Question about P365 - is it normal...

It is difficult to fully load magazines when new. After a while it gets easier. This also can make it hard to insert a fully loaded magazine or rack the slide when the magazine is fully loaded. It my help to download the magazines by 1-2 rounds at least for a while. The top round in the magazine is pressing pretty hard on the bottom of the slide when fully loaded. This isn't uncommon on a lot of firearms. With some magazines my AR's will do the same, others work fine fully loaded, but I load 1 or 2 rounds less than full capacity to prevent problems

I don't notice my slide being any harder to rack with no magazine in the gun than any other gun. And now that I've had it a while it works fine with the mags loaded to full capacity.

Try it with no magazine and with only 8 or 9 rounds in the magazine to see if it helps.

Also, compared to the 320 the slide of the 365 is a lot narrower. That can make it harder to get a firm grip on. Full size guns are usually easier to operate than subcompacts.

My son just got one 2 days ago. Out of the box the slide was very tight. Once we got it home cleaned and lubed it , it loosened right up. A few hundred rds fired through it took care of the mag being tight with the slide closed. It's no harder now then on any of my 1/2 dozen autos.

Have your wife read Kathy Jackson's CorneredCat about the "push-pull" method for racking a slide

George P said:

Have your wife read Kathy Jackson's CorneredCat about the "push-pull" method for racking a slide

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So you don't have to search on your own, here's the Cornered Cat home page https://www.corneredcat.com

She has a couple of articles on working the slide, here is one https://www.corneredcat.com/article/running-the-gun/rack-the-slide/

Mines yet unfired, but it does indeed have a strong spring. Do hope it does lessen up after use

Yup, it's a little strong. I suggest you use an Uplula to load the mags; load 'em full and let 'em sit for a few weeks...helps to loosen them up a little. My Dad couldn't rack the slide well at all, so he got the S&W EZ9.

Nam Le said:

I've just bought a new P365 and the slide is so hard to rack. My wife is able to rack our P320 x-compact without an issue, but with this new P365, she can't make it move at all.

I'm not sure if the spring will be soften after shooting it for a bit (which is not a good thing), or if it's supposed to be like that to reduce more recoil.

Also, it's very hard to insert the magazine if the slide is not locked back, until the point that makes me thing I'm not supposed to do that. Is that normal?

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..can't rack the slide at all and hard to insert a(hard to load) loaded magazine w/o the slide being back...Not normal..yes, take apart, lube but I'd say it's not 'normal'.....as in common, 'jus gotta break it in' type stuff.
https://www.handgunhero.com/compare/glock-g26-gen4-vs-sig-sauer-p365

Small guns+harder to rack slides. The mags will need a bit of break-in and they will be easier to load. Practice different racking techniques.
The Uplula loader is a must for any semi auto. It makes life much easier.

FFGColorado said:

..can't rack the slide at all and hard to insert a(hard to load) loaded magazine w/o the slide being back...Not normal..yes, take apart, lube but I'd say it's not 'normal'.....as in common, 'jus gotta break it in' type stuff.
https://www.handgunhero.com/compare/glock-g26-gen4-vs-sig-sauer-p365

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I have never had any issues loading mags into the gun or racking the slide; I do use the Uplula for getting every round in the mag - but I do that with Glock mags as well.

I do think my P365 was slightly more difficult to rack than other firearms, but not much more so than firearms of the same chambering/size, such as my CM9. It too has a stiff recoil spring.
Either it has become less stiff or I've grown accustom to it in the 2+ years I've had it.

Can't exactly comment on the P365 but my daughter's M&P Shield was very similar. Racking the slide was difficult, locking the slide open was difficult. Re-assembly after breaking it down was difficult. Quick inspection revealed new gun had no lubrications - at all. Lubed it up, fired a couple of hundred rounds through it and all is good. I suspect you'll have the same experience with the P365 after lubricating and firing some rounds through it. My daughter also uses a Maglula religiously!

Huh, the one I had didn't feel any more difficult than anything else to rack.

I also didn't notice any difficulty loading mags, I recall because I was a bit surprised that little mag didn't take more work to get fully loaded.

Mrs. X62503 bought a new P365 and had difficulty with both the recoil spring and magazine spring tensions out of the box. Cleaning and lubrication, along with use of the Uplula and push/pull slide racking method took care of those problems. She still cannot effectively release the magazine with her shooting hand, so her support hand thumb has assumed that role.

Definitely a good cleaning and lubing is in order. I've had zero issues with mine but I'm a cleaning and lubing freak, after every use especially in a carry gun. That said, everyone has their limitations on strength. I took my mother gun shopping and long story short we had to settle for a Taurus tx22 because it was the only slide she could rack.

Godsgunman said:

Definitely a good cleaning and lubing is in order. I've had zero issues with mine but I'm a cleaning and lubing freak, after every use especially in a carry gun. That said, everyone has their limitations on strength. I took my mother gun shopping and long story short we had to settle for a Taurus tx22 because it was the only slide she could rack.

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Did she try the Push-Pull method outlined in Kathy Jackson's website?

Old Mr. Newton is at it again...

Light slide + full power loads = Heavier springs to overcome when racking.

As we know, more recoil spring weight in these smaller guns is needed to slow the velocity/lessen the impact of the slide at full recoil. Add that to the tightness of a new gun and as the guys stated it should loosen up a bit as it gets nice and worn in.

The push/pull method as also posted above is a fantastic equalizer for those with diminished arm or hand strength, allowing those of us who aren’t Mr. Universe to operate handguns that require heavier spring weights. .

Practice with an unloaded 365 will certainly help the gun break in a bit faster and will also improve her proficiency with its operation .

Stay safe.

George P said:

Did she try the Push-Pull method outlined in Kathy Jackson's website?

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Yes, it's pretty sad how little strength she has.