A good thing is something we cannot get enough of. I own enough SIG pistols to cause matrimonial disharmony- although my wife owns two as well! Some are different types and a couple are 1911 types. But I own more P365 9mm SIG handguns than any other type of SIG. They are not all the same and the one I carry on a daily basis is the P365 XMACRO TACOPS. For my situation this 9mm is as close to an ideal concealed carry handgun as I am able to find. The P365 is modular accepting aftermarket parts such as the Wilson Combat grip module. The P365 came first followed by the long slide XL. Then came the XMACRO with compensator. This pistol features a compensator and lengthened slide and grip frame. It shoots well. Sometimes folks say a little gun shoots like a big gun. The truth is the little gun shoots better than most little gun- in this case the SIG shooters about as well as a Glock 19 or SIG P320 but with a bit more recoil push. An easy gun to shoot well and an easy gun to love. A lengthened grip frame and 17 round capacity make for excellent control compared to the original pistol. But all is not perfect- the compensator does reduce recoil but also expels powder and gas upward. This is a concern when the pistol is fired from retention position. The 3.1 inch barrel exhibits less velocity than the P365XL. I suppose other shooters came to the same conclusion. The SIG P365 XMACRO TACOPS 9mm was developed.
This pistol is only two ounces heavier than a P365XL. With 16 rounds on tap and a 3.7 inch barrel this is another great shooter. This pistol really isn’t much larger than a P365 XL but delivers a lot of shootability.
Caliber: 9mm
- Capacity: 17+1 rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.7 inches
- Dimensions: Overall Length 6.6 inches
- Height: 5.2 inches
- Maximum width: 1.4 inches
- Weight Unloaded: 20.7 oz
- Grip Frame: Polymer
- Chassis: Stainless Steel
- Slide: Nitride coated stainless
- Sights: SIG X-RAY 3 three-dot, tritium
- Optics: Romeo Zero/ RMS optic cut
- Trigger: Flat trigger shoe 5 lbs. 1 oz.
My hand is average size. I find the TACOPS is a good fit for my hand and the grip treatment makes for good adhesion and abrasion. A modest magazine well makes for fast speed loads. Four magazines are supplied with the pistol a nice set up. A magazine loader, lock, and grip inserts are part of the kit. The trigger breaks at just over five pounds as issued. After some weeks of use and just less than 1,000 rounds of ammunition the trigger has settled into a smooth 4.8 pounds and very clean.
If desired you may change out the fire control unit into a number of frame sizes- I have no need to do so. Just the same my needs may change and refreshing the pistol at a later date may be a desire. The pistol features forward cocking serrations making for easy handling. SIG X Ray sights are excellent all around sights for personal defense. I did not explore the optics option, perhaps I will at a later date. I have hammered a lot of ammunition through this handgun. This wasn’t simply for shooting reviews but to sharpen myself up with a carry gun. While one gun or the other performs well and the shooter makes the difference there are notable differences in handling among handguns. A Glock 19 or similar pistol will outshoot a smaller gun in most cases. In absolute accuracy firing from a rest at 15 yards the SIG P365 XMACRO TACOPS holds its own against many larger handguns. There have been no failures to feed, chamber, fire or eject in creating a buck of brass. As for ammunition choices- the 9mm offers performance out of proportion to its size. Factory loads start at 30,000 PSI in most practice loads to nd 35,000 PSI for defense loads. +P loads may register 38,500 PSI. +P or the largely unregulated +P+ will not blow a gun up but the small parts take a beating. In second rate guns +P loads often cause malfunctions in the feed cycle. I tested two defense loads extensively in the SIG P365 XMACRO TACOPS.
Federal Train and Protect 115 grain JHP
| Velocity | Penetration | Expansion |
| 1169 fps | 12 inches | .68 |
Accuracy, five shots, from a benchrest at 15 yards 2.0 inch.
SIG Elite 147 grain V Crown
| Velocity | Penetration | Expansion |
| 1001 fps | 20 inches | .56 |
Accuracy, 2.2 inch
The pistol has proven reliable and will serve well for personal defense. It is clearly a much improved P 365. If you need a pocket gun or vest gun, well, the original is still the slimmer lighter shorter gun. If you want a very efficient belt gun-try the TACOPS.
Packing the SIG P365XMACRO Tacops
I turned to one of your most respected makers for a high quality inside the waistband holster. The DeSantis Transit is an old school IWB holster with a new school twist. It is built from firm, sueded center cut steerhide and reinforced at the top with both Kydex® and premium saddle leather to aid in easy re-holstering. The holster also has a heavy-duty spring steel clip which can easily be moved over to either side making this holster ambidextrous. Most models of the holster are red dot compatible.
