Categories
Alien Gear Canik N8 Tactical subcompact TP9 Elite XD45 XD9

Canik TP9 Elite SC – Several items on the way

I revisited the range a few weeks ago with the Canik TP9 Elite SC again, using different ammo.  I used some light for caliber ammo (90-grain 9mm), as well as some 124- and 147-grain, hoping that one of those would lessen the recoil.

While I love the handgun, it is snappy as hell.  Keep in mind, I’ve been carrying a Springfield Armory XD45 Mod 2 subcompact the past 2 years, so when I say the TP9 SC is snappy, I’m not joking. And, prior to carrying that handgun, I was carrying the XD9 Mod 2 subcompact, which I also shoot well.

I’m not sure why I can shoot the XD45 without worrying about snap while I can shoot the XD9 and XD45 without issue.  It could be that the XDs have great grip texturing while the TP9 SC’s grip texturing isn’t quite as robust.

I’m going to attempt to carry the TP9 SC.  I’ve ordered some rubber Talon Grips for it.  I’ve also swapped out the backstrap for the large one.  I’m hoping that the backstrap alone will help me get a better purchase on the grip so that I can better control the muzzle flip.  The Talon Grips will certainly help with that, too.  I’m not sure when the Talon Grips will be delivered but hopefully I’ll have them within the next 7 days.  While I’m waiting for them to arrive, I’ll visit the range and work on grip control with this handgun.

I also ordered a N8 Tactical OT2 IWB holster.  I didn’t purchase a kydex holster, as I wanted a holster that would protect me from the grip’s texturing…it was rubbing me raw when I was test-carrying the handgun around the house.  I can also order an Alien Gear shell for the TP9 SC (I’ve several Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 2.0 holsters), but I’ll do that if I find I don’t like the N8 Tactical holster.

Update (12/27/2021): I’ve been using the N8 Tactical holster as my primary holster, mainly because it keeps the grip texture from my skin.  I sometimes use the OEM holster and sometimes use the Alien Gear hybrid holster, as well, but the go-to holster is the N8 Tactical holster.

Categories
45ACP Mod.2 Springfield Armory sub-compact XD45 XD9

I Bought a Subcompact Chambered in 45ACP!

So, I’d been thinking about larger caliber handguns lately, and love my XD 9 subcompact.  I’d heard great reviews on the XD 45 variant.  I found a used XD 45 that was being sold for $329.  After shipping and taxes, it was priced at $389…still a steal!  I bought it this past Sunday.  It should arrive at my FFL on Saturday.  Due to that, I might have to wait until Sunday or Monday to pick it up.

The handgun will come with a 9-round and 13-round magazine and nothing else.

While I’m excited about the handgun, I’m a bit miffed about the shipping.  The damned gun is in-state.  The store that sold it to me is in Virginia Beach.  I’m in the Manassas area.  I could’ve driven to pick it up and saved the $50 in shipping (at least).  I bought it on Sunday night via Gunbroker.com.  They wanted an over-the-phone transaction so I called them Monday morning when they opened.  I’d already contacted my local FFL (my range) so they were aware of the purchase and incoming firearm.  I asked them to send their FFL info to the store where I bought the handgun.  I think they sent their FFL info to the store either late Monday or Tuesday morning.  I got an email from USPS stating that the gun was due to be shipped but hadn’t been picked up yet…that was Tuesday morning around 10AM.  The firearm sat a the store all day…wasn’t picked up until late that evening.  It’s due to arrive 12/15.  That’s 3 days for transport when I could drive to that store and be there within 3 hours (max).  WTF.  Most people would blame the shipping (USPS) but I’ve bought firearms from out of state that didn’t take 3 days to arrive at the local post office.  I know shipping can be expensive for a business but shit, didn’t I pay $30 for shipping?  That shipping fee results in the slowest mailing method?  That’s B.S. IMO.  I won’t be buying from them again.  And, this is a mom/pop, brick-mortar store.  People always harp on supporting local and/or brick-mortar stores but when crap like this happens, I hear nothing but crickets.

Anyways, I’m going to be using my XD 9 subcompact Alien Gear holster for the XD 45 since I hear they’re compatible with the holster.  I’ll probably end up buying 2-3 extra 9-round mags as well.

The plan is to carry this handgun.  I’ll keep you all updated as I become familiar with it.

UPDATE (12/15/2018):
She has arrived, and two days early (picked her up at 8:30AM yesterday before heading to work).  Was not able to shoot from her since I had to go straight to work.  Will try to take her out today — getting dressed now, in fact!

UPDATE (1/1/2019)

I’ve done a quick review here:

Categories
1776tv.com Big Dot Bitchute.com dailymotion.com Glock 19 Gunstreamer.com Mod.2 P320SC sights Springfield Armory XD9 XS

Latest Range Visit – 4/2/2018

Today, I went to the range.  For those of you that do this weekly, you’re probably like, “Yeah, so what?”  Well, I was supposed to be going at least twice a month but for some reason, I’ve been putting it off.  This is a hobby but I sometimes go to extremes to the point where it is no longer fun.  I’ve to be careful because when I push myself, I sometimes end up ruining things.  I believe this is why I always change my mind when I’ve planned to go to the range.  The thing is, I need to push myself so that I learn and become better…I need to find the balance where I can push but not push too hard.

Today’s visit had many variables.  I’ll list them below:

  • I have new sights on the Glock 19.
  • I’m carrying my Glock 19 (concealed).
  • I’m now using 15-round mags – ETS brand.
  • I brought my P320 after installing the subcompact grip module, and I used the 12-round mags for this range visit.
  • I brought the Springfield Armory XD9 Mod 2 subcompact and used the short mag for this range visit (both the small and big mags are limited to 10 rounds).

I brought 250 rounds:  150 of Wolf 115-grain FMJ and 100 of Winchester white box 115-grain FMJ.

The first handgun I shot was the Glock 19.  I ensured that I loaded the ETS mags before I left the house (to save on range time…there’s nothing worse than burning range time loading mags that could’ve been loaded before you arrived).

I’ve not shot this handgun since installing the XS Big Dot sights.  I’d like to emphatically mention that I love these sights.  They are super easy to align and are super easy to get quickly onto the target.  They are defensive in nature, though, so they won’t do well shooting 50 yards out, but most handguns aren’t designed for that type of shooting.

Anyways, the Big Dot sights worked VERY well.  The ETS mags worked without a hiccup.  I shot 105 rounds of Wolf out of the Glock 19.  I had one round not chamber (last round of one mag).  Total round count is now 515 rounds (with no jams or malfunctions other than that one round not chambering – I’m not counting that as a malfunction, though).

I then shot the P320SC.  I hadn’t shot that since 11/2015 and the last time I shot it, I had the small subcompact grip module installed.  That grip module is too thin for me, so I bought the medium subcompact grip module which shoots a LOT better.  The bigger module helps my trigger finger placement…it basically fills my hand so that my finger placement falls naturally onto the trigger.  The smaller module is so thin that there’s too much room in my hand and most of my finger ends up folding around the trigger.

The P320SC shoots well, even with the contrast sights.  The dots are big so they’re easy to see.  The trigger has always been spectacular and the reset is also short, so the gun shoots very well.  The grip is short, though, so I can only get two fingers on the grip when using the 12-round mags.  I’ve mags for the compact model as well (I bought the gun as a compact) but using the compact mags is cheating.

I shot 95 rounds of WWB from the 320 today and the gun now has 176 rounds through it.  I may carry this gun after I give the Glock 19 a year of carry duty.

Lastly, I shot the Springfield Armory XD9 Mod 2 subcompact.  When I first started carrying, this was the gun I carried.  I shot 50 rounds of WWB from it today and have shot a total of 360 rounds from it.  As with the 320, this gun will only allow you to use two fingers on the grip with the short magazine, so it is a bit of a challenge to shoot, but I really think that I’m just used to guns with bigger grips.  I’m sure that I’ll shoot it better if I spend time with it.  In fact, when I used to carry it, it shot very well.  My thought was that I could carry it again, but I think it may require significant range time for me to get used to that handgun again.

Let’s go on a bit of a tangent.

With the recent anti-gun sentiment with Youtube, I’ve felt the need to seek out Youtube alternatives, so I’m giving the following websites a try – I’ve listed the site, linked it, and also linked my channel for each site:

Gunstreamer.com – https://gunstreamer.com/@Busta_Cap
Bitchute.com – https://www.bitchute.com/channel/busta_cap/
dailymotion.com – http://www.dailymotion.com/Busta_Cap
1776tv.com – https://1776tv.com/channel/227/

When I post to Youtube, I’ll now be also posting to the above sites.  I will probably not leave Youtube anytime soon unless they shut me down.  I want to stay on Youtube because that’s where the young folk are.  Those folk that may be considering owning a firearm and giving gun advocacy a try will be looking for videos such as mine (and other people that own guns and use Youtube as a means to shared information).  If every gun advocate left Youtube to spite Youtube, we would be shooting ourselves in the foot, especially since sites like the above and Full30.com are not yet at the level of Youtube.

And without further ado, here’s shooting footage with my trusty new camera (that can only hold 40 or so minutes of battery life):