Category: Canik TP9SA

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Canik Canik TP9SA Holosun range visit TP9 Elite Subcompact

Canik Day Was Decent Fun

This is a follow up to the last post.

I had planned a lot for a one-hour range session – maybe a bit too much.

I ended up not shooting the S15 since I forgot to bring extra mags. I didn’t want to have to empty my carry mag and use one mag to shoot that gun, so I opted to not shoot it. It wasn’t a huge deal, since I’ve shot well over 1000 rounds through that gun — I’m not saying that that’s a huge amount but that amount certainly enables me to shoot the gun well enough.

I also opted to not use the Sig OHD app, as I didn’t want to mess with configuring the phone and tripod, as well as having to use the special targets (the printed targets are a turn-off for me, too). I do need to test the app and start using it, as it’s not cheap to subscribe to ($10/month).

I ended up shooting the two Caniks, starting with the TP9SA first. I shot 72 rounds from it, shooting it for roughly 30 minutes. I wanted to spend the time to learn the trigger and how to control this gun. It is full-sized but has a very light trigger and for some reason, I have issues shooting it accurately at 10+ yards. I did better this go-around than I did the prior range trip. If I shoot slowly, I can group the rounds somewhat tightly. As I speed it up, I lose all sorts of control, having pretty bad flyers.

At the half-way point of the range session, I swapped out the TP9SA for the TP9 Elite Subcompact. I had to zero the optic and was going the wrong direction in zeroing for a bit. Once I got it dialed in, I didn’t have a lot of time left. The optic worked well with this gun and I was also able to test out the irons through the optic, which I used o nail a bullseye at 10 yards. They barely cowitness (they cowitness like my SAS II UL does with the 507K, which is, barely). The gun is still difficult to control because it’s small and doesn’t offer a lot of grip support. It feels like it has a lot of muzzle flip, which is odd because my 1911s are roughly the same size and they don’t have nearly the same amount of flip. The Elite SC is far more top-heavy than the 1911s, though, and it’s also using a polymer lower. I shoot it a bit better than I did in past range visits, but it’s not really a fun gun to shoot, IMO. Well, it’s not bad, but is probably the least fun gun to shoot of my collection.

I’ll update this post with pics of the targets tomorrow.

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9mm AF1911-S15 Alpha Foxtrot Canik Canik TP9SA range visit

Tomorrow is Canik Day

I plan to go to the range tomorrow. I will post the particulars after the range visit.

I’ll be taking my Canik TP9 Elite Subcompact, as I haven’t shot it in ages. I want to see if I have issues shooting it. One of the things I disliked about it is that it felt too small — I had a difficult time controlling it.

I’ll also be taking the original Canik TP9 SA. I shot it at my last range visit. I shot it well.

As well, I plan to take the Alpha Foxtrot S15 tomorrow, as I’m now carrying it since I’ve to send the SAS II UL back to Bul Armory this week.

The S15 will be getting the majority of the attention since I’m now carrying it, but since I removed my Holoson 507K from the SAS II UL, I installed it on the TP9 Elite. The optic will almost certainly need to be zeroed, though.

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Canik TP9SA Lyman trigger trigger gauge

Trigger Measurements – Part I

About a week ago, I was cleaning my two TP9SA handguns.  They’re both identical but when actuating their triggers, both seemed to have different weights, to a significant degree, which kind of bugs me.

I decided to buy a Lyman trigger gauge.  I picked it up this morning and decided to check the triggers before I went to work.

Here’s what I found:

Canik TP9SA (black) – 3lb 11oz, average of 5; got as low as 3lb 9oz

TP9SA (tan) – 4lb 11oz, average of 5; got as low as 4lb 5oz

That’s a pretty drastic difference (1 lb).  Tan gun’s trigger is noticeably stiffer, which is why I decided to buy a trigger gauge in the first place.  I looked at the trigger bar and it appears it may be rubbing against the frame.  I’m not going to mess with it, though.

I then decided to check some of my other handguns:

Tristar T-100 – DA is 11lb 10oz, average of 5; got as low as 11lb 9oz (was difficult to measure the trigger evenly, since the pull is so strong and the trigger is curved upward).  SA is 4lb 12oz, with the lowest of 5 at 4lb 4oz.

Grand Power P-11 – DA is at 8lb 3oz, average of 5; got as low as 8lb even!  SA – 3lb 10oz, with a lowest of 5 at 3lb 1oz!  DA is super smooth and was easy to get a reading.  In half-cock, the DA got an average of 7lb 13oz.

Sig Sauer P220 Equinox – DA is average of 10lb 2oz; SA is average of 5lb 7 oz.

Sig Sauer SP2022 – DA is average of 7lb 12oz with lowest of 5 at 6lb 6oz (pulled fast and smooth).  SA is average of 4lb 4oz with low of 3lb 9oz.

Note that most of these guns have low round counts, especially the P220 and Caniks.  The Grand Power has over 1200 rounds through it, which is probably one reason why it’s so smooth (but it was a stand-out even when brand new).

Stay tuned for Part II, where I measure the triggers of my other handguns.

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Canik TP9SA Gen 3 Glock 22 Grand Power grip tape P11 recoil Talon

Glock 22 Gen 3 – Range Visit

This range visit consisted of shooting three handguns – the Grand Power P11, the Glock 22 Gen 3, and the Canik TP9SA.

Why this combination?

The Glock 22 is a full sized service pistol that is striker-fired and is polymer.  The only other handgun that I have that is similar (in size, in MoA, and in material make-up) is the Canik TP9SA.  The only other guns that I have that are of similar size are fully metal (the Sig Sauer P220 Equinox and the Metro Arms American Classic Commander, both shooting .45 ACP).  I felt that it was unfair to compare those two handguns to the Glock 22 since their mass would negate some recoil.

The Glock 22 is snappy in Gen 3 configuration.  In fact, I had a difficult time with it, which is odd, because I’ve fired .40 in the past without issue, but those guns were all-metal too, so there is that.

The recoil was bad for me.  I didn’t have any malfunctions (no limp-wristing here) but my aim was wayyyy off (probably has nothing to do with recoil and everything to do with not being used to the trigger on this particular gun.   I fired 50 rounds of Federal 165-grain FMJ, so the ammo wasn’t even hot.  I need to work on my aim because I don’t think the recoil was messing with it.  If I squeeze properly, the round will be out of the gun before recoil can affect the bullet’s path, so again, I need to focus on trigger pull with this gun.  The trigger is not stock.  It has a 5.5-lb trigger, from Glock, I believe, that was put in as part of a police package (it is a LEO trade-in).  I think that’s what has me confused.  My other Glock’s trigger is nothing like the one on this gun.

Also, the recoil is making the trigger rub harshly against my trigger finger as it pushes the gun up, so I have a sore spot on the underside of my trigger finger that might blister.  I tried altering the way I shoot so that it would quit rubbing and I could not.

I grabbed some Talon grips for the Glock 22 on the way out of the range facility.  They are now installed.  I’m not sure if I like the grips, as they are extremely aggressive in texture and my hands are a bit raw just from installing them.  I’ve no doubt they’ll help me in dealing with the recoil, but I may have to see if I can make them a bit less abrasive.  I’m glad I’ve no plans to carry this gun…these grips will rub holes in my clothing.

Talon Grips for the Glock 22 Gen 3

Also, when I take apart or put together the gun, I’ve noticed the recoil spring seems a bit weak…I can install it or remove it with very little effort…it almost falls out and is very easy to get into place.  I’m not sure it’s supposed to be this loose.  I’m probably going to order a new one.

I’ve read that the Gen 4 Glock 22’s double-springed recoil spring guide works great in lessening recoil for that generation of G22.  It’s a pity that they can’t be used with Gen 3s.

I’ve also found that .40 isn’t all that much more expensive than .45ACP or 9mm.  I bought 100 rounds of .40 S&W for $18 a box (two boxes).

The sights are difficult to see at the range.  They don’t show as dots.  I’m wondering if that was my issue, but I don’t think it was, since I was trying to use the front sight’s shadow to align it properly between the rear sight’s “forks”.  I should’ve been hitting closer to the red.  I did catch myself not using both eyes a few times, too…that may have been the issue.

I know I bought this gun so that I can use it with the 22TCM 9R conversion kit, but even with the recoil issues, it is fun to try something different.  It’s OK to mix things up, even if I couldn’t hit the damned bulls-eye at 7 yards with 50 rounds.  ðŸ™‚  :/

A picture of the first few rounds out of the gun (well, MY first few rounds):

7 yards, Glock 22 Gen 3 – 15 rounds of Federal 165-grain FMJ.  Big bang with big recoil
7 yards, Canik TP9SA – 17 rounds of  Remington 115-grain FMJ. Yes, I’m having trigger issues.  I haven’t fired this gun in over a year.  Still, I nailed the red several times — couldn’t do that with the G22.

I had no issues with the Canik TP9SA.  I fired 50 rounds of Remington 115-grain FMJ without issue, other than I was shooting left of the target even though most of those would probably be considered kill shots (see above).

How does it shoot compared to the G22?  There’s almost no recoil, for one, but I knew that before I compared them.  As exceptional as the G22’s 5.5lb trigger is, the Canik’s is still better, by a large margin.  It’s that good.

I also fired 50 rounds of Remington 115-grain FMJ from the Grand Power P11 too.  These were hang-up free rounds…no FTF or FTEs.  No fails to return to battery.  Here’s the target:

7 yards, Grand Power P11 – some rapid fire, Remington 115-grain, 35 rounds…LOTS of shots in the red.

I continue to get better with this handgun (see above picture).  I even tried 5 shots strong hand only (one-handed, right-handed).  This is the first time I’ve done this.  The first shot was WAY left.  The other 4 shots hit the head.  It was easy to do with this gun.  There was next to no recoil.  The last 15 shots went all over the place…I might have been fatigued by then.

That makes 866 rounds out of the Grand Power.  We’re getting closer and closer to the 1000 mark.

The next range visit will include the Glock 22.  We’ll see if we can tame the recoil.