Keep Shield or upgrade to Sig P365?

It's apples to oranges. The Shield is a larger pistol, appropriately carried in an IWB or OWB holster. The Sig P365 is a true pocket pistol with higher capacity. As an owner of the Sig P320 Compact with upgraded trigger and probably around 1,000 rounds through it now, I'm not afraid of Sig polymer pistols. Too many comments about Sig P320's are from those with no experience and just piling on IMHO. Many new designs have had growing pains.
 
Finally found the "Unicorn" the Sig P365 in person (but did not "Buy" it for $499.).

Here is my Honest Non-biased & Non shooting review of the 365.

Here is a little background info on me, am 6ft tall, weigh 160 lbs and pants size is 33" waist & 34" long wear belt size 36' due to always carrying IWB deep cover Glock 27X and my Glove size is medium (lower end) and no "Beer Belly.

Have many compact mini pistols & revolvers and i mainly was looking at the P 365 as a Backup/pocket pistol for my Glock 27X since the 365 is "Highly Touted" as a "Micro Pistol" which it is not!!!!

Was out of town and stopped by Smokey Mt. Guns &Ammo in Sevierville,Tn. and they had a bunch of the new/upgraded ones and i was shocked how big the thing(P365) actually is.

Compact yes, semi-compact maybe but "Micro" Compact No way in "He-l" to big to carry for me in my Blue Jeans, Cargo Pants maybe?

The gun looks great, nitride finish, sights and the grip is slightly but comfortably texturized but not as heavy as the M&P 2.0 and with the 1 mag was way to short in front of my grip and also in back of my palm o not very good feel or even comfortable to me, with the other 10 rd. mad it has a pinky extension and it felt better up front in grip but also lacking to me any good grip in back in palm, little finger barely fit front grip with the extension.

Then I'm inserted a 12 rd. mag and it felt good both front & rear of grip, but added1" or more. So i did & do not see any need for me to get it.

In size the P365 is 100% identical to my PF9 except the PF9 is thinner and much lighter, so if you like me have a PF9 or Shield i don't see any reason to get the P365.

My PF9 in order to fit my grip comfortably i did add a +! mag extension and it is great, on my Shield it does not to me feel comfy with the 7 rd mag and barely with the 8 rd. mag soi ot a +2 extension and now my grip is felling 100% good in front and back!

So or now i will use my P32 with +1 mag/grip ext. as my back-up since to me no sense to get a P365, but may still get 1 if prices come down and if all bugs get worked out?

PF9 ------------ Shield ------ P365
Barrel 3.1" ------ 3.1" ------ 3.1"
Length 5.85" ------ 6.1" ------ 5.8"
Height 4.3" ------ 4.3" ------ 4.3"
Weight 12.7oz. ---- 19oz. ------ 17.8oz.
Width .88" ------ .95" ------ 1.0"

All guns weight & measured empty with flat bottom mag bases!
 
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akdude said:
since the 365 is "Highly Touted" as a "Micro Pistol" which it is not!!!!

Was out of town and stopped by Smokey Mt. Guns &Ammo in Sevierville,Tn. and they had a bunch of the new/upgraded ones and i was shocked how big the thing(P365) actually is.

Compact yes, semi-compact maybe but "Micro" Compact No way in "He-l" to big to carry for me in my Blue Jeans, Cargo Pants maybe?
Click to expand...
I never knew it was considered a Micro size pistol. To me it is mainly a direct competitor of the Shield and G43. I went with a Shield for an extra round and I can get a decent 2.5 finger grip on the frame w/ the flush mag. But I always grew curious of the G43 just because of the slightly smaller size.

I ended up modding the Shield grip (it is pretty thin) and can get a decent time on a Bill Drill w/ a Shield in 40 because of it. I shoot the Shield well overall, but can't help but be curious of something smaller (G43, now P365) but have more capacity than the Shield (and was the G43's downfall, without aftermarket mag extensions).

I don't pocket carry, I AIWB a Shield and a Glock 19 and while the Shield disappears in comparison, how much more would a smaller (G43 or P365) be...
 
greeenteeee said:
I never knew it was considered a Micro size pistol. To me it is mainly a direct competitor of the Shield and G43. I went with a Shield for an extra round and I can get a decent 2.5 finger grip on the frame w/ the flush mag. But I always grew curious of the G43 just because of the slightly smaller size.

I ended up modding the Shield grip (it is pretty thin) and can get a decent time on a Bill Drill w/ a Shield in 40 because of it. I shoot the Shield well overall, but can't help but be curious of something smaller (G43, now P365) but have more capacity than the Shield (and was the G43's downfall, without aftermarket mag extensions).

I don't pocket carry, I AIWB a Shield and a Glock 19 and while the Shield disappears in comparison, how much more would a smaller (G43 or P365) be...
Click to expand...
Gee, I compared my Kahr CM-9 to the Sig P365 and it looked almost exactly the same size. I think the Kahr is a micro sized 9mm. The Kahr CM-9 is a pocket sized pistol (I've been carrying one daily for years) and I think the Sig P365 is also in the same category, but more ammo capacity.
 
akdude said:
Many Shields still have issues with Slide Lock spring/bar locking gun down and there still are the mag spring issues, not to good + they were all recalled in the past also (seems also spotty quality) despite doing a lot of research i did not find out about these issues till after i bought the Shield.

If i had known don't think i would have got 1 since i had to buy Wolff spring for all my mags.:eek:
Click to expand...

I have never heard of these issues. I have stock springs in all 5 of my mags. I drop them all day and they still lock the slide back.
 
They only had stopped production a few days and did some changes! Here is a 1 day old vid of 2 guys using the gun from Harrys Holster" Guy where Harry had many issues and they had none! Vid will explain the Upgrades.

Nice gun but not for Pocket carry and not a "Micro" Pistol as advertised!

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G01gEBmHQ2k[/ame]
 
As i said before for my pockets my PF9 which is same size as P365 and thinner is to big for me to carry in pocket.

My P32 fits in my pocket perfect. But to each his/her own!
 
YOU ARE ONTO SOMETHING THERE.

Now, if the P365B came with a hammer, it would be different. I'd love to have ALL and ONLY hammer fired handguns.[/QUOTE]

AMEN! I like & am used to the DA/SA SIGS, hammers and all.

True enough that many shields have been sold. How long have they been used, or available? A tic in time of some other OLD favorites.
 
akdude said:
They only had stopped production a few days and did some changes! Here is a 1 day old vid of 2 guys using the gun from Harrys Holster" Guy where Harry had many issues and they had none! Vid will explain the Upgrades.

Nice gun but not for Pocket carry and not a "Micro" Pistol as advertised!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G01gEBmHQ2k
Click to expand...

Great video. Hickok45 thinks that the Sig P365 is actually a pocket pistol: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n29qgsP9B-E[/ame]
 
I would really like to get my hands on one of these, but no local gun shops have one.

I'm wondering if it is actually is small enough to work as a pocket gun. I really wish it were a true DAO since I don't really like the idea of sticking a single-action striker-fired auto in a pocket. Even a true DAO striker-fired would have been acceptable.
 
Meaning of "Upgrade"!

1.raise (something) to a higher standard, in particular improve (equipment or machinery) by adding or replacing components.

"upgraded computers" ·
[more]


synonyms: improve · better · make better · ameliorate · reform · enhance · add to ·


I started this Thread using the term Upgrade and comparing the P365 to my PF9/Shield it is a Upgrade, since it holds more
ammo, is better build/looking and more ergonomic while smaller than similar guns!

I don't consider it a Micro-Compact but Sub-compact, but no way is it a Pocket pistol unless Cargo pants, Coat or Jacket pockets work fine.

A Micro pistol is like a P32, NAA .32 or a Seecamp or a NNA .22 mini revolver, but some consider the Shield as a Pocket pistol
 
Bob Thorton said:
Perhaps, but in 9mm it's the P365.
You know you want one, be bold and get one.:)

p.s. if all I could carry was your definition of micro I would not waste my time and just carry a stick.
Click to expand...


My PF9 which is same height/length but weighs 5.1oz less and is a lot thinner and i and never heard anybody call it a micro or pocket pistol, but a sub compact!
It still is the lightest & thinnest 9mm ever but to big (for me) to be a pocket pistol!

Some consider the Shield a Pocket Pistol but most don't and its slide is less then 1/4" longer than P365.

Never seen a Kahr9 but the name seems to have issues!
 
akdude said:
I started this Thread using the term Upgrade and comparing the P365 to my PF9/Shield it is a Upgrade, since it holds more
ammo, is better build/looking and more ergonomic while smaller than similar guns!
Click to expand...

I spent several years chasing guns with "better" specs after I bought my first Shield. I bought several guns based on the false assumption that being shorter, thinner, lighter, or having more ammo capacity made them "better." Those other guns are gone and I still have the Shield because I can shoot it better than any of the other carry guns I have tried.

In the end, my ability to use a gun is more important than measurements.
 
The Nano beats the 365/Shield and even PF9 in height/length
but is considered a Sub-compact!

Beretta BU9 Nano Sub-Compact Pistol Specs:

•Caliber: 9mm.
•Capacity: 6 rounds (8 with extended magazine)
•Overall Length: 5.6 inches.
•Barrel Length: 3.07 inches.
•Height: 4.2 inches.
•Width: 0.9 inches.
•Weight (empty): 20 ounces.
•Trigger: DAO, striker fired.

Always wanted 1 but to many issues in past, but now fixed or so they say!
 
gc70 said:
I spent several years chasing guns with "better" specs after I bought my first Shield. I bought several guns based on the false assumption that being shorter, thinner, lighter, or having more ammo capacity made them "better." Those other guns are gone and I still have the Shield because I can shoot it better than any of the other carry guns I have tried.

In the end, my ability to use a gun is more important than measurements.
Click to expand...


I agree with U 1000% however this thread is about sub-compact pistols!

As i said the P365 to me only fits my hand/grip only good with the 12 rd. mag, the Shield only with a+2 extension on the 7 rd. mag and the FP9 with a +1 mag ext. and my P32 with a +1 extension.

If i am in a shoot out i want to have a full grip rather then a partial unstable one!
 
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I chased the perfect concealed carry for a few years, bought a Shield 9 when they first came out then caught the glock bug, bought a 43, sold the Shield, when to an LC9 etc etc....Just picked up a Shield 2.0 in 9, what a sweet shooting gun, conceals well, some guns conceal better but you can shoot this all day and carry as well, can't do that with many. I still carry an LCRX357 as well, but I think the shield is going to be carried 90% of the time, oh yea have a G42 and that is nice and light when I need something like that. Price wise you really can't beat a Shield. Yes I like Sigs, have three, P226, M11 and P225.
 
Hickock45 is 6'5" and I'll bet his pockets are sufficient to warrant "pocket pistol." I'm just under 6' and can easily accommodate pistols similar in size to this in a pocket holster, Wrangler jeans:

P99C AS 9mm
Model: 2796376
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel Length: 3.5"
Trigger Pull: DA: 9 lbs/SA: 4.5 lbs
Trigger Travel: DA: 0.6"/SA: 0.3"
Capacity: 10 rds, plus 1

Overall Length: 6.6"
Height: 4.3"
Safety: 3 Auto
Width: 1.3"
Weight Empty: 21.5 oz

Walther_P99c_LS_2796326.jpg


So, for me, that's "pocket pistol" size.

Some others that qualify (for me):

P30SK

Caliber--Length--Height--Width---Barrel---Capacity
9x 19–––-6.42in.-4.57in.-1.37in.–3.27 in.-10+1
P2000SK

Px4 Storm SubCompact feels a bit fat for my pocket but close, IMO
[FONT=&quot]Action-----------------SA/DA[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Barrel length (in)----------3[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Caliber------------------9x19[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Magazine------------------13[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Overall height (in)-------4.8[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Overall length (in)------6.22[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Overall width (in)-------1.42[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Sight radius (in)----------4.8[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Weight unloaded (OZ)--26.1[/FONT]
 
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