Ditched the P365. Back to the Shield 45!

StephenWhoDat

StephenWhoDat

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Late last year I purchased a new Sig P365 because the size seemed great for concealed carry. Especially because I carry OWB. Also, having that many rounds of 9mm in such a compact package was truly intriguing. But, I just didn't LOVE it. It felt too small for me. And I do not have very large hands. I'd say my hands are more medium sized. Another thing I didn't love about it was the fact that I couldn't drop a magazine without changing my grip.

Anyway, skip ahead to a couple of weeks ago: Shot both the P365 and my Performance Center Shield 45, and realized I already owned the perfect carry gun for me before purchasing the P365. Posted the little Sig on a local forum and had her a new home within two days. So, I'm back to carrying the M&P PC Shield 45 as my EDC. Anyone else try the P365 just to decide it wasn't for them?

Also something to note:

I used to carry the Sig P290RS for a couple of years. Loved it. The P365 replaced the P290RS, which is why Sig stopped making the P290. In my opinion, I like the P290RS way more than the P365. Just an opinion.
 
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I came to pretty much the same conclusion, but didn't need to buy one.
I'm lucky enough to have a Store/Range that has a good rental selection, so for $5, I learned what others spent several Hundred to figure out.

Glad to hear that you easily found it a new home. :)
 
I think for a lot of shooters, sometimes a gun can become so small that it looses its "shootability" to the point of diminishing returns. Maintaining control of the gun, placing shots accurately, and the desire to practice are just as important as concealability.

Larry
 
Fishinfool said:
I think for a lot of shooters, sometimes a gun can become so small that it looses its "shootability" to the point of diminishing returns. Maintaining control of the gun, placing shots accurately, and the desire to practice are just as important as concealability.
Larry
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How true Larry. I had a Walter compact 22lr which was quite small but difficult to print any small groups past 20 yards. I sold & replaced it with a Ruger Mark lV...I can now easily hit a 10" gong out to 40 yards with it. Great gun.
 
Midnight Hour said:
People often complain that snub-nose revolvers are so hard to shoot but I must say I've never met a small 9mm pistol that I was able to control very well let alone able to pocket carry comfortably.

The Sig P365 seems to have all the worse attributes imaginable in a concealed carry handgun, it's too big to pocket carry for average sized people yet too small for IWB carry and difficult to shoot well so what's the point?

I've also heard more then a few complaints that the P365's reliably leaves something to be desired.
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I have three SIG P365s. I had four, but gave one to my son. To each his own. I carried a S&W M&P340 for years and the the P365 came along...

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk
 
I have large hands and have zero problems controlling or putting on target my utterly reliable P365. And over 1300 rds fired in 8 months. I love shooting this gun.
It just works, flawlessly.
All my other carry guns reside in the safe. ymmv.
 
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I'll stick with my ol reliable. 5 ready to go...no feeding issues...reasonable power...great for pocket carry.
jNCo1NT.jpg
 
Midnight Hour said:
People often complain that snub-nose revolvers are so hard to shoot but I must say I've never met a small 9mm pistol that I was able to control very well let alone able to pocket carry comfortably.

The Sig P365 seems to have all the worse attributes imaginable in a concealed carry handgun, it's too big to pocket carry for average sized people yet too small for IWB carry and difficult to shoot well so what's the point?

I've also heard more then a few complaints that the P365's reliably leaves something to be desired.
Click to expand...

Some people reported issues with early P365s, but we have three of them in our family and they have had zero reliability issues, so in my own experience I find nothing to be desired.

To your question “what’s the point?” I would counter that the P365 is not too big to pocket carry, if you can pocket carry a J frame (very similar in size, slightly more square at the rear of the slide but flatter/thinner in the pocket than a revolver cylinder); it’s not too small for IWB carry (that’s how I carry mine); and it is not difficult to shoot well. Then again, when people don’t shoot well, it’s rarely the gun’s fault. I have larger pistols that I carry when my attire allows it. The P365 is smaller, lighter, flatter inside my waistband (i.e., more comfortable) and conceals IWB without printing under a lighter/thinner/tighter concealing garment than my Glock 19. The gun that my P365 kicked to the curb is my 640-1, which I used to carry IWB on the same occasions and for the same reasons that I now use the P365. I switched from 5 rounds of .357 to 13 rounds of 9mm+p and from crappy J frame sights to decent tritium sights that I much prefer. Reliability has been the same. So I guess that is the “point.” It’s reliable, it’s accurate, it gives me options for summertime concealment, and I have zero problems controlling it and shooting it well. Neither does my wife, who unlike me retired every other pistol and has carried and shot nothing but her P365 since we bought it for her. To each his/her own.

I will add that I don’t carry the P365 in a pocket, and I do agree that it’s a little large for that, for me anyway. But so are my J-frames. If you can pocket carry a J frame you can pocket carry a P365. When I have no choice but to pocket carry, I have a Ruger LCP for that. Pocket carry is not what I bought a P365 for.
 
A few months ago I was test firing several guns to pick a one gun EDC. The 365 was one of them. A fine gun, accurate and definitely met my needs. It gave me the best accuracy in slow fire but the 9mm Shield gave me the best grouping in rapid fire. I ultimately chose the Shield and have no regrets. The 365 would have worked for me but the Shield was just a little bit "more better" IMO.
 
Midnight Hour said:
People often complain that snub-nose revolvers are so hard to shoot but I must say I've never met a small 9mm pistol that I was able to control very well let alone able to pocket carry comfortably.

The Sig P365 seems to have all the worse attributes imaginable in a concealed carry handgun, it's too big to pocket carry for average sized people yet too small for IWB carry and difficult to shoot well so what's the point?

I've also heard more then a few complaints that the P365's reliably leaves something to be desired.
Click to expand...

And yet, both of my 365s run flawlessly and fit my hand perfectly to make them more accurate for ME than my Glocks, J frames and Kahrs.
 
oneounceload said:
And yet, both of my 365s run flawlessly and fit my hand perfectly to make them more accurate for ME than my Glocks, J frames and Kahrs.
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Agree...happy the OP and others here are carrying the guns they are comfortable with, but the 365 is a great gun for many. Mine has been flawless and with the 12-round magazine perfectly fits my hand. I shoot it extremely well and have no difficulty pocket carrying it. If the 365 is not for you, don't buy one...but it works very well for a lot of folks.
 
FWIW, I too have difficulty releasing the mag catch on my P365 with my right (shooting) hand. I have found that it's easier to release the mag release with the thumb of my left hand as I begin the mag change process. I normally shoot with a two handed grip so the left hand pauses just a second for my thumb to release the mag and I can catch it if I choose with that same left hand in the process. I normally do not drop my mags to the ground or pavement or concrete when reloading. So even when shooting right handed only, it's pretty quick and easy to reach up with my left hand to take care of this business.

Yes, this method takes a bit longer than a speed reload, but it's also more secure and certain for me to do it this way, and it has not taken long to get used to doing it this way. The P365 is a small gun and my hands are fairly large, but I don't have any trouble handling and shooting it. I'm still getting really familiar with mine, but I'm carrying it all the time now, and I practice this method any time I load up in the morning and when I unload before bedtime.

I have found that any mag release that sticks out far enough to make right handed mag releasing very easy can also have the tendency to be pressed while in the holster and releasing the mag. That's not a good thing to happen for me! The P365 does not have that problem in my experience.

This is just what is working well for me. Each of us must figure out how to run our carry guns in the way that works well for us individually. I just mention my method for whatever it might be worth to anyone. These days, I do not get in a big hurry when reloading. My emphasis is on doing so positively without any fumbling. Same way with re-holstering the gun when shooting is done. That action should not require much haste to accomplish. There is great potential for grief if care is not taken in the re-holstering process. With the P365 and it's full load of ammo, I would surmise that in most cases, the action should hopefully be over before the gun runs dry anyway. I practice for the most likely scenario while being aware that circumstances may not always be the most likely situation. We all have to be ready to make accomodations in that event.
 
Fishinfool said:
I think for a lot of shooters, sometimes a gun can become so small that it looses its "shootability" to the point of diminishing returns. Maintaining control of the gun, placing shots accurately, and the desire to practice are just as important as concealability.

Larry
Click to expand...

I know it’s a YMMV thing, but I agree with Larry. I personally am not fond of semis smaller than compact size- Sig P6, CZ PCR. Both my Sig and CZ offer a secure grip on the pistol, which I think is important not only for control while firing but also for retention purposes. The P6 is more streamlined due to the single stack magazine and, to me, better for carry.
 
Midnight Hour said:
I understand all the hoopla about the high ammo capacity in such a small package but if it's too big to pocket carry (and it is for most people) then why not just carry a compact semi-auto that can hold even more ammo and has a better track record for reliability if you're going to bother carrying IWB? It's not that much more difficult.

Also, I wasn't comparing the P365 to a J-Frame, just stating from personal experience that small 9mm pistols are not as easy to shoot as some people say they are.
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I find the P365 shoots far better for me than my P320. I pocket carry it in a Sticky-5. I wear jeans only.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk
 
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