When I found out that import giant Century Arms was interested in sending us a 9mm pistol to review, my initial reaction was indifference. I could vaguely remember seeing some kind of banner for a “Canik” pistol at SHOT show, but I couldn’t recall being very impressed with it.
I looked up the pistol they wanted to send us, the Canik TP9, and found several reviews posted online from the past year or so. That was odd, since Century seemed to be implying that the review gun was a new model that hadn’t hit the market yet.
Assuming I had misunderstood, I continued reading up on the TP9 — a striker-fired, polymer-framed full size 9mm pistol that’s essentially a Turkish-made knock-off of the Walther P99. Prices hover around the $290-340 range.
None of that information stimulated my enthusiasm for the Canik. I’m interested in reviewing products that I might be able to recommend as serious self-defense tools. I don’t have much patience for foreign bargain-priced copycat designs of unknown quality.
But, as I’ve mentioned in my past articles on sub-$300 carry guns, there’s a big market for budget self-defense pistols. If the Canik TP9 turned out to be one of the rare exceptions to the “you get what you pay for” rule, then I figured our readers would want to know.
We told Century that we’d be happy to review the pistol if they would provide 1000 rounds of 9mm FMJ ammo for an abbreviated torture test. We were also careful to point out that we couldn’t promise the final results would portray the Canik in a favorable light. Unfazed, the guys at Century were happy to oblige our request, and they shipped the pistol and ammo our way with no strings attached.
Canik TP9SA: Single Action
When I picked up the pistol from my local dealer, I noticed right away that the action worked differently from the TP9 I had read about in the reviews. Because apparently, this was a different version of the TP9 altogether. It turns out that Century had intended to send us a new gun after all: the new single action only variant of the TP9.
The original TP9 features a striker-fired action that basically simulates a traditional double action/single action hammer-fired semi-auto. Racking a round into the chamber cocks the striker, displaying a red indicator on the rear of the slide. A button on top of the slide partly de-cocks the striker, so you end up with a stiff double-action trigger pull on the first shot, and a lighter single-action trigger on the following shots.
What I received, however, is the Canik TP9SA. Unlike the standard TP9, it has a Glock-like trigger safety so that the gun can safely be carried in single-action mode with the striker pre-cocked. Oddly enough, the TP9 SA still has the de-cocker button on top of the slide, but pressing it causes the trigger to go “dead”, with no double-action option.
The grip of the TP9 SA is also slightly different from the previous model. It lacks the finger grooves on the front-strap, which is more aggressively checkered than the original TP9. Both of these changes to the frame are a deviation from the original Walther P99 design, but I found it to have a good feel when I first handled it.
Along with a pair of 18-round Mec-Gar magazines, a few other accessories were included in the box: a polymer retention holster with a Blackhawk Serpa-style release mechanism and two different types of belt attachments, a magazine loading device, and a large backstrap insert that can be swapped for the smaller insert already in the grip.
Canik TP9SA Specs
| Barrel Length | 4.09″ |
| Overall Length | 7.1″ |
| Height | 5.7″ |
| Width | 1.35″ |
| Weight (unloaded) | 1.42 lbs. |
| Sights | White three-dot (drift-adjustable rear) |
| Action | Striker-fired single-action |
| External Safety | Two-piece trigger safety |
| Ammo Capacity | 18+1 |
| Trigger pull weight | 5.5 lbs |
| Included Accessories | Two magazines Holster Two backstrap inserts Magazine loader |
1000 Round Torture Test
True to our agreement, Century also sent us 1000 rounds of 124 grain 9mm Slovak-made Hotshot ammo. The plan was to clean and lube the Canik TP9 once, and then run 1000 consecutive rounds without any additional care or maintenance.
I admit that calling this a “torture test” is a bit of a stretch. The popular “2000 Round Challenge” is routinely used by many shooters as a method for wringing out any reliability defects in a new pistol. Shooting half that many rounds hardly qualifies as a comprehensive test that would push a gun to it’s limits. But that’s not really the goal, here.
The reality is that most folks who are in the market for a cheap $300 pistol aren’t going to shoot 1000 rounds through it, ever. And sadly, many of the companies that make these bargain guns know that, and tend to skimp on quality control as a result. If this particular Canik TP9 SA was the kind of lemon that we often encounter with other models in this price range, the problems would most likely become evident in the first 1000 rounds fired.
Of course, I didn’t want to run ammo through the gun just to find out when it would break. I shot drills, tested for accuracy, and put it through its paces the way I would with any self-defense pistol.
Ergonomics and Shootability
I mentioned that I initially liked the feel of the grip, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything when you actually start shooting. The Canik TP9 backstrap allows for high hand placement, and the front strap checkering is a nice touch, but there’s still a lot of surface area that’s completely smooth and it slipped around in my hands under recoil.
Felt recoil is always a tricky thing to try to explain because we all experience it differently. The best I can do is compare it to the full size 9mm I’ve recently had the most trigger time with; the Smith & Wesson M&P. Alongside the M&P, the Canik feels heavy and clunky, even though on paper they’re virtually the same weight. But again, “feeling” isn’t particularly important if it doesn’t actually impact the way the pistol shoots. In reality, the perceived sub-optimal balance didn’t prevent me from recording some pretty solid times on the drills I shot at the range.
The overall shootability of the TP9 SA is really a product of the single action trigger. It has a light takeup with a crisp break measuring at 5.5 pounds, and a short, deliberate reset. It’s one of the best striker-fired factory triggers that I’ve had the pleasure of using, including the M&P (or especially the M&P). The trigger is the last thing you expect to like on a budget-priced gun, but the Canik trigger is very reminiscent of the widely-praised trigger on the Walther PPQ. I don’t typically recommend striker-fired pistols with lighter triggers without some reservations — these triggers are inherently less forgiving of errors in gun handling than longer and heavier triggers. That said, the trigger on the TP9SA does yield the desired benefit of being easier to shoot accurately at speed than the typical factory striker-fired gun.
Like most modern handguns, the Canik TP9SA is shipped with a set of plain white three-dot sights with a drift adjustable rear sight. Definitely not my preference, but pretty standard. The sights are more or less adequate, but they appear to be a bit shallow compared to other sights of the same type. At this time, there are few aftermarket sights available for the TP9SA.
Accuracy
I’ll confess that accuracy testing is always my least favorite part of doing a handgun review, and not just because shooting groups is boring. I prioritize factors affecting shootability far above mechanical accuracy when I’m looking at a self-defense handgun (which explains how I can be such a fan of the 9mm M&P despite its infamous sub-par accuracy). Match-worthy precision is nice to have, but in a real world self-defense situation, my shooting ability is going to be a much greater limiting factor than the inherent accuracy of the firearm.
But just to assuage any fears about the Canik’s ability to put holes where they’re supposed to be, I did labor through a few five-shot groups from the bench rest with four different self-defense loads. Three of the four loads produced what I would consider to be excellent groups at 25 yards.
| Ammo | 25 Yard Group Size |
| Remington HTP 115 gr | 2.2″ |
| Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +P | 2.1″ |
| Remington Golden Saber Bonded 147 gr | 5.0″ |
| Hornady XTP 124 gr | 2.5″ |
Reliability
It turns out that Century’s confidence in their pistol’s performance was not unfounded. I fired 1000 rounds of the Hotshot ammo during four range sessions over a two week period as well as a couple of boxes worth of the above hollow point assortment all without incident. In fact, I actually forgot to clean and lube the pistol at the beginning of the test, and only slapped a couple of drops of lube on the slide rails after the first 400 rounds had been fired.
In spite of accumulating a pretty nasty layer of residue from the dirty Hotshot ammo, there were no feeding issues, no discernible decrease in accuracy, and no parts breakages. If you’re willing to call 1000 rounds a “torture test”, the Canik TP9 SA passed with flying colors.
Recommendation
Despite an overall positive experience, I wouldn’t be too quick to encourage anyone to buy a Canik TP9SA right away. It’s not that there’s anything significantly wrong with the TP9 as much as the fact that I still don’t quite know what to make of Canik as a firearms manufacturer. I would be happy to trust this particular TP9 since it has more than proven itself at the range, but that’s just a sample size of one. Until there are more of these pistols out there in the wild being used and abused, I’m remaining skeptical that a mass produced handgun offered at this price point could be made with consistent enough quality to recommend it without some hesitation.
If you’re able to afford to spend another $75 or $100, your options open up to some brands that have more established reputations, domestic factory support, and wider aftermarket support in the form of sights, spare parts, holsters, magazines, and other accessories. But for someone on a tight budget, that extra $100 might mean doing without training ammo or a range membership for a while. For those times when you can’t stretch your budget, affordable guns like the Canik TP9SA have a lot of appeal. If all of them are as reliable as the one I received, then it’s probably the best value in the striker-fired full-size pistol market.
This was very informative. I'm in the market and this was very helpful.
I've watched a video or two on the Canik 55 I believe and it sparked a bit of interest as an entry level firearm to train my kids on shooting basics. Your review still keeps this weapon in my view for that purpose. Great information. Thank you!
Here is some history on Canik if your interested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWcgZJu7OwE
This was very informative. I’m in the market and this was very helpful.
I’ve watched a video or two on the Canik 55 I believe and it sparked a bit of interest as an entry level firearm to train my kids on shooting basics. Your review still keeps this weapon in my view for that purpose. Great information. Thank you!
Here is some history on Canik if your interested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWcgZJu7OwE
Had not heard of it. Good information, and fair testing and reporting. For those of us living on very limited budgets (military disability pay); low priced options are nice to have.
Had not heard of it. Good information, and fair testing and reporting. For those of us living on very limited budgets (military disability pay); low priced options are nice to have.
These will prove to be great guns as the original model TP 9 did.
I would like this in a 10mm
I would like this in a 10mm
Modern Turkish gun sciences stem from the 1890s, when Imperial Germany built the Turks a full modern arms indusret. Under General Kemal Ataturk, the Turk modernize this same industry every decade or so. Furthermore, I have monitored the original TP 9 since it came here for about two years ago before buying one each for both myself and a dear friend, too. Were there anything truly wrong with the gun, and the same would have resulted in
recalls or 'buyer beware'-related alerts. Buy with total confidence.
Modern Turkish gun sciences stem from the 1890s, when Imperial Germany built the Turks a full modern arms indusret. Under General Kemal Ataturk, the Turk modernize this same industry every decade or so. Furthermore, I have monitored the original TP 9 since it came here for about two years ago before buying one each for both myself and a dear friend, too. Were there anything truly wrong with the gun, and the same would have resulted in
recalls or ‘buyer beware’-related alerts. Buy with total confidence.
I've seen several videos on the Canik. I must say I'm intrigued. Time will tell if it's as good as everyone thinks it is.
I’ve seen several videos on the Canik. I must say I’m intrigued. Time will tell if it’s as good as everyone thinks it is.
He doesn't know what to make of the manufacturer? Why not read up on them? They are extremely reputable with ISO9001 standards and a significant major defense contractor in Turkey. I own a regular TP9 (DA/SA) and love the weapon. The trigger on this new version is attractive, but I am not sure if I would give up my DA option for it. Love that huge mag capacity. 3 mags equates to 54 rounds (+1) of Hornady defense. Great to have lower reloads in combat situations.
He doesn’t know what to make of the manufacturer? Why not read up on them? They are extremely reputable with ISO9001 standards and a significant major defense contractor in Turkey. I own a regular TP9 (DA/SA) and love the weapon. The trigger on this new version is attractive, but I am not sure if I would give up my DA option for it. Love that huge mag capacity. 3 mags equates to 54 rounds (+1) of Hornady defense. Great to have lower reloads in combat situations.
There is plenty of info available about the manufacturer as a company, but independent reports on the performance of their products are pretty limited at this point.
It is tried and tested so the Turkish police force officially adopted the pistol for use. It is not a village force, the police force of a nation of 80 million.
Police are on a race to the bottom finding the lowest priced pistol that will reliably function. I am not saying thats a bad point of view. Some amazingly good pistols have come from it. But it not a reliable standard. For example the ammo used by the FBI in 1986 at the Miami Shoot Out.
Red
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” Voltaire
your opinion –an every one has one
Ahmed Kozanoğlu . And Turkey is a very large arms manufacturer with very good weapons.
LG Chris Not that limited. I spent a month watching vids and reading reports before i bought my tp9 sa/da.
ISO9001 pretty much means nothing. it has nothing to do with the product and everything to do with the process and documentation.
your wrong
I agree. ISO standards are no joke. At my employer’s office, we’ve to get periodically audited for ISO (for our operation center’s products). I can tell you that it definitely doesn’t mean “nothing”. The process of building a quality handgun is a product in itself, if you think about it. A crappy process means a crappy product (bad barrels, bad mags, bad wear, whatever…). For someone to say ISO standards pretty much mean nothing tells us that that person knows not a damned thing about ISO9001 and this particular firearm.
There is plenty of info available about the manufacturer as a company, but independent reports on the performance of their products are pretty limited at this point.
Sorry.. I am not allowed to respond. This old Veteran was told I was not welcomed..so be it. But good luck.
Sorry.. I am not allowed to respond. This old Veteran was told I was not welcomed..so be it. But good luck.
I did not hesitate on the Canik 55 TP9. Look at the specs and the price! I would not hesitate on the Canik TP9SA either.
I did not hesitate on the Canik 55 TP9. Look at the specs and the price! I would not hesitate on the Canik TP9SA either.
Did they provide you information as to when the TP9sa will hit the market?
Did they provide you information as to when the TP9sa will hit the market?
I really like Canik firearms. I have the Stingray-C and fired over 250 out the box with no problems. So I'll definitely be getting this one when it comes out.
I really like Canik firearms. I have the Stingray-C and fired over 250 out the box with no problems. So I’ll definitely be getting this one when it comes out.
For those interested in Canik as a company here is a video on just how extensively tested the New TP9 is. They put is through a 40,000 round torture test at 27 yards. Thats right 40 thousand. People are turned off by the price, but it seems to be every bit as reliable as Glock, XD.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWcgZJu7OwE
Oh one more thing, I spoke to a rep at Canik and Century arms. They should be available this month in the US. They began shipping late October 2014
For those interested in Canik as a company here is a video on just how extensively tested the New TP9 is. They put is through a 40,000 round torture test at 27 yards. Thats right 40 thousand. People are turned off by the price, but it seems to be every bit as reliable as Glock, XD.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWcgZJu7OwE
Oh one more thing, I spoke to a rep at Canik and Century arms. They should be available this month in the US. They began shipping late October 2014
When does it come out?
When does it come out?
dale you can not go wrong on this pistol—shots anything great–have 500 rounds through mine not one hang up
Your specs on the tp9-se are incorrect. Overall length should be closer to 7.5" or 192mm.
Perhaps you posted the original tp9 specs.
Your specs on the tp9-se are incorrect. Overall length should be closer to 7.5″ or 192mm.
Perhaps you posted the original tp9 specs.
I just bought the Canik 55 tp9 for $289. I have yet to fire it but have liked the positive reviews I've read so far. This is my first 9mm as I've only had revolvers before. Looking forward to putting it to the test soon.
I'll be shooting Winchester 124 grain.
What do you mean the decocker makes the trigger go "dead"? Seems like a liability to me. I understand why the P99 AS and original TP9 had the "Anti-Stress" double action option but if Canik wanted a PPQ contender, they would have lost the decocker like Walther did.
I just bought the Canik 55 tp9 for $289. I have yet to fire it but have liked the positive reviews I’ve read so far. This is my first 9mm as I’ve only had revolvers before. Looking forward to putting it to the test soon.
I’ll be shooting Winchester 124 grain.
What do you mean the decocker makes the trigger go “dead”? Seems like a liability to me. I understand why the P99 AS and original TP9 had the “Anti-Stress” double action option but if Canik wanted a PPQ contender, they would have lost the decocker like Walther did.
It is tried and tested so the Turkish police force officially adopted the pistol for use. It is not a village force, the police force of a nation of 80 million.
Research the company more! Canik is a very fine manufacturer with an ISO9001 rating. There's little doubt in my mind these pistols will sell like hotcakes, the way the original TP9 did. I'm sure they will offer it in other Cerakote colors, as they have with other models.
Ahmed Kozanoğlu . And Turkey is a very large arms manufacturer with very good weapons.
These will prove to be great guns as the original model TP 9 did.
Research the company more! Canik is a very fine manufacturer with an ISO9001 rating. There’s little doubt in my mind these pistols will sell like hotcakes, the way the original TP9 did. I’m sure they will offer it in other Cerakote colors, as they have with other models.
I have a desert tan 1 didn’t know if you knew that color was out
I am a FFL dealer and I decided after a year to try the old model TP9 out after 2014 Shotshow because range day demo I talked with a few other dealers that shot the crap out of them with innocent. So ordered several and used one as a demo gun , we shot everything you think of through it even old Russian ammo that miss fired and it worked, I do agree the trigger was not the best. I have been selling them for a year with no complaints. Getting my first shippment of TP9-SA today and look forward to demo one out. I will say there few MFG that make budget guns out there which you can count on and Canik is one them. Great value package
I am a FFL dealer and I decided after a year to try the old model TP9 out after 2014 Shotshow because range day demo I talked with a few other dealers that shot the crap out of them with innocent. So ordered several and used one as a demo gun , we shot everything you think of through it even old Russian ammo that miss fired and it worked, I do agree the trigger was not the best. I have been selling them for a year with no complaints. Getting my first shippment of TP9-SA today and look forward to demo one out. I will say there few MFG that make budget guns out there which you can count on and Canik is one them. Great value package
I love Canik 55 guns These I own a couple and they all give me more value than I have paid for. Never had a single issue with them and I shoot twice a week religiously.
I love Canik 55 guns These I own a couple and they all give me more value than I have paid for. Never had a single issue with them and I shoot twice a week religiously.
if you really want to see a nice looking an good shooter lay your hand on a canik 55 shark—fine trigger
Long trigger pull compared to guns I am used to, but an excellent shooter. It's a keeper.
Long trigger pull compared to guns I am used to, but an excellent shooter. It’s a keeper.
I have no doubt it's a decent gun. Low price doesn't always mean it's junk. I love my older model Steyr M9 and you can get them relatively cheap and it's excellent. Wish another 9mm was in the budget because I'ld get one for sure.
i know agun smith for 35$ makes it a new ball game–
I have no doubt it’s a decent gun. Low price doesn’t always mean it’s junk. I love my older model Steyr M9 and you can get them relatively cheap and it’s excellent. Wish another 9mm was in the budget because I’ld get one for sure.
I own a TP9. No regrets. I'm up to 850 rounds through it and it is my budget pistol. I'm not the Most Folks you refer too. Your entire article makes it sound like you're anti budget gun. When one does meet your tests and expectations you then say Oh and if you can afford more go for it. Sounds like you just fired it and then tossed it back in the box as if you had just had to listen to nails on the chalkboard while wearing earmuffs. Tolerable. I love my tp9 and i'm teaching my kids to use it. Rumor has it the turkish police and military use them so they must be good. Perhaps that explains the low cost? Military contract and polymer?
LG Chris Not that limited. I spent a month watching vids and reading reports before i bought my tp9 sa/da.
Canik 55 makes reliable and very affordable guns. In past we have sold their variations of CZ 75 pistol and received positive feedback. We recently had an opportunity to test Canik 55 TP9 (DA/SA) and were very pleased with the gun's ergonomics, reliability and value. It is an improved version of Walther P99. Only awkward feature was Walther P99's Anti-Stress DA/SA trigger. Now with availability of model TP9 SA, gun should become a popular seller.
I own a TP9. No regrets. I’m up to 850 rounds through it and it is my budget pistol. I’m not the Most Folks you refer too. Your entire article makes it sound like you’re anti budget gun. When one does meet your tests and expectations you then say Oh and if you can afford more go for it. Sounds like you just fired it and then tossed it back in the box as if you had just had to listen to nails on the chalkboard while wearing earmuffs. Tolerable. I love my tp9 and i’m teaching my kids to use it. Rumor has it the turkish police and military use them so they must be good. Perhaps that explains the low cost? Military contract and polymer?
brazilian police and military use taurus pistols……..just sayin….
He said Turkish? not Brazilian Different continent.
My point was that Taurus has military contracts just like canik, doesn’t mean that the guns of either company are particularly good.
your wrong Taurus does make shit guns
You’re wrong I have a Taurus pt
845 with Novak sights from the factory, it has never ftf, fte or malfunctioned in the 4,000-rounds i have put through it. Keep almost any firearm you have properly cleaned, and lubricated, and most likely it will work. Although I’m not biased I also have a Springfield xd 9, a glock 17, and a Springfield xd45 that have all ran fine too with many rounds fired.
gun snobs are never gonna give it up.the technology is from a browning high power which is age old. they make it seem like its rocket science to make a nine..
I had a PT845. Total junk, nonstop FTF with all types of ammo. After a major phone battle Taurus took it back and kept it for 3 months, saying it had a defective slide and the slide was on back order from Brazil; after another heated argument with a manager they finally did the right thing and replaced it with another. This one was better, but had FTE problems instead. I gave up on Taurus and sold it for a loss. Currently Taurus is in court trying to figure out how to “recall” their crappy PT Millenium series pistols that slam fire and are not drop safe. Taurus junk is made by kids in a Brazilian factory that looks like a chicken house. Street view the Taurus Brazilian factory address, its a shack in the middle of a slum that turns out their junk. All gun makers put out some crap now and again, but Taurus takes the cake when it comes to junkers. I put all my faith in Glock and the one time I had a problem with one they took it back, rebuilt it for free, and shipped it back within a week. That extra 150 bucks DOES make a difference. My life is worth it.
god help them in a fire fight
I have several Taurus revolvers. Love them, and their customer service is top notch.
Have no experience with their semi-automatics.
Canik 55 makes reliable and very affordable guns. In past we have sold their variations of CZ 75 pistol and received positive feedback. We recently had an opportunity to test Canik 55 TP9 (DA/SA) and were very pleased with the gun’s ergonomics, reliability and value. It is an improved version of Walther P99. Only awkward feature was Walther P99’s Anti-Stress DA/SA trigger. Now with availability of model TP9 SA, gun should become a popular seller.
definitely NOT an “improved p99”. the P99 is smaller, lighter, has a better trigger and is more accurate (i did 100 rounds through each gun back to back last month) the TP9 did win on felt recoil though….
They are ISO 9000 certified, up to a point. They are using a Turkish adaptation of it and has not been updated in ten years.
Having quantifiable standards are better than having no standards at all. But, don't get too excited about the certification they were awarded a decade ago.
You see, the TP9-SA I bought a month ago had quality control issues right out of the box. Parts that were rough-edged and had larger tolerances than what one expects to come off of an assembly line guided by SPC metrhodology.
Canik (pronounced "Cha'nek") is a division of Samsun Yurt Savunma Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (SYS) that was added to the "East Black Sea Weapon Project" in 1998 as the Samsun City branch and today, SYS is one of the biggest Defense Companies in designing and producing Defense Systems in Turkey and other countries located along the Black Sea.
Turkey is technically a NATO ally in the same way that Obama is technically our President. Meaning, it's hard to tell who sides they are on after once being a Western-style democracy.
The TP-9SA has a much better single-action, split trigger than its two-stage, gritty presursor in the TP-9. The current model mimics the Walther P99QA (Qiuck Action) configuration that has a split trigger system similar to every other split trigger system found on Glocks, Rugers, Springfields, etc.
But, it is one of the smoothest triggers I've felt this side of the Beretta PX4. However, if this was an actual P99, my preference would be for the AS trigger (aka, Anti-Stress) that is actually a DA/SA and not a single action or double action only.
The author is right about the grip lacking in ergonomics given how flat it feels in your hand. But, it is nothing that a Hogue or Pachmayr couldn't cure. As for the gun feeling front heavy, my response would be, "Not compared to a Glock, it is."
Compared to a P99, it might because the TP-9AS weighs 25 ounces versus 21.2 ounces for the P99 and the TP-9's muzzle may contain that extra weight.
I love the decocker! With it, you don't have to drop the mag, empty the chamber, and dry fire the trigger to strip the gun as you would have to do with a Glock which has to have to be "depiped" – as in removing the one you will have in the chamber if you didn't empty your mag and have the slide lock back.
It's a much needed safety feature. Would you carry a 1911 you couldn't decock?
Didn't think so.
Other than not making it P99 enough, and using a lower weight recoil spring, I like the TP9-SA. Just not enough to use it on a daily basis.
I have handled, but not fired, Canik CZ 75 compact clones and liked what I saw. What I'd like to see is a compact version of the TP9SA. A lower priced 9mm polymer compact or subcompact sounds just right for the market! 🙂
I have handled, but not fired, Canik CZ 75 compact clones and liked what I saw. What I’d like to see is a compact version of the TP9SA. A lower priced 9mm polymer compact or subcompact sounds just right for the market! 🙂
own 2 no complaints—had trigger work on tp9 50$ great now
I would buy a compact version of the TP9SA in a heartbeat, I want to see that too Gregg !!!
I love my tp9, 400 rounds of fmj and hollow points with no jams. Had to laser sight out of box at rear but no problems.
I love my tp9, 400 rounds of fmj and hollow points with no jams. Had to laser sight out of box at rear but no problems.
ISO9001 pretty much means nothing. it has nothing to do with the product and everything to do with the process and documentation.
Can someone measure the trigger reach on this gun? From the closest point on the backstrap to the face of the trigger? I have a short trigger finger and if this gun is not too much of a reach, I am very interested in it. My gen 4 glock 19 is about the longest reach I can handle, so if it is much more than that I'll have to look elsewhere.
Can someone measure the trigger reach on this gun? From the closest point on the backstrap to the face of the trigger? I have a short trigger finger and if this gun is not too much of a reach, I am very interested in it. My gen 4 glock 19 is about the longest reach I can handle, so if it is much more than that I’ll have to look elsewhere.
Turkey as a country has alwas been known to produce excellent firearms
Turkey as a country has alwas been known to produce excellent firearms
shotguns yes, rifles/pistols? thats questionable…..
Not really. The TP9 and TP9SA are relatively new, but there are other Canik handgun models that have been sold for YEARS. This review came out 6 months ago and the reviewer stated he didn’t have enough data points. 6 months later, there are a LOT of data points for this particular Canik model. I don’t think I’ve read a single bad review. If it wasn’t “questionable” 6 months ago, it certainly isn’t “questionable” now, with all the excellent reviews of this handgun.
ISO 9000!
ISO 9000!
I remember when Glock, Kimber and Wilson were "off brands"…Cz was an unknown 3rd world maker.
Apparently they have a state of the art factory turning out already proven designs…reference Uberti "Colts". Wish I had bought a dozen of those "offbrand"USFA single actions before they bit the dust…make that 20.
I remember when Glock, Kimber and Wilson were “off brands”…Cz was an unknown 3rd world maker.
Apparently they have a state of the art factory turning out already proven designs…reference Uberti “Colts”. Wish I had bought a dozen of those “offbrand”USFA single actions before they bit the dust…make that 20.
I'm well past the 1000 round mark with my TP 9. I have the DA/SA and I don't mind the trigger at all. It has never failed me during intense drills and it is plenty accurate for a combat pistol. I prefer keeping it in DA mode for daily carry.
I’m well past the 1000 round mark with my TP 9. I have the DA/SA and I don’t mind the trigger at all. It has never failed me during intense drills and it is plenty accurate for a combat pistol. I prefer keeping it in DA mode for daily carry.
Da/sa wat does that mean probably a dumb ? I’ve been shooting since I was a kid but I dont know much bout the technical side
how can you have been shooting a pistol since you was a kid an not know anything?–
Maybe being a kid wasn’t that long ago.
DASA = Double action Single action. Longer, heavier first trigger pull, subsequent trigger pull from reset trigger are much shorter and lighter.
Writer sounds like a purist from the old school if it’s not a Colt, Smith, Remington ect. It ain’t worth having. Anyone remember when the polymer firearms arrived on the market and all you heard was that they were junk. The same is true today if it’s made by a no-name manufacturer it’s not worth having.
True nuff. Back when the XD pistol was called an HS2000 and cost $250 everyone called them junk and wouldn’t touch one. But the second Springfield slapped a rollmark on the exact same pistol and trippled the price – they were the best gun you could defend your life with. But until the XDm, not one single thing had changed about that gun except the brand name.
I agree, by the time these budget guns prove themselves their $500. I prefer to get in early on something good not wait until there’s line! Things I like to hear about this or any gun review is “eats the through cheap ammo” and “one of the best striker fired factory trigger”. All the other stuff is subjective and debatable. Thanks for the Intel!
If I had been around reviewing firearms when the first Glocks hit the scene, I would have held it to the same kind of scrutiny I did this one. I never said, or even implied, that Canik is junk or isn’t worth having. The TP9SA is a new model from a manufacturer with a somewhat unproven track record in the US civilian market. Maybe they’re amazing with rock solid quality control and customer service. Maybe not.
If you’ve read any of my other reviews, then you know I don’t give any gun a “free pass” just because of the name on the factory that churned it out. Sometimes I don’t focus on the reliability aspect of other models as much as I did the TP9, but that’s usually because there are dozens of other reviews available online for those models in order for people to get a good idea of what to expect. The TP9SA is not as well known, and our review was one of the first, so I don’t want folks who stumble upon this review to get the impression that my 1000 round test is some indication that every Canik pistol everywhere is an unbreakable bastion of dependability. It’s a good start and a nice data point to have, but I want to keep that in perspective.
But, had it performed terribly, would you hesitate to call it garbage for the same reasons? If your comparisons to the M&P are accurate, nobody in their right mind should shell out an extra $200 bucks for one. No new gun manufacturer is going to roll out with an $800 price point on any gun. Unfortunately, the only bad remarks I have heard on this gun so far is “I just don’t trust a pistol that is priced this low”, and that is short changing the folks at Century Arms. Let me add that I own this model and have absolutely no complaints with it myself, so you guys can add another check mark in the plus category. Go out and buy one, you won’t be disappointed.
I purchased this hand gun the same time I bought a Walther PPQ. Fit and finish is certainly better on the PPQ but it’s on par for accuracy and reliability. I plan on purchasing a H&K VP9 after having rented one but not so sure the Canic TP-9SA would be any less accurate or reliable. You can pick up a Canic anywhere from $289 to $336. For the price, pick one up, you can’t go wrong.
I bought a Canik TP9 V2.
The decocker button on top makes the weapon double action when you press it. I love this pistol. Accurate and reliable. It is my favorite handgun. I own an FNS 40, FNX 9, XD m40, and others but I’m most accurate with the Canik.
I bought one for three reasons one is this comment!! So thank you! Another is because I already own a Walther PPQ M2 and the mags are interchangeable! Last because the dang thing is only $300! What more could you ask? Oh that it be just as reliable as my Walther? Well it has been! You can defiantly tell the difference in fit/finish quality but I would feel very confident knowing the Canik could hold its own and be just as reliable.
Yeah, I think they should never have had you review this gun if you researched before the review they have one of the most strict military qualifications to me and they do meet disqualification this gun has the potential to be better than the clocks the Springfield Armory H & K and many others we will see,if we look at the reviews on YouTube like a one from Nutnfancy you will see that this gun has extreme accuracy and reliability.
LG Chris, in your review you stated “…the Canik will supposedly accept sights made for the Walther PPQ and P99, so upgrade options are plentiful”. The word “supposedly” kills my confidence. Can I ask, who provided you with this information? Was it Canik or their American distributor, Century Arms? I too, would not be a fan of standard white dot sights, but would purchase one of these if I knew definitively, alternate sights were compatible and easily accessible. Thanks for clarifying.
Christ we all are in the know their is after market sites for difference guns—we just want right now to know about THIS GUN WITH OUT 300$ of your after parts an yes if you shoot a certain gun for 1000.s of rounds any gun s not going to feel right–we want to know about THIS gun
Hi, I find your review to be honest, very well done and I feel impartial. I’m impressed and will look at your stuff from now on. Just for the hell of it did you ever test the keltec pmr-30. I’ve had a few of them. Can you let me know.
Thanks, minddoctor. I haven’t tested a PMR-30. They seem like pretty cool pistols, but not something I would use for any practical purpose, so don’t have plans to review it any time soon.
I thought your review was very informative. I’ve never heard of these guns and came across one. I was un-happy with my Sig P227 and found myself not really going to the range… I decided I wanted something different and striker fire. I started looking at Glocks, and FYI, was never really a fan of the plastic gun, when I came across a Canik…
It had 18+1 as opposed to my 10+1 capability. So more rounds at an oncoming target. Traded round for power.
I’ve tried it and bought it. Great weapon, dependable. Highly accurate and I found the recoil to be fairly easy to deal with in a 2 handed stance… And really not that horrible using one band.
I consistently shoot about 1.5 inch groups at 25-30 feet and other shooter on the line always stop to admire the accuracy of my gun and its looks..
They all think it’s a Glock or a Walther and I’ve always got to explain it.
In the end, I’d definitely recommend this gun to anyone who loves to shoot. It is acurate, comfortable to hold, decent sight out of the box, nice size mags and could shoot filled with sand.
This review pushed me over the edge into buying this gun because you had nothing bad to say about one that was never shot before you bought it.
I think the more people who find out about this gun the better.
It’s a Glock Killer. Just on price alone.
You will not regret this purchase. I paid $340 for mine and don’t regret it one bit. As a matter of fact, I’m about to buy another one I like it so much.
If you get the chance to shoot one, do yourself a favor and check it out. Don’t just depend on reviews.
bet money on it
an a company that is si 9ooo proofed
I like their CZ75 clones better
Why not do research for a gun review? You were not impressed with their banner at shot show?….Canik is a large experienced gun manufacturer. The Turkish military and Police force are armed with these Pistols, Don’t you think they were tested and torture tested? Well they were!
You do come off sounding like a bit of a gun snob, and your lack of research on a reviewed firearm defeats the purpose of a review. If this case the reviewer needs to be reviewed.
Yes you treated the Canik as if it were some obscure Saturday night special to be swept aside.
Incidentally I don’t own on…yet…
“you treated the Canik as if it were some obscure Saturday night special to be swept aside.”
I’m not sure where this perception comes from. I have nothing against Canik as a firearms manufacturer, but I would like to see more independent third party testing before I give the pistol a more enthusiastic recommendation. At this point, there are not many other reports of this kind of testing widely available for the TP9SA, so I’m reserving judgement. I would expect the same of any other model from any other company.
Yes, there are foreign military forces armed with Canik firearms. Do you know what tests and standards were used to make that decision? It could be simply because they were the lowest bidder, which is often the case for government contracts. “Experienced” manufacturers are capable of poor quality control. I’m not saying Canik is one of them, but their longevity as a company doesn’t preclude the possibility. ISO 9000 certification looks good in marketing copy, but doesn’t amount to much in terms of expectation for real world reliability.
This isn’t a toy — it’s a life saving device and I’m not giving an unqualified recommendation without first hearing more first-hand reports for a wider sampling. If that makes me a gun snob, then I guess I’m a gun snob.
Um, I think YOU are supposed to be the third party.
I said *more* third party testing. Multiple data points. You can’t test quality control with a sample size of one.
lets face it with all your opinions your not the best for a gun review
A bit off topic, but the restraint you show in your replies speaks well for you. I’ve been reading a lot of threads trying to settle on a basic home defense 9mm. I’ve run into a lot of class-less dribble in the process. I thought your review was helpful and rightfully guarded. Thanks for it…. and for some class.
why buy a pistol from a manufacturer with no record on this side of the atlantic and no supply chain/aftermarket presence here when there are so many other established and proven options at or close to the same pricepoint (sig sp2022, cz p07)? as for the “turkish police/armed forces use canik” angle, brazilian police and armed forces use taurus, a brand a great many shooters learned the hard way to swear off……
Canik is a part of a Turkish defense corporation (who’s name is long and escapes me) which is responsible for supplying jets and helicopters to the Turkish military. They are kept to exceptionally high NATO standards which they proudly advertise. All of this can be found on their website.
I just bought one and only have about 400 rounds through it. FWIW no malfunctions to date. There was some sloppy plastic flashing on mold lines on the gun and part of the holster I had to remove. After not many rounds there are some shiny parts that used to be black. Those who have handled the gun and given it the gun a once over have all commented on how great the trigger is. While the trigger was impressive out of the box after a few hundred rounds and some lube it really became impressive. My Glock 20 with ghost rocket connector and extra power return spring and custom work is lighter but lacks the crispness and the definite reset of this trigger. The reset is shorter than my Glock, HK P7M8, far shorter than my Kahr, shorter than my German Sig 226 and nearly as crisp! Only pistols in my collection that beat the trigger are the SA on the Sig, an inherited original High Standard supermatic, and a custom 1911! The trigger is that good. As for the bad, the finish is not nearly as durable as some other higher end pistols, I agree that the grips need more texture, the sights could use more daylight on either side, the pistol needed some attention (plastic moulding) on the trigger and around the grip insert, the slide is just as sloppy as a Glock. If I had this gun with a little more attention to the plastic next to a Springfield, a Glock, a Walther, an H&K VP9, FN, S&W etc in a before me, knowing nothing about reputation, aftermarket support, or prices; just handling inspecting and dry firing different polymer striker fired 9mm’s I’d pick the HK first and the Canik second. The HK feels better in my hand, the triggers are that close. If I was told $330 of the Canik and $550 for the HK, I’d pick the Canik and a case of ammo every time. This is a good gun and a bargain pick one up before they are discovered. After reading about the gun curiosity got the better of me and I decided to buy one for no other reason than to try it and exchange it for my Sig. I have a friend who lives in a rough neighborhood he, is not a gun guy and supports a family on tight income. I can not leave without a gun but, I also want my Sig many magazines, fine holster, and .22lr conversion kit back… Should I trade I am replacing this Canik with another. To recap I am a gun snob with a hand full of safe queens, I impulse bought a gun I have no need for and I am not in a hurry to trade it for more than three times the dollar value of one of my own guns I loaned a friend. I think that is pretty high praise for a $330 gun!
Great review. Two notes I’d like to contribute:
1) The rear sight has a dovetail lock that would not work with the P99 sight. Others might be able to contribute on what the TP9’s sight is compatible with.
2) The internals of the TP9 is in fact licensed from Walter’s patent on the P99/PPQ. Which means the great trigger reset, trigger weight and down to the above average recoil of the PPQ are all copied over to the TP9SA. If Canik is able to replicate (or even source) parts of the PPQ internal down to the dot, then this is potentially the cheapest striker fired pistol with the best trigger on the market.
gun is sweet, author is a nitwit, once a while a winner comes out, and the tp9sa is one of them. and century has sweetened the deal with extra goodies. what more can you get for your hard earned cash these days. I give 5 stars – buyit
I’ve only had my tp9 for a short time but I’ve never had any problems it is one of the most accurate pistol’s I’ve shot. But I do understand the review and the hesitations he has because it’s a newer model. I believe in a year or two this is going to be the most popular gun in it’s price range.
There is something to be said for being cautious of new gun from new sources. I have owned a lot of new things with 3 digit serial numbers and way too many with serial number 1 digit long starting with an x written whit a pen.
If I break a part in an old J Frame and S&W is out of stock there are still lots of sources, Nurmich Arms then put an add in Shotgun News. If that doesn’t work pin a note on my cap for what I when I go to gun shows. That finds almost anything.
Cajun Gun Works has a Defensive package for the Canik so that takes care of parts for the trigger, hammer, sear, springs and firing pin.
Even CZ-75 from CZUB are a bit of a problem if you want work done and the few smiths that work on them are busy or everyone in the USA is out of the factory part you need. You wait your turn or for parts to come from the old country. It’s sure worth the wait for me as CZ’s fit my hand really well. But the choice of sights for the CZ-75 P-07/P-09 is very limited right now as all the sight makers are too busy trying to keep product on the shelves. One day things will get closer to what used to be normal.
I stopped by one dealer that had 22 long rifle on the shelf at a reasonable price that had been there for three days.
Red
“If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough,” [R. Cappa]
I have 4 models from Canik and they are all fantastic.
How/s that for a review?
Did anyone else find the article’s reviewer a depressing individual?
I own a TP-9 pistol and I can tell you that it is build solidly and out of high quality materials. Produced by an ISO 9001 rated company should tell you that the gun is manufactured to exacting standards. The first gun off the assembly line will match the 500th and 1000th and so on. The gun shoots great and I love the heavy flat recoil spring it has. Comes packed with 2 17 round high quality polished Mec-Gar magazines that free fall for quick reloading. It’s not a gun you can conceal easily, but is loads of fun to shoot.
honestly.I own own the TP9 and love it. I shoot it more than My XDM. Dont get me wrong i love my XDM but the canik is just a fun gun. The TP9 is the turkish military’s hand gun, so if thats not established well idk. They also have more than just the TP9. If you go to there website they show you the test every gun goes through. I have had my TP9 for a little over a year, picked it up at fleet farm for 330 bucks. I have shot thousands of round s through this gun and have never had a problem. I only shot tul ammo through this. So i have shot dirty russian ammo and had no problems. This gun is not picky. Honestly i would highly recommend them, i will be buying the TP9SA very soon hopefully. Is it the best conceal gun no. If you want a conceal gun go get a Springfield EMP. I think this guy like everyone else is just a brand man. For 300- 330 bucks its a no brainer.
What is the difference between the TP9sa and the TP9va?
Very good review. I have two and have recommended this gun to others. However, I dont fault you for not strongly recommending this gun yet, as your audience is MUCH larger than mine. I havent put 1000 rounds through either, so I appreciate being able to see what others have found until i do. This gun has received rave reviews, other than the decocker option, from other testers. Also, I’ve seen that this is the gun used by the turkish military and police force which requires their firearms to pass a 50000, yes 50,000, round test. I am confident in this gun and manufacturer from what I have researched and seen so far.
Thank you for taking the time to test and publish a good and fair review on this gun.
I have to admit, the overall tone of the writer smacks of arrogance. Especially the part about the terms of reviewing the weapon. It sounded as if they should be jumping for joy that the writer agreed to the review, only to later admit he had neglected a proper start in the first place.
The whole purists smug tone was a turn off overall and feel sadly this weapon could have been better served elsewhere.
I recently purchased a TP9sa and I don’t have a single regret…. not the biggest fan of the holster, but I havent had a problem with it yet.
Wait until you try to buy a left-handed holster!!!!
Tough crowd!
Tough crowd!
“if you’re able to stretch your budget by another $75 or $100, your options open up to some brands that have more established reputations and wider aftermarket support.”
$75-$100? I picked up my Canik tp9sa for 319.99 with shipping! Now where can I get a comparable 9mm (G17, M&P9, XDM, CZ-75, etc.) for $100 more? Not to mention some of these other guns do not compare to the tp9sa out of the box and require you to invest more money (ie. M&P’s trigger!). I’ve run about 600 rounds through mine so far and I can say that I enjoy shooting it more than my CZ 75 SP-01 and SP-01 Phantom. Hope they bring the tp9v2 over to the US. I really want to try that da/sa trigger on a striker fired pistol.
I’ve owned my TP9 for a little over a year and I love it. I have had it at the range several times and it has never had even a small glitch. It fires reliably and accurately and it feels good in my hand. It is my carry piece and I have full confidence in it performing if/when I need it to.
I’m wondering what magazine works in this. I know Mec-gar makes a lot of after market magazines for other companies, I’ve got Beretta 18 rounders from them & like them over factory.
Only magazine I think this TP-9 uses are Sig 226? I haven’t seen any hear in Anchorage, AK to verify what it uses.
I purchased the Canik TP9-SA at the same time I bought a Walther PPQ. Fit and finish on the PPQ are certainly better but both guns are equal as far as accuracy and reliability. Soft recoil on the Canic. Not so sure the Canic would also be on par with accuracy and reliability as the H&K VP-9. I rented the H&K VP-9 and plan to buy one but seriously, the Canic is not receiving its just dues. Pick one up, the cost is more than reasonable.
No this gun is garbage I shot about 500 rounds through it and it jammed up and now it’s currently being worked on..the canik 55 tp 9mm sucks..if you want one like this just get the walther p99
Interested in selling it??
Mr. Baker, from a veteran/armor/gunsmith/LEO, you wrote an excellent review. A fellow LEO friend of mine is interested in getting one of these in FDE. I will mention your article to him. He said he has done some research on Canik and says he’s comfortable in getting it. I will wait until he does, fire his, and then make my own determination. It’s such a shame so many are so negative and A$$holes in their responses, which it’s sad to say but that is the way it is becoming more and more in the United States of Obama Socialism, Land of the Ignorant & Freeloaders! Keep Up The Good Work and Always Watch Your Six!
I’ve had the DA/SA version for a couple of years now, and it has been 100% flawless. The finish on it is still perfect despite bolster use, and the thing just has the feel of a tough well made gun.
Sorry, Holster.
I own 2 of these and one i have over 2000 rounds through it and it has not dissapointed . I have one for my daily carry . My Glock friends laugh a me but that is ok as it has kept up with the best of them Some donot like the decocker but it has not been a issue . I have found that it has been very accurate in 3 to 15 yard range . It is also easy to mantain and the price point is good at this point
Amazing….a gun… CANIK.TP9 and ISO certified….which means GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES OF GUN MANUFACTURING IS APPLIED AND CERTIFIED by a internationally recognized organization by WTO and UN…A home made gun manufacturer for almost two centuries.. where 300,000 police officers use it daily against the Terror filled areas of a country and we now read the comments below. Really guys? if it is not SW, Colt or Remington it is not worth having it?????..wow…CANIK TP 9 and other sister products you should try it, compare it, use it and then make a comment on it……Justly…
Every Canik I’ve handled has felt impressive, shot well, had great triggers, and were 100% reliable – BUT, and this is a big but for me: they all seem to be spray painted or something. All of my friends with Canik guns develop chips in the finish within 500 rounds or so. I know it’s a tool, but if they can’t even finish a firearm properly, it makes me wonder what else they messed up on. I bought a CZ75B Omega the same day that my friend bought his Canik CZ75 clone. After ONE range trip, my gun still looked practically brand new while he ALREADY had chips in this finish – both on the frame and slide. The money you save on buying a Canik will probably end up going to getting the gun Cerakoted. Just save yourself the headache and buy from a proven quality manufacturer. I will not buy a Canik until they can figure out a Tennifer/Melonite process for their weapons that won’t peel like cheap latex paint sprayed onto a teflon pan.
Hello im Ron have A canik shark c.I took out my trigger roll pin theirs a spring n between i cant figure out the spring witch way it goes can you help please?|
From what I understand the manufacturer is ISO 9000 certified. Theoretically EVERY gun is produced with the same standards and tolerances as the one you tested.DAY
This is supposed to be a review of the Canik TP9 but the writer keeps slipping in his preference for his gun of choice which is unfair. Stick to the point and tell me about this gun not your own weapon. It sounds like this is one nice gun and I will search for it at my dealer so I can “touch and feel” it myself.
Here is an observation from someone completely new to handguns that I hope helps others like me looking for a handgun for home who have been reading many reviews trying to make a decision.
Until last week I had only shot rifles, shotguns and muzzle loaders in my life and hadn’t even shot them in more than 20yrs. I decided that I wanted to get a handgun for home protection. I have a friend and cousin with handguns so I talked with them. My friend had an SR9c but was looking for a second gun. We went into the gun shop and saw the Canik. First thing we noticed was how reasonable the price was and all that you got with the gun for $350. My buddy decided to buy one so we took it out to shoot at my cousin’s range he set up at his property. Again, this is my first time with a handgun but it felt very comfortable in my hand. The recoil was minimal and after just a few rounds I was consistently in the middle or around the middle of the target I was shooting from about 20yds probably shooting two clips.
Today we went back out with my buddy’s SR9c and my cousin’s Glock. For me as a beginner, the SR9 and Glock just didn’t feel comfortable and I wasn’t getting them locked in like I was able to do with the Canik. Maybe it’s because of the soft recoil because shooting the Glock was DEFINITELY different in that regard. I learned my lesson on thumb placement after busting it open. 🙂 After a couple clips through the Canik, I was able to hit a clay target propped on the ground from about 50yds and hit 3 of 4 clays hanging from a board at 30-40yds with about 6-7 shots.
I have no clue if this was good shooting or not. I truly went out as a novice who just stood and shot where they told me to. They seemed to be impressed what I could do with the gun having shot less than 200 rounds ever with a handgun.
All I know is based on that short time with 3 handguns, the Canik was easiest for me to get comfortable with and shoot with accuracy. That’s all I really need to know to purchase a gun for home defense. I will be getting mine next week.
I hope this helps those like me who are just looking for something for home protection. I will be taking the wife out soon to shoot with this gun too.
I wanted to add a thanks to the review. I am learning a lot about handguns.
The new canik 9mm is a great. Handgun flawless action no jamming even it being very dirty it performed great didn’t matter the kind of ammo it shot the aluminum cases good too.I think its a great gun for the money. I would say try one out before u knock them.
That Canik is a winner in my book. I shoot better with it than I do my Glock 17L. I have ran hundreds of rounds with out a failure of any kind. You can’t beat that gun for value and how it shoots. Made by Turkey and used by Turkish armed forces. Those European countries have been making guns longer than most of the US companies. I won’t part with mine.
I took my recently purchased TP9SF to the range a couple of days ago and noticed 2 things right off the bat. 1) While those cheap common white dot sights aren’t the best, the factory had the decency to set them spot on and I was grouping in the bull from the first shot on the 10yd line and my hand and eyes aren’t what they used to be. 2) The chambering of a round upon firing can’t even be called recoil. There is no real sudden shock as referred to as recoil. It’s more of a short duration push with less than an inch of muzzle rise. I hesitate to use the word gentle for fear of losing my man card, but it’s close. If Florida loosens up it’s CC law as far as accidental exposure, I won’t hesitate to carry it. Now the search for night sights.
Canik has been cranking out some really nice guns in the past few years. The Canik CZ clones, are every bit as nice, finished and well built as the actual CZs. I have both here.
And as someone else pointed out, the HS2000 was a $279 pistol, I am kicking myself for selling mine, because all Springfield did was cross out “HS2000” and put “Springfield” on the side and double and then triple the cost.
Same gun, made by the same people in the same factory using the same materials… When it was the HS2000, purists and gun snobs acted like it was a HiPoint, As soon as Springfield put their label on it, you would think that it was the best gun design ever. haha
I have been very impressed with the Caniks that I have owned, just as I was with the HS2000.
I’ve never shot one, but Hickok45 and a few others on YouTube gave it a pretty good review. Said it’s a Turkish military arms manufacturer that makes dependable firearms. I can tell you this….if it goes bang everytime you pull the trigger with no failures in 1000 rounds???….what’s the problem? If I could fit it in my budget…I’d go buy one today!
Very informative review, thank you for taking time to let us know about this yp9 , I bought my wife one and ended up getting myself one also , good gun to play with, and small game , so thank you again ,
I’m not a labelwhore and dont think paying someone an extra $100 because they did something years ago matters. i want to know who these turks are, do they support erdogan and the anti israeli sentiment in middle east? is this like paying norinco to make your guns because theyre a little cheaper but you end up financing the chinese secret police? i think everyone with a brain should have a self loading rifle and a hi capacity pistol. if they have the money and can get m&p performance and still feed their kids then go for it. i compare this to an american made high point and see if its a drastic improvement that would save your life more probably than something domestically produced.
Wimp of a reviewer. If you don’t know enough about the Canik’s you hold be reviewing airsofts. Great gun, great price.
….anyone with a 4th grade education can find out plenty about Turkish guns or their manufactures in a NY minute. ….anyone that is true to the gun community knows that the Turk’s make exceptional pieces. ….their CZ-75 clone (yes, same plant…same manufacture), the S-120 has been manufactured and issued to their armed forces for ten (+) years with great success. …..all their weapons twice exceed NATO standards all have cold hammered barrels! ….their barrels are made by a Turkish manufacture that has been around almost as the United States has been a country! ….like the Israeli’s, the Turk’s fight and engage in many conflicts….so I’m sure they would want to trust their hardware. …..I have (7) CZ’s and (2) clones. ….a Tangfolio and a S-120 (aka Canik or Tristar). ….the S-120 is 100% on par with my beloved CZ’s with quality and accuracy! …wouldn’t sell it for anything! …..I had to educate the guys at Bud’s on the Canik brand and the S-120 when I ordered it…sad! …..anyway, I’ve had to to carry or use firearms for more than two decades in my life and I would carry one of these into the “crap” in a NY minute! …..my two cents…..
What a snotty review. Will move on to someone who did not head to the range with his mind already made up. I saw the same thing back 15 years ago when I bought my hs2000. Bunch of know nothing “experts” where telling the world this new sub 300$ gun couldn’t hold a candle to glock. 2 – 3 years later the xd9 was the best selling gun of the year. I still have that 299$ pistol about 20,000+ rounds later and have never had an issue with it. Best advice, read some unbiased reviews. I plan to pick one up before they jump in price.
I enjoyed the info
Being prior military I have shot many weapons and have purchased many. I have put 1000’s of rounds through the Canik TP9SA through many trips to different ranges. It has shot flawlessly each and every time no matter what kind of ammo I put through it and/or amount of lube applied. Its accuracy was on after just a little tweaking of the front sight. I love the ergonomics and the trigger pull better than 99% of other weapons I’ve shot. Glock to me is very clunky, I only carry the slim from time to time. The M&P 9 is the absolute worst gun I’ve pulled a trigger on, I wouldn’t own one if you gave it to me. I like Ruger’s better than M&P’s. The Canik is made by only one of a few Nato Approved Manufacturers of weapons in Europe and they manufacture missile systems as well. So they’re doing something right. The TP9SA is very easy to break down and clean. The decocker on top of the weapon is not easy to disengage as some may think, actually it works perfectly. The round in the chamber indicator is just right as well. Mine also came with a cleaning, a holster system similar to the CQC brand and a carrying case of course. I like it so much I purchased several more to have on hand before someone stamps another name on it and jacks the prince up another $400 or $500 dollars. Get 1, 2 or 3 before the prices go up you will not be disappointed.
Great review. I thought it impartial and honest. I own one in Desert Tan and it has become one of my Favorite pistols. Never let me down ,very accurate solid pistol. I would recommend them to anyone and have put a few friends on to them. You get a lot for the money in the box and that is a plus.
Do they have a .40 version?
Dollar for Dollar you won’t find any better weapon anywhere.
Love my TP9SA, everything I feed it is a-ok. Smooth action & came out of the box dead on @ 10 meters.
I’m getting 2 this Friday
I just purchased the TP9SA on 7/29/2016, took it to the range on 7/30/2016 and absolutely loved it! I knew I would like it as I have borrowed it from a cop friend of mine. I own the Springfield XDS9 as well, and let me tell you the TP9SA is much better! It is more accurate, more comfortable, and performs much better. I am now thinking about selling my Springfield XDS-9 as it doesn’t live up to my expectations, which are set high from the Canik TP9-SA performance