After recently shooting a Springfield Hellcat, and visiting the guns store to fondle the various iterations of the excellent Sig P365 guns, I was thinking when or under what circumstances would you prefer to carry one example or the other in each of these classes of guns ?

It looks like either class could substitute for the other in many circumstances, but MAYBE, one or the other would be best in certain cirumstances.

Can you think of situations like this ?

The reason I'm asking is when I was checking out the P365 line, since I was so impressed, I was trying to think under what circumstances I would want to carry my CZ Compact instead of this new beauty ?

Remember this question isn't about these two choices specifically, but about how this new class of guns that live in the sub-compact/compact size range, compared to traditional current production guns in the more formal "compact" class.

I asked the good salesman this question, in a very fine gun store, and he didn't have any thoughts on it. If you're goona sell guns you ought to have some thoughts along these lines since you're selling both classes of guns side by side.

What do you guys say ?

Not a CZ or a P365, but lately I've been carrying my P229 and a 43X for different purposes.

The P229 is heavier and bulkier, but I shoot it a little bit better. I carry it if I'm going into town or going to be in a busy place like Church or the Grocery store.

The 43x is much lighter and trimmer. It's also very tolerant of sweat and other nastiness. I carry it walking the dog, working in the yard, or around the house, or if I'm going out somewhere that I'm not likely to be around crowds or a bunch of people.

The little slimline gun is filling the gap between my "full-size" pistol and a J-frame pocket gun. It's not quite as small and convenient as the little revolver, but it's vastly more capable. My off-duty carry time used to be split between the P229 and the J-Frame about 80/20. Now it's probably 30/60/10 P229/43x/642.

My take and I know very little about very little.

I don’t generally care for the OG P365 / hellcat size. They are very convenient but harder to shoot well. In the vast amount of SD scenarios they are just fine. I prefer the bigger Hellcat Pro / Glock 43x/48 size. Still thin but easier to manipulate.

At the end of the day mamma physics is a fickle bitch and she will be paid her due. Smaller, thinner, lighter all equate to more effort to shoot.

The fact is a CZ P01/Glock 19/PDP compact etc. are going to be easier to shoot faster, farther. It’s all a balancing act and risk evaluation for your own life.

Interesting question, my primary carry is a P365 with an XL frame. The other two that get a lot of carry time are a P365 XL w/ optic and a CZ 75 PCR. Out of the three, I actually shoot the PCR better than the smaller more comfortable 365s, so much so that I’m considering adding a Shadow 2 Compact. I choose the PCR because it’s the gun I shoot the absolute best. I choose the 365 because I am proficient with it and it carries better.

For me the Hellcat in the most of the time gun. I could almost as the question in the opposite direction (especially being in a ban state, so it's 10+1, big or small).

Staccato CS with a light gets the rest of the time, often just because I want to, or because it's night time and I'll be outdoors a bit more.

Every now and then a 1911 to the grocery store or similar for fun. But I don't forget about them. "Forget" isn't the right word, maybe more like... not constantly aware of, always feeling it, cautious of my movements, cautious of it printing, cautious bending, sitting, reaching for things on shelves. Where as the Hellcat is there, but is almost like it isn't.

(and I like shooting the little gun and I shoot it well. I've shot USPSA matches with it)

I live in a rural area of a free state where no one cares that I am carrying. I don't usually care if my weapon prints a little, and I usually carry a Glock 32 in a comfortable OWB holster. I carry my P365 in an IWB holster when concealment matters to me and I really don't want my weapon to print.

I’ve tried going small, then really small.. now I’m back to as big as I can hide and keep my shorts from falling down. I just don’t shoot tiny guns well. I bet I had 3 or 4 iterations of the P365. Sold all of them. The smallest gun I have now is a Shadow Systems CR920XL. Basically a comped Glock 48. I do well with it.

Biggest gun that's small enough.

If the CZ 75 Compact is small enough then no need to go smaller.

CZ 75-steel, traditional hammer/firing pin.
Sig 365-polymer, striker fired.

CZ 75--heavy, old school DA/SA
Sig 365--light (50%), striker fired, modular

Personally--old school, heavier guns fired SA will be my choice.
The newer, compact polymer semi auto has become the "pocket" replacement for the pocket revolver.

I have a Hellcat Pro and a Sig XMacro. I most often carry the Hellcat since its manual safety works better for me than the safety in the Sig.

I like the lighter weight and thinness of my P365 but prefer the 2nd strike capability of my SA/DA CZ75 Compact.

If I carry IWB at 4:30, I need the same cover garment if I carry a P365 sized gun or a steel framed 1911. the smaller gun is lighter and more comfortable than the other, but I shoot the larger gun better. For me, the difference comes from the weight and grip length.

My history has shown me that no matter what I want reality to be, I won't consistently carry a full-size gun. So, I make compromises and have settled on the "macro-compact" versions the slim line guns; my current being a FN Reflex XL. 15+1, 3.8" barrel, 1" thick +/-, with an unloaded weight of 20-ish oz. Not as shootable as a full-size gun in my safe at home, but better than a tiny gun that hurts to practice with.

The problem I see with guns like the 365 is trigger finger placement. If the grip is too small for the shooters hand they end up using too much finger and pull their shots. I have several CZs and like them a lot - they grip like they were made for my hand. My EDC 6 days a week is a Glock 26. Sundays it's a G19. Just functional guns.

quote:

The problem I see with guns like the 365 is trigger finger placement. If the grip is too small for the shooters hand they end up using too much finger and pull their shots.

Mine tends to shoot left unless I put more finger through, about a third of the way between the first and second joints (counting from the tip), believe it or not. My hands are on the low end of medium glove size.

I also have a Ruger Max-9. Very close in size and is like holding a broken chunk of brick compared to the P365, but the slightly fatter grip without the undercut on the frontstrap means I pull with the first joint.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,

I've got small hands it would seem. but the P365X is basically perfect for me for carry. if I were in need of a duty size gun the XMACRO grip and 4.3 top end would get that accomplished for me. As to "snappy" my first handgun was a 229 in 357 and I think anyone who calls 9mm even +p which I carry snappy is ghey. To that end I really don't have a use case for a CZ 75 in any flavor.