A Sig Sauer 365 .380 or 9mm?
By MARJ LAW
“Just because my Sig Sauer P365 is a .380 doesn’t mean it’s not as good as your 9mm Sig Sauer X-Macro Comp P365!” I explain to Joe. “And it’s as accurate too!”
Sig has made several iterations of the P365. I’ve had the fun of shooting the P365, the P365 XL and the P365 SAS. Goodness, and these are just a few models of the 365!
The P365s are fine handguns. But I like the Sig .380 365 even more. The .380’s slide is easier to manipulate. The .380 is lighter, smaller and more concealable than Joe’s 9mm X-Macro Comp version. The .380 fits my small hand well. Yes, his 9mm came with three 17-round magazines. My .380 came with two 10-round magazines and then I also purchased 12-round magazines for this gun. So what if I have fewer rounds? I like the smaller size, ease of use, and low recoil of my .380.
As the Sig company’s site says of the .380, it is: “A new, softer shooting, easier handling micro-compact option for everyday carry. It uses the same grip module and fire control unit as the popular 9mm version with a lightened slide and barrel…” and “the P365-380 is the most durable 380 micro-compact pistol on the market.” It goes on to say the 380 is: “designed for all shooters, especially those with smaller hands and those who find the manipulation and recoil management of 9mm caliber pistols challenging.”
In fact, Graham Baates on the Truth About Guns says of the .380: “The low recoil makes for exceptional controllability and reduced flinch impulse.” I’m not so sure I have a flinching problem, but shooters who anticipate a heavy recoil do tend to flinch when shooting. Since flinching hinders your shooting accuracy, you sure want a gun that doesn’t make you flinch.
Brent Spicer, on the Truth About Guns agrees. “I was shocked at how easy and enjoyable the P365 was to shoot due to the low recoil and excellent ergonomics. I was also pleasantly surprised how accurate this micro-pistol is with its excellent sights and trigger.”
And, having shot both the .380 and Joe’s 9mm 365 handguns, I believe their statements.
The guns do have many similarities.
Both 365s have 3.1 inch barrels. They are 1-inch wide.
Both have SIGLITE night sights. They have tritium sights in the rear with a large bright green circle surrounding a tritium center on the front sight. Front sights are so noticeable, John Boch of Shooting News Weekly says: “That front sight blade has a nice, glow-in-the-dark SIGLITE night sight beach ball on it…or so it seems as you’re lining them (sights) up.”
John goes on to reflect: “Given that most defensive gun uses take place in low light or no light conditions, that’s a big plus most folks don’t think about until it’s too late. Bad guys prefer to work in lower light conditions.”
Magazine wells are similar. Brent Spicer, on The Truth About Guns says of the 365: “I describe it as a double-stack magazine that tapers down into a single-stack at the top. This design allows the frame and slide to keep its slim 1-inch width…”
Grip design is similar on both guns, as well. Again, Spicer says: “The unique grip design, texturing and higher grip to bore axis reduces perceived recoil and makes the P365 as comfortable to shoot as many mid-sized pistols. A generous trigger guard undercut also allows for a higher hand position and a full grip for most shooters, further increasing control and accuracy.”
“None of us are getting any younger,” Boch sums up, “and for those with hand strength issues, the .380 version of the P365 should be on anyone’s very short-list for consideration.”
There are, however, some differences besides the calibers.
Because Joe’s 9mm holds 17 rounds, its magazine makes it taller than the .380. This version of the 9mm is 5.2 inches high versus my .380’s 4.2 inches high. And Joe’s gun length is longer at 6.6 inches due to the compensator. But remember, barrel length is the same in both guns. The .380 is only 5.8 inches long. And, naturally, the longer and taller 9mm weighs a bit more at 21.5 ounces, while the .380 is 15.7 ounces.
So, length, height and weight are more in Joe’s 9mm with its 17 rounds, while my .380 is shorter and lighter and has the 12-round magazine today. I like it.
Not that Joe and I are in competition, or anything like that (ahem), but we decide to take both guns to the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office range. We plan to shoot four rounds from each gun into two targets.
Joe shoots my .380 first. Out of the four shots, on the left-hand 8-inch target, only one bullet makes a hole.
Next, he picks up his 9mm and shoots at the right-hand target. This time, all four bullets hit in a tight grouping. In fact, two of the bullets hit in the same hole.
My turn. I pick up my .380. All four bullets hit the target. Not quite a tight grouping, but all near the center of the target.
Last, I take Joe’s 9mm. All four shots hit the target, with two of them in the same hole. This time, the groupings are closer together.
I ask Joe what happened when he shot my .380. He picks the gun up and shows me his hand.
He doesn’t have full “pinky dangle,” but his little finger barely makes contact with the short grip.
“It’s difficult to obtain a good grasp when your whole hand isn’t on the grip,” he says. “Also, this is a very narrow grip. I prefer the grip on my gun, which is much longer.”
I have to concede that our groupings from each of us are closer on the 9mm’s target. However, I still prefer the .380.
Boch concludes his talk of the .380 by saying: “I can’t sing this gun’s praises loudly enough.”
I’d say the same thing. I sure do like this little .380. Besides, did I mention that this particular .380 is the Rainbow edition of the P365?
In addition to all its virtues of being easy to manage, small and concealable, this particular .380 is prettier than any gun I’ve seen.
If you were to choose having five more rounds versus having a gun with a really pretty slide?
I’ll take pretty and the 12 rounds.
Marj Law is the former director of Keep Wakulla County Beautiful who has become an avid shooter in retirement.