Why would one want to add a Red Dot or a Flashlight to their Sig P365? Reason for purchasing the P365 was I assume for just about all is to "carry concealed". Well putting those mentioned accessories defeats the whole purpose. Just to let you know I have been concealed carrying and shooting for over 60 years. I only mention this because I do not want some individual saying something like: "are you a rookie?" Then stating: "it is easier and more accurate with a Red Dot and you have to see in in the dark." So again please let me know your thoughts on either of these accessories that turn your Micro Compact into a very printable firearm. Not trying to start an argument just want to know WHY. A discussion would be great.

Mine is the original with nothing added. But, I don't care that many folks want to have RDS or WML on theirs. They have their reasons that are valid for them. Folks have been carrying bigger guns without printing for a long time.

Add-ons like this defeat the purpose of a gun whose reason for existence is to be little. It makes more sense on the larger models like the XL or that new "Fuse."

Red dot sights- you don't want my opinion on those devices, but a light- you can't see in the dark, and it's not just that half the world is in darkness at a given time. Even at blazing noon on a cloudless summer day, the interiors of buildings can have places which are dark as a bottomless pit.

The new generation of pistol lights fill the space between trigger guard and muzzle without extending beyond the muzzle or below the trigger guard and they disappear into holsters with nary a hint of their presence until you need them.

Lights on pistols make a Hell of a lot of sense. You must identify your target.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
but a light- you can't see in the dark, and it's not just that half the world is in darkness at a given time. Even at blazing noon on a cloudless summer day, the interiors of buildings can have places which are dark as a bottomless pit.

The new generation of pistol lights fill the space between trigger guard and muzzle without extending beyond the muzzle or below the trigger guard and they disappear into holsters with nary a hint of their presence until you need them.

Lights on pistols make a Hell of a lot of sense. You must identify your target.

Pretty much this.

I consider a WML to be a must on any defensive firearm.

Night sights/red dots are fine, but secondary, because while they can aid you in lining up your shot, they do not aid in identifying your target.

Whereas lights are a must-have, since you have to be able to identify your target. Your chances of needing to use a defensive firearm in low/no light are greater than not (and as pointed out exist even in daytime hours).

Handheld flashlights are a better than nothing, but not as good as a dedicated WML since you won't always have a free other hand, and even when you do they are not as fast to deploy as a dedicated WML.

Lights also give a little extra weight muzzle side and do aid in shooting these little guns a little faster.

That said to each their own. As long as it’s not dangerous or illegal rock on with your bad self.

I haven't seen many folks setting up a standard P365 with dots and lights, although they seem to be pretty common on the larger variants. Yes, the P365 started out as a micro compact, but it has expanded into a slimline compact and even a full-size. When you get into those bigger variants the accessories start to make sense.

I don't always choose to, but I sometimes conceal carry a P320 Carry with a TLR-7 and an RMR. It's not really that hard with the right holster and wardrobe. If I can do it with that gun, doing it with any variant of the P365 would be easy.

IMO it's all about your environment and goals. If the need is for the smallest possible deep concealment gun, hanging a light and optic off of it makes little sense. But if your carry solution allows for the extra bulk, why not leverage the extra capability?

I still haven't added a light or optic to my P365. I like that it's small and holds 10+ rounds. I recently got in a P365 optic ready gun for someone and he said he's going to pocket carry it so he didn't want a light or optic but was glad it came with night sights.

I would see the addition of a red dot more practical than adding a light from a practical standpoint. And I base this solely on most people do not train, even in dry fire, to deploy the light on the draw stroke.

The red dot will be used on each draw stroke.

Training with the light and dot opens up capabilities greatly. And with modern holsters, neither really hamper you from true concealment.

I’ve been training with a Glock 48 a lot. My capability improved drastically when I added the RDS. I lose very little from the same capabilities I enjoy with an iron sighted G19.

Last night I took the CCW renewal class for Illinois and there were ten of us and when it was range time no one had a red dot on their pistol. I used my Gen 2 Glock 19. Just thought it was odd than not a single person had a red dot.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
I would see the addition of a red dot more practical than adding a light from a practical standpoint. And I base this solely on most people do not train, even in dry fire, to deploy the light on the draw stroke.

The red dot will be used on each draw stroke.

I find these remarks astonishing.

You've trained yourself to such a degree that you have reduced the real world to repetitious movements on a range.

The world is divided into light and dark. The light is daytime in the outdoors and well-lit interiors. Dark is nighttime and places with poor or absent artificial lighting.

Having adequate lighting means one does not need "to deploy the light on the draw stroke." Why would one need to activate a WML each time drawing a pistol? Do you do such a thing? I don't and I know no one who does, and there is no doubt that there are times when one would certainly not want to betray their position when drawing, by reflexively turning on a beacon on their pistol.

A WML is there when one does need it, and that includes for people who, despite the fact that they don't "train", shockingly know how to turn on a flashlight, and they also know when they don't need to turn on a flashlight.

It ain't rocket surgery. Much of the time, it's dark. Having a light on a pistol, especially if it doesn't get in the way, is a remarkably good idea, even for those shooters whose ammunition is not delivered on pallets and paid for by someone else, and who don't have training spaces provided to them free of charge.

And it's not just that I'm a pragmatist; I'm talking plain sense.

I am the original poster of this topic. Having said that I believe several posters made a very valid point in mentioning that a Light mounted under the barrel adds very little to printing on a P365 print. So I do understand the their reasoning of a light. While I understand their reasoning it is just not to MY liking (just my opinion))

By the way the way, I carry my P365 in pocket with a a pocket holster. If I chose a light, which I will not I would assume there are several pocket holsters that would accommodate a light. However pocket carrying any pistol with a Red Dot is definitely out of the question (for me anyway...(another opinion). I really feel if pocket carrying a pistol a Red Dot is a BIG NO, NO.

Thanks to all who responded to my original post. Much appreciated.

I pocket carry a P365X w/ a Holosun 507k. No problems w/ drawing or shooting. I also see no printing problems w/ it as well. I always carry a small flashlight at all times as well. Will probably need the flashlight more than I would the dot. But, I like having both.

I carry a 365 Legion with a Holosun 507. When I upgraded to this as my carry gun, it seemed large. I upgraded from a Kymber Micro9, which is very, very small. Now that I have become comfortable carrying this as my daily carry and it’s not printing, I very well may add a light.
The addition of the optic was minimal and it allows me to acquire the target much faster. The light will add some bulk to the gun, but in reality it’s a very effective tool to add. As Para has stated a few times, it’s dark out half the time, and odds are good that you’ll need a self defense gun when it’s dark as opposed to light.

Back to answering your original question without my word salad, I added a red dot so I could have faster target acquisition. I will most likely be adding a light to be able to see my target in the dark.

quote:

Originally posted by 357fuzz:
I pocket carry a P365X w/ a Holosun 507k. No problems w/ drawing or shooting. I also see no printing problems w/ it as well.

Beyond the obvious issues of having a WML activated by accident while carrying your pistol in a pocket, and the possibility of an RDS snagging on the draw (not all pockets, pistols and RDS are the same), are some of you guys really carrying a P365 without having the trigger guard covered? To me, that seems even more dangerous than doing so with a Glock, because at least the Glock has a safety tab on the trigger.

When I pocket carried a P365 on duty as a BUG, it was in a Remora pocket holster, which covers the trigger.

I've carried my 365 with a flashlight/laser for years, and

quote:

Originally posted by Gort:
... turn your Micro Compact into a very printable firearm

is simply not the case. The light really doesn't change the size and length by a significant margin, and I found a holster that fits it. Any printing would be due to the grip, not the light.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by 357fuzz:
I pocket carry a P365X w/ a Holosun 507k. No problems w/ drawing or shooting. I also see no printing problems w/ it as well.

Beyond the obvious issues of having a WML activated by accident while carrying your pistol in a pocket, and the possibility of an RDS snagging on the draw (not all pockets, pistols and RDS are the same), are some of you guys really carrying a P365 without having the trigger guard covered? To me, that seems even more dangerous than doing so with a Glock, because at least the Glock has a safety tab on the trigger.

I carry mine in a Vedder Pocket Locker holster. No way I would Carry a gun in a pocket w/o a holster that 1) would not cover the trigger and 2) keep the gun upright and from spinning around. Totally covers the trigger guard. I mostly wear Duluth Dry on the fly pants or shorts. They have large pockets w/ a large horizontal opening. Almost like it was made for pocket carry. If wearing jeans are other pants with tighter pockets or the vertical “slash”type pocket then it is back to OWB.

I have as yet not ever used a red dot on a handgun. I just bought a 365 that is cut for the romero zero optic. I intend to try it. I may not like it. If not there nothing to lose as my son, who had 8 years in SF and 5 deployments to afghanistan does like them. He will trade me his 365 which is not cut for mine that is. He used Red dots on his M4 in the war and is sold on them. I on the other hand had 27 years as a LEO and have always preferred open sights on pistols, albeit with night sights when possible. As for lights, I admit that identifying a target in low light can be a challenge and they might be helpful, but I'm not going to add one to my carry weapon due to weight. My edc is as light as possible and is for emergency use only. I want it small and light. Usually IWB carry though occasionally I'll carry a S&W 5 shot revolver in a pocket holster. A Romeo Zero is so small and weight is next to nothing. It won't show any more than an open sighted weapon, so I fail to see any negatives about it other than getting used to it's narrow field of vision. Shooting with both eyes open makes the field of vision no issue. I personally don't see an optic to be of any value in a pocket carry situation.

So, I think if you want to have one then feel free to. If you don't want one, stay with what you're used to. As long as you use what you want, who cares what someone else likes. Everyone should go the way they feel.

quote:

Originally posted by flintsghost:
So, I think if you want to have one then feel free to. If you don't want one, stay with what you're used to. As long as you use what you want, who cares what someone else likes. Everyone should go the way they feel.

The OP asked for opinions.