P365 & Hellcat vs Single and Subcompacts

[LaneP]

I don't have the vast experience across a wide range of subcompact platforms many here do but I bought the P365 (born on date July 2019) and it has become my new 24/7 pocket carry. It disappears in my right front pocket in a sticky holster, is easy to draw and has been completely reliable with everything I've shot in it. Up until that point I carried a .357 LCR and prior to that my Shield 9. The Shield 9 is also a great, reliable, accurate pistol, but there's something about the P365 I like a little better.

 

[gazpacho]

For the longest time my pocket carry was the Kahr P380. G26 was too fat around the grip for my hands and marginally too large for pocket carry. Tried the G43. Shot well for the size, but the 6 round mag for the bulk just fell short. Bought the P365 and fell in love with it. The trigger is really nice, and the capacity justifies the bulk. Strangely enough, adding the Streamlight TLR-6 and a kydex pocket holster does a great job of disguising the pocket printing, and doesn't affect how it carries.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Nice Mak!

 

[drobs]

I added a Sig P365 into my rotation. That rotation includes a Glock 26 (Polymer 80) and a Glock 19. I carry both glocks in OWB holsters with a spare 17rd mag rotated to either pocket of OWB carry.

Depending on the pants I wear, I can pocket carry the P365 in a cheap Uncle Mike's pocket holster. I picked up a 15rd extended mag that goes in my other pocket.

I find most Jean pockets are too tight and really print. If wearing jeans i'll carry my P365 in a belt holster.
The P365 will pocket carry in my Vertx Cargo pants pocket just fine.

 

[drobs]

If you EDC a G26 or the like, how often are you actually carrying or utilizing the bigger mags though?

I believe in always carrying a spare mag. When I carry my G26 or G19, I always carry a spare mag. A G17 mag for the G19 or a G19 mag for the G26.

 

[Styx]

I own a XD Mod 2 and a

I believe in always carrying a spare mag. When I carry my G26 or G19, I always carry a spare mag. A G17 mag for the G19 or a G19 mag for the G26.

So with the G26, you're carrying 26 rounds total, and with the P365, you're carrying 25 with two 12 round mags or or 28 with the extended mag. Not seeing much of a benefit between the larger G26 with regards to what people typical/actually EDC when they carry one, yet that's one of the first things first that's brought up when it's compared to the P365 and Hellcat. Guess that is what I was trying to point out.

 

[drobs]

I own a XD Mod 2 and a

So with the G26, you're carrying 26 rounds total, and with the P365, you're carrying 25 with two 12 round mags or or 28 with the extended mag. Not seeing much of a benefit between the larger G26 with regards to what people typical/actually EDC when they carry one, yet that's one of the first things first that's brought up when it's compared to the P365 and Hellcat. Guess that is what I was trying to point out.

I have lots of guns. Need has nothing to do with it.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

I’ve been carrying a P-365 IWB with a trigger guard holster. I gotta say, I’m kinda hooked on that method. I won’t carry it IWB with anything else. It fits perfect in the 3 o’clock area and makes the gun disappear, even though I have full access to the grip above the beltline.

Very cool holster for a very cool gun.

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

I don't have the vast experience across a wide range of subcompact platforms many here do but I bought the P365 (born on date July 2019) and it has become my new 24/7 pocket carry. It disappears in my right front pocket in a sticky holster, is easy to draw and has been completely reliable with everything I've shot in it. Up until that point I carried a .357 LCR and prior to that my Shield 9. The Shield 9 is also a great, reliable, accurate pistol, but there's something about the P365 I like a little better.

View attachment 873534

How does the grip width of the 365 compare to the Shield. I have a Shield and feel confident shooting it single handed, even with my weak hand.

I don't feel as confident with double stack guns

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

Obsolete? Probably not. However I can’t see why anyone would buy today a similarly priced and sized single stack over the P365 or Hellcat when it holds 40% less rounds. The true double stacks that can hold bigger mags and more rounds I get it. I primarily carry those easily anywhere I go.

Some people don't have hands big enough to confidently shoot a double stack gun with a one handed hold

 

[DukeConnor]

I never thought anything could replace my S&W 3913 as a carry gun. I tried a bunch.
The Sig has relegated my beloved Smith to the safe.
with the 12 or 15 round mag I shoot it as well or better than most if my full size guns.
With the 10 rd mag I can shoot it well enough that I am more than confident in my accuracy with it.

 

[LaneP]

How does the grip width of the 365 compare to the Shield. I have a Shield and feel confident shooting it single handed, even with my weak hand.

I don't feel as confident with double stack guns

For pure comfort I give a slight edge to the Shield. If you have large hands you may want to use the magazine pinkie rest floor plate on the P365. My hand measures 8" from wrist to tip of middle finger and for me the P365 is on the outer limit of having enough grip for me to comfortably hang on to. But its weight, concealability and capacity tip the scales in its favor for me.

 

[Styx]

How does the grip width of the 365 compare to the Shield. I have a Shield and feel confident shooting it single handed, even with my weak hand.

I don't feel as confident with double stack guns

Keep in the mind I only handled it in the store, but I much prefer the grip of the PPS M2, P365, and Hellcat to that of the Shield. I have medium sized hands YMMV. I keep a pinky extension on my shield and carry my PPS M2 with the 7 round mag.

 

[drobs]

Only thing I dislike about the P365 is the grip texture. It rubs me raw if carried owb w/o a t-shirt between the grip and my hip.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I shot a P365 and it did seem to shoot like a bigger gun to me. Light recoil and easy to shoot fast.

Haven’t handled a Hellcat yet.

As far as why would someone want a lower capacity gun? Smaller size. Might just be a nicer gun. Variety for variety’s sake.

I dig my P938 very much and I feel is a classy little gun. I’m not going to abandon it just because something new came along. I may add another gun but I’ll keep my P938 as backup.

 

[WYO]

$500 for what amounts to a gun with a max range of 10 yards? No, not when you can buy a decent AR for the same price.

10 yards? Seriously? My P365 will hang with much larger handguns at much more distance than that. Holding shots within a 3"X5" index card at 50 feet is ridiculously easy, and poppers at 50 yards are easily doable. It also is easier to carry concealed in Walmart than an AR15.

Concerning the OP's post, I shot my P365 better out of the box than my Glock 26 with several thousand rounds through it.

 

[Hangingrock]

I do not have or want the P365 or a Hellcat. Also, I am not into the handgun rotation concept either. With the previously written I'll add, I'm not into Red-Dot sights either. I am satisfied with a Gen1 S&W Shield 9X19mm with the (8) Rd capacity magazines and with two modifications made, the Apex Duty/Carry trigger system and TruGlo Tritium Pro Night Sights.

 

[needmorecowbell]

If you EDC a G26 or the like, how often are you actually carrying or utilizing the bigger mags though?

Every single time I carry I have the flush mag in it and 1-2 full size spares on my belt. With my G29 that’s 41 lovely rounds at my disposal.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

10 yards? Seriously? My P365 will hang with much larger handguns at much more distance than that. Holding shots within a 3"X5" index card at 50 feet is ridiculously easy, and poppers at 50 yards are easily doable. It also is easier to carry concealed in Walmart than an AR15.

Concerning the OP's post, I shot my P365 better out of the box than my Glock 26 with several thousand rounds through it.

I agree. I found keeping shots center mass pretty easy at 20 yards with the P365. An actual owner could do much better.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

In choosing any gun I would say get the one that has the best grip and feels right for you and shoots perfectly. Grip size, bore axis, trigger etc. are going to be a individual choice and one size never fits all. As a example I have a Micro 9mm that now has two different grips available. I have been going to the range and shooting quite a bit of ammo between the two to decide which one I like the best. One has a higher bore axis, one lower,one more 1911 style. But have their pros' and cons against each other. One gun has over 10,000 rds fired through it, so there is familiarity that plays in my decision. Both can carry 9rds which is fine for my needs, others may feel they need more. I have shot many of the guns mentioned. Most shoot very comparably. Some had a little more recoil, some a little less muzzle flip. And of course there is perceived recoil etc. My personal belief is that most guns are typically more accurate than the shooter. And of course these are not target guns.
Here is a partial list of recoil on some of the guns mentioned. I will continue the list as time goes on. But to give you a general idea of just one factor and that is recoil.

Keltec PF-9------------9.79
Diamondback-DB9---9.28
Kahr CM9---------------7.7
Ruger LC9S------------7.24
Sig 365------------------6.99
Sig 938--------------------6.99
Glock 43X------------------6.93
MP Shield-----------------6.8
Springfield Hellcat------6.78
Taurus PT 709-----------6.64
Beretta APX Carry/Nano---6.18
Glock 26-------------------5.98
Honor Defense-----------5.79



Source Genitron.

 

[IdaD]

Back when I bought my Shield these micro double stacks weren't an option. If they were I may have bought one. I'm a little leery about the P365's reputation but I would guess most of them are fine. That said, since I already have the Shield in that single stack size class I don't feel any compulsion to go buy a 365 or Hellcat. 11 or 12 rounds versus 8 is an improvement but not likely one that will ever matter to me, and I really like the way the Shield feels in my hand and shoots, and it's been super reliable. If I were going to go for a small double stack I think I'd buy a Glock 26 or maybe one of the new 2.0 Subcompact pistols. I just don't know that there's enough room between my Shield and 2.0 Compact to be worth adding another pistol. I'm sure I will someday, I'm way past needs at this point when it comes to guns.

 

[<*(((><]

I don't know how people are making a P365/LC9s sized pistol disappear in the front pocket, cargo pants, yes but I could carry a full frame in those pockets. I feel like my LCP in my front pocket is a little bit obtrusive, not horrible, but one definitely knows its there.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

I can make my 365 fit, but not exactly disappear, in a front jeans pocket. I need a shirttail to hide the butt of the gun.

But yeah, I’m fine carrying that way if needed.

 

[JR24]

I can only comment on my own experience with the 365 I owned for a while, and that it absolutely did not render my 26 obsolete, quite the opposite.

Due to the thiness of the 365 and how it fit my hand it was trivially easy to outshoot it with my 26 at any range or drill. The 365 was accurate, absolutely, but just not a fit for me.

Size wise, the 365/hellcat fits in an odd place for my carry needs, I find them too big to pocket carry and no easier to belt carry over a Glock 26 or even 19 (in anything I'd leave the house in), so I stuck with what I shoot better and moved the 365 for what I paid.

IF I decided I need something thinner than a 26/19 id almost certainly go with a Glock 48. Better hand fit.

I will say the 365 felt better, in terms of recoil, than other small 9s I've shot like the Sig 938 and Kimber Micro 9, shot like a bigger gun in that regard.

I'd like to take a look at a Hellcat some day but I highly doubt I'll buy one unless my carry needs drastically change.

 

[<*(((><]

IF I decided I need something thinner than a 26/19 id almost certainly go with a Glock 48. Better hand fit.

That's where I arrived at a Glock 48, love the feel and it's been perfect so far. I should be getting my Shield Arms 15 round flush mags and aluminum mag catch, can't wait to put those mags through their paces to confirm reliability.