So, what does a company do after winning the US military handgun contract with the M17/ M18, and garnering top spot for the #1 selling pistol in the country – SIG P365? Well, they endeavor to figure out how to give the handgun consumers “even more.” I own both the SIG P365 and the 365 XL, and I believe both are excellent pistols that changed the Micro Compact market. The P365 X-Macro Comp is just as groundbreaking as its predecessors.
SIG CEO, Ron Cohen tasked the 365 Product Team to give the shooters more, and they absolutely crushed their mission. The new X-Macro gives more in so many ways and redefines the market space that the P365 will compete in. The X-Macro’s upgrades should allow the 365 line to expand from the Micro Compact market into the sporting, medium framed handgun, and duty handgun markets.
To compete outside of the Micro Compact concealed handgun market, the 365 needed more capacity, so SIG developed a new magazine and slightly extended the grip of the Macro so that it now has a capacity of 17 + 1. The longer grip provides space for a full-handed grip while still retaining the 365’s comfort and ergonomics.
The good news for all 365 owners is that the new 17-round magazines will fit all previous 365 models. The new longer grip of the Macro increases the overall height of the pistol to 5.2,” which is less than a half inch taller than the 365 XL with its 12 +1 capacity. The amazing thing is the Macro remains a small pistol and is still a slim 1 inch thick.
The new grip fits naturally in the hand and adds more surface area and leverage to increase control while shooting. For shooters with larger hands the original 365 grip was probably a bit too small. To make the P365 X-Macro Comp more comfortable for those with larger hands SIG added a replaceable backstrap that comes in 3 sizes. The backstrap system is so seamless you can hardly tell where it mates to the grip .
The Macro’s slide still has the removable plate to support mounting a red dot optic while the iron sights remain installed, and the excellent SIG front and rear cocking serrations. However, the big change to the slide is the integrated 2 port compensator machined just in front of a 3.1-inch barrel. The overall length of the slide is the same as the standard 365 XL making it a fast handling yet still concealable pistol.
The obvious question is how much does a small 2 port compensator help on a 9mm with a 3.1” barrel? In my opinion, enough. SIG says that the reduction in muzzle flip is 20 – 25%. I don’t have a scientific way to put a concrete number to it, but the reduction in muzzle flip and recoil is definitely noticeable and significant enough to warrant having the compensator.
I’ve shot plenty of pistols with compensators over the years in USPSA competition, and many would blow a portion of the exiting gases back toward the shooter and/or the optic. The SIG Macro’s compensator didn’t exhibit these issues. The gases tended to move forward away from the shooter minimizing distraction while still being very effective at increasing control.
One of the concerns about compensated carry pistols is that from a retention position the comp may vent gases up into the shooters face. I shot over 50 rounds from close retention and never had any issues with the vented gas.
I slow-motion videoed the close-range shooting strings and it was clearly evident that the gases were venting out in front of me towards the target. The Macro proved to be very controllable while shooting one-handed from the retention position. The compensator allowed for some very fast close-range strings.
Specifications
Caliber 9mm
Capacity 17 + 1 rounds
Height 5.2 inches
Width 1 inch
Length 6.6 inches
Weight 21 3/8 ounces
Sights Sig XRay or Sig Romeo 0
Rail Picatinny 1913
Cost Should be available for ~ $799.99
Accuracy Testing
For a pistol that’s small enough to be a concealed carry gun and holds enough ammunition to be a duty gun, the SIG 365 X-Macro Comp demonstrated fantastic accuracy. The 3.1” barrel printed really well from the table at 15 yards. Most of the groups were shot with the red dot installed, but I did shoot a few with the iron sights and I was equally impressed.
I think the pictures speak for themselves, the Macro did great with everything I shot. Even the military ball ammunition grouped right at 2 inches, and the Speer Law Enforcement frangible was under 1.75. The best group was 5 shots with Hornady Custom 147 XTP.
The Macro comes with the usual 365 X straight trigger, this one broke at 5 lbs 4 oz on my trigger scale. Not a match trigger but certainly more than adequate for defensive shooting or shooting some great groups.
I knew that the Macro Comp was capable of shooting well from greater distances, so I backed out to 50 yards for a try. I had already removed the red dot, so I shot it with the iron sights. I figured if it could do 1 – 2” at 15 yards it should easily shoot 6 – 8” at 50 yards, perhaps better if I did my part.
I went prone and shot from the ground at 50 yards. I really like the SIG XRay sights for up close shooting, but the short sight radius and front sight width would require some focus to shoot the longer distance. However, the Macro did better than I had expected.
Four of the five shots grouped just under 2,” the other one was obviously my fault getting a little rushed on the trigger. The 5 shot group ended up measuring 6.25,” still excellent for such a compact pistol.
Speed Work
I was lucky enough to shoot several hundred rounds through the P365 X-Macro Comp at the SIG Academy and then over 500 more at my home range. It only took a few magazines to get the feel for the compensated Macro. The new grip fits so well that it feels like I’ve shot this pistol my whole life.
My first impression was that this gun cycles fast and the compensator really works. So, unless you are very focused on shooting fast and getting on the trigger, the Macro will definitely be waiting on the shooter to break the next shot. Even after you get a feel for the timing it’s all you can do to keep up.
Another upgrade on the Macro is that the accessory rail is now standard 1913 Picatinny instead of a SIG proprietary design. So now there are hundreds of lights and lasers that will fit the pistol. Unfortunately, this means that 365 XL holsters won’t fit the Macro; and this kept me from shooting it from the draw.
I did my range work from a variety of low-ready positions engaging my plate rack, dueling tree, and assorted steel silhouettes. I was very impressed at the speed I could run the dueling tree, and though I didn’t have a previous baseline time, I am certain I was hitting some new personal bests. Faster is better, right?
During all the media shooting at SIG, and the hundreds of rounds I fired at the house I never had or saw anyone have a single malfunction with the Macro. I know SIG does extensive reliability testing but with that much ammunition ranging from Hornady Critical Defense Light (100 grain reduced recoil) to 124 +P, and 147 grain full power it is impressive to have a firearm run 100%.
Summary
I am very impressed with the P365 X-Macro Comp, SIG did an amazing job on the new model. It’s still a relatively small pistol, much smaller than most 18-round duty guns, but extremely shootable. In addition, it’s very accurate, and stone-cold reliable.
With the same slide length as my XL and only .4 difference in grip length I often had to look twice to see which handgun I was picking up. A pistol this size is not expected to hold 18 rounds and shoot this well. The size and design of the 365’s grip and interchangeable backstraps is awesome and will undoubtedly be a great fit for many in law enforcement as well as civilians.
In my opinion, the greatest endorsement I can give a firearm is to carry it as my daily defensive pistol. I’ve carried the P365 XL since it came out, but as soon as the right holsters become available I will be transitioning to the P365 X-Macro Comp for its added capacity, ease in shooting, and accuracy.
track-linkurl=“https://sigsauer.com “campaign=“SIG365MACRO” target=”_blank”]For more information, Visit SIG Here[/track-link]
So in profile this looks familiar….wait, SP2022? Hmm, just slap a 365 tag on it and add a little to the magazine….
Meh. SIG sometimes makes good guns but the support they provide for parts and spares is terrible. For that reason alone, I will not buy another. And after wasting a lot of money over the years in search of the mostest bestest pistol, I’m also not impressed by gimmicks such as compensators and optical sights on handguns. The shooter’s skills and tactics will count far more in a gunfight than the attributes of the pistol he’s using.
Evidently, there are a number of Glocksuckers commenting as well as S and W. If any of them can do better at 50 yards, let alone 15 yards, I want to be there ! I shoot Sig 220’s, 226’s 228’s and Sig 1911’s. No one makes a better sidearm across model lines than Sig. That’s why so many Spec. Ops. carried them and eventually the U.S. government got it right ( and they’re generally not good at getting anything right).
I would buy one of these in a heartbeat, but alas, I live in the People’s Republic of Commieformia and cannot get one, at least not yet. I keep hoping that this state will lose in all of the personal freedom issues that abound in it, but I don’t think I will hold my breath. As for the other comments about the paper targets and the spread, I think that as a self defense firearm, this one is very capable, and as for the the comment about the recoil sensitive, I only hope that you never suffer from the arthritis and/or other elements of disabling, and therefore recoil sensitive maladies that we are all subject to in our “seasoned” citizen years!
I may wind up changing my mind, but I don’t think this gun offers any substantial advantage in terms of the capability/ concealability tradeoff. Concealability is the reason I considered a P365 in the first place. While I really liked the P365 XL, I didn’t think it offered enough of an advantage in concealability to make up for its shorter barrel and lesser capacity, compared to my Smith & Wesson M&P 9 M2.0 4.0″. I did go for 12 round mags with my standard P365, because of my XL hands. I still have the option of going for 10 round mags if the need for greater concealability ever arises. I suspect the greater length of X Macro magazine would make that gun less concealable than my M&P (at least for me carrying at 3 O’clock OWB). At the same time it’s 17+1 capacity does not offer a great enough advantage over the Smith’s 15+1 capacity to make up for its longer grip and substantially shorter barrel.
Yawn. I will buy one when it has a slide length barrel and no goofy “compensator.” By that time, maybe the bugs will be worked out. There are always bugs, despite over-glowing reviews by today’s “gun writers.”
How available is this pistol at $800.00 ?
The problem I have with Sig is they don’t support their legacy products.They just want you to buy the latest and greatest.I have a P290rs that I really like and carry often.I can’t even get a spare mag and the gun is only out of production for about 5 years.
Exactly. I will not be buying any more SIGs for this same reason, even if I were sold on the need for a Micro Nine (which I’m not, but that’s another story…).
To bad its not in a mans caliber.. Compensated 9mm what next, someone to take the baby recoil..
maybe its just me but I think those paper target grouping are AWFUL…. if that is any indication of the new specs the military pieces are going to be sent back immediately!!! HORRIBLE groupings or horrible skills of the person behind the trigger???