SIG’s P365 9mm is an immensely popular handgun. The pocketable original and snag-free SAS are excellent deep concealment handguns. Quite a few of the theories on personal defense, and the handguns that are designed to match this criterion, neither sow nor reap.
The P365 is a counterpoint to small caliber and unreliable handguns. It is the ideal 9mm concealed carry handgun. The SIG P365 is a concealable, reliable, and powerful compact handgun. The pistol is modular, accepting aftermarket parts such as the Wilson Combat grip module.
The P365 has a wealth of application. A short time after the P365’s introduction, SIG introduced one of my favorite variations the P365XL. With a greater magazine capacity of 12 versus 10 rounds, and a 3.7-inch barrel compared to the original 3.1-inch tube, the XL is a credible belt gun.
The XL is concealable in a properly designed inside-the-waistband holster and in some pockets. The XL is also easier to shoot well than the original.
P365 XMACRO
A few months ago, SIG introduced an XMACRO version of the P365. This pistol features a compensator and lengthened slide and grip frame. This is an easy gun to shoot well — by a markedly amount. I found I could fire splits, double taps, and all speed drills much faster and with less recoil than the XL.
The lengthened grip frame, with its 17-round capacity, makes for better control. This pistol is a winner on most counts. That being said, the ultra-reliable SIG P365 long slide/compensated pistol was not without criticism. The compensator certainly helps reduce recoil but also directs ejecta upwards. This prevents effective use from the retention position.
The 3.1-inch barrel develops the same velocity as the standard P365, but less than the P365XL. As a counterpoint, SIG developed the TACOPS version. It is basically a P365 XMACRO without the compensator.
The XMACRO is about two ounces heavier than the P365XL. The grip is larger and encloses a 16-round magazine. The magazine witness holes go to 17. However, even using the supplied magazine loader, 16 was the limit for this shooter.
The grip frame is slightly taller than the P365XL, which is taller than the P365, and this super-comfortable grip frame is supplied with additional grip inserts. The pistol is delivered with a total of four magazines. A speed loader and lock are included in the hard case. Let’s pause the narrative a few moments to look over the P365-XMACRO TACOPS specifications.
Specifications
- Caliber: 9mm
- Capacity: 17+1 rounds
- Barrel length: 3.7 inches
- Overall length: 6.6 inches
- Height: 5.2 inches
- Maximum width: 1.4 inches
- Weight unloaded: 20.7 ounces
- Grip frame: Polymer
- Chassis: Stainless steel
- Slide: Nitride coated stainless
- Sights: SIG X-RAY 3 three-dot, tritium
- Optics: Romeo Zero/ RMS optic cut
- Trigger: Flat trigger shoe — five pounds, one ounce
- While definitions vary, the SIG P365-XMACRO TACOPS isn’t a subcompact perhaps, but it is a compact that is much smaller than the Glock 19 class of compacts.
I like the slight difference in the grip module of the TACOPS over the P365XL. My hand is average sized, and the TACOPS is a perfect fit. Smaller sizes, such as my wife’s hand, also fit and my friends with a large hand size are not unduly cramped. (One friend uses a Hogue grip sleeve on his Glock 21 10mm!)
The texture is ideal with the balance of adhesion and abrasion ideal for long shooting sessions. The TACOPS features a modest magazine well. A high-capacity, tapered magazine is usually a fast load in a generous magazine well.
The extended mag well makes speeds loads even more rapid. The trigger action with its flat trigger and smooth compression are excellent by any standard. My TACOPS trigger breaks at just over five pounds with a crisp and rapid reset. This is an ideal trigger for a concealed carry handgun.
The fire control unit is a consideration for some folks. I own several P365 pistols. It is nice to be able to update the grip module, say moving an original pistol to the XL standard. The FCU isn’t difficult to change and is simply a chassis with the rails and trigger included.
Accuracy and Handling
The primary difference between the TACOPS and standard XMACRO is that the XMACRO features a 3.1-inch barrel and compensator. This results in a very easy handgun to use well but with drawbacks. I like the TACOPS slightly better. After all, it isn’t like a .45 ACP or 10mm, where recoil becomes punishing. The 9mm simply isn’t a hard kicker.
Just the same, a sub-compact or compact kick more than a full-size gun. The compensated 9mm is a very pleasant firearm to use well. The TACOPS isn’t as soft shooting, but by no means is it a hard kicker either. If you find the Glock 43X pleasant enough, the SIG TACOPS 9mm kicks a little less, or at least the grip frame is more comfortable.
The pistol is not as comfortable to fire as a Glock 19 9mm, but then, what is? The pistol is easy to handle with both front and rear cocking serrations. The SIG XRAY sights make for an excellent sight picture in bright or dim light. Tritium night inserts are a good thing to have in a carry gun.
The pistol was lubricated along the slide rails, cocking block, and barrel hood. I loaded the magazines with full metal jacket loads. I used the supplied magazine loader to fill the magazines with 16 cartridges. During the course of several range trips, I used Federal American Eagle 124-grain, Winchester 147-grain FMJ, and Remington UMC 115-grain.
The TACOPS is fast from leather and gets on target quickly. I used the Galco Hornet crossdraw holster in most of my work. The Hornet is a great holster I often deploy when driving or hiking. I gave the SIG a good workout. There is no pistol in the size and weight class that shoots as well in combat drills as this pistol.
Firing for accuracy, I fired from a solid benchrest taking every advantage for accuracy. I fired five-shot groups at 15 yards using personal defense loads including the Winchester 124-grain Defender +P, Federal 124-grain HST, and Hornady 124-grain XPT. Top velocity was 1,190 fps with the Winchester load. The average for the three loads was about two inches, with the smallest group being 1.6 inches with the Hornady load.
This is a reliable, accurate, and exceptionally well-handling pistol. I like the SIG P365-XMACRO TACOPS. It was an unexpected addition to the P365 line and a most welcome one.
The SIG P365 was an instant hit and almost immediately a bestseller. Since then, the line has been expanded to now include the SIG P365-XMACRO TACOPS. How does it compare to your favorite SIG P365? Share your answer in the Comment section.
Firing in several range sessions the SIG P365-XMACRO TACOPS 9mm handgun never failed to impress the author. This is a controllable, accurate, and reliable handgun with much to commend. 
The P365 may be upgraded with Wilson Combat action pins. 
SIG’s X-RAY sights with self-luminous inserts are a great addition to the SIG combat pistol lineup. 
Note the Galco Hornet’s belt loop design. This keeps the holster cinched in tight to the body. 
Moving out as far as 25 yards, offhand work remained good to excellent. 
Galco’s Hornet is a first-class crossdraw design. In rapid-fire work, the P365-XMACRO TACOPS excels. 
SIG’s flat trigger is a good upgrade beginning with the XL guns. Wilson Combat offers super cool slide upgrades. 
SIG’s FOXTROT combat light is a good addition to your home defense handgun. This is the upgrade Wilson Combat P365 XL module. 
Left to right: P365 Spectre, P365-XMACRO TACOPS, and SIG P365 XL. 
Fit and finish are excellent. The TACOPS is delivered with a total of four magazines, grip inserts, and a magazine loader. The SIG P365-XMACRO TACOPS is a clean design with much to recommend. 
The pistol is like the P365XL. The frame differs. 
The modular P365 may be upgraded with a Wilson Combat grip module.
James S
The 365 short barrel load is ideal for concealed carry. Burns clean and expands well!
Bob
Ari
The red dot is fast very fast if done correctly. We have a feature story on learning the red dot coming soon.
Steve
I have great respect for SIG’s 365 ammo. Clean burning, accurate, ideal for short barrel 9mm handguns.
Thanks for reading
Bob
I bought the P365 amd out of the box fired aluminum cased rounds and it had falures. So i did not clean it as I normally do after a range session. The little P365 has not failed since. I like trying aluminum, steel and brass cased rounds to test their reliability. The fact thay it didn’t fail again proved that it needs to be broken in. That’s NEVER happened with any of my Glocks. So I sold my P365 and bought a Glock 45 (9mm). Not as light, but very concealable. Thank you for your article on the P365 XMacro. There is an issue with rust in the XMacro. Please send a review on the rust on it. Many videos are showing rust which has prevented me from investing in one.
I’m a long time three p365 fan. It’s been my primary carry weapon for years. That said it’s wonderful to conceal but entirely too small for my hand. I picked up the compensated version two weeks ago thinking it would be better. It’s far more comfortable in my hand but I shoot much more accurately with my P365x and wish I’d tried TACOPS before the COMP.
I just bought a Sig 365 xl and put a new Ruger Redi Dot sight on it. It’s my first red dot and I am not used to it yet but I am much more accurate with my original Sig 365 no safety std night sights. The XL is larger and has longer barrel but I just don’t feel as comfortable shooting it as I am with the original 365. I shoot 4 inch shoot n C targets at 20 feet and never have trouble hitting them when moving from one target to the next in a hurry. Adding the red dot makes me take longer to get on target, but I suppose practice will overcome that problem.
My 365 with no safety, and the 12 round mags fit my hand and my pocket perfectly. Dream to fire too. Would have loved to see Bobs views on the 365 ammo which is specifically designed for the gun. Great article as always.
I was impressed with it’s forerunner, the Sig P290, even though it was a DA ONLY, head shots at 25 yards was quite easy to accomplish. Very impressive accuracy, which I believe is due to the cone shape tip of the barrel locking up so accurately. Wanting a P290 after trying one out, I quickly learned they had quit making them. Why? Because the P938 replaced it. If you are looking for a true pocket pistol (in a holster of course), the P938 is hard to beat, but like it’s big brother/sister the 1911, its biggest negative, is limited capacity. The P938 is probably the easiest slide to rack that isn’t an EZ. Then almost immediately the P365 came on the scene to challenge the P938 with almost double the capacity in virtually the same size pistol, a game changer for sure. Ever since then, pocket pistols keep getting bigger, to the point they no longer fit inside the pocket, and eventually become the size of a Glock 19, and then the process starts over. Like the Hellcat. It is almost funny to watch now. It is all good, depending on the size of your pockets, as we all know size matters. LOL
Thanks for another one of your informative articles. While the original SIG P365 is an elegantly engineered design, I was dissatisfied with two aspects: the overall size of the grip, and the design of manual safety. I found the diameter of the grip to be far too small to provide adequate control. Fortunately, Wilson Combat offers a very affordable replacement “grip module” which is beefier in the hand, and improves control and “point-ability”.
As for the manual safety, I found it to be too small, too smooth and challenging to manipulate.
A preferable alternative would be a larger, more angular version, similar to that used in the 1911. However, based on communications with both SIG Sauer and Wilson Combat, neither currently has any plans for offering that alternative design.
Great article, Bob. My Sig P365XL is one of my favorite guns and the one I most frequently carry. I did two easy modifications to mine. 1) I exchanged the stock frame for one by Wilson Tactical that has a little more aggressive texture and 2) I put a MCarbo straight trigger kit in it. I have no problems with my trigger, but if I were doing it today I would do the Gray Guns trigger instead, simply because Gray Guns has a history with Sig by doing their Legion guns.