The Canik line of pistols has expanded significantly in recent years. (Photo: Samantha Mursan/Guns.com)
Posted on 11/27/2021 11:11:50 AM PST by Bratch
It can be hard to stand out in the crowd of modern “Wonder Nine” pistols. The market is saturated with polymer-framed 9mm handguns. But while all the major gun manufacturers were throwing elbows to claw out some space for their own big-name brands, Canik swept onto the scene with a surprisingly affordable – and shootable – line of pistols.
In 2012, the Turkish company partnered with Century Arms to get their TP-series guns into the American market. The original TP9 borrowed generously from the Walther P99, but that has ballooned into a host of designs that range from souped-up competition pistols, like the Canik TP9SFX, discreet concealed carry pieces, like the TP9 Elite SC, and full-sized duty pistols, like the TP9 Elite Combat.
Originally, the platform boasted a double-action/single-action trigger with a slide-integrated decocking button, again borrowed from the Walther P99. That annoying feature carried over into the single-action-only TP9SA, which was still a great range gun with an above-average trigger out of the box. Canik has since updated its offerings to remove the unnecessary decocker, and many of the guns now boast an optics cut on the slide instead.
If the first budget trigger you ever use is on one of the newer Caniks, you’re setting yourself up for future disappointment. Some of the original TP9s were gritty, but the guns now have deceptively nice triggers for the price point. They also include replaceable backstraps so you can customize the grip to your liking.
The aftermarket scene has also grown over the years. But it is somewhat unlikely you will really need them if you are just looking for a good shooter right from the factory. Canik even boasts that as of 2019 all the new TP9 Elite Combat pistols now ship standard with performance upgrades by Salient Arms International. Canik’s TP9DA also still provides a double-action/single-action trigger if that is what floats your boat.
Canik’s real claim to fame was its price, and the guns can still be had well below the cost of many handguns with flashier names on the slides. On top of the value, Canik also did a lot right to deliver a series of pistols that have earned a reputation for reliability.
Magazine capacity isn’t shabby either. The TP9SFX boasts a nice 20-round magazine for competitions, while the Elite SC will generally come with a 12- and 15-round magazine. If that’s not enough, we would also add that the guns have a nice overall look to them that kicks the “cool factor” up a notch.
ETS? I got them for like $9.00 from Midway. I figured I give them a try after watching a few reviews from some of my Youtube favs.
I’ve used them on the range a few times during testing and they’ve worked. Would I take them into battle? Probably not, I have some Pmags and Glock mags for that.
Send me a link to your claim. I’d love to see that.
You might appreciate this:
Lol. Hilarious...
In all fairness though to Hi-point, I hear they fire the first shot each time, after that it’s a toss-up. They may work for a throw-away or a “gun to get a gun” or some other scenarios that I won’t post in a public forum but other than that, not worth a place in my growing collection.
Actually, it depends on who made the receiver, as well as the condition/source of the parts kit, and probably which Century employee[s] put everything together. Years ago, I owned a Century-built FAL; the receiver was from IMBEL, an FN-licensed manufacturer. Kind of funny; even though the receiver was labeled "L1A1 Sporter" (or something like that), it used metric mags, and had a low-mileage Israeli HB parts kit installed, apparently by a knowledgeable employee. That rifle was extremely reliable (except with some South American ammo I once tried). IIRC, however, Century later swapped to a different supplier for their receivers (which had "unibrow" feedramps?? ;>), and reliability suffered...
I was pokin' at ya. :^)
Was going to say, I would guess that Hi-Point had more experience with zinc alloys, than clear plastics...
;>)
Ruger P85,
Granpas’ got one
Laying around some where,,,
Good piece,You say?
Buy American.
I owned one for over 30 years - it fit my hand well, and I had zero issues with it (sold/traded it to a local FFL last year, along with most of my guns). I"m sure there are more accurate & prettier pistols available, but mine was 100% reliable, as mentioned above was 'built like a tank', and most owners seem to have had similar experiences (obviously, IMHO, FWIW, YMMV, etc.).
Only thing I can think of to look out for is, Ruger did a recall on the very early P85s to swap in an improved safety/decocker (apparently the pistol could fire IF the firing pin was broken, AND the original safety was used to decock the gun). IIRC, the retrofitted 'improved' safeties were marked "Mark II" or something similar - probably not an issue anyway, unless grandpa dry fired the heck out of it. Ruger also had 2 different versions of 9mm mags for their P-series pistols; the factory mags for the P85s & early P89s were made by Mecgar (good mags! ;>) & had steel floorplates. Factory 9mm mags for the late P89/P93/P94/P95 had plastic floor plates, and were a little different dimensionally, so they may or may not function as well in a P85. If lightning strikes & you end up needing any early factory mags, send me a private message...
;>)
FUJB
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