Canik TP9SA Handgun Review

For those who know me, I am a gun geek.  I live to try out, and explore new and different weapons platforms. This is usually a very expensive proposition. A few months ago, a friend of mine, who is a firearms instructor in the Chicagoland area told me about a new pistol he had purchased.  It was the Canik TP9SA.  He handed it to me and let me examine it. I looked at the workmanship, the ergonomics, the way the controls operated. It made sense. When he told me that it had a retail price of $369 I was shocked. I bought one. The following is a review if this pistol.

The Canik TP9SA is a 9MM service sized semi automatic pistol.  It is striker fired with a polymer frame. It has a magazine capacity of 18 rounds.  The sights ate fixed with the traditional 3-dot sighting arrangement. It has interchangeable back straps.  It is currently available in black, and desert tan. It comes with a “Serpa type” holster, 2 magazines, a magazine loading tool, a cleaning kit, and no less than 2 different gun locks (Which I threw in the drawer with a hundred other locks I’ve never used).  Well here we go.

Ergonomics

The Canik is like any other polymer framed pistol. When unloaded it feels slightly top and front heavy, but if you shoot this type of pistol a lot this isn’t unexpected.  The grip angle is similar to that of the venerable 1911. It points naturally and is comfortable in most hands.. I am a large man and it is comfortable for me, however I used it to instruct a lady who had never fired a handgun before, 5’2” maybe 110 pounds, and she also said it was comfortable.  It comes with interchangeable back straps, I have not messed with them as I found the factory default to be perfect for me.  The controls are conveniently placed and operate smoothly.  The de-cocker on the top of the slide is ambidextrous. The magazine release can be reversed to be operated left handed.  The grip side panels are stippled and very sure grip. The front and back strap have what I would call a rounded stud stippling  it is different but comfortable.. The way the grip is tapered at the bottom of the back strap is not may favorite feature but does not really detract from serviceability; it’s just less comfortable in my opinion.  The slide has good positive grasping serrations to cycle the slide.  I am very picky, and I had no complaints in this department.

Function

I do not care how much you spend on your super high speed ultra cool, cerekoted wonder gun, if it does not work EVERY time, it is a paperweight as a defensive or service handgun.  To say I was skeptical of this sub-$400 pistol was an understatement.  Not believing my friend as to its reliability, (He has several thousand rounds through it without cleaning, with cheap ammo with zero malfunctions) I set out to the range to make it fail.  I took a variety of ammo including standard factory 115 gr. FMJ, both brass and steel cased, +P and +P+ 115 gr JHP, 115 gr Hornady Critical Defense, and several hundred rounds of 124gr. Lead semi-wadcutters or rather dubious ancestry I got cheap.   I started with the factory FMJ I ran several magazines through it in controlled pairs (double tap)  and function was smooth and flawless.  I then switched to the various defensive rounds and all ran as good as the FMJ.  Now came the test. 300 rounds of the dirtiest inconsistent crap ammo I owned as fast as I could reacquire sight picture and squeeze and reload mags.  Again, perfect function!!!  I was shocked. The pistol was filthy with powder fouling and residue but it kept running. In essence I had now spent more on ammo than I had the pistol.

Sights

Sights are typical 3- dot configuration, with one exception; the rear has a thin white line vertically in the center of the notch. I found this convenient in lining up the front sight precisely.  My only gripe is the lack of night sight availability for this weapon and the front sight is staked in not dovetailed so no other one will work.  I hope that Tru-glo, or Trijicon will put out a set of night sights for this pistol soon, until then I did a bubba front night sight.  I put a drop of luminous green paint in the front sight dot.  Sights rating 3.5-5 only due to lack of aftermarket availability.  If you are good with standard 3 white dots then I find no flaws.

Trigger

This is what blew me away.  This pistol has a “Single Action Striker “ action.  After the usual take up of slack, trigger travel is short before a crisp 4 pound break.  Reset (the distance the trigger must travel back forward before it can be squeezed and fired again) is incredibly short. This made time between shots very quick.  Frankly it is quicker and crisper than my aftermarket Glock trigger.  It has the ubiquitous “glock safety” in the middle of the trigger to help prevent the trigger from being depressed  by something other than a properly placed finger.

Disassembly

Disassembly is very fast and simple.  After making certain the weapon is unloaded,  remove the magazine.  Then press the decocker, which is right in front of the rear sight.  With the weapon de-cocked, pull downward on the takedown tabs, located above the trigger on both sides.  The slide can then be slid forward off the frame.  The recoil spring assembly can then be removed along with the barrel.  Disassembly takes seconds and is easily accomplished by anyone, with no “special tricks” required.

The de-cocker

Unlike most pistols with a de-cock feature, this is a single action striker system.  When de-cocked, pulling the trigger does nothing, the firing mechanism is de-activated.  For people used to SA/DA pistols, this will be disconcerting until training teaches you that this is not a handicap, just a different way to use the weapon.  This allows you to have the pistol with a round in the chamber and de-cocked.  If someone finds the gun and picks it up pulling the trigger, nothing will happen. Yet a simple press check (pulling the slide 3/8” to the rear to look and see if there is a round chambered) resets the striker and it is ready to fire.

Other Features

The pistol has a loaded chamber indicator on the top of the slide that rises up when a round is present in the chamber. It is tall enough to be visually or manually checked.  It has a cocking indicator on the back of the slide that is visible when the pistol is cocked..

In closing, Being the gun geek I am, I was pleasantly surprised at the Canik TP9SA. It is a good pistol for not much money  I now use it as my Every Day Carry pistol.  If you know me that says a lot.