I have shot comped guns before, and I hated them. So, when I was looking for my Sig P365 I got the XL. Since I've purchased the XL I got the XMacro grip frame for it, and now carry it with the Macro frame. It fits my hand much better, and I shoot it better. I like the XL slide on the XMacro frame. No comp for me.

 

I don’t have any experience with the XL slide, but I really like my Comp. The X-Macro grip module seems to be where the special sauce is, regardless of which slide is on it.

 

Some of the reasons I didn’t like comped guns were the caked/baked on carbon on the front of the barrel, slide, and front sight. Plus, the noise from the shot was horrible. And, they were all a royal pain to clean.

 

Had a Shield + PC with ported slide and barrel. Saw no benefit and just made the gun more work to clean. Did love the sweet PC trigger though.

 

I have shot comped guns in IPSC back in the day of hot rod rodded .38 Super. They were fantastic. I long wondered why cops didn’t carry comp guns as in a gunfight, where things are chaotic enough, an aid in returning to center mass would be beneficial.

I just bought the 365 Macro. I have to say, the comp doesn’t have as much effect as my race guns do, but that’s probably because I don’t shoot hot loads through the 365. I would expect if you’re shoot something like 9mm +P+, you would notice it more.

One thing to note — the barrel on the Macro is the same length as an XL. So you can get just an XL slide and use that for lighter loads, or if you don’t feel like cleaning the comp part of the slide. Me, I discovered BrakeKlean and now cleaning internals and comps has become so much easier.

You do get a bit longer sight radius with the comp gun, but if you’re using an optic, that is really of no consequence.

 

The man that built my .38 Super way back when always told me the hotter the load, the better the comp will work. I had a 3 port comp which worked great but as others say, was hard to clean. All the folks I shot with back in the early days when comps were just becoming popular always taught me that the comp worked most efficiently when attached the barrel itself and not the slide. Had something to do with the gases hitting the front walls of the chambers which tamed the recoil. They seemed to know their stuff. Now with all that being said, I still wish the day would come when I can talk myself into one of 365 Macro X models. I'm stuck with Glocks now but maybe someday it may happen.

 

If the pistol is meant for self-defense I always counsel against comp/ported models. It's one thing to be wearing eye protection and having the pistol at arms length on a range, quite another to be in a SD incident where the pistol may be close in/low ready or an odd angle when firing. Hot gases will eject from the openings as well as small particles. Some pistols eject to the sides, some from the top. Either way it may put you at risk of injury in a SD situation. And on a 9mm it's not really need imo.

 

Seems one can always come up with reasons not to do something. The real question is, ?how likely are the negative results vs what benefit would you get using something. DD makes a valid exception, but one that, IMO, is not very likely to be important. OTOH, controlled fire in an SD situation IS important - always. So in the end, buy a box of +P+ and rent one and try it. See how it works for you.

 

Assuming your purpose is self defense, I would want the longest barrel length for the best ballistics.

3.1" is sacrificing too much velocity and performance versus the standard XL 3.7" barrel which only sacrifices 3% to 5% velocity versus published speeds.

Another consideration is why do we even want a comped gun for self defense to begin with, when we are not (nor should we be) chasing split times? Comps are for chasing split times, which is counter to self defense shooting.

 

Assuming your purpose is self defense, I would want the longest barrel length for the best ballistics.

3.1" is sacrificing too much velocity and performance versus the standard XL 3.7" barrel which only sacrifices 3% to 5% velocity versus published speeds.

Another consideration is why do we even want a comped gun for self defense to begin with, when we are not (nor should we be) chasing split times? Comps are for chasing split times, which is counter to self defense shooting.

“Chasing split times” is merely measuring how quickly you can hit a target. It does you no good to “chase split times” if you’re not hitting your target. If you don’t believe speed of delivery of accurate shots is of any concern in SD, I have to admit you and I see SD very differently. A “race gun” would be a great SD gun except some of the things that make it fast are hard to carry day in and day out. But who in his right mind wouldn’t want to be able to do basically an El Presidente on 6 real assailants in under 4 seconds - with the mag reload.

 

I've never had issues using comped pistols in unconventional shooting positions, especially those related to self defense. Shooting in car sucks, comped or not. Shooting in by your body you'll get some of that residual blast, comped or not. Has no impact on night vision.

The slide-integrated comp of the x macro / spectre comp does less comping than a proper compensator so manage expectations accordingly. In my experience with my macro, as a shooter and with my family / coworkers shooting it, it rewards greater shooting experience and faster shooting. If you're shooting slowly and methodically, it does nothing. If you're not experienced enough in managing recoil and follow up shots to know when you're good to break the next shot, it does nothing. If your primary diet is lower power bulk ammo, it does little.

I like the comped slide, personally. My next 365 related purchases will be going a little next level with the idea and getting an xxl comped slide from Shalotek.

 

In a self defense situation, whether civilians or police, you will not have ear pro or eye pro on most likely. Shooting a comped or ported gun will be louder, and will direct gases and debris back and up towards your face. In my case, I used comped gun hunting. It was not fun shooting it. And, one shot was all I could stand without eye and ear pro.

If you had to discharge a comped gun in self defense that extra noise, gas and debris will be detrimental to getting an aimed second shot off. I personally won’t own a comped self defense pistol after having shot one in a hunting situation.

 

Whether or not 9mm "needs" a comp is really beside the point, imo. It still benefits from it, and as @Devereaux said, esp. with hotter ammo. But even with standard 115 gr, there is a notable difference (I'm talking about a proper comp, not the comped slide on the Macro/Spectre which I don't have any personal experience with yet). And as @BAC said, it's far more noticeable at speed, assuming one is using proper technique.

As some has said here, and I've heard consistently elsewhere, the comped slides on the P365 models have some effect, but not as much as a true comp. I'm still curious to try one at some point to compare to my XL.

 

As a follow up to the above post, here's a link to Jerod's video on this topic: Outshooting Your Brain

Here's Dave Spaulding: How fast should I shoot?

 

I do a lot of FOF training as both protagonist and OPFOR. You are 100% correct that static is out the window and all parties are moving.

The speed of splits has a lot to do with distance.

If we are talking 0 - 5 feet then absolutely drive those double taps/hammers (not to be confused with controlled pairs).


Outside of this distance, however, double taps/hammers (not controlled pairs) are a no no. Even with fast split times (.18 and under) that second round may miss the target or be just a peripheral hit through no fault of your own because the target voluntarily or involuntarily moved.

I get that. It is one of the variables in a gunfight you can’t control. And calibre makes a difference. Back in IPSC days, I first started shooting a 1911 with ball .45 ACP ammo. Never could keep up with the Super guys - except when shooting steel. THERE I only had to have ONE hit, so I would hit and be moving to the next target while my weapon was recoiling and reloading, arriving on the next steel target done and ready to break the shot.

Certainly the longer the distance the slower you have to shoot, else you will be putting a lot of ammo into space. STILL, I don’t see how this in any way decreases the usefulness of a comp. Perhaps we will have to part as gentlemen, disagreeing on a point. Overall, I think we have rather the same ideas it seems about gun fighting.

Speed doesn’t come in a vacuum. Early in my IPSC days, I would often shoot a second “match” going as fast as I could. Invariably my score was lower. BUT, over time, and acquiring a nice race gun, my scores went up, as did my speed. A lot of that was practice. But clearly some was the comp and the high-pressure round I was shooting.

 

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I ended up getting a great deal on an unfired X Macro comped for $650. I figured if I absolutely hate it, I can always trade slides with someone with an XL. By the time I buy a XL with taxes etc its going to be at $650 anyways.

 

And you won’t find a Macro for $650 easily. Good choice. You can always buy an additional slide. I believe the barrel will go in the XL slide. Don’t know about the RSA

 

Awesome discussion. I just picked up a 365xl and love it. Of course I'm already looking at if I should upgrade to a macro comp slide. But from the info in this thread, I am starting to think that for edc reasons, keep the xl slide on it. For range days, macro slide. I like the idea of quicker followup shots for competition, but for edc, I can see why having a comp could be detrimental to defensive situations. My WANT outweighs the need...always.

 

Consensus seems to be if you already have an XL slide you are set to go with one of the best. But if you have the funds, go for it. I am looking forward to shooting mine

 

I would not concern myself with barrel length. We are talking about 9mm which requires location and volume to be effective. There is a reason it isn't legal for hunting anything bigger than a squirrel in most places.

 

I bought an XL so I had a uncomped slide to try on my Macro comp. For me, shooting 124 grain +P I did notice a difference between the comp and XL. My follow up shots were faster. Much faster, no, but I noticed it. I am happy with the Macro comp and it isn’t hard to clean either. I will be selling the XL in a while.

 

I wear glasses made of polycarbonate anyway, so I’m not worried about eye protection in a self defense situation with the comp. Hearing protection is a valid concern, but when I’m at the range, I’ll always have ear protection and in a self defense situation, my exposure to the loud noise will likely be very limited.

 

The 'stuff' expelled by the comp is not a meaningful issue even shooting in very unconventional positions; porting is more a concern in this because of the propensity to shave bullets. The sound difference to the shooter is negligible. I worded that deliberately because if you're standing beside the shooter to spot or check form or whatever you will definitely notice the difference between shooting a comped vs non-comped gun. But to the shooter, there's virtually no difference even inside the narrow stalls of an indoor public shooting range.

There are a lot of odd notions about the effects of comped handguns in general. I really encourage folks to make friends and try to find ways to get behind a comped gun at a training course or a more free outdoor range or something where you can actually practice some unconventional shooting positions, especially on the timer. There's no substitute for experience.

 

I really like the Macro (non-comp) version.

 

To each their own. I love that Sig offers all these different variations so we can all figure out and go with what works best for us.

Personally I don't care for the standard XL much. Nothing wrong with it but for me it's in that middle of the road no mans land of being both too big and too little depending on the situation? It's too big for deep concealment (like pocket or ankle carry) but not as big or have the capacity I'd like for when ultimate concealabilty isn't needed. I have large hands so what works best for me is...

I have a standard P365 that I use it in that config for ankle carry. Honestly I don't really have a need to ankle carry anymore but there was a time when I did often so I like still having the option if the need were to arise again. Most of the time, I use it with the XL grip mod for pocket carry. I could just use the standard grip mod with the extended 12rd mags but when given the choice, I prefer and extended frame with flush mags over a shorter frame with extended mags. This config is mostly used in the summer when pocket carry is the only reasonable option for me.

The rest of the year, I carry the XMacro (NonComped). To me, that is the best all around CCW pistol ever made. Light, compact and thin but still has everything you would want/expect from a "full" size pistol (full grip, 17+1 capacity, Optic ready, picatinny rail). I personally think it's an awesome option. It's the CCW gun I've dreamt about for decades but that's just my opinion.

 

^^^^^^^^
This is a good comment that aligns with many I know that own/carry multiple 365 Variants

 

I wouldn’t think a ported slide without a ported barrel would have any issues with shaving bullets.

 

The last thing I'm betting I'm going to be thinking about in a self defense shooting is going to be my split times. But thanks for the laugh.

 

Re: ported vs non-ported slide...

I tried both. I didn't find that the ported slide made much of a difference in noise or recoil control (except when using really hot loads like +P ammo). So for me, I settled on the non-ported slide because it's slightly easier to clean, slightly better velocity and longer sight radius.

 

In my experience the difference in controlling the pistol (recoil) was small but noticeable. While I choose the XL in 9mm, the X length is all that is available in .380acp. The XMacro has the advantage of the same sight radius as the XL (IIRC) which gives it another advantage for some people.
YMMV

 

That was my experience with a Shield+ with barrel and slide ported. I had the same gun non-ported and shot side by side and for me, found no benefit in the porting.

 

Ayoob's recent video on "feel vs fit" comes to mind.