SIG P365 even better with RDS

[vanfunk]

Hi All:

i had posted earlier about how pleased I’ve been with my SIG P365, and the more I shoot it, the more convinced I am that it’s the perfect pocket carry gun for me. As I have recently re-entered the shooting scene after a hiatus of almost fifteen years, I have also (re)discovered many things. One of the most notable a-has has been red dot sights! I decided to put one on my new Glock 17 gen 5 and it instantly tripled my effective range. So when an advertising algorithm popped an ad into my peripheral vision for a stainless SIG P365x slide, well, you know what I did. First, I’m not much of a two-tone guy but I really like the look of the bead blasted stainless slide on the black polymer frame. Second, I researched red dots for this little pistol. I wanted something really lightweight and low profile, and I wanted a sight that would sit on the slide without a mounting plate. I finally settled on a Shield RMSc red dot; it was pricey but it had good reviews and liked how small and simple it looked. It arrived yesterday and here are my impressions: It’s lightweight but seems strong with its two “flying buttresses” along the side. It’s always on, which I like, and the battery should last for 2-3 years. It easily 1/3 co-witnesses with the sights which I appreciate. It’s an 8 MOA dot which is highly visible and seems perfect for a close-range carry piece. Now the bad… although it’s allegedly made specifically for the P365, the included screws don’t fit the SIG ‘s slide. A trip to the hardware store was in order to source the m3 .5-12 screws necessary to mount it. Next, the included allen wrench is way too big to fit the windage and elevation screws. Why not have flathead screw heads like everyone else? Pretty bone-headed. Anyway, it took two minutes for me to find the right one in my toolbox. It was then an easy matter to sight in the red dot over the visible rear sights so I knew I’d be close at the range.

So, without adieu, I proceeded to the range and put 150 rounds of 124 grain ball through it. The red dot was spot-on, and proved that this little pea shooter is capable of better accuracy than I am by far. 15 yard plates were easy and confidence-inspiring that if I ever need to use this in anger, I might be able to hit something. I went 20 out of 20 on the 50 yard steel silhouette without really trying. Folks, this is amazing shooting for me.

summary: I thought a red dot on a carry pistol was stupid. I was wrong. I thought a red dot on a carry pistol would be too bulky. I was wrong. I thought a red dot would be useless at defensive distances. I was wrong. I thought a red dot would be fragile. Well, I haven’t thrown it off a building but this sight’s better made that some pistols I’ve owned. I was well protected before. Now I’m three times as accurate and twice as fast at ranges from 7-50 yards. Amazing. Ok, indistinguishable from magic. Thoughts?

 

[Tinman357]

Pretty much the same discovery process here. I'm never in a hurry to try the latest n greatest new fad. But after reading so much about RDS on pistols I begrudgingly tried one.

I now have 3. Two are Trijicons (green) on my G40 and G41. Massive improvement over irons, and I'm considered to be a good shot.

Just recently put a Crimson Trace Micro RAD Pro (green) on my 365xl and couldn't be happier. Faster and more accurate than irons for me.

Not perfect, but really close. I prefer the always on/shake awake to the manual switch. I prefer the auto adjust to the manual, and green is way better than red in my opinion. Last thing, I like the smaller MOA dots over the larger ones. I like practicing at longer than average distances, so they are zeroed at 50 yds.

Side note, I like green lasers for all the reasons above and have them on both my LCP's and my P365 standard. The little Sig doesn't get a RDS because the slide isn't cut, and its a jacket pocket gun. Fast out of pocket and on target quick.

I can't imagine anything faster, for me

 

[vanfunk]

Thanks Tinman: I love green dots too, and have them now on two of my Glocks (Holosun SCS and 507). I have a Trijicon RMR 3.25 MOA on my Glock 20 as I thought it would stand up better to full power 10mm. I went with a red dot for my P365 mostly for the sight itself as I wanted the lightest and lowest I could find. I’ve been thinking about getting a Glock 43X but then, why? The SIG P365 literally does everything I need a small 9mm to do. The trigger has smoothed out nicely, the accuracy is incomparable IMO to anything else in it’s class (SO much better than the J-frame S&W .38’s and .357’s I carried years ago, with twice the capacity. I tried but didn’t like the Hellcat). I can carry it all day in the front pocket of cargo shorts. With Underwood ammo, I can put 125 grain hollowpoints at 1200 fps on target fast. I can hit silhouette targets quickly and pretty easily at 50 yards. I am not a rabid combat pistolero, I’m an average 50+ guy with an average build and average conditioning getting average practice at the range. I handle large amounts of money on occasion for work and I worry at times about an unlikely but explosive active shooter situation. I’d rather have my Noveske Afghan on me for anything crazy but that ain’t gonna happen. I feel good and confident about my choice and am feeling more confident in my ability. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Thanks for listening.

 

[Ks5shooter]

RMRcc on my 43x spot on. With Night Fision 1/3 co-witness night sights its a keeper.

 

[JR24]

Agreed on all points. You see all those negatives trotted out on the internet constantly, and it becomes apparent that many of the detractors have never actually given it an honest try.

I prefer the Holosun green options, green and the big dot and circle for my colorblind eyes.

I’ve tried 2.5 and 6 MOA dots and they don’t quite work for me, I’d like to try some of the bigger ones to see if I prefer them to the circle dot, but what I have works for me.

I put the WML on because it sits on my bedside but I’m not 100% convinced I want to keep it for carry. I have a second 365xl with Holosun I may just use as the bedside with the WML.

 

[tarosean]

summary: I thought a red dot on a carry pistol was stupid. I was wrong. I thought a red dot on a carry pistol would be too bulky. I was wrong. I thought a red dot would be useless at defensive distances. I was wrong. I thought a red dot would be fragile. Well, I haven’t thrown it off a building but this sight’s better made that some pistols I’ve owned. I was well protected before. Now I’m three times as accurate and twice as fast at ranges from 7-50 yards. Amazing. Ok, indistinguishable from magic. Thoughts?

You only installed it yesterday if I read correctly.(?)
I would suggest living with it for a while as an EDC, then you can see if you were wrong or right.

 

[CapnMac]

I'm a fan. Mind, mine was a factory-installed Romeo Zero

Tucks in very politely in a Crossbreed Supertuck, too.

But, I may have a bias. It's my "goldilocks" and may not be another's.

 

[jjones45]

What I don’t understand is guys who say “well I can still see my irons so I won’t go to a rds until my eye sight starts to fail me”. By then your sight is diminished and you have to go through the whole learning curve of acquiring a rds. If you started earlier you could still use your irons if you like but the transition would be smooth once necessary. But I digress. Yes I went to rds on some of my carry and home defense handguns a few years ago and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. The accuracy you get at distance and at speed is just superior to iron sights once you start to master the rds. Within 7 yards there’s really no real benefit in my opinion but when you stretch things out it becomes a lot more apparent why this optic craze has taken over the industry. I’m willing to guess in the next 5 years all handguns will come optics ready (it’s already there really). It only makes sense since you don’t have to use it if you don’t want to but the market demands it. I still shoot my more classic guns that have irons really well but going forward all handguns I purchase will be at least optic ready. I’m eyeing the p365x macro tacops now and a Glock 20 gen5. I’m yet to install a rds on my hellcat because I don’t really carry it that much but plan on mounting one of it in the future as well. I’m sold on the holosun green optics with the acss Vulcan sights and circle dot options. I’m starting to want to evolve into the closed emitter option soon as well because I’m tired of wiping lint out of the inside of the optic. This hobby and passion is starting to get real expensive.

 

[Mot45acp]

The ACSS + lasik is what finally allowed me to use RDS on pistols. Now I don't need tge ACSS anymore.

On the G20 Gen5 MOS. You don't even need raised irons with a Holosun SCS. Direct mount, green, no batteries.

My carry is a poor man's P365 Specter Comp. I put a XMacro slide on my XL, sporting a green Holosun.