I got a chance to shoot a SIG P365!

Small guns rarely use a full-power 9mm, usually opting for the lower-pressure 9x17 (.380 ACP). Previous micro-compact pistols firing the full 9x19mm (a.k.a. Luger, Parabellum, NATO, etc.) typically used a single-stack magazine, and either resembled a shrunken 1911, or were not-especially-nice plastic fantastics.

I had a chance to shoot the Sig P938 linked above alongside its little brother, the .380 ACP P238 several years ago. The former appeals to my inner Fudd's preference for a good single-action trigger and a proper thumb safety.

But a couple years ago, SIG released this, and now I have had a chance to shoot one!

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That pistol is an absolute game-changer in defensive handguns. SIG Sauer stuffed a double-stack 10-round mag into a polymer frame with a not-awful striker system. The technological engineering wizardry is astounding. This gun is absolutely tiny, and immediately sparked a competitive interest in refining the idea further. Springfield released a Croatian-made gun they call the Hellcat, Ruger is releasing the Max-9, and Smith and Wesson has the Shield Plus in the works. Since I got some range time with the original, that's what I'll discuss.

Some caveats: I am not a good shot with pistols. Shooting a pistol is hard, and shooting a tiny pistol is harder. Why?

1. Unlike a rifle's three points of distributed support, a pistol is supported at only one point, and adding your non-dominant hand only helps somewhat.

2. Unlike most rifles, a pistol has an extremely short distance between the front and rear sights, making precise aiming much more difficult.

3. Small, concealable guns don't have a lot of grip to work with. As pictured above, with the extended tab on the magazine, there is barely enough room for a full grip with all four of my fingers. The flush fit leaves my pinky finger dangling. This does not inspire confidence.

So, excuses aside, I'm reasonably pleased with what I managed at a highly-scientific distance of "about 10 paces." My shots were low because the non-adjustable sights seem to mean the bullets go where the front sight dot is, not at the top of the front sight as one typically expects. According to this SIG forum post from 2012, that seems to be normal. Old habits are hard to break, though.

Basically, my front sight obscured the bit of the target with all the holes.

The trigger is not a nice single action. There's some take-up, a wall, and a somewhat spongy break, although I subjectively prefer it to Glock's factory trigger feel. There is a very crisp, tactile reset. On one occasion, it seemed like that reset did not occur, but that could be my error releasing without noticing it because I am a total n00b.

I was using budget copper-jacketed round-nose bullets, and experienced no failures to feed or eject over the course of about 75 rounds. I did try a rapid-fire mag dump and limp-wristing to induce a failure, and it ignored my efforts to cause a malfunction. There were also no failures to fire in the ammo itself, for what it's worth. I didn't get to try any defensive JHP ammo. That shit's expensive right now, if it's even available at all!

There is no external safety, at least not on the model I fired, so keep your booger hook off the bang switch. Trigger discipline is extra-important here, not that it's something you should ever neglect. There isn't even the usual Glock-style trigger tab. SIG did apparently remedy the drop safety concerns from the early P320s, but the external safety resides entirely between your ears.

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So, would I recommend this pistol? That's a definite maybe.

I don't think this is a good gun for novices. Small, light guns are hard to shoot well to begin with, and the snappy recoil out of this tiny 9mm is not bad for the size, but not beginner-friendly either. Get a target pistol or a full-size combat handgun.

I do think this is a superb option for people who are experienced with firearms and interested in a highly-concealable handgun for discreet self-defense. 12- and 15-round mags are also available. I won't say it's a perfect gun. I didn't put enough rounds through this, much less try a variety of brands and bullet types. I don't even know if it was broken in yet, as it looked brand new, and no matter what anyone says, assume you need a few hundred rounds to be sure everything has worn in. However, a defensive pistol will spend the vast majority of its time in a holster, and this is a very light and svelte gun suited to any carry method.

I haven't had a chance to try any of its competitors, either. Often, the first in any field leaves room for improvement. SIG also insists on a proprietary rail system instead of the industry-standard Picatinny rail. Ruger or Smith & Wesson might be $50 or so cheaper. The Springfield Hellcat adds an extra round of standard capacity, although that is probably not a huge issue. Even if you do need to use a defensive handgun, 10 rounds is probably enough based on the defensive pistol data I have seen. If you need an 11th round, you probably also need an entire fresh mag's worth of extra rounds anyway. Practice tactical reloads and carry a spare regardless of your choice.

So, if you're looking for a deep-concealment yet full-power and full-capacity handgun, take a look at this SIG. There's even a model with embedded fiber-optic sights in the slide in case those standard sights (which are tritium-illuminated, by the way) look like a massive snagging hazard. I'm definitely considering it as an EDC option. Rent one at your local range if you get the chance!