380 in the Sig 365 would be a great marketing move.
For one, 9 mm pocket rockets are harder to master for newbies and average shooters. When Rohrbaugh came out with the lightest and smallest 9 mm they got an early reputation for being problematic. But the true problem was that a lot of buyers just could not control the gun, which resulted in jams.
‘The 365 is easier to shoot than the Rohrbaugh for sure, but keep in mind that a huge market is the baby boomers; and they are getting older and thus weaker, so a 10-12 shot 380 that is much more controllable is not a bad choice. At the end of their life as a company, Rohrbaugh offered the same gun in 380 with some takers. I thought it was dumb at the time, but then I was much younger and could not relate.
I’ve been carrying Rohrbaugh’s for 15 years and am experimenting with the 365 and Hellcat. I am fighting nerve damage in my hands, so I believe a switch to 380 may be necessary for me in the next 5-10 years. And many older shooters are in that position now.
We all know the Hellcat has taken sales away from the 365; a 380 version will definitely increase sales. Yeah, it will cannibalize some 365 9 mm sales, but at least Springfield won’t get them.
Now the question is, can Sig pull it off without having to recall the guns? That is, get it right the first time?