I recently revealed on my YouTube Channel that I made my decision on the primary lineup of firearms I’m going to carry at the Prescott Caliber Club. I decided to carry an old trusted name in the Beretta APC, a relatively new offering by the FIME Group in the Arex Rex Zero1 full-size hammer-fired 9mm pistol option, but for my main line of handguns I have become a great fan of the Turkish Canik TP9 lineup of pistols being imported by Century Arms.
I first learned of the Canik line of handguns watching Military Arms Channel. Tim over at there seems to be a fan of the Canik and has even run one through their infamous “Gauntlet Test”. It didn’t receive anything like a perfect score in the Gauntlet but it did fair well, especially considering the price tag on these firearms. Their base model can be had for under $400. As I have been going through the paces developing the store one thing became clear to me, Preppers are budget people. We may enjoy finer things from time to time but the core of our soul is filled when we find a great bargain! And that’s precisely what the Canik is, a phenomenal firearm at a great price. So the decision was made and the Prescott Caliber Club went Turkish, at least as far as striker-fired handguns are concerned.
In Turkey they do not pronounce the name like we do here in the States. Their “C” is pronounced as a “J” so the correct pronunciation is “Janeek”. Not that this matters but I do appreciate knowing little details about my firearms. One thing I really like about Canik is the progression that has occurred since they began importing them into the United States. Many of the complaints that people had with some earlier models have been addressed and this is something to pay attention to in a Manufacturer. Are they listening to their consumers and answering their critics concerns? If so, they are likely a decent manufacturer who cares about making a product their consumers approve. There were a number of different models introduced including the DA, SA, SF, SFX, Elite, Elite Combat and I’m sure a few others. Although the models can get a bit confusing, the important thing is that they are making changes based on their consumers input. The model featured in this article is the upgraded Salient Arms Canik TP9 Elite Combat and although this is the most high-end product in the Canik lineup it’s worth noting that I have fired a myriad of different Canik models and they are all very similar when it comes to fit, finish and function. My favorite upgrade by Salient is the flared mag-well, it absolutely fits my hand like a glove. The best way to describe firing this weapon is that it feels like a literal extension of my body, it’s purely amazing how ergonomic this handgun really is.
This past weekend I took the lineup of Canik pistols out on an overnight camping trip to run them through their paces. By paces I do mean beating the hell out of these things. Throwing them around the camp site and doing mag dump after mag dump as well as accuracy testing. And I was extremely impressed. When I picked up the Canik for the first time I noticed that although the overall shape of the slide could be described as a bit “clunky” or “brick-like” it sat down perfectly in my hand and pointed as though I could reach out and touch things downrange. I was immediately impressed and have continuously found myself reminiscing about this weekend’s escapades. The only one for me this weekend was the Canik.
For all of my budget minded readers this next part will interest you. Each Canik handgun comes with it’s own factory holster and it’s not a cheap piece of junk either. The magazines are interchangeable between all of the TP9 variants as well as most of the other parts including the barrels which would make for an easy upgrade to a suppressor host for someone who has one of the base model handguns. There are 10, 15, 18 and 32 round magazines available for the pistol. You can walk out of the door with one of these handguns for under $400 if you play your cards right. So what’s the downside and why are they only so cheap? It sounds too good to be true, but it’s not. I think that the main factor in the low price is that breaking into the US Handgun market is not an easy thing to accomplish and they chose to bring their firearms in and play the price point game, and they’re killing it. I’m sure it’s like any other industry where producing a quality product for a fair price pays dividends in the long run. It may not be all hot-n-fast but it’s about longevity of the manufacturer, which is also a good indicator to me. After spending the weekend with these Canik firearms I have to say it, I’m SOLD. The TP9 lineup is purely amazing and is going to be an excellent fit for an Emergency Preparedness retailer like myself.
So, if you’d like to shoot one of these handguns we would be happy to create a Custom Shooting Experience for you.
If you’d like to come check them out or maybe even pick one up for yourself, come visit us at the Prescott Caliber Club today!