Introduction
Big manufacturers like Sig Sauer offer a great variety of products, sometimes they knock it out of the park, and sometimes they don’t. But today we are taking a look at one of their popular and successful designs. The Sig P365 came out some years ago, with a new perspective on compact pistols. Since its release the P365 family has grown into more like an ant colony of models filled with different sizes, feature sets and so many variants it can be hard to keep up. Todays topic is the Sig Sauer P365 XMacro Comp, an integrally compensated version of the polymer framed pistol. With any luck, I hope to extol the benefits of this pistol to help those curious about it.
The P365
As I mentioned, there are far too many models for me to discuss here. But its also a topic worth going a little deeper into the colony to show a little daylight. There are different sized models, different calibers, state compliant models and more. I’ve put together some of the basic variations here, just to give you an idea. In case the model I am showing you today isn’t exactly what you are looking for.
| Model | Barrel | Grip | Capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P365 | 3.1″ | Short | 10+1 | Original micro-compact |
| P365-380 | 3.1″ | Short | 10+1 | .380 ACP version |
| P365 SAS | 3.1″ | Short | 10+1 | Flush sights, anti-snag design |
| P365X | 3.1″ | XL grip | 12+1 | Short slide, longer grip |
| P365XL | 3.7″ | XL grip | 12+1 | Longer slide and barrel |
| P365 XL Spectre Comp | 3.1″ compensated | XL grip | 12+1 | Integrated compensator |
| P365 Spectre Comp | 3.1″ compensated | Macro grip | 17+1 | Premium Spectre series |
| P365 XMacro | 3.1″ comp / 3.7″ | Macro grip | 17+1 | Full-size grip, slim frame |
| P365 AXG Legion | 3.1″ compensated | Aluminum AXG | 17+1 | Metal-frame premium model |
| P365 Fuse | 4.3″ | Macro grip | 21+1 | Largest P365 variant |
| P365 ROSE | Various | Various | Varies | Lena Miculek collaboration |
| P365 Luxe 380 | 3.1″ comp | AXG | 10+1 | Premium .380 model |
| P365 DH3 | 3.7″ | Macro | 17+1 | Daniel Horner competition-inspired model |
The P365 XMacro
Among the P365’s, the XMacro models bring more a full-size feature set to a very small handgun. Despite its narrow frame, the magazines carry 17-rounds. Which is pretty impressive for such a small gun. As a Sig-o-phile, I have long carried pistols from the manufacturer. And the P239 that I carried for nearly two decades is a little bigger and only holds 8-rounds.
And if that wasn’t enough, the XMacro also incorporates an interchangeable backstrap system to help customize the grip to the shooter. The overall grip is surprisingly spacious and at the same time feels pretty petite.
Up top, the slide of the XMacro Comp model is optics cut to install a red dot. Fitting the RMSc footprint gives you a variety of optical sight options to install on the pistol. And at the front of the slide you will find the integral compensator. By directing muzzle blast pressure upwards, the muzzle rise is neutralized keeping the gun closer to on target for the next shot.
An accessory pic rail is located under the front of the slide, for adding a weapon light. This is a great thing to have for a CCW pistol which the P365 is meant for. And of course, like another popular Sig pistol we hear a lot about these days, the P365 has an interchangeable grip frame. The serialized part of the pistol is a removable trigger/sear pack that you can swap among a great variety of factory and aftermarket options. These are available in an impressive variety of patterns, colors, and even materials.
Specifications
| Specification | P365 XMacro Comp |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 9×19mm |
| Action | Striker-fired, short recoil |
| Barrel Length | 3.1 in (79 mm) |
| Overall Length | 6.6 in (168 mm) |
| Overall Height | 5.2 in (132 mm) |
| Overall Width | 1.1 in (28 mm) |
| Weight (with magazine) | 21.5 oz (610 g) |
| Sight Radius | 5.1 in |
| Magazine Capacity | 17+1 |
| Frame Material | Polymer XMacro grip module |
| Slide Material | Stainless steel, Nitron finish |
| Barrel Material | Carbon steel |
| Trigger | Flat-faced XSeries trigger |
| Sights | XRAY3 day/night sights |
| Optics Ready | Yes (RMSc / ROMEOZero footprint) |
| Accessory Rail | Standard 1913 Picatinny |
| Backstraps | Small, Medium, Large (interchangeable) |
| Manual Safety | Available on select models |
| Included Magazines | Two 17-round steel magazines |
With the basics covered, I figured it was time to outfit this pistol and get it on the range. I’m a big fan of red dots on pistols, so the P365 would get a Holosun 407. And because why not, I installed a Streamlight TLR7 weapon light. The two factory 17-round magazines would do just fine for my purposes, so I grabbed some ammunition to fill them up.
Shooting the P365 XMacro
Shooting the P365 was done during various trips to the range, both indoor and outdoor. We would shoot a variety of ammunition from Federal Champion, PMC, Remington, Winchester and Magtech. Mostly 115 grain ammunition was used but we did fire some 147 grain ammo as well. All shooting was done in the configuration seen, with the Holosun red dot and the Streamlight in place. This was done because that is how I would carry it and wanted to shoot it the same way.
Shootability
The thin grip of the P365 is easy to grab as well as tuck into clothing. It almost feels too small to me, perhaps I’m just used to gripping thicker frames. But this would be great for someone who has smaller hands, allowing a better purchase on the gun.
Trigger pull on this pistol is just what you’d want for a CCW pistol. Its neither light nor particularly short. But it feels pretty clean, with a defined reset and predictable break. We had not trouble keeping shots on target at 7 and 12 yards.
With the comped barrel, the XMacro was pretty good at staying on target. Small pistols like this in 9mm tend to be a little spicier when recoiling, the integral compensator does a good job at combatting that tendency.
Ergonomics
I mentioned the grip being almost too small for my taste, but you can adjust the grip changing out the different backstraps on the grip module. This allows you to customize the feel of the grip to your taste.
Sig’s P365 feels good in the hand, and even though I feel like this gun is a little small for my personal taste it is perfectly functional for me. There is adequate room for both hands to engage and operate the controls of the gun. And the different grip frames you can interchange increase your ability to fit.
Reaching all the controls was easy, and they are very serviceable. I was concerned the slide release might be a bit tough, but it was fine. The mag release is clean, dropping the magazine free with little effort.
Accuracy
I mentioned we had not trouble keeping on target at typical CCW defense distances. At 10 yards I found I could keep groups under a couple inches. This is of course under controlled conditions, and I would expect under a stressful situation that would open up.
But for general CCW purposes I think the XMacro is perfectly adequate in the accuracy department. Hopefully I never have to find out.
Reliability
We experienced no malfunctions while shooting the P365. Feeding and ejecting rounds went perfectly. I did notice one thing that was slightly irritating though, with the magazine loaded to the full 17-rounds, it sometimes was a challenge to seat in the pistol. It only slightly concerns me as the resistance isn’t something I’d want to deal with in a stressful shooting scenario. But certainly worth noting, perhaps I’d just load 16 for carry. Which is still ahead of many other CCW pistols.
Value
I see P365 pistols all over for as little as $499, which is pretty reasonable. The XMacro models on the other hand are going to cost a bit more. Prices between seven and eight-hundred dollars for the model we tested today are more likely what you’d pay. That isn’t unreasonable in my opinion. The added ammo capacity of the P365 is great, but incorporating the compensator is another increase in both value and performance. So if you can get into a P365 XMacro for $800 or less I think you are doing well.
Pros and Cons
As my gun collection increases with age, I find a tendency to have a firearm for every life situation I might encounter. And the P365 seems like one I would want to carry for a situation where needing it is likely.
It shoots well, and allows me to get hits on targets without much effort. It has the accessory options that I look for in a handgun and the capacity to give you a good chance in a defensive scenario. Its customizable will being still pretty uniform as handguns go. And unlike its P320 sibling, the P365 has a pretty good record of service. There isn’t much to say against the pistol, other than the small gripes I mentioned above.
Conclusion
The Sig Sauer P365 XMacro has spread like wildfire, and not just because of Sig’s massive marketing campaigns. People really seem to like the gun, and the way they can customize it to their tastes. Despite being mistreated like all Sig Sauer customers, I still find myself pulled to many of their firearms. The P365 is one of those, it is fun to shoot and very useful in your hands. Like any good gun, with the right training it can become your most trusted tool in life.