The Springfield Hellcat has been a popular concealed carry choice since its release in the fall of 2019. In fact, the gun won several awards within the first year of its release, including 2020 Handgun of the year and Best Compact Handgun. It’s touted as the world’s highest-capacity micro-compact with a capacity of 11+1 and 13+1. And now, the Hellcat just got a nice boost. Springfield just announced a new magazine that increases the round count to 15+1 and is only slightly more than a quarter of an inch taller than the 13-round magazine.
Even though the new magazine (right) has an additional two rounds, the total increase in length compared to the 13-round magazine (left) is only .28 inches. Image Source: The Armory Life.
Like the 11-round and 13-round magazines, the new Hellcat magazine body is made of stainless steel with numbered round count witness holes and a polymer follower. The extension is patterned with the same Adaptive Grip Texture as the Hellcat frame, and, though it isn’t much, that little bit of extra length offers more gripping area.
As far as capacity goes, Springfield says the Hellcat becomes comparable to compact and duty-sized pistols.
Here’s the press release straight from the company.
Springfield Armory has taken its Hellcat pistol — the smallest, highest-capacity micro-compact 9mm handgun in the world — and increased its already impressive capacity with the new 15-round Hellcat magazine. The result is a micro-sized 9mm pistol with an astounding 15+1 capacity comparable to compact and duty-sized pistols, yet in a package that is smaller than similarly configured, lower-capacity competitors.
The new magazine, which is only slightly longer than the 13-round extended version, is currently available directly from Springfield Armory with an MSRP of $39.95 and will soon be available from Springfield retailers as well. It is offered in both black and Desert FDE.
The Hellcat is available in both standard and OSP™ (Optical Sight Pistol) versions, with the latter featuring slides cut to accept the smallest micro red dot sights on the market. The micro 9mm ships with a patented 11-round magazine as well as an extended 13-round magazine, and this newest magazine will allow users to have a full 15+1 rounds of 9mm ammo ready to go.
The increased capacity magazine is available in Black and Desert FDE.
“This magazine offers Hellcat owners the ability to increase the total capacity of their pistol by two rounds or to carry a larger 15-round mag as a back-up,” says Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory. “This increased capacity puts the Hellcat platform even further beyond its competitors and means users can carry with even greater confidence.”
The Hellcat has received numerous awards since its release in 2019, including the 2020 Handgun of the Year Award from the National Rifle Association’s American Rifleman, the Guns & Ammo 2020 Handgun of the Year Award, Ballistic magazine’s Ballistics’ Best 2020 Reader’s Choice Award for Best Compact Handgun, the NTOA MTR Gold Award, and more.
Stephanie Kimmell is the firstborn daughter of Missouri’s Pecan King, worthy scion of a Vietnam veteran sailor turned mad engineer-orchardist-inventor-genius. With a BA in technical writing, she freelances as a writer and editor. A Zymurgist greatly interested in the decoction of fermented barley and hops, she is in many ways a modern amalgam of Esther Hobart Morris, Rebecca Boone, and Nellie Bly. She hunts, fishes, butchers, and cooks most anything. When not editing or writing, she makes soaps and salves, spins wool, and occasionally makes cheese from cows she milked herself. Kimmell is a driven epistemophilic who loves live music and all sorts of beer.
While it may seem like the world of high-capacity concealed carry has enough contenders already, there is definitely room for at least one more, especially at a lower price point. With two 11-round magazines included, the new diminutive-framed Taurus GX4 9mm is clearly aimed at the SIG P365, Springfield Hellcat (original and RDP), and Smith & Wesson Shield PLUS as its biggest competitors, but it is also aimed at shooters who don’t want to spend $500+ on a concealed carry gun.
Ever since Sig introduced the P365 in 2018, every reputable manufacturer has upped their game to compete in the larger capacity concealed carry arena, so makes sense that Taurus would join the fray sooner or later.
There is a lot to like about the GX4 and a few things that gave me pause. Here is a breakdown of what I liked and didn’t like.
Spoiler alert: most of it is good.
The Good
The Taurus GX4 has a lot to recommend. It’s not perfect (no gun is), but the Plus column is a lot longer than the Minus column. Understand before we get too deep into the goods and bads that this is not an exotic firearm full of expensive bells and whistles. It’s a basic concealed carry gun.
The Taurus G4X is a basic concealed carry gun.
Let’s start with the size. It matters, right? (Sorry, not sorry.) At around 1 inch thick, it falls right in line with its competitors, tucking easily away under even the lightest cover garments.
The magazine easily holds 11 rounds within its narrow grip, with a spring that is surprisingly light for being brand new. Like so many of us, I typically use my speed loader with a new magazine because the spring is so stiff. However, this one was light enough to load all 11 rounds without any mechanical assistance, a refreshing change.
Once loaded, the gun was easy to get into battery with a medium weight recoil spring making slide rack easy, aided by deep serrations on both front and back. Press check was easy.
Taurus did an awesome job on the grip texture — not too rough and not too smooth. Kudos to the grip design engineers. Goldilocks would be proud. Shooting with both dry and sweaty palms proved solid and firm, with little worry about the gun moving in my grip during recoil and realignment.
The grip texture was really good, but I was a bit confused by the interchangeable backstraps. Not the concept — I get that — but why they are virtually identical.
The GX4 comes with two interchangeable backstraps that are simple to swap out, but they are so similar that I couldn’t tell much difference between them. The slightly larger one that came installed on the gun fit my hand solidly, but of course, I was obligated for scientific reasons to swap them to feel the difference, which was nominal. The swells were close enough that I don’t know that Taurus needed to include the second one.
I would like to have seen a more significant difference between the two. It’s also interesting that they chose to spend money on interchangeable backstraps instead of fixing some of the small items I’ll mention in the “The Bad” section below.
(Don’t jump down there yet. That’s cheating. There is more good stuff first.)
The grip length, often the bane of large-handed people’s existence on compact pistols, is better on the GX4 than on most of the competition. Taurus did an admirable job of shortening the grip to reduce printing without going too small for larger hands.
For sure, cramming 11 rounds inside prevented them from going too small. While only part of my pinky rested comfortably on the bottom, it only sort of hung off, barely. When I started shooting, my fingers stayed firm on the grip, not ever slipping off. After a few shots, I forgot all about it. This was all during a session where I threw 100-, 115-, and 124-grain ammo downrange in a healthy mix of practice and defensive rounds from Federal, Winchester, and Black Hills, all of which ran flawlessly with zero malfunctions.
The Taurus GX4 has a wide trigger guard and a flat-faced trigger.
One often neglected feature in compact pistols is the trigger guard size. But Taurus paid attention to it. The GX4 incorporates a large trigger guard, wide enough to comfortably insert a gloved finger without the danger of an accidental discharge.
Speaking of the trigger, the GX4 features a flat-faced design with trigger safety. I was half expecting a squishy action with lots of slack and a mushy reset, especially given the price point (see below), but what Taurus gave us instead is a 6-pound pull with a crisp break, minimal slack, and a firm, audible, tactile reset — the kind of trigger feel normally associated with more expensive guns.
I have to call out one feature that floored me, in a good way.
You know how hard it is sometimes to close a slide on a compact with your thumb because the slide stop is just too dang small and hard to push? Not on the Taurus GX4! (It’s the little things, right?) The slide stop on this compact is easy to operate with the thumb, removing the need for a two-hand rack on every reload. This may not sound like a big deal but think about reloading under pressure in a real gunfight. Now, how big of a deal is it? Kudos to Taurus for this little oft-overlooked detail!
The Bad
Now, before you start thinking this is a Taurus GX4 love fest, there are a few things about the gun that definitely could be better. Some are big, some small. Remember, this is a budget-conscious pistol, so don’t expect too many high-end features, but a few small improvements would have been nice.
The Sights
The factory sights are okay but not great. They are basically Glock knockoffs with a non-glowing white dot on the front and blacked-out rear with anti-glare texturing, which is a nice touch if you like blacked-out sights. I’m not a big fan, especially on concealed carry guns designed to be used in heat-of-the-moment self-defense situations where you need to immediately see the sights, but maybe that’s just me.
Thankfully, replacing the stock sights is fairly simple, if you so choose. It would have been nice to see a dayglow sight on front at least, but that might raise the price beyond Taurus’ target market, so maybe we will see that in a 2.0 version down the road.
Takedown
The GX4 has an unconventional takedown system that requires tools. Unlike the typical takedown lever found on most guns, which pushes up or rotates with a finger or thumb to release the slide, the GX4 requires a flathead screwdriver to twist the lever while the trigger is pulled and the slide is pushed forward. And the screw is on the other side of the gun, which is a bit odd.
This is not terribly difficult or prohibitive, just unnecessarily awkward. The good news is once these gyrations are complete, the rest of the takedown process is like any other striker fire.
Where is the accessory rail, even a short one?
Right now it has none, zero, zilch, not even a stub of one for tiny accessories. It would be nice to have at least a little rail to attach a small laser or light. Space is not an issue. There is enough real estate in front of the trigger guard to allow for one. This may not be a huge miss for some, but it might turn off at least a few potential buyers.
One last thing — and this is a biggy.
It’s missing an optic plate, something more and more expected as standard across the pistol world nowadays. While the rest of the compact concealed carry market is either including an optic plate (some even throw in the optic) on new models or going back and adding them to new versions of an existing gun, Taurus inexplicably left off this ever-increasingly popular and important feature.
Even though it should have been on the original, perhaps we will see it as at least an option on any upgraded versions of the GX4 in the future.
The Ugly
Okay, shame on me. Yes, I threw this in just to perpetuate the movie theme at the risk of copyright infringement. There really is nothing ugly about this gun. But there really is nothing all that pretty about it either. In fact, its looks are fairly unremarkable. The GX4’s boxy exterior is neither ugly nor beautiful. It’s…functional, which is fine because it’s a gun, not decoration.
While it won’t win any beauty contests, it also didn’t fall out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down like many other lower-priced firearms. Its design serves the purpose: to hold all the parts and pieces together and provide good ergonomics and concealment for the shooter.
While the GX4 may not be the sexiest gun on the market by a long shot (pun intended), its average looks do justice to a gun that clearly only serves a utilitarian purpose. It’s a box. And that’s okay.
Takeaways
Overall, the Taurus GX4 is a rock-solid, reliable option in a basic carry gun that won’t break the bank. It fits the hands well, shoots flat with minimal felt recoil for a small gun, has enough rounds in the mag to compete in the higher capacity concealed carry market, and performed flawlessly in my limited testing.
Manufacturers will soon introduce holsters and other accessories, so support should be good. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, no-nonsense, frill-free concealed carry gun that checks all the basic boxes and a few extras, the Taurus GX4 at $392.42 MSRP is definitely well worth consideration.
The following is the notification we initially received about the new micro-nine from Taurus HQ in Bainbridge, GA.
This is a copy of their PR, not a part of a review or endorsement.
Taurus, manufacturer of premium handguns for defense, hunting, and sport shooting, is excited to announce the all-new Taurus GX4, designed to deliver maximum concealment without sacrificing ergonomics, performance, or capacity. In short, the Taurus GX4 offers everything you would expect from a full-frame defensive handgun (and more!) but at a fraction of the size and weight. The new Taurus GX4 redefines the micro pistol segment to deliver the concealability of a .380 but with the power, capacity, and function of a full-size 9mm handgun.
The Taurus GX4 is built on a stainless frame with a polymer grip that earns high marks in shooter comfort and strength. This thin, one-inch-wide frame provides negligible printing when worn inside the waistband and features a grip dimension sized to fit any hand. To ensure structural rigidity and reliable cycling in such a scaled-down foundation, the polymer receiver bolsters an integral stainless-steel framework that eliminates flex or deformation when firing.
Intelligent channeling beneath the slide rail allows for recessed placement of the slide stop lever and takedown pin. This permits easy manipulation of these controls while maintaining a flush, no-snag profile for a smooth draw from deep concealment. Likewise, the magazine release button is flush to the grip to eliminate snag potential without hindering quick manipulation during mag changes.
The stippling pattern along the grip offers the perfect balance of aggressive texture across the front of the grip, the side panels, and the full length of the backstrap for a concealed carry application. Stippling is also found forward of the trigger at the indexing and recoil management pad locations. These pads, working in conjunction with the high-texture grip, help the shooter maintain proper hand positioning and assist in managing 9mm recoil while promoting fast target reacquisition in a small handgun platform.
The Taurus GX4 comes with two backstrap options. Installed at the factory is the standard backstrap profile with its slight palm swell to accommodate the preferred grip for most shooters. Those who favor a higher wrist position for natural point-of-aim via a more pronounced palm swell can install the included high-swell backstrap.
Shooters will enjoy the accuracy and predictability of the Taurus GX4 trigger courtesy of its crisp, precise sear break and the pleasingly short and tactile reset that is fundamental to quick, on-target follow-up shots. Adding to the control quotient are serrations along the trigger safety blade. These serrations help prevent finger slip and promote a straighter, more consistent trigger pull.
Located at the front and back of the slide, the serrations not only provide a positive grip for charging and cartridge extraction, they also allow for push or pull manipulation from either end of the slide to accommodate the shooter’s preferred operation style.
Topping the slide is a fixed-position steel front sight and square-notch steel rear sight. The rear sight features serrations across the back to minimize glare, and the cross-cut dovetail slot allows for drift-adjustment of the sight’s windage. The front sight includes a white alignment dot for improved visibility in reduced light conditions. Understanding that many personal defense practitioners desire a tritium or fiber-optic sight system for extreme low-light performance, the Taurus GX4’s dovetail slot is sized to be compatible with common aftermarket tritium and fiber-optic sights. The front sight also uses the conventional screw attachment system, so upgrading the Taurus GX4™ to aftermarket night sights is a simple matter for a gunsmith or anyone with a pistol sight installation tool.
As with all Taurus polymer frame pistols, the Taurus GX4 slide includes a visual loaded chamber indicator. This allows the shooter to quickly see if a cartridge is loaded in the chamber and eliminates the need for the traditional “press check.” To separate the slide assembly from the frame for cleaning, the Taurus GX4 utilizes an easy take-down pin system.
The Taurus GX4’s 3.06-inch stainless-steel barrel, for example, features a satin black DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) treatment for reduced friction and greater wear and corrosion resistance. For the slide finish, Taurus engineers opted for a gas nitride coating to maximize slide surface hardness. This treatment is ideal for a gun intended for daily carry and for deep concealment due to its wear resistance properties.
Elsewhere, operational control parts receive a Teflon™ coating. The inherent lubricity of Teflon allows components such as the reversible mag release to operate with maximum smoothness while also resisting wear and corrosion. The steel slide stop has polymer overmolding for maximum durability. Inside the Taurus GX4, metal internal parts are nickel-plated to further resist rust and corrosion.
While the Taurus GX4 proves that neither ergonomics nor reliable performance need be sacrificed to create a full-feature micro pistol, it also proves that firepower or cartridge capacity need not be compromised, either. Chambered for 9mm Luger, the Taurus GX4 delivers several double-stack magazine options.
The Taurus GX4 comes from the factory with two flush 11-round magazines. There is the standard magazine with a floor plate that is flush with the bottom of the grip and an optional 11-round magazine with a finger extension for those who prefer a larger grip surface. If more capacity is desired, Taurus offers an optional 13-round extended magazine. The Taurus GX4 comes in a 10-round magazine version for those consumers in capacity-restricted states.
In keeping with the Taurus philosophy of producing handguns with the industry’s best performance-to-cost ratio, the new Taurus GX4 delivers. With an MSRP of $392.42, Taurus GX4 buyers can enjoy all the feature benefits and ergonomics typically associated with larger polymer frame striker-fired pistols at a price point that fits any budget.
David Workman is an avid gun guy, a contributing writer to several major gun publications, and the author of Absolute Authority. A logophile since way back, Workman is a quickdraw punslinger and NRA RSO and Certified Pistol Instructor. He helps train new shooters on basic handgun skills and CCW requirements and is a strong advocate for training as much as practicable. “Real-world shootouts don’t happen at a box range.”
What is the best Sig P365 holster? What is the most comfortable Sig P365 holster? These aren’t rhetorical questions. The Sig P365 is without a doubt one of the most revolutionary handguns we’ve seen in the concealed carry market, though the subsequent Hellcat has been giving it some competition. The article you’ll read below was originally published about a year ago (August 2019). Since that time, many other holster companies have released a Sig Sauer P365 holster option (or more than one) Some we’ve written about (like the Tenicor Velo, below). Some we haven’t (yet). Some we won’t.
DeSantis Gunhide Slim-Tuk Holster for SIG P365 with Streamlight TLR-6
DeSantis Gunhide Slim-Tuk Holster for SIG P365 with Streamlight TLR-6
May 2021. DeSantis just expanded its IWB Slim-Tuk holster options by adding the fit capability to accommodate the Streamlight TLR-6 light. It’s an ambidextrous IWB holster made of Kydex with the DeSantis tuckable 360° C-Clip, which affords the wearer unlimited mounting options.
From DeSantis:
This new enhancement to the Slim-Tuk style that now fits the TLR-6 is sure to be a great hit as we continue to see illumination tools becoming brighter and smaller, providing deep concealment and versatility. We already have a fitment for the Glock 43 with the TLR-6 and will be adding even more Slim-Tuk fitments for other illumination tools in the weeks to come. Stay Tuned!
The retail price is $34.99 (at the time of this writing).
Carrying concealed is the only way I carry a firearm when I am off duty. While my methods have changed over the ten years or so of my career, the fundamental requirements of a good holster have not. So while the pistols have gotten smaller and holsters have become less leather, more Kydex, the features required of a quality holster remain consistent: features you’ll find well-developed in the Tenicor Velo Sig P365 holster.
When I first began carrying, it was usually a Compact or Subcompact platform. I normally carried at the four o’clock position with a button-up shirt to effectively conceal it all.
What you see up top is my current EDC setup when using the Velo. here’s a close-up of the holster, weapon, and mag “pouch” (holder). It’s discreet, with plenty of ammo on board.
Now I carry a Sig Sauer P365, with a 12 round extended magazine in, along with two spares for reloads. Depth of pocket allowing, I can also carry an extended 15-round P365 mag. That’s quite an impressive loadout, considering what a small-framed individual was once restricted to. This is made possible by the small overall size of the pistol and a good holster. Happily, there are a couple of options that fit that description, and they allow me to wear t-shirts again.
I was using a rig from another brand when I first began carrying the Sig P365. It was a decent holster, but I was still printing with the grip. It used plastic clips, which were okay, but I repeatedly experienced movement as I wore it throughout the day (the amount depending upon my activity).
When Tenicor added the P365 to their lineup Velo holsters, I immediately wanted to try it out — and it’s been my AIWB holster (Appendix Inside the WaistBand) ever since. Well, my choice of any EDC holster for that matter.
Holsters may seem virtually identical, but that’s far from the case. The Velo, with its distinctive look and muzzle wedge, has many features not to be found on other holsters. That wedge, for instance, looks weird, but it serves a very important purpose — it pushes the grip of your pistol into (toward) the body, which helps keep it from printing.
Another unique and highly effective feature of the Velo, at least in my experience, is the Tenicor T1 belt clip by Discreet Carry Concepts. These are hands down the best clips I’ve ever had on an AIWB holster…or on any holster for that matter.
Plastic clips work acceptably well, but they often allow an entire holster to move around while you’re going about your day — and they’re rarely as durable as the quality metal versions. T1 clips from Discreet Carry Concepts are thin, lightweight, very low profile and have incredible tension. That tension feels as aggressive today as it did when I first began using the holster.
In fact, having a good EDC belt (which should be a must-have as a part of your carry setup) isn’t as necessary as it might be with otherwise due to the Velo’s clips. I’ve used a variety of belts with the Velo and sometimes without a belt at all. The holster has always performed just fine as long as the pants or shorts had enough material in the waistline.
That said, a good belt is always going to be my preferred foundation of carrying.
That is how strong the T1 clips are, and that allows for many more options wardrobe-wise. That, in turn, means that there are even fewer excuses reasons not to carry.
Tenicor Velo Sig P365 holster as a part of a complete EDC loadout (though you can’t see the medical component from this angle). It’s good to have enough gun, but you should have a TQ or some combat gauze or something immediately accessible to patch holes on you.
I have carried my P365 in the Velo for over a year now, the vast majority of the time off duty, and unless someone comes up with something startlingly better it’s going to remain what I use. The Velo + P365 makes for a tight, light, compact option that’s easy to conceal no matter what you wear. Though at first, the muzzle wedge wasn’t very comfortable against my body, after a few days of wearing it that discomfort went away. I have driven on long road trips with it and I am comfortable during the entire 3 to 4-hour ride. That’s actually similar to my first experience carrying appendix fashion for the first time overall — the comfort level improved over a short wear period, and I quickly realized the advantages it gave.
The T1 clips are very effective at staying put and keeping the holster in place. Unlike any other holster I’ve used, I’ve never had to worry about it slipping or falling out. Retention is solid, and I am confident that my pistol is secured until I make the conscious decision to draw it.
There’s a Sig P365 under here — no, it won’t fit an iron or a steamer. Concealed means concealed.
T1 Clips are some of the best!
Tenicor did an excellent job at designing and manufacturing a holster system that is very concealable, safe, lightweight, and durable. They have since made updates to the design with the body contour that evolved from the wedge and a few other features.
The Velo works as advertised and if there is one thing that I could come up with as a con, it would be the price. A Velo setup with the T1 clips will run you $95. Good kit costs money and this is no different. This particular holster has lasted me over a year and is showing no signs of wear or reductions in retention with the clips or of the pistol. It is a high-quality product that Tenicor stands behind 100% and will do a full refund if purchased direct.
The Velo lets you carry your EDC pistol discreetly, safely and will work with pretty much anything you decide to wear. With the increase in shootings in public places, it’s never more important to have a pistol on you (if you can do so legally) so that you’ll have a fighting chance if you’re caught up in an incident where you need it.
For more information check out the Tenicor website.
The P365 is the size of a single stack 9 with the capacity of a double stack 9. The gun has of course been quite popular with the concealed carry market and I carry one myself. This has led me to discover a series of Sig P365 holsters, some of which, of course, are better than others. Here are five I feel specifically partial to.
1. Bravo Concealment Torsion 3.0
If you want to go full kydex, the Bravo Concealment Torsion 3.0 is the route to take for the standard grip frame. This appendix carry design comes with two belt clips, but a single clip can be used for a more traditional appendix carry setup. I personally preferred the strongside IWB setup and the Bravo Concealment rig conceals without effort.
A Sig P65 holster of choice: the Torsion 3.0 holster is a good Kydex option for AIWB (Appendix Inside the Waist Band) carry.
The design is set up to accommodate a threaded and extended barrel and will also function with raised suppressor height sights. With a growing P365 aftermarket it makes sense that some folks have suppressed their P365 for range time. Having P365 holsters to accommodate this is a nice touch. The Bravo Concealment Torsion 3.0 has an adjustable cant and adjustable passive retention.
The Torsion 3.0 is a well-made holster that is plenty comfortable and has that satisfying click when the gun is holstered. The Torsion 3.0 is currently only available for the standard P365 model, but I would expect an XL model to come forward soon.
Crossbreed is well known for their hybrid style holsters and they produce both IWB and OWB models. They produce an absolute ton of P365 holsters. The Crossbreed DropSlide is an OWB model that is cut not only to accommodate the P365, but also TLR 6 equipped P365. This is one of the few light-bearing models I could find without a 6 to 9 week lead time.
The Crossbreed DropSlide for SIG Sauer P365 is an OWB model that is cut not only to accommodate the P365, but a TLR 6 equipped P365 as well…cuz it’s good to have a light! (WML and handheld f you can.)
I’m an OWB kind of guy. I typically find it the most comfortable means to carry a gun and my large frame also makes it easy for me to conceal an OWB gun. The DropSlide design cuts the leather low to make it easy to get a comfortable grip on the gun and draw with speed.
The DropSlide bends around the body and allows the holster to conform to the body. It conceals very well and the DropSlide’s custom-molded frame keeps things comfortable and keeps the gun secured. I can carry my SIG p365 with a Streamlight TLR 6 and do so very comfortably.
The Alien Gear ShapeShift Holster system is designed to be an all-in-one holster option. It utilizes interchangeable shells that allow you to swap holsters and carry techniques. You can swap between OWB models, appendix holsters, hybrid IWB, shoulder holsters, car holsters, MOLLE rigs, pocket holsters, and more. With one shell you can purchase the expansion packs you need and want.
Alien Gear’s ShapeShift Holster system is based on interchangeable shells so you can swap holsters (and change up carry techniques).
Alien Gear and their ShapeShift system was an early adopter of the P365 and allowed shooters to have nearly any option they wanted for their P365. The ShapeShift system isn’t perfect, and won’t satisfy all people with their designs. However, they do offer a multitude of options that other holsters companies do not.
Being able to carry my P365 on a belly band, or a shoulder holster, or even on my ankle isn’t always necessary but they do open up options for those niche situations in which you need a niche means to carry. I tend to stick to the IWB model for a tuckable carry option. As far as P365 holsters go this will cover every use you can imagine.
The V3 No Print Wonder from Clinger Holsters is a modular holster system that mixes leather and kydex but not in a way that you’d expect. The V3 No Print Wonder P365 holsters use a solid polymer base with leather wing attachments. These wings allow you to carry the gun in an OWB or IWB configuration with just a flip of the hardware.
This is the V3 No Print Wonder from Clinger Holsters: it’s a leather-and-Kydex modular holster system, but not the sort of hybrid you might expect. Another recommended option for those of you who need a Sig Sauer P365 holster.
The IWB hardware gives you a strongside IWB holster that does what its long name says. The design doesn’t print and is superbly secure and comfortable. OWB hardware gives you something akin to a pancake-style design. It keeps it tight to your body.
If you remove the wings and add a large clip to the body of the polymer holster then you now have an appendix holster. The Clinger Holster V3 allows for a multitude of carry options in a low profile and lightweight design. On top of all that modularity, you can also adjust both cant and ride height to maximize concealment and comfortable draw.
P365 9mm 10-round magazine with extension. GOT MAGS?
5. Black Label Products Appendix Holster
Black Label is the only company I’ve found that produces a full kydex P365 holster for the Icarus Grip Module I keep my P365 situated in. This gives them a major advantage to me in this list. This appendix rig offers me a small, lightweight, and unobtrusive holster for carrying my P365 with the Icarus Grip Module.
It’s good for the Icarus Grip Module Sig P365XL too — thin, well-made, and comfy, it’s the Black Label appendix carry Sig Sauer P365 holster option for concealed carry.
The Black Label appendix rig does offer you adjustable cant as well as an easily adjustable ride height. Unlike many other appendix holsters, the Black Label holster system doesn’t have a claw. Instead, it has an integrated bump on the outward-facing portion of the trigger guard. This pushes the holster back for complete concealment. It has an integrated sweat guard but is a minimalist design.
The Black Label Appendix holster is thin, well made, and quite comfortable. It will also fit the new P365 XL with the Icarus Grip module as well. The Black Label Appendix holster comes from a small company, but they seem to be one willing to innovate. The holster is also available in a multitude of colors, including black, Tiffany Blue, Krypteks, Multicam black, and many more.
This is a gun designed to be carried day in and day out. It’s called the 365 for a reason. The P365’s aftermarket is growing rapidly and holsters are one small portion of that aftermarket. Who else carries one? If so, what is your preferred choice of Sig Sauer P365 holster?
Let us know if there are any holsters we should check out.!
Black Label Holsters: https://blacklabelholsters.com/
This has been a collaborative effort by two or more members of The Mag Life contributor team: to wit, a JWOT (Joint Writing Operations Team). We’ll advise which specific contributors in the text of the article. Subscribe to GunMag TV and follow GMW on Instagram, @gunmagwarehouse. Connect on Facebook, /gunmagwarehouse/.
In the last couple of weeks, XTech Tactical released two new magazine extension kits, one for the full-sized VP9 and one for the subcompact VP9SK. Both kits increase the capacity of factory mags by two rounds, and they only take a few seconds to install.
Yesterday, Daniel did this video installation demonstration. Watch how he installs the kit components to convert a factory VP9 15-round magazine to a 17-round mag.
With this kit, you can increase your 15-round VP9 factory mag capacity by two rounds, as shown in the video above.
This kit includes the new base plate, spring button, and follower.
The kit uses the factory magazine spring & body.
From XTech:
XTech Tactical has released its VP9/P30 9mm Magazine Conversion kits for the Heckler and Koch VP9 & P30 9mm. The kits convert factory H&K 15rd and XTech Tactical 15rd magazines to 17rds. The kits are MADE IN THE USA and are $17.95.
The kit includes a follower, spring button and base plate and will add two rounds to existing 15d magazines. The kit will not add rounds to the VP9 17rd magazines. The kit can serve as a direct replacement for damaged factory base plates.
VP9 Magazine Extender Kit Specs
•It Fits the HK VP9 and P30 9mm
•For use with 9mm 15 round magazines – use factory spring
•Converts factory HK magazine from 15 to 17 rounds
•Tool-free, easy installation
•Made in the USA
•Uses factory spring & body (Not Included)
•MSRP is $17.95
HK VP9SK & P30SK 9mm 10 to 12 RD Conversion Kit
This kit makes it possible for you to quickly convert your factory 10-round HK VP9SK magazine from 10 to 12 rounds. The company says this conversion kit has been found to work very reliably with the HK factory magazine spring and body.
Here’s what you get with the kit: a follower, spring button, and base plate.
The kit uses the factory spring and magazine body.
The design permits quick conversion of the factory magazine from 10 to 12 rounds. The company says this conversion kit has been found to work very reliably with the HK factory magazine spring and body.
From XTech:
XTech Tactical has released its VP9sk/P30sk 9mm Magazine Conversion Kits for the Heckler and Koch VP9sk & P30sk in 9mm. The kits convert factory H&K 10rd magazines to 12rds while also providing a much-improved grip of the pistol. The kits are MADE IN THE USA and are $17.95.
The kit includes a follower, spring button and base plate and will add two rounds to existing 10rd magazines.
The magazine extender is less overall length and size than the H&K factory finger extension while offering the user 2 additional rounds.
•For use with 9mm 10 round magazines – use factory spring
•Converts factory HK magazine from 10 to 12 rounds
•Tool-free, easy installation
•Optimal ergonomics for recoil control
•Made in the USA
•Uses factory spring & body (Not Included)
•MSRP is $17.95 (at the time of this writing)
Stephanie Kimmell is the firstborn daughter of Missouri’s Pecan King, worthy scion of a Vietnam veteran sailor turned mad engineer-orchardist-inventor-genius. With a BA in technical writing, she freelances as a writer and editor. A Zymurgist greatly interested in the decoction of fermented barley and hops, she is in many ways a modern amalgam of Esther Hobart Morris, Rebecca Boone, and Nellie Bly. She hunts, fishes, butchers, and cooks most anything. When not editing or writing, she makes soaps and salves, spins wool, and occasionally makes cheese from cows she milked herself. Kimmell is a driven epistemophilic who loves live music and all sorts of beer.
Strike Industries just announced a new reduced-angle pistol grip that is compatible with the AR10, AR15, aftermarket Ruger 10/22 stock/chassis, and modern bolt-action rifle chassis that require flat-top AR-compatible pistols. With a 15-degree angle, it offers a more ergonomic and comfortable position for the hand and wrist than a standard angle. If you’re looking to upgrade your Personal Defense Weapon, you might want to check this out.
With a 15-degree angle, Strike Industries says this is better suited for confined spaces, PDW setups, and modern shooting positions — compared to the standard 25 to 30-degree AR grip angle. The grip also has internal storage space that’s accessible by removing the rubber plug at the bottom.
The package includes the grip, screw, crush washer, and plug.
The Strike Industries Flat Top Overmolded Pistol Grip (15-Degree) is a rubberized texture pistol grip for aftermarket Ruger 10/22 stock/chassis, modern precision rifle chassis systems, AR’s and any weapon that does not use or want a beavertail grip.
The specific dimensional design is made to be comfortable and compatible for a Ruger 10/22 aftermarket stock/chassis platform, but will fit any modern bolt-action rifle chassis that can only use a flat top AR compatible pistol grip. Also for any AR-15 or AR-10 shooter who desires the most compact setup as possible with the 15-degree grip angle for a confined space operation or PDW setup.
Similar to the SI AR Overmolded Pistol Grip, this flat top has the same surface which improves control of your weapon. The grip is more streamlined and tapered where the webbing of the hand goes to allow more range of movement of the firing hand when accessing the controls. It has enough width in the palm area to maximize comfort during extended use when used with chassis system like a 10/22 or bolt rifle.
This grip includes all the installation hardware needed for a new build or to completely replace an existing pistol grip and features a secure storage underneath with an included rubber grip plug.
Enhance your AR, Ruger 10/22 or precision rifle chassis with this Strike Industries Flat Top Overmolded Pistol Grip (15-Degree) designed to give you improved comfort and control.
Compatibility
•Dimensional designed for aftermarket Ruger 10/22 stock/chassis •Modern precision bolt-action chassis using AR style pistol grip •AR-15 and AR-10 lower receivers •Optional Plug Tool Holder
Specifications
•Length: 51.40mm (2.02″) •Width: 29.17mm (1.15″) •Height: 106.69mm (4.20″) •Weight: 1.9 oz •Weight with pkg: 3.6 oz
•Flat top design compatible with aftermarket Ruger 10/22 stock/chassis, modern rifle chassis, and AR-15/AR-10 •Rubberized over-molded construction improves comfort and control •15-degree angle suited for confined spaces, PDW setups, and modern shooting positions •Secure storage underneath with an included rubber plug •Streamlined profile and non-slip
Strike says this is for shooters who desire the most compact setup as possible with the 15-degree angle for a confined space operation or PDW setup.
Stephanie Kimmell is the firstborn daughter of Missouri’s Pecan King, worthy scion of a Vietnam veteran sailor turned mad engineer-orchardist-inventor-genius. With a BA in technical writing, she freelances as a writer and editor. A Zymurgist greatly interested in the decoction of fermented barley and hops, she is in many ways a modern amalgam of Esther Hobart Morris, Rebecca Boone, and Nellie Bly. She hunts, fishes, butchers, and cooks most anything. When not editing or writing, she makes soaps and salves, spins wool, and occasionally makes cheese from cows she milked herself. Kimmell is a driven epistemophilic who loves live music and all sorts of beer.
Magpul, a maker of quality Go-Bang parts, just released its third arm brace, this one for the HK94 / MP5 pattern pistols. It’s sure to turn some heads, as this is a very popular firearm with dozens of variants and service all over the world And…well, it’s Magpul, and we’re always interested to see what new innovations the company comes up with. (Remember the Folding Gun and other new accessories they announced at SHOT this year?)
This new arm brace is designed to add stability to one-handed shooting.
Take a look.
Magpul’s new brace is designed to be used as a stabilizing accessory for shooting HK 92 / MP5 pattern firearms one-handed. Top left, extended. Bottom left, collapsed. Right, posterior view.
It’s easy on the eyes. The new brace doesn’t distract from the gun’s iconic aesthetics.
Here, the brace is in the collapsed position.
Another view of the brace in the collapsed position.
About the new MP BSL Arm Brace: the folks at Magpul advise that the brace is made of high-strength polymer, it’s lightweight and collapsible, and does not require tools for adjustments. The brace has a large surface area for lateral forearm contact, which increases stability while shooting. The brace also has a QD sling attachment as well as an MLOK slot for more sling mounting options. It’s available in black only, and at pricing just under $160, it won’t break the bank.
Note: the MP BSL Arm Brace is not compatible with HK91/G3 or SP89/SP5K/MP5K pattern firearms.
Here’s how Magpul describes the new Arm Brace
The MP BSL Arm Brace – HK94/MP5 is a durable, lightweight, collapsible arm brace designed to aid the single-handed employment of HK94/MP5-pattern pistols. The MP BSL incorporates Magpul design and engineering to enhance brace functionality and provide a robust feature set for MP5-pattern pistols, all while maintaining the iconic aesthetic of the platform.
Constructed of our proprietary polymer and featuring a tool-less adjustment system that makes it easier to deploy and collapse the brace, the MP BSL is extremely durable with enhanced ergonomics.
The integrated ambidextrous QD sling attachment allows sling tension to be applied. That, combined with ample surface area for lateral forearm contact, increases stability while firing one-handed. An MLOK slot is also included on the MP BSL for additional sling mounting options.
Here’s the product launch video.
Arm Brace Features
The MP BSL Arm Brace is designed and intended for use as a stabilizing accessory for one-handed firing
Tool-less, one-handed adjustment
Ambidextrous rear QD cup allows sling tension to be applied while firing to improve stability
High-strength polymer and metal construction
M-LOK compatible slot allows for additional sling mounting options
Compatible with HK94/MP5 pattern pistols. Not compatible with HK91/G3 or SP89/SP5K/MP5K pattern firearms
Available in Black
Price is $159.95 (at the time of this writing)
Made in the USA
Now shipping, only available online at Magpul.com.
Be sure to check out Episode 177 of The Mag Life Podcast, with Magpul Executive Vice President Duane Liptak, to learn more about the new product line up for 2021 and how Magpul is working to build a positive culture for future gun owners.
Stephanie Kimmell is the firstborn daughter of Missouri’s Pecan King, worthy scion of a Vietnam veteran sailor turned mad engineer-orchardist-inventor-genius. With a BA in technical writing, she freelances as a writer and editor. A Zymurgist greatly interested in the decoction of fermented barley and hops, she is in many ways a modern amalgam of Esther Hobart Morris, Rebecca Boone, and Nellie Bly. She hunts, fishes, butchers, and cooks most anything. When not editing or writing, she makes soaps and salves, spins wool, and occasionally makes cheese from cows she milked herself. Kimmell is a driven epistemophilic who loves live music and all sorts of beer.
The coolest thing about the Shield Arms SA-15 FLR isn’t that it’s a folding AR15 (although that’s pretty cool). The coolest thing about the Shield Arms SA-15 FLR is that it’s an integrally folding AR15: meaning no after-market thingamawhatsits to get it thataway.
Hence Folding Lower Receiver (FLR). Funny how that works eh?
Anyway, the Shield Arms Folding Lower Receiver (FLR) is now available in pistol, rifle, and stripped lower configuration and (as of this writing) it’s in stock. As originally reported on Soldier Systems Daily, the SA-15 FLR is a fully-folding lower receiver that does not require an adapter.
It’s a patent-pending billet AR-15 lower receiver with a folding stock mechanism machined and built directly into the receiver, allowing the stock or pistol brace to fold without the need of an aftermarket folding adapter.
The various SA15s feed via standard (i.e. unmodified) AR15 magazines.
Here’s what it looks like when locked in place and set up with some other cool toys for Insta:
An SA-15 folding AR pistol in FDE build on the Shield Arms folding lower receiver. Keeping it company; Glock 43X with extended S15 mag, SA hat, and a G10 Pugio dagger (w/IWB kydex sheath) in coyote tan. Or coyote brown. Or whatever we’re supposed to call it now.
Each respective configuration is detailed below.
SA-15 FLR
A 16 in. folding Rifle built on Shield Arms folding lower.
Brock Trautman is the senior news anchor for The Mag Life, the official publication of GunMag Warehouse. He’s also a cartoon, so…don’t get butt-hurt about anything he says. He’s not making subjective judgments on things, or reviewing anything – he’s just passing along the news.
The coolest thing about the Shield Arms SA-15 FLR isn’t that it’s a folding AR15 (although that’s pretty cool). The coolest thing about the Shield Arms SA-15 FLR is that it’s an integrally folding AR15: meaning no after-market thingamawhatsits to get it thataway.
Hence Folding Lower Receiver (FLR). Funny how that works eh?
Anyway, the Shield Arms Folding Lower Receiver (FLR) is now available in pistol, rifle, and stripped lower configuration and (as of this writing) it’s in stock. As originally reported on Soldier Systems Daily, the SA-15 FLR is a fully-folding lower receiver that does not require an adapter.
It’s a patent-pending billet AR-15 lower receiver with a folding stock mechanism machined and built directly into the receiver, allowing the stock or pistol brace to fold without the need of an aftermarket folding adapter.
The various SA15s feed via standard (i.e. unmodified) AR15 magazines.
Here’s what it looks like when locked in place and set up with some other cool toys for Insta:
An SA-15 folding AR pistol in FDE build on the Shield Arms folding lower receiver. Keeping it company; Glock 43X with extended S15 mag, SA hat, and a G10 Pugio dagger (w/IWB kydex sheath) in coyote tan. Or coyote brown. Or whatever we’re supposed to call it now.
Each respective configuration is detailed below.
SA-15 FLR
A 16 in. folding Rifle built on Shield Arms folding lower.
Brock Trautman is the senior news anchor for The Mag Life, the official publication of GunMag Warehouse. He’s also a cartoon, so…don’t get butt-hurt about anything he says. He’s not making subjective judgments on things, or reviewing anything – he’s just passing along the news.
Last fall, Sig Sauer launched the new AXG line of pistols with the Custom Works P320 AXG Scorpion—a compact 9mm hybrid that combines features of the striker-fired P320 with a P226-style metal frame. In case you were wondering, the AXG stands for Alloy XSeries Grip, and the metal frame was a fairly significant change from the original design of the traditional polymer frame P320.
As Travis put it in the review he wrote in January, “There is something about a metal frame that fits my hand better and is ergonomically superior to polymer frames. Not that I hate polymer frames, I have polymer frame friends, you guys. Metal frames feel better in my hands, so when SIG announced the P320 AXG, I got excited.”
Fast forward to Spring 2021 and the next model in the AXG lineup came out: the P320 AXG Classic. The Classic is a limited edition Sig Custom Works variant, carry-sized with custom walnut grip panels.
And now, just a month after the Classic model was released, Sig has rounded out the AXG lineup by announcing the full-sized model. This one is a standard offering (as compared to Custom Works). It’s called the P320 AXG Pro and the features include a pro-cut full-length slide, black anodized grip module, black G10 grips, and XRAY3 day/night sights. It’s optics-ready and compatible with several popular red dots.
In the video below, Phis Strader covers the details.
Here’s how Sig describes it in the official press release:
SIG SAUER is pleased to introduce the P320 AXG Pro, the first full-sized P320 pistol featuring the metal AXG grip module, with the AXG detachable magwell, and paired with the full-length SIG SAUER Pro-Cut slide.
“The hottest ticket in the world of P320 is the AXG series of pistols which combines the modern features and modularity of the P320 platform, with the performance and feel of a metal frame,” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales, SIG SAUER, Inc. “With the lightening cuts of the pro-cut slide and the added weight of the AXG metal grip, the P320 AXG Pro is the perfect combination of style and performance, from fit to finish, in a full-size package.”
The SIG SAUER P320 AXG Pro is a metal, 9mm striker-fired pistol, with a black anodized AXG full-size grip module with a detachable AXG magwell, custom Hogue black G10 grip panels, a precision-machined deep undercut, and an extended beavertail for an ergonomic, comfortable fit. The pistol features an XSERIES flat trigger and a Nitron full-size SIG Pro-Cut slide with lightening cuts, XRAY3 Day/Night sights, comes optic-ready, and is compatible with direct-mount options for the SIG SAUER Electro-Optics ROMEO1Pro, the soon to be released SIG SAUER Electro-Optics ROMEO2, Delta Point Pro, and RMR Reflex Optics. The P320 AXG Pro ships with (2) 17-round steel magazines featuring Henning Group basepads.
P320 AXG Pro Specs
Overall length: 8.2 inches
Overall height: 5.5 inches
Overall width: 1.6 inches
Barrel length: 4.7 inches
Sight Radius: 6.6inches
Weight (w/magazine): 35.4 oz.
The black anodized AXG grip has Hogue G10 grip panels and a detachable magwell. The optic-ready Pro-cut slide is compatible with Romeo1PRO, Romeo2, Deltapoint PRO, and RMR optics without the need for adaptor plates.
Stephanie Kimmell is the firstborn daughter of Missouri’s Pecan King, worthy scion of a Vietnam veteran sailor turned mad engineer-orchardist-inventor-genius. With a BA in technical writing, she freelances as a writer and editor. A Zymurgist greatly interested in the decoction of fermented barley and hops, she is in many ways a modern amalgam of Esther Hobart Morris, Rebecca Boone, and Nellie Bly. She hunts, fishes, butchers, and cooks most anything. When not editing or writing, she makes soaps and salves, spins wool, and occasionally makes cheese from cows she milked herself. Kimmell is a driven epistemophilic who loves live music and all sorts of beer.
