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The Sig P365 came to California in 2023 and brought the original “micro 9” to our CCW Market. It generated enormous excitement and an exploding customization market. The California version may have some “tweaks” to make it comply with our current law, but make no mistake, this is pure Sig Gold for the Golden State.
Table of contents
The Sig Sauer P365 Comes to California
Back when I was working in Law Enforcement, I had many civilian friends who were venturing into our newly opened Concealed Carry Market. They were gravitating to the relatively new Sig P365 as it was truly unmatched in size and capacity. At the time, its nearest competitor was the Glock 43, which had a four-shot deficit while still being close to the same size.
Sadly the P365 was not on our CA Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale, so civilians were stuck with buying them on the used market from Law Enforcement, usually at a premium of $1000 or more. They still bought them. There was nothing that came close to its size and capacity at 10 rounds, which conveniently is our state’s magazine cap anyway.
Then, in late 2022 the floodgates opened with court cases eliminating some requirements of our state Roster. As a result, new handguns started to be added, and one of the first was the Sig P365. Yes…that P365.
Getting Mine
I cannot overemphasize the excitement that came when this gun was added. Calling it a rush at the time is not an overstatement. By this time, I had retired from Law Enforcement and I was also tied to the roster requirements. I had wanted to get one, but I couldn’t bring myself to pay the outrageous premium of an “off-roster” P365. With it now available, I ran down to the local Turner’s Outdoorsman and put my money down as an early Christmas gift to me from my wife. I was already down on the list by a good margin. I had to wait a few months, but then mine came in.
The California P365
What you’ll notice right off the get-go is the California model looks pretty much like any other P365 with some minor tweaks. It’s the same, 5.8 inch long, by 1.1 inch wide 10-round micro compact that took the market by storm in 2018. Sig’s website lists the empty weight at 18 ounces. Mine, when loaded tips my scale at 23.74 ounces. (That’s a bit heftier than my S&W 442 which sits at just under 16 ounces loaded, but much lighter and thinner than my Glock 26 at xxx 27.6 ounces loaded…). It still has their excellent X-Ray Night sights, two 10-round magazines, as well as being cut for an optic. Like all other standard P365’s the pistol has the proprietary rail on the dustcover. The California version also has the manual safety…a mandate for the state. So then, how is the California gun different from others?
Magazine Disconnect Safety
First, as mandated by California law, the gun must have a Magazine Disconnect Safety. This means the trigger cannot be pulled if there is no magazine seated in the gun. Some consider this a good thing for how they store and use the gun; others, like myself, find it a nuisance and a potential safety concern for dry-fire practice. This system in the P365 is a bit more complicated than in the P320 fire control group, so removing it looks like more of a challenge (if that’s your intention…). However, I would strongly caution about removing a safety device if this is a carry gun.
Chamber Loaded Indicator
Sig continued with their very effective and discrete Chamber Loaded Indicator (CLI) that they started on their P320/M18. It is a small, stainless steel lever that protrudes from the top of the slide just behind the barrel hood. It is visible in your sight picture, but not prohibitively so. The requisite “Loaded When Up” warning is printed prominently on top of the optic mount cover plate. The nice way this is set up allows a quick brush of your hand over the slide to let you know by feel if the chamber is loaded.
Thumb Safety
As mentioned earlier, the pistol is equipped with a thumb safety. This, I assume, is because the trigger does not have a “dingus” as we like to call the bladed trigger safeties we see on other striker guns. I actually prefer the manual safety now after getting used to it. (Plus it is not too foreign to me after carrying 1911’s in the past…) I carry appendix, and I like that extra safety when holstering and my muzzle is pointed down at my nether regions… The safety is not obtrusive and has tactile clicks for on or off. If you don’t like these safeties, you can just carry them with the safety off. The levers are small enough that you won’t accidentally activate them.
Is it Still Modular?
One of the biggest draws and innovations of Sig’s striker-fired platforms in both the P320 and P365, is the modular nature of a serialized fire control group where you can switch everything else, from slides to grip modules, etc. These systems are utterly configurable to your specific wants or needs. So, is this model still the modular wonder we have all heard about with all these additions? Yes…with a caveat. The slides are still interchangeable. I took the slide off my P365 CA and put it on a standard P365XL frame and it functioned normally. Most of Sig Sauer’s small and most aftermarket parts should work, with a couple of exceptions that I found. These would be triggers and grip modules.
In order to integrate the magazine disconnect into the P365, Sig had to modify the grip module by milling a channel in the plastic block between the trigger and the magazine well. The area, just behind the trigger, is cut to allow the mag disconnect to freely move out of the way once a magazine is inserted. Some enterprising California P365 owners have gotten around this by either removing the magazine disconnect or by gently filing away a similar channel in standard grip modules. Some other manufacturers such as Sharps Bros or Juggernaut Tactical already build a California Compliant grip module set up for the mag disconnect.
Secondly, the trigger is modified in such a way that the magazine disconnect has to interface with it. It appears it has a slot cut in the top of the trigger that it moves through. Standard triggers will not have this cut.
Shooting the California P365
Ok, so California CCW hopefuls swamped gun stores to get their own P365s…was it worth it? In my opinion, that’s a resounding yes!
The P365 shoots far easier than it deserves to. I know there is a lot of talk of the “voodoo” magic they used to make the magazines for the P365. While that may be true, it misses the other magic they did to make it shoot so well. Recoil was unexpectedly manageable for a gun this size. Even with some Winchester 124 grain +P ammunition I shot through it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like shooting my M18, but my arthritic hands didn’t suffer one bit from shooting longer sessions with the P365. I was able to fire, recover, get sights back on target, and fire again without much problem. While the +P ammo recoil (which the P365 is rated for) was noticeable, it wasn’t outrageously so.
The Trigger
The trigger under dry fire feels, well, weird. There is a hollow “thunk” when the trigger releases the striker. However, when you’re firing the gun, you never feel or notice this. The trigger is perfectly good for a defensive firearm. It’s not too light to allow for accidentally firing the gun, and not hard that it would impact your accuracy.
Accuracy
Speaking of accuracy, at 7 yards and in I could keep all my shots in the central circle of the targets I was using, which is roughly equivalent to the “A Zone” of competition targets with reasonable speed. I was able to hit the center 10-inch circle out to a range of around 20 yards as long as I did my part. At defensive distances, this gun is absolutely accurate enough.
In my latest range session, I shot with a selection of different rounds. I put Federal 115 grain FMJ practice, 147 grain Federal HST, and 124 grain Winchester +P down the pipe without a single issue. Accuracy was still on par with my above evaluation. I could put all rounds where I needed to. At defensive ranges, I didn’t see much of a change between Point of Aim and Point of Impact.
In the last year I have been carrying the California P365 and it has been 100% reliable with all the different rounds I’ve fed her. FMJ’s, hollow points of various weights and manufacture have all worked without issue. I even let the students at the police academy try it out and shoot it during our off-duty gun day, and nary an issue. I mean no hiccups, break in, or other issues I can even recall. I’m coming up at well over 1200 rounds, and it’s proven itself trustworthy. I know there were some concerns about this pistol when it first came out, but I believe buyers can feel secure in Sig’s P365 platform today.
How Does it Carry?
The P365 carries easily and discretely. While it may be slightly heftier than my beloved J Frame, it conceals easily under a T-shirt. It goes with me on bike rides, walks, hikes, or just going about town. The P365 has remained hidden and unseen through it all.
Different Holsters
I have been using Vedder’s Lighttuck AIWB holster. The Vedder’s metal clip keeps the pistol from moving around on my belt where I put it and does so comfortably. These Kydex holsters keep the gun secure with adjustable tension for peace of mind. I have found that the shorter barrel of the standard P365 doesn’t jab me when I’m seated, especially if I’m on a drive. It’s comfortable enough that you can easily forget you have it on. Meanwhile, I have 10+1 rounds with another 10-round reload on me.
I also bought a Vedder “Pocket Locker” Kydex pocket holster for my P365 and it holds the gun securely and fairly discretely in my pocket. However, the gun is a little bit big and heavy for anything smaller than cargo pockets, but your results may vary. The Pocket Locker works well for me in a sling bag or fanny pack. The holster is flat enough not to add too much bulk. It Does has a small hook on the end to catch on the edge of the bag to allow the gun to clear the holster when drawing. It’s good to have options.
My Own Gun
This is not a gun I bought for a review, nor was provided to me for review. This is a gun I bought, and put my own money out for it. (And trust me, California Prices aren’t cheap…). I have carried this gun regularly for almost a year now, and here’s the verdict: This is one fine pistol for the person who wants a concealed carry pistol with an incredible size-to-capacity ratio. It’s reliable, easy to conceal, and shoots a lot easier than it deserves to.
To be fair, Sig got the formula right on this one in 2018 and forced other manufacturers to catch up. While many guns have challenged the P365 after it came out, the original Micro Nine still wins me over.
P365 Models Keep On Coming for California from Sig
Sig isn’t done with California yet. They’ve figured out their setup for the California Roster, and it adding models as we speak. The P365 X Macro has been introduced as has the P365 XL Rose edition. I even hear a Fuse version is on the horizon. Sig has figured out formula for success by making a California Compliant P365 ecosystem that will certainly grow here.
Links
Sig CA Compliant P365: https://www.sigsauer.com/p365-california-compliant.html
Juggernaut Tactical: https://jtactical.com/products/p365-grip-module
Vedder Light Tuck: https://www.vedderholsters.com/lighttuck/
Vedder Pocket Holsters: https://www.vedderholsters.com/pocket-locker-holster/
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