Sig Sauer tossed a hand grenade into the world of concealed carry pistols when they launched the highly concealable, double-stack P365 in early 2018. This micro-compact 9mm kicked off a veritable arms race among other manufacturers chasing after the P365’s success, spurring the creation of a host of competitors ranging from Springfield’s Hellcat and Taurus’ GX4 to the Ruger Max and even Kimber’s new line of micro 9s, the R7 Mako.

But Sig Sauer was quick to follow up the original P365 with a host of variants to fit an even wider audience of concealed carriers. With various sizes, capacities, and sights, the ever-increasing P365 family has changed a lot in just a few years. So, let’s take a look at some of the most popular P365 variants here at Guns.com and see which one fits your needs best.

Where It All Began: The Original P365

It may have been the first, but it’s still one of the most popular. The original P365 was revolutionary because it offered the micro-compact size of even the smallest single-stack 9mm pistols with an unseen double-stack capacity for such a tiny gun. The flush-fit magazine holds 10 rounds with a small extension to support the shooting-hand pinky, and the gun also comes with an extended 12-round mag. You can find some general specs on the original P365 below:

• Length: 5.8 inches
• Height: 4.3 inches
• Width: 1 inch
• Barrel length: 3.1 inches
• Weight: 17.8 ounces
• Capacity: 10+1 or 12+1
• Sights: XRAY3 Day/Night Three Dot

Beyond the gun’s footprint, Sig Sauer clearly listened to consumers and offered the P365 with front and rear slide serrations, a nearly full-textured grip, and night sights standard. The diminutive size and large capacity wowed the concealed carry market when it was first launched. Others have followed in Sig Sauer’s footsteps, but the original has earned its spot as a go-to carry gun for a long time to come.

P365 SAS

Concealed may be the keyword in concealed carry, but the ability to rapidly draw a firearm without snagging on clothing, holsters, or bags is still essential if you’re ever forced to use your gun in self-defense. Enter the P365 SAS, a snag-free version of the original P365 with a unique sighting system. SAS stands for Sig Anti-Snag, and the entire handgun’s surface is smoothed out and dehorned to remove any possible risks of snagging. In a side-by-side comparison with the original, the P365 SAS looks like a P365 that was taken to a grinding wheel to remove anything that sticks out from the frame and slide.

Naturally, removing snag points would also require a unique solution to the gun’s sights. Sig’s solution was to drop the sights down inside the slide of the pistol. Instead of a traditional three-dot sighting system, the SAS uses a day-or-night bullseye sight. As an added bonus, the SAS boasts a ported barrel and slide for additional controllability. 

P365 XL

Moving along the evolutionary track of the P365 comes the P365 XL. While the original set a new standard for double-stack micro-compact pistols, the XL variant actually adds a bit more size to the grip and slide. This handgun bumps the standard capacity from 10 rounds to 12 rounds, and it adds a longer sight radius and barrel for more precision shooting and a smidge more power.

The P365 XL is an appealing choice for shooters with larger hands who are willing to forgo a little bit of concealability for shootability and capacity. However, the overall dimensions are still small, and the gun is easily concealable. Even better, the XL series features a flat trigger for more accurate shooting, and cuts for optics are available if you want to mount a red dot or buy one that comes with Sig’s Romeo Zero 3 MOA dot.

P365X

Bringing it back to the original for length but with the controls of the XL series, the P365X pistol is a crossover design. The gun features the slide of the original P365, but the grip frame and trigger come from the XL line. 

The concept pushes the boundaries even more between concealable and shootable. The only other difference from the original is that the slide has a cut for a red dot, which was one of the few lacking features on the first P365 to roll out. 

From first to last, the P365 series of pistols are common go-to favorites for concealed carriers. Sig Sauer will no doubt continue to evolve the gun over time, and it will be very interesting to see what they come up with next for this ground-breaking family of firearms.