Gun Review: SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm Pistol

When SIG SAUER introduced the P365 at the 2019 SHOT Show, it caused a minor explosion in the concealed carry pistol market. Cramming 10+1 rounds of parabellum into a form factor that other makers had only managed to fit seven rounds appealed to the ever-growing market for concealed carry pistols.

Almost as interesting was the P365’s modularity. Like SIG’s P320, the P365 is built around a serialized fire control group that constitutes the legal “gun.” That means you can buy all of the other components — grip modules, slides, barrels — to mix and match and create your own customized version built around the central FCG.

It didn’t take SIG long to start expanding the P365 universe with more and larger models. The pistol that was famous for its small, concealable size added ever bigger models to fit a huge range of hand sizes, use cases, and individual preferences. From the P365X, P365-XL, to the XMACRO, XMACRO COMP and the metal-framed AXG Legion, the line has mushroomed in features and physical size. Now, with the addition of the P365-FUSE, it seems the 365 ecosystem is now complete.

SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm pistol

Well maybe. We don’t pretend to know what the minds in New Hampshire may still have planned for the P365 line, but the P365-FUSE may be the ultimate expression of what a P365 platform pistol can be.

SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm pistol

SIG calls the full-size P365-FUSE the fusion of capability and concealment in its marketing materials and that’s not just a bunch of hot air. This is a 4.3-inch barreled pistol that holds a full 17+1 rounds of 9mm ammo. It comes with one flush-fit 17-round magazine and not one, but two 21-round extended mags.

SIG has fitted out the FUSE with an LXG laser-engraved grip module that has aggressive, but very comfortable texturing and is ergonomically fantastic. The flat-faced nickel-plated trigger is easily one of the best striker-fired triggers we’ve ever had the pleasure of pulling. There’s also a removable magazine well and excellent, not-quite suppressor height sights.

SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm pistol
SIG SAUER P365-FUSE with a SIG FOXTROT2R weapon light

Under that 4.3-inch barrel (for reference, that’s only .2 inches shorter than, say, a GLOCK 17 or a .4 inches less than a P320-M17), is a three-slot rail with plenty of room for a full-size weapon light like the FOXTROT2R pictured above. The slide has excellent, grippy serrations and texturing ensuring you’ll get a good grip on things no matter where you choose to grab it.

SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm pistol

SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm pistol

The sights on the P365-FUSE are excellent. SIG went with more of a competition style fiber optic front sight and a black serrated rear. if you don’t like the a green front sight, the FUSE also comes with yellow and red tubes, too. The sights aren’t quite suppressor height, but they’re close.

SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm pistol

Those high(er) sights make for an ideal cowitness sight picture in the lower third of the window. Here you see it through SIG’s new ROMEO-X Enclosed Compact red dot sight.

SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm pistol

As for overall size, here’s the P365-FUSE back-to-back with a SIG P320 compact.

SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm pistol

And here’s where SIG has done a little more of their pysics-defying magic. As you can see above, while the P365-FUSE has a longer slide, it seems to be the same hight as the P320-COMPACT. But that’s not quite true. The P320-COMPACT is 5.25 inches in hight while the P365-fuse is slightly shorter at 5.1 inches. Yet the FUSE carries two more rounds than the P-320 COMPACT.

SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm pistol

Probably the biggest difference between the two platforms, however is in their width. The P320-COMPACT is 1.25 inches wide. The P365-FUSE is 1.1 inches. That probably doesn’t sound like much but it makes a significant difference in how well a gun carries.

I tote the P320 a lot in colder months when more clothing is appropriate. It’s comfortable and concealable and lets me carry 15+1 rounds around. But the P365-FUSE is about to bump the 320 from my rotation. The FUSE’s longer slide doesn’t negatively affect ease of carry or concealment. So the thinner, higher capacity FUSE is going to be my carry gun of choice when capacity is key.

SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm

SIG ships the P395-FUSE with that removable mag well…which I promptly removed. That’s easily done with the turn of a single screw. Then I subbed out the medium backstrap for the smaller one, the better to fit my unusually small hand. I’m not really sure why the small and large backstraps don’t have the same texture pattern as the medium strap and the grip frame, but whatever. They feel the same with a satisfying grippiness.

SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm pistol

As you’d expect, the P365-FUSE slide is optic-ready. The slide is milled in the nearly-ubiquitous RMSc compact mount, so you’ll find no shortage of good red and green dot optics that will mount without having to result to awkward adapter plates.

SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm pistol

As you’ll see in the video above, Jeremy and I racked our brains for something about the P365-FUSE we don’t like. We simply couldn’t come up with anything. It’s a full-size, full capacity 9mm pistol that’s slimmer and easier to carry than almost anything else its size. It has a great trigger and feels fantastic in the hand.

SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm pistol

The other plus to the FUSE is the P365 platform’s modularity. The P365-FUSE would make a great first gun. Besides everything it already does well, it’s also an entree into the P365 universe of options. Pick up a shorter slide, barrel and a smaller grip module — all of which you can have shipped right to your door — and you have yourself and ultra-compact gun that will conceal incredibly well no matter what you’re wearing or what time of year it is.

Specifications: SIG SAUER P365-FUSE

Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 17+1 (1x17rd, 2x21rd magazines)
Barrel Length: 4.3 inches
Overall Length: 7.2 inches
Width: 1.1 inch
Height: 5.1 inches
Weight: 21.1 ounces
Optic Mount: RMSc
Price: $799

 

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3 thoughts on “Gun Review: SIG SAUER P365-FUSE 9mm Pistol”

  1. We simply couldn’t come up with anything.

    Allow me. Sig is skimping on the sights. It’s a cost savings measure. I understand that people think it doesn’t matter because they’re going to use a red dot. What about the non-red dot user that wants a future-proof gun (red dot ready)? Sure, a fiber optic front and blacked out rear sight looks great under ideal, sunny outdoor conditions. They disappear in low light conditions. Companies are saving money with blacked out rear and fiber optic fronts. They say, “hey it’s what the competition guys use!” Well, if I wanted a competition gun, I’d buy one. They should have included their excellent X-ray3 sights for this price.

    1. Edit: That’s why they threw a mag well on there. They want it to look like a competition gun. A mag well on a carry gun with that capacity is just goofy. But Sig knows it will appeal to some people and help them sell more.

    2. Needed or not I do generally prefer the 3dot night sights. May eventually try a red dot but haven’t had the desire/spare budget to experiment in that direction yet.