SIG P365 Review: Still One of the Best Concealed Carry Pistols?

After one year of ownership and 200 rounds of testing, see my honest SIG P365 review, including reliability, concealed carry, and Glock 26 comparison.

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Introduction: SIG P365

The SIG P365 is one of the most influential firearms and concealed-carry pistols of the last 20 years. When it was released in 2018, it changed expectations for what concealed carriers could expect from a micro-compact handgun. Double-digit capacity was no longer just the realm of pistols with a compact service pistol footprint, like the Glock 19. The ability to carry 12-rounds of 9MM in a form factor smaller than the Baby Glock (Glock 26) was mind-blowing.

I have had my CHL since 2010. Over the years, I have had the benefit of owning many concealed-carry pistols, and the P365 is one of the most recent ones. When I got the P365, I wanted to compare it with the other guns I have owned over the years and see if it lived up to its reputation.

First Impressions

My first impression of the SIG P365 was “dang, this thing is tiny.” The second was being very impressed by how good it felt in my hand. Those things together, combined with the 12+1 capacity, immediately made me think the reputation was deserved. I have spent years around firearms optimized for concealed carry; very few have made as positive a first impression as the P365.

Compact firearms almost always involve a series of compromises to achieve the compact, concealable size. The P365 seemed to avoid basically all of the compromises. 

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Features & Controls

Capacity and Size

Size and capacity are where Sig shocked the gun world with the P365. Dimensions on the P365 with a 10+1 capacity feel like black magic. Double-stack 9MM pistols are not supposed to be this small. The 12+1 magazine isn’t much larger, and many people prefer it, especially given the extra capacity.

The Sig P365’s size and capacity combination remains one of the pistol’s biggest selling points, and almost all of Sig’s biggest competitors have tried in their own way to match the form factor of the P365. The P365 started the modern high-capacity micro-compact trend.

Trigger

The Trigger on the P365 is functional, predictable, and boring. Exactly what you want from a pistol designed for defensive uses.

It is not the best striker-fired trigger I have used, nor is it the worst. This is a defensive handgun, not a race 1911. It accomplishes exactly what it needs to do.

Sights & Optics

Many carry guns feel like they added sights as an afterthought. Not the P365. They are functional and enable you to shoot to your skill level.

As part of my testing, I put the Primary Arms CLx Enclosed Reflex Sight on the P365. I primarily carry without a red dot, but I know many people prefer to carry with one, so I felt it was an important part of my evaluation.

The optic mounted easily and functioned exactly as you would expect from a quality pistol-and-red-dot combo. While I ultimately did not carry the pistol in that configuration, the setup worked well.

Ergonomics

Despite its compact size, the P365 does not feel excessively small or cramped. That being said, my preferred configuration for the P365 uses 12-round magazines rather than 10-rounders, which provides a little more real estate for your hand on the pistol.

Shooters with larger hands may need to slightly adjust their grip for optimal performance, but that is par for the course with micro-compact pistols compared to compact or duty-sized handguns.

The grip texture on the P365 is a good middle ground between being too aggressive and too slick. The overall shape of the pistol is nice, and the P365’s overall feel is solid.

Performance

Reliability

Reliability is the performance metric that matters most for a defensive handgun. The P365 did not disappoint.

Over approximately 200 rounds, including 115-grain Monarch FMJ, 124-grain Federal HST, 115-grain Hornady Critical Defense, and 124-grain Hornady American Gunner, I have not experienced any malfunctions. 

In terms of extensive usage, 200 rounds is not an exhaustive round count. It is enough for me to establish a level of confidence to say that I am willing to, and do, carry it in concealed-carry situations. The P365 has simply fed, fired, and ejected everything I have put through it.

Accuracy and Shootability

Micro-compact pistols are notorious for being snappy, hard to aim, and overall unpleasant to shoot. The very feature, their size, that makes them excellent for concealed carry, makes them less than ideal to shoot in a high-stress situation.

You will find the P365 has more felt recoil than a Glock 19 or a CZ 75. That is completely acceptable in my book. It is much more pleasant to shoot than my first micro-compact pocket pistol, the Taurus TCP.

At practical defensive distances, it is easy to get the P365 on target and to stay on target. It is a good balance between concealability and shootability. Hence, the continued popularity of the P365.

Concealed Carry Experience

My carry experience with the Sig P365 has consisted of using the SmartCarry holster and, more often, a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster.

The biggest advantage the P365 has for me is how easily I can toss it into the pocket holster and head out the door. The Glock 26, combined with the SmartCarry holster, is almost as concealable as the P365. I don’t have a true appendix holster or an IWB holster for the P365, and I can see instances where it would be easier to conceal than the Glock 26.

Living With the P365 for a Year

After owning the P365 for a year, my opinion of the gun has remained largely the same as it was before I got the pistol. I had read the articles, watched the review videos, shot a friend’s, and felt like it was a revolutionary pistol without actually owning one.

I still feel that way. The novelty of the first year or two after its release has worn off, but that doesn’t change what it is.

The biggest surprise for me, as an owner, compared to an observer, is how good the pistol actually feels every time I pick it up. This is not the tiny .380s of the mid 2000s. It doesn’t compromise shootability or capacity for its compact size.

The Sig P365 hasn’t replaced my Gen 5 Glock 26 as my EDC. It has all of the qualities I want in an EDC. It is simply that familiarity matters and I have carried my Glock 26 for many years and at this point feels like an old friend.

I say all that not to diminish the P365. If anything, it highlights how strong the platform is that it competes for carry time with my Glock 26.

SIG P365 vs Other Carry Guns I’ve Owned

SIG P365 vs Glock 26

This is one of the most important comparisons when it comes to guns I actually own. The Baby Glock was once the only 12-round show in town in the sub-compact 9MM space. That isn’t true anymore.

The Glock 26 remains one of the most proven concealed carry pistols ever produced. It is reliable, durable, and benefits from Glock’s enormous aftermarket support.

The P365’s response is to be noticeably slimmer and easier to conceal out of the box. It offers impressive performance and capacity.

When recommending carry guns to shooters today I place the Sig P365 right with the Glock 26 and for some shooters actually recommend they go with the P365 over the Glock. It simply offers an outstanding balance of capacity, concealment, and shootability.

SIG P365 vs Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0

This comparison, in many respects, pits the cutting edge .380 pocket pistol with the pistol that started the micro-compact revolution.

The P365 is the more capable all-around handgun. It has advanced in caliber 9MM vs .380 some would argue better shootability due to its slightly larger size. The Bodyguard 2.0 has better concealability and is incredibly shootable in its own right. 

You can’t go wrong with either of these handguns and I would argue owning both is very reasonable.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Excellent size-to-capacity ratio
• Slim profile aids concealment
• Reliable during testing
• Good factory sights
• Easy to shoot for a micro-compact
• Strong aftermarket support

Cons

• Smaller grip may not suit every shooter
• Recoil is still greater than larger compact pistols
• Familiarity remains a factor when transitioning from long-established carry guns

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Last Words

The SIG P365 has earned its solid reputation.

After a year of ownership, I understand why it became one of the most popular concealed carry pistols in America. It delivers impressive capacity, solid shootability, and excellent concealment in a package that is easy to carry daily.

Would I choose it over my Glock 26 today? Not yet.

But that answer has more to do with years of experience carrying the Glock than any deficiency on the part of the P365.

If I were shopping for a concealed carry handgun today, particularly as a new buyer, the SIG P365 would be near the top of my list. It remains one of the strongest options in the micro-compact category and continues to justify its place as the standard that many competitors are measured against.

FAQ

Is the SIG P365 worth buying in 2026?

100% yes. Despite increased competition, the P365 remains one of the strongest micro-compact concealed carry pistols available. 

Is the SIG P365 reliable?

In my testing, approximately 200 rounds of Monarch FMJ, Hornady Critical Defense, and Federal HST were fired without malfunction.

Is the SIG P365 better than the Glock 26?

Neither is objectively better. The P365 is easier to conceal, while my preference for the Glock 26 is largely based on years of familiarity and daily carry experience.

Can you pocket carry a SIG P365?

Yes, with an appropriate pocket holster. The P365 is compact enough for pocket carry in appropriate clothing, though individual results will vary depending on body type and pocket size. 

Does the SIG P365 work well with a red dot?

The platform works well with modern optics. I briefly tested mine with the Primary Arms CLx Enclosed Reflex Sight and found the setup easy to use.