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Canik TP9SF Elite
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- Design Features
- Build Quality
- Fun Factor
- Recoil
3.6/5Overall Score
Specs
- Weight: 1.77 lbs
- Capcity: 15+1 rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.19"
- Overall Length: 7.28"
Pros
- Price
Cons
- Weight
If you have been browsing the current pistol market you have no doubt seen the Canik line of pistols and maybe even the Canik TP9SF Elite. They aren’t new to the market but they are a newer offering than Glock, Sig, Springfield, etc. But this is my first Canik review and I’m going to dive head-first into the Canik TP9SF Elite.
One issue I have with Canik and it’s the same issue I have with Smith & Wesson is their naming conventions can often be confusing without doing lots of research and studying.
Before we dive into the features I’ll say the Canik TP9SF Elite is most comparable to the Glock 45. It has the frame size of a Glock 19 with the slide length of a Glock 17.
Canik TP9SF Elite Features
The Canik’s feature set is impressive for its price point but it isn’t a perfect pistol by any stretch. Time to dig into the nitty gritty.
Grip and Ergonomics
The TP9SF Elite grip is unique and a bit interesting mostly due to the weight. The grip angle is what you would expect it to be but if you have smaller hands this gun might not feel as good as some others.
It has removable backstraps to get the grip more in line with what feels better for you and your hand.
The weight is one thing I will harp on with this pistol but the grip and ergonomics do balance the weight decently well.
Chamber and Hammer Indicator
Most guns, even Glock pistols, come with some type of chamber indicator. Caniks have a top chamber indicator to let you know that a round is loaded in the gun.
The hammer indicator is a bit different it lets you know whether the hammer is cocked or not. This indicator does not care if the chamber has a round in it or not.
This is good for dry fire practice or just knowing your hammer is cocked or not and ready to shoot.
Sights
Sights are one of the most important features of any pistol so the more time, effort, and quality companies put into their sights the better their pistol will be received.
The Canik TP9SF Elite has a fiber optic front sight and a blacked-out rear sight. The front post has no other markings on it and just shows the fiber optic rod.
I’m not a huge fan of fiber optics only because at night you’re almost dead in the water. I also feel like the fiber optic rod is a bit small on the TP9SF Elite.
If you’re in full daylight it’s a pretty good sight and I don’t mind it but I would like to see a bit more contrasting color on the front post.
Magazine
Canik TP-Series uses Mec-Gar magazines which are well-known magazines and are known for being extremely high quality and long-lasting.
Overall the factory mags are solid and have great overall construction.
Canik TP9SF Elite Controls
Time to dive into the controls of the Canik TP9SF Elite and see what makes it different than any other pistols on the market.
Magazine Release
The magazine release on the Canik TP9SF Elite is unique and located right behind where the trigger guard meets the grip frame.
The magazine release is a medium size square that sits in a raised area of the grip frame.
It is very easy to press and works well dropping both empty and filled magazines from the gun.
Slide Stop
Oddly enough, the slide stop is one of my favorite features of the TP9SF Elite. It reminds me ever so slightly of the H&K P30 slide stop/release.
I like how large it is and that it is ambidextrous making it extremely useable. You can pull down on both sides and send the slide forward or use just one, it works both ways.
The best thing about the slide stop is the overall ease of use and the massive lever you can use so no matter what size your hands are you can reach the lever.
Trigger
When I first picked TP9SF Elite and tried the trigger I wasn’t sure. After having it for some time now I’ve gotten used to and it’s a decent trigger.
The biggest difference between this trigger and others is there are almost two walls. The take seems to stop about halfway through and once you pull further it takes you one more step to your final wall.
The final wall is crisp and breaks easily and the reset is just back to that last wall. It’s an extremely short reset.
Aesthetics
The looks of the TP9SF Elite are really good and I like the fact that it comes from Canik two-tone.
The tungsten gray sets the gun apart but doesn’t add a ton of cost to the gun. The slide serrations are also well done and the back of the gun is a little chunky but the lines are clean and professional.
Range Bag
If you don’t already have a quality range bag look no further than the Lynx Defense Pistol Range bag or the Prime pistol bag.
Both are 100% American-made and will serve your range trips well! If you haul a lot of gear to the range and multiple pistols take a look at the Concord shooting range bag.
Canik TP9SF Elite Holster
While the Canik TP9SF Elite comes with a holster from the factory it may or may not live up to your expectations and if it doesn’t be sure to take a look at a few of these options to replace it.
Cloak Tuck Canik TP9 SF Elite IWB Holster
One good replacement option for the included holster is the Cloak Tuck Canik TP9 SF Elite by Alien Gear.
The soft back of the Cloak holster allows you to get some more comfort out of your IWB canik holster.
Amazon Holsters
There is always the quick and easy option of searching Amazon for your new Canik holster.
If you want something quickly shipped to your house it might be worth browsing the Amazon reviews and seeing what will work for your specific needs.
Shooting the Canik TP9SF Elite
Shooting the TP9SF Elite was about what I expected from the gun. I’ve shot several different rounds through the gun but mostly 115 GR round nose.
The 115 Grain round shot well and while there was still decent recoil the weight of the gun did help mitigate most of the bite you would experience with smaller pistols like the Sig P365XL or Hellcat Pro.
I shot some gold dot hollow point rounds just for testing purposes since I carry those in my concealed carry guns. They functioned extremely well and had zero malfunctions while shooting.
Canik TP9SF Elite Ammo
I shot several different rounds through the TP9SF and even one that had taken its turn in the washer + drier, accidents happen, Okay!
All of which shot flawlessly even with the lint stuck to the casing.
But if you need to stock up on ammo here are some solid options for your Canik.
Canik TP9SF Elite Final Thoughts
I was really surprised by the Canik TP9SF Elite in a good way. At first, I was skeptical due to the weight and it still wouldn’t be my go-to concealed carry gun due to the weight but is it a gun I enjoy shooting? Absolutely.
It outperformed my expectations by a pretty large margin and I’m happy to see it do just that.
For a budget pistol it does have a decent feature set and aftermarket support for parts and accessories continues to increase. If you are looking for a solid pistol in this price range the Canik should get a look!
If the Elite isn’t your cup of tea take a look at the Canik TP9SFx.
FAQ’s
Here are some of the most common questions asked about the Canik TP9SF Elite pistol.
Is the Canik TP9 Elite a good gun?
For the price I find the TP9SF Elite to be a good gun. I think it’s a reasonable price with a decent set of features. It may not be the most flashy gun on the market but it has proved to be reliable and accurate.
How much does a Canik TP9SF elite cost?
The MSRP on the TP9SF Elite is $429.99 but can often be found around $389.99.
Is the Canik TP9SF elite good for concealed carry?
The TP9SF Elite can be good for concealed carry but you might want to consider the weight of the gun as it is heavier than some of the other options on the market.
But it is a quality gun that is reliable and accurate, so in that sense, yes it is good for concealed carry.
Are Canik pistols better than Glock?
Better is extremely subjective and you’ll find people who will agree with this statement and also disagree with this statement.
I personally would not pick the Canik over a Glock and that simply boils down to the weight difference in the two guns. I prefer the Glock over the Canik.
The written review seems contradictory to the star rating. I don’t understand only 3 stars for Design Features when the reviewer says he likes or seems to like the
– slide stop
– magazine release
– loaded chamber indicator
– cocked hammer indicator
– sights (daytime anyway)
– trigger
As for 3.5 stars on Build Quality…deductions for what? A few extra ounces weight compared to a Glock?
It’s obvious the reviewer prefers Glocks and I think it caused a biased rated.
BTW…totally don’t see how it rates 4 stars Fun Factor (whatever that is) when the Design Features and Build Quality are rated so-so.