It doesn’t seem like it was all that long ago when I first had a chance to try out the then new Sig P365. Since I had a chance to try out the new XL model there’s yet another to have been introduced known as the SAS. I may be a little behind the curve with the XL but there’s still plenty to talk about regarding this remarkable little pistol.
The major differences between the standard 365 and the XL are the inclusion of an optics cut on the top of the slide which also contains the rear iron sights. The slide and barrel are both slightly longer (from a 3.1 inch barrel to 3.7 inch.) The grip has an enlarged beavertail to better guard against potential slide-bite. A new flat-faced trigger comes standard. But the part which I like the most about the XL is the redesigned grip.
The standard P365 has a flush-fit ten round magazine which makes it even better for concealed carry but a little more difficult to hang onto. The XL version does away with that and goes straight to a flush-fit 12 round mag. This means that the 10 rounders will not fit in the XL frame and ‘older’ model 12 round mags will need a different baseplate. The new 15 round mags seem to ship with both baseplate options which is a great touch.
It might seem a little odd to take a wonderfully tiny and handy pistol like the P365 and make it bigger. Isn’t that a step backwards? I suppose that all depends on what you’re after. For a little more slide and frame the P365XL turns a great little pistol into a greater slightly less little pistol. The alterations made to the grip area have done an incredible job of improving this small pistol’s ergonomics, I can’t quite place my finger on it but the XL model really feels like it belongs in my palm. I’m not alone in this thought either, many who have picked up one of these pistols has remarked about how good it feels.
This redesigned grip has been thought out beyond ergos as it also comes with a slight bevel in the magwell. During my time on the range I didn’t have any issues with the magazine pinching my little finger which is always a consideration with smaller grips.
I’m not sure if this is due to the new grip shape or something else but one of my big complaints with the original P365 was a really mushy and awkward magazine release. This has been vastly improved on the XL. Now ejecting an empty mag feels more like a full size P320. In fact, as a frequent P226 shooter it felt quite a lot more familiar to me. Whatever they did here was worth the effort, it may seem like a little detail but little details always add up. This makes all of the difference in my mind.
The added length to the slide may seem like a peculiar idea but it does have some real benefits. The pistol itself is a bit less snappy and a bit more controllable. A longer sight radius aids in accuracy. Also of note is that the primer drag which had been quite pronounced on the standard P365 and was well documented online has been significantly reduced. Whether this will extend the component life or not is debatable but it’s a point worth mentioning.
As with the standard P365 the X-RAY3 night sights are bright and easily picked up with emphasis on the larger front dot. If a red dot sight is more your speed then the XL is ready to go with the latest Romeo Zero optic in Sig’s lineup, a sight which I believe was built specifically for this pistol as its dimensions and appearance perfectly match. Adding a Romeo Zero to an XL pistol won’t increase its width any beyond the one inch mark. Pretty cool.
As with the other models in the P365 lineup the XL comes with front and rear slide serrations, a proprietary accessory rail, a reversible magazine release, and the same easily accessed and non-obtrusive control layout as the original P365. Personally I’m not a fan of the new flat trigger but I have been informed that a curved trigger can be swapped in if desired. Looking on Sig’s website the curved trigger assembly is available for $19. The new flat faced trigger is also available, however that one is marked at $49.95. I guess you pay more to be trendy.
Shooting the P365XL is a much more pleasant experience than the original P365 which, while not horrible, was understandably snappy. As with every striker-fired pistol I have experienced from Sig’s lineup there was a bit of mush in the travel and reset but I would rate it as being good overall, there have been worse and I feel that only the P320 X5 Legion’s trigger felt better.
The shooting experience was remarkably good, especially considering that this is a firearm intended for personal protection. The grip was fantastic despite not offering much space for the off-hand. Empty magazines flew out of the the way for reloads. The recoil impulse felt much improved over the shorter P365 and it was quick to return to target thanks to the low bore axis. This truly felt like a carry gun which could serve double duty as a range gun. I quite liked it.
With my fairly limited range time behind the XL I did some accuracy testing at thirty feet. My best five shot group measured at exactly one and a half inches, though all of my groups were entirely acceptable.
(This article is not sponsored by ThinkGeek but they still rule.)
Thanks to some experimentation on the Military Arms Channel on YouTube (thanks Tim!) it’s been noted that you can swap the frames and slides between the P365 and the XL models if you happen to have both and want to play around with them. Also because the XL shares the same internal design it is possible to completely swap out the polymer lower if so desired. There is at least one third party currently offering solid aluminum lowers for the P365 and I don’t see any reason why they would not also fit the XL.
I’m confident in saying that if you liked the P365 then you will also like the XL. If you were kind of on the fence about the standard model like I was then I’d encourage a closer look at the XL. I genuinely do like this “slightly less little” gun. It was a surprise to me when it was first introduced, a surprise which was felt yet again when the SAS model was announced. I’m very curious to see if Sig has any more tricks up their sleeves with the P365 line.
