Gun Review: Canik TP9 Elite SC

As a result of Covid, my usually stressful job has been more stressful. Consequently, I thought a little “retail therapy” was in order when I recently came into an unexpected windfall. Shortly after I got the bonus, I received a flyer from a gun company. One of the featured guns was the Canik TP9 Elite SC. It immediately caught my eye. I bought a Canik TP9 SF a few years ago and have been very pleased with it. In fact, it’s probably my most accurate handgun. It’s too big for concealed carry, but it serves as my “truck gun.” After watching prices for the Canik Elite a few weeks, I ordered the gun from Dahlonega Armory in GA for $346. The transaction and shipping went smoothly.

The Canik TP9 Elite SC is a double stack, polymer frame, striker fired gun chambered in 9mm. It’s about the same size as a Glock Model 26. Although it’s labeled “subcompact,” it’s really more of a “compact.” It’s an attractive two tone gun with a Cerakote Tungsten gray frame and black grip. There are generous serrations on the front and rear of the slide and stippling on the grip. The rear sight is windage adjustable with a white outline. The rear of the slide has a cut out for a reflex sight. The front sight is a phosphorous white dot. It’s very visible, but it’s not a “night sight.” The barrel is 3.6”. The empty gun weighs 24.9 ounces. In addition to the usual controls, the gun also has unobtrusive indicators for a loaded chamber and cocked action. The trigger has a Glock type safety built into it. There are no external safety levers. The gun comes in the usual plastic box with numerous nice accessories, including: medium and large backstraps, 12 and 15 round magazines, a Kydex holster that can be adjusted to be worn either IWB or OWB, bore brush, cleaning rod and an optics tool kit that includes a screw driver. The 12 round magazine comes a finger rest extension on it, but the kit also comes with a flat base plate.

I had family activities the weekend after the gun arrived so I couldn’t immediately shoot like I wanted. In lieu of shooting it, I wore the gun in the Kydex holster (OWB configuration) all Saturday. Although prefer leather over Kydex, the holster was very comfortable and functional. I’ll continue to carry it in the Kydex holster until I settle on a holster I like better.

At the range, the Canik functioned fine and was acceptably accurate. I readily admit I’m not a marksman as my old eyes and bifocal glasses don’t work well with open sights. In addition, I’ve not shot handguns much since the shortages hit. Although the Canik didn’t shoot as good as my most accurate handguns, it shot better than many. All shooting was done at 7 yards with an unrested, 2 hand hold. The trigger take up was kinda mushy, but the trigger broke nicely at only 4-4 1/4#. The reset was shorter than most guns. Recoil was typical for a gun of it’s size. The first range session was rather brief (I had to hurry so I could catch my grandson’s t-ball game), but it ran flawlessly. All controls worked as expected. Both the 12 and 15 round magazines performed properly, including ten rounds from the Canik TP9 SF’s 18 round magazine. At the first session, I shot 27 rounds of CCI Blazer (aluminum) 115 gr FMJ and 10 rounds of S&B 115 gr FMJ.

I’ve now had two or three more range sessions. I started exclusively shooting FMJ ammo, but the last two trips I’ve also used JHP’s. In total, I’ve shot about 120 rounds with one failure to feed of a Monarch FMJ (on the second trip). The most accurate JHP load was from IMI. Fiocchi 115 gr and Federal 124 gr were the most accurate FMJ loads. Everything I’ve shot has been reasonably accurate. Accuracy seems to be improving with each session. I’ve worn the Kydex holster a lot, including about thirty hours last weekend on a prairie dog hunting trip. I still like leather more than Kydex, but the holster is functional.

Based on my early impressions, I give the Canik TP9 Elite SC two thumbs up. It’s a good gun that comes with a lot of nice accessories and is very reasonably priced. What more could one ask for?

Fiocchi FMJ ammo


Federal FMJ ammo


IMI JHP ammo


Brush and cleaning rod not in pic