Hey everybody, Clint here with Classic Firearms. Coming at y'all today with another versus video, but this time it's all about a little conceal carry action with the SIG P365 and the Springfield Hellcat. This is going to be a little bit more of a what to expect unboxing type thing. Then, of course, accompanied by my personal opinions on each firearm. Yeah, we're also going to take them to the range and shoot them, and then give you a little bit even more of my thoughts there. Then ultimately, which one I would prefer for my new everyday carry concealed carry gun.

What's The Difference?

Let's talk about it. First off, this is the SIG P365. This is the manual safety version one, so you can see the manual safety right back here, and it is an ambidextrous safety, which is pretty cool. Nice. All right, and then we've got the FDE model Springfield Hellcat, and overall, it's FDE, but it's the base Springfield Hellcat. So, there you go. Anyway, my initial thought when picking up each gun is just how similar they are as far as look and dimensions. So, here you go. It looks like the Hellcat might just be a little bit bigger overall. Springfield, with their XD series, I always thought they looked pretty blocky. If you guys thought a Glock looked blocky, you put it up to an XD and you're like, oh my God, that's a brick with a grip. I always thought the slide and just the picatinny version or picatinny area of the XD never was really a super attractive design for me, but the fit, fill, and actually shooting it, it was pretty nice. As far as looks go, wasn't a thing. Thankfully, Springfield actually made this gun an attractive looking gun, I think. Granted, this is the FDE model, the standard black model that's out there looks really good. If I'm just, again, just looking at the basics here, I like it. Right out of the box, cool. Couple other things. When we're talking about out of the box, I do like that both of these guns feature forward slide serrations. So, you'll see that right up here on the Springfield, right up here on the 365. I am a press checker, so if I do a completely loaded magazine chamber around, and then I just grab this here, and it's typically just to make sure the extractor has a grab on the shell and to make sure I've got one of the chamber. Granted, most of the time, you really don't need to do that because the guns are mostly reliable and you don't have to really worry. But me, I just like to double-check. Maybe one day I actually had a bad experience where I went to go and draw and I got a click, and that's because I was dumb and I didn't chamber around. So, that happens. Also too, on the Hellcat, you do have a loaded chamber indicator right back here, where you could see of the brass or whatever type of ammo you're shooting through this guy. You can see that through a hole cut right on the top. All right, nice. The 365 does have a similar type of cut right there between the slide and the bolts, so you can see that, there you go. Cool. So, there you go, nice.

Sig Sauer P365

Ergonomics

Now, my initial holding the guns, the 365 I will say, has a little bit more of a narrow grip, a little bit smaller. I want to say a little bit more aggressive stippling on the grip that goes all the way around. It does feel really good. It does feel very compact. These are some super compact, subcompact type guns. I do feel like that I would not have to worry about printing with this gun. Typically, I like to carry my concealed carry guns right in the waistline about appendix carry. If I've got a decent holster on me, I don't think I'd have to really worry about this guy. You're also talking to a guy that appendix carries his Glock 19 with a light, so there you go. Anyway, the Hellcat, I got to say, I think I like the grip a little bit better for my hands. The grip on this guy just feels a little too small. Right here, I start to feel where that undercut's coming right into the palm. My initial thought is, as I've been playing with these, and I've shot both of these, I'm not going to say extensively, but I've taken them out to the range a few times, and I will say that one issue I have with the SIG that I haven't had with the Springfield yet, at least, is when I go for my reloads, I'm sitting here, I'm trying to hit the button and I'm struggling with actually hitting the button and then having the mag drop free because it's getting caught right on my pinky knuckle. That is with both the extended, this is an 11 round magazine, and the 10 round magazine that you see right here. I have that issue with both of them. I have to change my grip up drastically in order for the magazine to drop free. Even there, you saw where it caught my hand. The Springfield, I haven't had that issue with. One thing that I think the Springfield takes over the SIG, is the fact that it comes with an 11 round mag, standard, and also a 13 round mag standard, which I think is great. As you saw right there, it's very natural and intuitive for me to drop the mag and it comes out with ease. It seems like it is eager to get the heck out of there. Nice. One thing I did notice about the Springfield that bothered me a little bit is it didn't have grip zone molded onto the grip. I still had to figure out proper placement of my hands, but no fear, I got to figure it out, all right, guys? Now, when I get my basic sight picture with these guys, I think I prefer the sights on the SIG more so than the Hellcat. I'll go ahead and compare those two for y'all.

The Springfield Hellcat

Both of them have night sights, which is great. However, you only get a front night site with this guy, with the Hellcat, and you also get more of that little U shape rear site, like a cup and you just to fit that front sight right into it. Cool. The 365 sites are nice, nice oversized, large night side up front, cool. These guys actually feel metal to me, while the Hellcat, I think, are polymer sites. So, obviously these are going to be a little more rugged, durable, take a little bit more of a beating if it is your new everyday carry gun. All right, cool, not bad. But overall, my site picks are on this guy, a little bit more traditional, and I feel like I pick this up a little bit easier than I do the Hellcat. We'll test that some when we head to the range and we'll do a little quick, how fast can I get three rounds on a target, something like that. But yeah, so far they're very similar, but I do feel like, in my personal opinion, the Springfield's going to win out in fit and fill to my hand, at least, especially with the 13 round mag, even with the 11 round mag. Notice it still has that pinky extension there, so I don't get that dreaded pinky overhang like that. I do get a full fit on here. Now granted, I don't have large or small hands. I think I got about average size hands. So, for me, this is a very comfortable fit. With the only 11 round mag, I get that little undercut right up here into the palm, which isn't the most comfortable for me. I notice that whenever I get that, sometimes it's a little bit more difficult for me to mitigate recoil, but it's only nine mil, granted it's in a compact frame, but it's only 9 mill. You guys can all handle nine mil. I know you can. The SIG, it's got the extended. This is the flush fitting one, but it does have the extended little base plate, which again, it feels all right. It's not my favorite, but it does feel all right. I do believe that the SIG has a little bit higher undercut right here on the trigger guard, which is nice and comfortable. I don't feel like my knuckle is going to be getting rubbed raw here. Not as much as an undercut, I don't think, on the Hellcat, but it's still very comfortable for me. I still feel like I like the grip better here.

Deep Dive

Another big plus to the Hellcat is the accessory rail. It's your standard accessory rail right here, so you can fit compact lasers, lights, things along those lines, sweet. As to where the SIG is a proprietary accessory rail. So, that's something that kind of like, dang it. You know what I mean? All right, cool. Now, also too, I have seen something out there, where they've considered the extended recoil, or the guide rod, right here that the recoil spring goes on as a standoff device. What that means is, if you get somebody right up on you, instead of just hitting the barrel, like what you'll see here on the SIG, if your gun is at this point here, you are out of battery, you are out of battery and it's most likely not going to be going for you. Granted, it can move a little bit. I'll show you guys what I mean, like you probably just saw, you can move it a little bit and still be in battery. However, if it is back just that much right there, gun's not going to go. We hear no click, no striker. You'll get the same thing with this guy. You can actually see the tilting barrel lock, unlock. That's not going to be a good day for you. But you'll notice if I had it just like this here with that extended, I guess you could say guide rod, I'm not hitting, and I can drop that all day long. Yes, both firearms were cleared multiple times prior to filming this video. Great. Now, with that being said, I don't think I'd really use it as a standoff device. I think, if anything, if you've got a threat right in front of you, you might strike with the firearm and then try to gain distance and then engage. I don't know, it depends on the situation, so whatever. But anyway, as far as grip goes, one thing I have to make sure I pay attention to and I'm cognizant of, is my placement of my strong hand thumb on the Hellcat, because like what I do on my Glocks, I notice I like to run my strong hand thumb right on the slide release. If I'm right here, boom, there is a magazine in there with no round in it. I am riding my thumb on the slide release. I do not have that problem with the 365, just because of how forward or far ahead the slide release is. I'm typically riding just like this. If I actually had a magazine in it, if I'm typically writing just like this here, cool, it's going to be walking back on me on the last round. I don't have to worry about that. With that being said, let's take them to the range. Let's go shoot these guys some, and let's give you my thoughts as far as how they feel when fired.

Range Test

All right. Now we're out here at Take Aim Training and Range. Again, the 365 and the Hellcat here. Let's go ahead, let's just send a couple of rounds with the 365 down range here and let's see how it feels. We'll talk about that for just a second, and then we've got my shot timer here. Think I might run a quick drill with both of them and see which one I just do better with. But anyway, let's go and get up close to this guy. Let's just take a couple of shots, see how the sites are to pick up right away. So, having that large front sight right there, it's very easy to pick up, especially in daylight, but it is also a night site. So again, there'll be something that's very obvious to you in a low light setting, very cool. I will say this, for it being such a compact firearm, the recoil on it actually feels really smooth, really nice. It's not a jumpy poppy or snappy type of recoil, which I liked quite a bit. There we go. Yeah, so I am really liking how this guy feels to shoot quite a bit. Now let's go ahead and compare that directly to the Hellcat. We'll run, again, that was 10 rounds out of the flush base plate on that guy there, got the 11 rounder here. The Hellcat has naturally a larger capacity by one with this magazine, but in the extended magazine, that's also the FDE color, holds a 13. Pretty neat. Let's see how this guy feels in comparison to the 365. So, it's funny, when I'm just holding the guns, I really like the fit and feel of the Hellcat more so, but shooting the guns, I think that 365 actually has a little bit less felt recoil, not as a snappy recoil impulse. The Hellcat's a little snappy for me here. It's not by any means unmanageable, but it's not as, I guess you could say, easy is what the 365 is.

Springfield Hellcat FDE

Not bad, but like I said, I really think that the 365 feels a little bit better. But so far I've been favoring the Hellcat more because of magazine capacity and also too, just overall fill of the firearm. But with that being said, I've got a fresh mag loaded up here. There's the 13 round mag in the Hellcat. So, let's just run a quick drill here. Three shots as fast as I can from a low ready. Let's see how we go here, all right? I missed the second shot there, but that was 1.46. Let's try it one more time here. There we go, 1.33, all were a hit. So, so far that's my best, 1.33. Let's try it one more time. 1.28, and I should have just a few left here. Let's just keep going, see if I can keep bringing that down some. As you guys can tell, too, just familiarizing myself with the firearm, just running this very simple drill, trying to get on target at a close range like this, already I'm starting to bring down that time just a little bit just by getting out here and practicing. That's really what it comes down to guys, make sure you're out going to the range, whatever your carry firearm is and getting used to it. Let's try it one more time here. There we go, 1.32. So, 1.28 was my best so far. I've got one round left, let me see how that feels just one handed. Not bad. Again, a little snappy, but it's not bad. 1.28 is the best for me with the Hellcat. Let's see if I'm any better with the 365. This was the 10 round mag, but it does have that base plate on it, so it gives me somewhere a little bit more for my pinkie to hang on to. All right, cool. Let's go ahead, get back to right where we were and try this guy out now. All right, 1.28 was my best time with the 365. There we go. So, right off the bat, 1.21 right there. Again, I'm feeling just a little bit less felt recoil. I'm not having to try to line up my sites as much with this guy. Let's try it one more time. 1.19. Let's go one more. 1.21. So, 1.19 was definitely my best with the 365. Should have just one left here. Let's go ahead and try that one shot. Felt pretty similar to me to the Hellcat, but again, that's only one shot. I'm definitely faster with the 365. 1.19 compared to 1.28 doing that same low ready three shots on target type of drill at a close distance like this. Having pulled my second shot on the first drill with the Hellcat. So, when it comes to the fill of each firearm, I really think the Hellcat wins for me. When it comes to firing the firearm, the 365 definitely takes it. As far as my accuracy, 365 capacity definitely wins with the Hellcat as well. I got to tell you guys, I really wanted the Hellcat to be my favorite when it comes to this, but what really matters for me is how well I shoot the gun, because that's what's really going to matter in a life or death situation for concealed carry. What I think I might be leaning towards more now is the sights and the fill of the 365. I just wish it had a couple more rounds in the magazine. But really what it comes down to is, and as you guys saw, if I were to practice with this guy more, I'd probably start bringing those shots a little bit tighter groupings, I'd probably bring them in a little bit faster speeds, all that will just take practice and time.

What's The Verdict?

So, it really comes down to personal preference also is a big thing, what you're looking for as far as budget wise. But I hope this comparison really, if you're looking for a new concealed carry gun and these guys were options, I hope this made a choice for you, helped you out in making your decision, because I'm not here to make decisions for you guys. I'm just here to try to give personal experience and let you guys know what I think. Final thoughts are, again, the Hellcat, I really liked the grip. I like all the extra stippling on the grip. I like the extended mag with the 13 rounds a lot. Very large front sight makes it easy to pick up, but it is a little bit snappier in recoil. All right, do you notice that the grip a little bit thinner does have nice stippling as well, but nowhere near as much stippling when it comes to the Hellcat. Also, a proprietary mounting system for accessories, lights, lasers, things along those lines, standard accessory rail on the Hellcat. Again, other little things you have to take into consideration, but SIG makes some great aftermarket product or accessories. Sites over on this guy I really liked too, and I think maybe actually having a little bit finer front site may have been a reason why I was a little bit more accurate with this guy. You guys probably can't tell from the camera, but I could tell just where my shot placement was a little bit better on the steel plate back there. So, overall, I kind of want both and to train with both, but at the end of the day, I think I was just more comfortable right out the box at the range here with the SIG 365. I want to know your thoughts and comments down in the comment section below, of course, and exactly what you guys think. But at the end of the day, it's what you're proficient with. Go get some training and all that type of fun stuff. Last thing I want to talk about, guys, is our current giveaway. Last day to get your entries in on the Steyr SSG 08-A1 Precision 308 bolt action rifle with that [inaudible 00:18:41] VX6HD optic. Talk about some pretty sweet stuff there. Don't miss out on it. Head on over to our website, classicfirearms.com, to get your entries in on this guy. No purchase necessary, and it's not who has the most entries, all it takes is one, but the greater your entries, the greater your chances, all right? Don't miss out, guys. Again, I'll see y'all down in the comment section, SIG 365 versus Springfield Hellcat. Which one won in your book? You guys already know my thoughts on it. God bless you guys, and again, I'll see y'all next time that classicfirearms.com. Shop All Sig Sauer Handguns
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