SIG’s new plan is to make all their pistols compatible with optics. The P365XL is one of the first to also come with an optic pre-mounted. It ships with the new ROMEO ZERO red dot. True Pearce talked with Phil Strader, the product line manager, at SIG’s range day at SHOT Show 2020.
P365XL
SIG’s P365XL is a subcompact 9mm semiauto pistol with some standout features. First, it ships with two 12-round magazines that fit flush with the bottom of the grip. Even with 12 rounds, it’s still only 1.1″ thick.
Next, although it’s striker-fired, it’s still a steel-framed gun. The barrel and slide are .7″ longer than the P365 and yield a 5.6″ sight radius for better accuracy. Its 3.7″ barrel is made of carbon steel while the slide and frame are stainless with a tough nitride finish.
Also, since it’s an X-series gun, the magwell is beveled for faster reloads. It also has the XRAY3 front sight and an extended beavertail to help you keep a high grip. The trigger is a big upgrade from the P365, too. It’s a flat blade and breaks right at 90 degrees.
The P365 XL is a little longer and a little taller (1.3″) but it now comes with the ROMEO ZERO red dot sight as a standard option.
ROMEO ZERO
The ROMEO ZERO is a pistol-specific red dot. It’s 3 MOA dot appears about the same size as the front sight on the P365XL. The optic is fully adjustable for windage and elevation as well as intensity.
A great thing about it is that there’s a notch in the rear that replaces your rear sight. If for some reason your red dot isn’t illuminated, you can co-witness through the optic with the front sight and the notched rear.
Using a red dot on a carry weapon can make it a lot easier to get on target and stay there shot after shot. In fact, champion shooter Daniel Horner won a shoot-off with Max Michel and Lena Miculek using this setup. With a small red dot that is the same width as the pistol, it starts to make sense — especially since the MSRP for the pistol with the optic is only $100 more than without it.
SIG’s new P365XL ROMEOZEROis available now. MSRP is about $679. Specs list below.
Specs
| SIG P365XL ROMEOZERO | |
| SKU | 365XL-9-BXR3-RXZ |
| CALIBER | 9mm Luger |
| MAGS INCLUDED | (2) 12rd Steel Mag |
| SIGHTS | ROMEO ZERO with XRAY3 Front Sight |
| THREADED BARREL | No |
| PISTOL SIZE | Micro-Compact |
| OVERALL LENGTH (IN) | 6.6 in (168 mm) |
| OVERALL WIDTH | 1.1 in (28 mm) |
| HEIGHT | 5.5 in (140 mm) |
| BARREL LENGTH | 3.7 in (94 mm) |
| WEIGHT (OZ) | 20.7 oz (588 g) |
| SIGHT RADIUS | 5.6 in (142 mm) |
| ACCESSORY RAIL | SIG Rail |
| TRIGGER ACTION | Striker |
| TRIGGER TYPE | XSeries Straight |
| GRIP MODULE | XSeries P365 |
| GRIP TYPE | N/A |
| GRIP COLOR | Black |
| BARREL MATERIAL | Carbon Steel |
| FRAME FINISH | Stainless Steel |
| FRAME MATERIAL | Stainless Steel |
| SLIDE FINISH | Nitron |
| SLIDE MATERIAL | Stainless Steel |
| MSRP | $679 |