It definitely shoots like a larger gun, that’s why I chose it. Plus the capacity is great, especially with the 15 rounders. Mag guts has some great internals that boosts capacity.
I 'm not sure this is really a fair comparison. The Hellcat and P365 are smaller guns than the others. They are the only true micro compacts in your group. Seems you obviously prefer the larger frames, longer barrel, and optic. I think that's true for most of us, but they are bigger, heavier, and generally less concealable. For me, that's really the point of a micro. Can't have it both ways.
Yeah! What you said! I agree that it just wasn't a fair comparison,and I'm not sure why he lumped them into one category, found the critique a little weird, and uh, kinda...."crunchy" ❔
The differences between any of these is minute. If you had paid attention, he points this out. The hellcat and p365 aren’t truly micro either. Full disclosure - I recently went with a SW shield plus and found it accurate and comfortable to shoot. You can actually train with it without feeling beat up after 100 rds. You are mistaken to think that isn’t a fair thing to point out.
@@tnsquire3195 my p365xl with a beavertail recoil grip doesn't make you feel beat up at all after 100 lol. I've shot 250 in one sitting. Only the shield plus* made me feel that way 😆 🤣.
@@bradleyhommerson6541 well good for you - the shield isn’t the shield plus. And I wasn’t referring to the 365xl now was I? Go work on your reading comprehension before making stupid posts.
@@tnsquire3195 I was talking about the shield plus SORRY and watch your bitchy tone there sparky. Not to mention even if I was talking about the shield, the shield plus and it both have practically the same long grip length wise.. the plus is just a tiny bit wider. Also a better comparison would have been the p365xl and the the shield plus.
Yeah, I have both and it’s hard to decide which I like best. I haven’t tried the Hellcat only because every time I’m in the gun shop and pick one up it doesn’t feel right. More interested in the Springfield XDM Elite! Compact!
@@murkyturkey5238 I bought a second Shield plus so my wife and I could share mags if need be. S&W 13250 comes with 3 mags 2-15 rd and 1-10 rd along with night sights. I think we like the Smith better.
@@murkyturkey5238 Go to your local gun store and hold one. Get the one that feels right. For me I really like the P365XL and the Shield Plus Performance Center. Your going to want a red dot if you want to be accurate. If you just want to be able to defend yourself up close then you can save some money and get the none red dot versions.
Gotta say Mossberg’s Mc2sc is pretty awesome. 11+1 rounds in the same height grip as the P365, 14+1 in a full-grip mag, and only about half an inch longer with about an extra half inch of barrel length. Definitely the most underrated micro/sub 9.
My issue with the max 9 is the trigger replacement requirement. Asking for problems and you can get a shield plus for basically the same price. And I'm a big fan of Ruger, they just don't get carry 9s done well
Been a certified NRA and state police agency firearms instructor (and armorer for several platforms) for over 20 yrs and I can't tell much difference in these guns after shooting and carrying them for a considerable time (even the G26 on protection detail missions around the world over the years). So, I chose the Hellcat to replace my P938 and G26 EDC. Hope I don't die...geeze. Point is, none of these offerings are bad. The key is training and being comfortable with what you have. There is no magic pill or replacement for that. Just know what you are doing and know your tools. Simple.
You should be creating these videos, sounds like you have real world experience and expert knowledge, plus you'd be a lot more likeable than this bearded douchebag.
Agreed. The video was more comedy than education--and bad comedy at that. End result: Guns he doesn't "get to know" get trashed. The max 9 is an awesome firearm, as is the Shield Plus (among others) very comfortable to shoot/train with--and it is accurate as hell. NRA/ISP certified firearms instructor/Range Safety Officer here. Spend time with and master a firearm before giving half-baked opinions please. Makes you wonder who his sponsors (the ones he failed to disclose) are.
@@ProfessorBulletMGI'll take the gun that works best BEFORE you master it, that way once you master it you have an even better gun. You can watch practically all of these head to head videos on Micro-9s and consistently the Roger comes out on bottom. I don't have any single manufacturer I stick too, thats just a sign of low IQ partiality. I research the f out every purchase, and because overwhelmingly the S&W Shield Plus comes out as tiger the top micro 9 in the tests on here that show the actually shooting. Then seeing that they make factory-ported barrel for the already softest-shooting micro 9, and I went with that. I don't have to make weird arguments like, "its a good gun once you master it" non sense. Everyone that shoots my gun can feel its superiority over their Micro 9. Now the Canik Mete MC9 does have the best trigger of all, but the Shield Plus is always right there with it. The others triggers don't compare to these two. But the Shield Plus has then softest recoil by far - I don't know how they accomplished it. My other carry when need something super small is a Sig P238 with the Magguts 8+1 capacity expanding technology. Likewise my Shield Plus has the Magguts +3 Pinky grip that gives the best grip, and practically no size increase - they don't make one for the Ruger tmk. Anyways you can try to fanboy the gun all you want, it's not a good firearm.
I like how you did that focusing trick to show off the front and rear sights of the pistol. You should do a shit ton of shorts showing off factory and aftermarket sights like that. You could also do some draw and fire or other stuff with times and data on the screen so I could use them for purchasing decisions and internet arguments.
Recently got a P365 to pocket carry. I can honestly say that if I could only have one hand gun, it would be the P365. Small enough to carry in my pocket all day, yet it shoots really well and in my state we’re capped at 10 round mags, so it’s full capacity.
Love the Shield Plus. I can get a full grip purchase on it, the grip bulges out in the right spots to really fill out the hands (a great bonus for me because most of these tiny microcompacts don't have adjustable/large backstraps), the grip texture is the best, recoil isn't as noticeable as it is on the P365/Hellcat, and the trigger is unmatched out of all the microcompacts. While the Shield Plus is slightly cheaper than the P365, I highly recommend going for the upgraded sights model that makes the prices around the same. While I don't care for it being optics ready (still don't get that for a tiny gun meant for up close conceal carry) I still wish the Shield Plus came optics ready to provide more value like the Hellcat OSP and Max-9. I do prefer the slightly larger microcompacts like the 4" Performance Center Shield Plus, P365XL, and Glock 43X though.
I agree, I carried a gen1 shield since it came out and then upgraded to the Plus on day one. I also carry a Springfield 911 9mm when wearing very light clothes. The grip panels on that do exactly the same.
The Hellcat is my choice for daily carry, it fits my hand the best and I love the sights, texture and capacity. I don't know what all this talk about casting line is, I don't have that issue with mine. If you do have that issue it is easily remedied with a razorknife and/or a little buffing with the dremel, my M&P Shield had that issue and it was no problem to clean up.
I’m with Scott Amy on the grip, I looked very hard, squeezed it super tight and felt no seem. The tester seems to prefer a more oval shape (sig s&w) to a more rectangular grip shape (Hellcat) which is odd since he shoots a Glock 17.
Hellcat has hellacious recoil and trigger. Sheild Plus, MC9, or Masada Slim if you want a good shooting compact. Hellcat just sucks and im not sure why it has such horrible felt recoil and a trigger made of mush.
Feels odd to present a bunch of guns whose primary appeal is concealability, and not speak to their concealability. Or draw from concealment, etc. I get that they may be broadly similar, and a lot depends on body type, clothing, etc. But seems odd not to discuss at all.
I’ve had my 365 xl for almost two years now and I’m still as happy as the day I bought it I think it really is the perfect size and the addition of the holosun 507k and tlr7 sub makes it just as capable as my big boi guns although it certainly is a little harder to shoot.
It seems like adding so much to it would be counter productive to the concealment goal of buying the smaller gun to begin with. If you're good sized (I'm not) I can definitely see how it works.
@@kicknsystm yes and no, the red dot and light really don’t effect anything as far as concealabilty. Especially micro dots with micro lights. The butt of the gun is usually the hard thing to conceal not the muzzle. They do add a lot of capability. The only thing they add that’s slightly obtrusive is a little bit of weight. However with a micro compact they are so lite to begin with it’s pretty much a non issue
1) anyone complaining about your attire should be subject to a "Pants Off - Dance Off" 2) Thank you for hitting all the major offerings in this class. I currently have the original Shield with Hyve mag adapters making them 10 round magazines but decided to upgrade to a more modern model. I looked at several in the store but none fit my hand the way the Shield Plus did. It just felt like it was meant for my hand. The trigger is far and away better than the original offering as well and the grip is improved too although I will probably add a more aggressive Talon grip. It also didn't hurt that the Plus would also fit my original Shield's holsters (Tier 1's aren't cheap).
It's about pocket carry with the TRUE micro 9. The Hellcat, P365 and GX4 easily fit into most front pockets, for one handed draws. The Max9, Shield Plus are just enough bigger to NOT fit into most pockets. If you're going to go to a "belt" gun, get something significantly better to shoot. Compromises are part of it..
I have a Ruger Max 9. I don't shoot it often, but I have never had trouble with the slide lock/release. The gun has consistently locked open after the last round is fired. I put in a new mag and with little effort release the slide.
My favorite item of all was the long sleeve shirt with the aerodynamic thumb holes on the sleeve ends. It’s almost as if you use the shirt rolled down it could prevent a broken nail or other serious incapacitating injury like the one shown on the video
I gotta say, you guys have such a impressive range of knowledge and content that has helped me so much in my decision making! Thanks for all the solid content!
@@paulmichaud1246 it's three factory mags available with the hellcat, an 11, a 13, and a 15. It comes with an 11 and a 13 in the box. You can use the 11 for maximum concealability and +1 to the chamber, hence 11+1. You can also 13+1 and 15+1.
Thank you ! My 365 came with 2 10 rnd mags, and i bought a 12 rnd ! And they sell a 15 also ! The tac pac comes with 3 12 rnd mags and some other junk ? Lol...
He’s not really wrong with the 10+1 because my Hellcat came with two 10 round and a 13 round magazine. Was kinda sad to find out that was 10 but there was 2 of them so it made it that much easier to accept 🔫
I chose the Shield Plus, Optics ready, because my first carry gun was the Shield 1.0. The grip texture, mag capacity, and trigger are improved. The foundation is the oldest and most proven of this bunch. Yes, I admit Sig really is the most influential for increasing mag capacity. Because my eyes have changed over time, I am thinking of adding an optic, maybe a Holosun.
you must know by now the Ruger Max 9 slide lock was NOT what you were touching / pointing to in the video. You must have had the Pro model which does not have a SAFETY switch. The slide switch is the larger switch which you were not touching in the video. SHEESH. just look in the manual. lol
My current EDC is the p365 with the Wilson Combat 365x grip module, and Magguts +2 extension. It gives me a surprisingly controllable 14+1 in an Alabama holster that will ride in a 5.11 cargo pocket. If there is a better combination, I ain't seen it...
why use 13rds extended mag? It defeats the purpose of concealability. Pathetic. lol. Not sure why many folks actually buy these extended mags for. defeats the purpose.
@@troytruong8246I think the idea for the extended mag is to pocket carry the extra extended mag for reloads and can get a few extra rounds if you need them in a self defense situation
I waited to comment until I had some time and rounds through my Shield Plus. I’ve carried it almost daily for about 6 months and have put at least 1200 rounds through it. The only mod is a Swampfox Sentinel green dot. My observations: Zero malfunctions with primarily Magtech range ammo and a variety of defensive ammo. The gun is a pleasure to shoot and shoot accurately. I have size 2x hands and this was one of the main reasons I bought this gun. It fits my hand well with the 13 rd mag. I never use the 10 rd. I considered the 365XL but I wanted the concealability of the shorter barrel on the Shield. Really nice trigger. It appears to be very well made and should last a long time. USA made. (Although the only one of theses that isn’t is the Springfield) Two friends who own a version of the Sig 365 like the Shield better.
Honestly Sig P365 for me, if I want a subcompact 9mm I don't want one that has an similar grip or girth as my compact Glock, Sig P365 shoots real nicely and is light to carry when I wear sweats
@@AFPaul12590 well there are clips you can assemble onto your holster called ulti-clips or leather holsters that have something similar so you can conceal carry without a belt Right now tho I have am 11 ounce j-frame so I normally put it in my pocket or use the leather holster like I said
"Ya'll like sub-compacts, cause I don't." Yeah, me neither. But I do have a Hellcat, because I'd rather have a gun and not need it than need a gun and not have it.
It'll never stop being funny to me the sheer amount of people who pretend like they carry a Glock 19 with duty light, red dot and a spare mag. I instructed pistol shooting for the last two years and only saw that kind of setup outside of a class literally once.
Just saw your video. I’ve owned all the guns you previewed other than the Sig X. i’ve owned all the guns you’ve previewed, but I’ve only kept the shield plus and theSig XL both of which I think I’m going to keep for a long, long time.
I sold my p365 and bought a max9 after shooting a buddy s I got the one with the hogue grip put 100 rounds of sig v crown and 100 rounds of blazer brass both 115 grain through it I’m impressed accurate and no issues
Went to my local gun shop last weekend and checked out the Sig P365xl. That thing felt like a glove in my hand. One thing you did not mention that I liked about it was the perfect placement of the slide release and the ease of it. I think I’ll be trading in my old shield for it. Always been a big fan of Sig.
First EDC was a Glock 43 with tlr6 light, loved it so much I built an optic ready G43. Budget build Taurus GX4 lost my trust outside of the range (recall, minor other issues I personally had) Ruger Max9 is for my pocket carry and Springfield Hellcat has to go through some testing but I'm excited for it
I looked at all these models and decided on the P365X. I am a HUGE CZ fan and was disappointed that they decided on a micro with a singles stack. The 365X is pretty AWESOME!
I know you probably won’t respond, but after having just bought my Shield plus, my Cz 75 compact is really about the same size. Just lose some concealability for that 15rd mag in width.
43x doesn’t fall in this category being that it’s a single stack g19 size grip only holding 10 rounds, G3c is also double stack and larger than these firearms, Gx4 is meh and probably wasn’t accessible when this was recorded, and the Rugers mentioned are also single stacks.
@@stonytark1987 the 43x has the same grip length as g19/g48. This list is for “micro compacts” in which most people agree the 43x/48 are not. They’re just overly large single stack pistols.
@@JohnWicksPencil14 the shield plus is about half an inch shorter with the flush mag. And yes, the Shield Arms mags definitely make the 43x/48 more useful if you can hide the extra half inch of grip but for some people maximum concealability is more important. I feel like most people would be singing a different tune if Glock actually created something rather than just making a single stack G19 with a shortened barrel and saying “Ta - Da”
I think the hellcat came out before the shield plus . I’m thinking that’s why they said it was the highest capacity. anyway I love my 2.0 shield . I wish I would have known S&W was going to make the plus . I would have waited. Maybe that’s the plan though . They want us to buy them all 🤓. Good video man thanks .
OMG! it is True, people do give thumbs Down when they hear a reviewer Shitting on one of their favorite Guns, because I almost gave him a thumbs down for the very same reason but I have to remember that this is just his opinion, so to each his own!.. Plus I don't have any of the issues with the Hellcat that he does.. So Keep up the Good work! 👍👍
I like my Hellcat. Mine doesn't have the rear grip seam that your sample did. It fits in my pocket really well and this is the only realistic way that I'm able to carry because of what I do for a living. I like that U rear sight and the front night sight. I'm able to get a good side picture quickly with this setup. I don't plan on adding an optic because I feel like this would make it harder to pocket carry. Thanks for the rundown on all the micro compacts with increased capacity..
Hi first of all love your channel, i dont know if they wrote you about this but the button you were trying to release the slide on the max 9 is the safety button for the safety model, your is without a safety the slide release is the button next to it
Hellcat holds 11 in free state configuration not 10 as stated. Liking the biggest little guns best is not surprising. 15 round factory mags are available for the hellcat & sig. Hellcat FDE OSP w/ Holosun 507k ftw IMO.
How do you like your OSP Hellcat so far? The guy at my local range had one with a Swampfox Sentinel and I surprisingly liked it even though I usually hate shooting smaller guns. Do you think the RDP model with the compensator would be a better option?
@@JacksonWalter735 I love mine. Got the wifey a matching OSP but she’s not interested in a dot. Yet. With mine making hits on 6” steel plates at 28 yards (random distance available to me at my range) is surprisingly easy. I didn’t want the extra size and cost of the RDP. Maybe the comp provides a benefit. I dunno. Flush fit 11 round mag makes for a very small package. Btw, my not young eyes need “cheaters” to read. Beyond that my eyes are great. “Sights” are blurry. Floating red 🔴 is crisp. Problem solved!
Frankly, just from what I've been hearing over that last few months, the Shield M&P line seems to have the best reputation. I 'hear' it's the most reliable like a Glock,, and still has the compact size. Personally, I like the p365 Macro, but too may RU-vid channels are saying 'Get the M&P Shield.' AND, it is 'reported' to have the least amount of recoil and rise.
Good video. As you stated, it really is going to depend upon you, the individual, which gun fits you and works best in your hands. The Shield Plus? Sure, why not. It is accurate and reliable. There are a ton of them available out there. That is good for shooters.
365XL is my favorite. Enough so, that I have 2. Upgraded my original with a Holosun 507K, threaded barrel and Spectre slide. Recently tired of seeing the cast off parts and bought an FCU and recoil spring/guide rod assembly and made a second 'XL. Surprisingly, that one is my favorite. It points amazingly well - so much so that sights just naturally come into alignment in presentation and even one handed. After using an rds for a long time I thought the X-ray night sights would feel like a big downgrade. Not so...
In my opinion you should choose whatever is the most comfortable to carry on ur person and in your hand. Capacity, trigger, and sights are of no concern to me on these micro guns. In the rare occasion you need to use it, it’s most likely going to be within 5 yards. With all your adrenaline going ur not gonna notice what the trigger feels like.
I swapped my Sig P-365 for an optics-ready Hellcat, because my eyes were having trouble focusing on the smallish sights of the 365. With a Swampfox red dot sight mounted, no more problems. I also discovered that I no longer had a tendency to ride the slide release, so the slide stays reliably open after the last round, and all the Hellcat magazines fit tightly enough that I am no longer pinching the palm of my hand between the grip and the magazine floorplate. I'm wondering if that wasn't also an issue with the Ruger you tested, since there seemed to be quite a gap there as well. It also had a better trigger than the Sig, and is even better with the Apex Action Trigger I installed. 😎
Would it be fair to say that to some degree you don't like subcompacts because you don't have to worry about someone seeing you with a gun at your job? There are some situations that require a bit more stealth. I love my little 365. I can wear it anywhere, and no one knows any different.
great video, had the opposite experience though when it came to S&W and Ruger. Never owned a Ruger but fit my large hands better and more naturally then the S&W or the Hellcat, that I really wanted to love but turned out to be a turd to shoot for me.
Nice video. I pocket carry the P365 with Sig's 12 round mags to which a Magguts +2 kit has been added (so I carry just 1 less round than a Glock 19--just it fits nicely holstered in my front pocket), and an upgraded P365X flat trigger kit. Perhaps next time you'll shoot these with some of Underwood's Xtreme Defender lighter 9mm offerings (68 & 90 gr., standard, +P or +P+) to see whether claims about less recoil, particularly in these 'more snappy' micro pistols, are accurate. Without question, however, they will overcome the uncertainty of underperforming expansion of HP's shot from very short barrels through any kind of barrier, including just heavy clothing. It's amazing how few shooters are familiar with this line.
wtf? you pocket carry the p365? You are 300lbs dude with big ass pants? Pocket carry is for newbies. Not tactical. Wait until you need to draw fast or get into a fight with your life. try to reach into your pocket. gl with that.
For the marketing gimmick part, don't forget hellcat was released in 2019, with 1 more capacity in both mags compared with their only competitor Sig P365 at that time. Even today, hellcat is still the highest capacity (tied for first place) with the stock mags. BTW, their 15rd mag looks much better than P365's.
I’ve Got the shield plus and I just got the Hellcat pro 15 rounds range package came with 5 magazines. The reason I got the shield firsts the regular Hellcat and p365 were just to small
After I carried the Sig 365 for a year, I came to the conclusion the grip was just a smidgen too small. I can shoot it ok, but a Smith Shield Plus feels much better.
I'm vertically challenged, so subcompacts fit my body shape better. Do I like them over compact or larger pistols? No, but they work for me and I trust them.
Dam your emotional manipulation. I almost sent this vid to all my friends until I remembered I don’t have any friends that like or want guns ☹️. Love the M&P. Great video. They’re always fun and informational.