and plink with for fun.

Most small guns I shoot are for training, and keeping skills sharp. This one is just fun to fire. No slide bite, no hand slapping recoil, just a little gun that goes bang when I pull the trigger.