FOG HORN December 2019

Twobirds Flying Publications

SIG SAUER P365 SAS 9mm Micro-Compact

Copyright 2019, Towbirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.

 SIG SAUER P365 SAS 9mm Micro-Compact 2019

SIG SAUER P365 SAS 9mm Micro- Having no previous hands-on experience with
the original P365, I was somewhat
Compact
apprehensive when SIG announced the micro-
By: Sal Palma compact P365 SAS (SIG Anti Snag). I had a
nagging question about the company’s latest
addition to the P365 family that needed
answering. Would it prove to be an effective
and reliable CCW platform?

One of the salient issues with the traditional

I have to confess that I’ve been a SIG fanboy for
years, at least as far back as the German P6
which remains one of the best 9mm pistols
made, to date. Its only shortcoming was the
miserly 8+1 capacity. Having made that
disclosure, I now feel lily pure and free from any
bias.
CCW compact and semi compact designs is their
potential for snagging on clothing as you draw
the weapon from a pocket or holster. During
the draw, the pistol’s external sights, hammer
or other control surfaces could catch on a
garment, a concern that can be laid to rest with
the SAS. It’s a striker fired pistol and on visual
inspection all sharp edges and corners have
been eliminated; SIG has gone through great
pains to eliminate any possibility of a snag. The
SAS has no external safeties, no external sights
and all controls, like the slide lock and take-
down lever, are recessed.

I’ve carried a
KelTec P3AT for
years, but only as
a backup. That
decision has
nothing to do with
the fact that it is
chambered in 9mm kurz (.380 ACP). I’ve simply Starting with the controls, SIG replaces the
never considered it a viable standalone CCW traditional takedown lever with a flat head
choice because of its tiny size which does not screw and recesses the slide lock which is
provide a suitable purchase especially in my located directly behind the takedown screw.
chunky hands. Locking the slide open is straight forward and
can be done with the thumb of the strong hand.
However, you can forget releasing the slide on

Copyright 2019, Towbirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.

 SIG SAUER P365 SAS 9mm Micro-Compact
an empty magazine, or a full magazine for that
matter. To chamber a round, you’ll have to
slingshot the slide.
Field stripping the P365 SAS is a bit more
cumbersome due to SIG’s implementation of
the slide lock and takedown screw, but it’s
accomplished using the customary procedure:
1. Remove the magazine and clear the
weapon.
2. Lock the slide back.
3. Rotate the takedown screw clockwise so
that the slot is horizontal to the frame.
a. An issue I brought to SIG’s attention is
the lack of a tool to operate the
takedown lever, so you’ll need a coin
or other device to rotate the takedown
screw, not a huge deal, but not having
a tool may result in surface scratches
on the pistol’s polymer frame.
4. Release the slide and pull it off the frame.
Copyright 2019, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved
2019
One of the things you’ll notice immediately
when handling the SAS pistol is the porting on
its 3.1 inch barrel. Barrel porting attempts to
mitigate one of the more frequent complaints
about subcompact or micro-compact pistols
which are their muzzle flip, and to a lesser
extent their punchy recoil. But, physics can at
times be ruthless and the reduced mass of the
micro-compact platform translates to a heavier
recoil impulse and consequent muzzle flip.
Porting of the barrel reduces muzzle climb so
the shooter can stay on target more easily.
Beyond slide
serrations and grip
texturing, both of
which enhances
ergonomics, the
single most
significant design
decision made by
SIG was eliminating
the traditional external sights substituting them
instead with what SIG describes as the Flush-
Mounted FT Bullseye Fiber-Tritium Night Sight,
a sight made by MEPROLIGHT USA.
The sight’s fiber-optic / tritium combination
produces an extremely bright sight picture in
daylight and in lowlight the tritium insert takes
 SIG SAUER P365 SAS 9mm Micro-Compact 2019
over. Like a reflex sight, this is an extremely
fast sight.

The SAS with an overall length of 5.82 inches

and a height of 4.06 is only slightly larger than
Most subcompact pistols are limited to an 8+1 KelTec’s P3AT with a length of 5.2 inches and a
or 6+1 capacity. SIG ships the P365 SAS with height of 3.5 inches.
two 10 round magazines giving shooters a snag
free 10+11 micro-compact CCW pistol. One
magazine ships with a pinky extension the other
with a flush floor plate. SIG also has a 12 round
magazine available for the P365.

Size matters and no pistol will perform well if

you can’t control it. SIG’s P365 SAS falls
somewhere between the venerable KelTec
P3AT and the Glock 43. The P365 SAS with its “double stack” 9mm
magazine is certainly wider than the single stack
P3AT.
1
SIG SAUER also offers a 12 round magazine for the
P365

Copyright 2019, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved

 SIG SAUER P365 SAS 9mm Micro-Compact
The Glock 43 is a bit larger than the P365 SAS
with an overall length of 6.26 inches and height
of 4.25 inches with a magazine capacity of 6 +1
has a slimmer grip compared to the SAS 10+1.
The SAS has a slide width of 0.91 inches
compared to the Glock 43’s 0.87 inches.
In spite of its micro-compact size the P365 SAS
has excellent ergonomics and does not feel like
a micro-compact pistol in the hand. The grip
angle and grip texture, which are very well done
contribute to an excellent purchase.
The SAS sits low in the hand due to its slimmed
down beavertail area and a generous trigger
guard undercut. Generally speaking, a pistol
with a lower bore axis exhibits better recoil
management and reduced muzzle flip.
Copyright 2019, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved
2019
At the range, the P365 SAS performed
flawlessly. It digested bulk 115 grain, 9mm ball
with zero failures to feed, fire or eject. The
barrel porting does an excellent job of taming
the customary snappiness of a pistol in the SAS
size and weight.
Moving on to Creedmoor’s 9mm, 124 grain, XTP
+P, the felt recoil was a bit more noticeable but
not bad at all.
I have to confess liking the SAS dragon like
discharge from its barrel porting. It has a Harry
Potter like quality that attracted other shooter’s
attention. But, even with Creedmoor’s very hot
9mm load, the SAS, once more, performed
flawlessly. Of 150 rounds fired not a single
hiccup from a pistol that was straight out of the
box.
 SIG SAUER P365 SAS 9mm Micro-Compact 2019
will tell you, defensive shooting is a close
quarter engagement; therefore, there’s a high
probability that your weapon’s muzzle will
contact the assailant’s body. With many of the
semi-automatic pistols on the market, that
muzzle contact unlocks the breach and the
pistol will not fire. Whether by accident or
design, the P365 SAS will fire even if the slide
moves slightly rearward during body contact.
The key word here is slightly.
I’ve also heard several comments suggesting
that the SAS shooter is at risk of being burnt by
escaping gases from the barrel porting. At no
time did I feel at risk, nor did I feel anything
other than normal temperature gradients. If
you burn your support hand thumb is only
because you’re distracted and if you are
distracted you shouldn’t be behind a firearm.
But, if you’re still worried about your support
hand thumb, try accessorizing your SAS with
The FT Bullseye sight is clear and visible but Streamlight’s outstanding TLR6.
they do take a bit of getting use to. However, if I
can get you to overlook my two fliers out of a
10 round group, the results were impressive.
The P365 SAS is not a target pistol and unless
you like pointless challenges, I would forget 25
yard targets, but at 5, 7, 10 or 15 yards, you
own it. The FT Bullseye sight is fast and an
excellent combat sight. In low light conditions
the tritium insert does its job; in daylight, the
fiber optics kicks in and you’ll think you’re
looking into a Buick’s headlight.
Micro-compact CCW pistols are not range guns
so most shooters practice very little with their
firearm, which is contrary to what they should
be doing; SIG’s P365 SAS will change that
because it’s such a joy to shoot. One final
comment or best said interesting observation.

The P365 SAS was designed from the ground up

to be a defensive pistol, and as most trainers

Copyright 2019, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved

 SIG SAUER P365 SAS 9mm Micro-Compact 2019
Not only will you get tactical illumination with a Manufacturer Specification
laser aiming pointer, you’ll also give your  CALIBER 9mm Luger
support hand thumb something useful to do.  ACTION TYPE Semi-Auto
In closing, referring to SIG SAUER’s P365 SAS as  GRIP TYPE Blk Polymer
a Glock 43 killer constitutes poor analysis as one  GRIP COLOR Black
is an apple and the other an orange.  FRAME SIZE Micro-Compact
SIG has taken the P365 micro-compact pistol  FRAME MATERIAL Polymer
and perfected it for deep concealment. The SAS  SLIDE FINISH Nitron
can be carried holstered or in cloth, like trouser  SLIDE MATERIAL Stainless Steel
pockets, coat pockets or virtually any garment  BARREL MATERIAL Carbon Steel
you can think of. The SIG P365 SAS is the
 ACCESSORY RAIL N/A
ultimate defensive deep concealment pistol; it’s
 TRIGGER Striker
an effective and reliable platform, and with its
 TRIGGER TYPE Standard
10+1 capacity of +P 9mm stopping power you’ll
 BARREL LENGTH 3.1 in (78 mm)
want to own one.
 OVERALL LENGTH (IN) 5.8 in
(148 mm)
-SP
 OVERALL WIDTH 1.0 in (27 mm)
 HEIGHT 4.1 in (104 mm)
 WEIGHT (OZ) 17.8 oz. (500 g)

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