When it comes to concealed carry, the key to success is consistency. We consistently carry, day in and day out, even if we don’t perceive a threat. We consistently carry our firearms in the same place, in the same manner, so we don’t have to play the “Where is my gun?” game during an emergency.
Also, we shouldn’t change EDC guns like we change underwear. We need to decide on a gun that works for us and then rely on our faith and confidence in that gun to be our lifesaving tool in crisis.
Looking back at the last 30 plus years that I have been carrying a concealed handgun, I believe I have used four, perhaps five, different handguns since 1992 when I earned my Ohio State Peace Officers Certification.
Canik USA METE MC9
A couple of years ago, my friends at Century Arms, owners of Canik USA, informed me that something big was in the works as far as the Canik pistol line was concerned. I got my hands on the METE SFT pistol and truly enjoyed shooting it. In my opinion, the METE pistols are even better than the original TP9 series, which were great guns.
Last year when I heard that Canik was coming out with a “subcompact” gun, I thought I’d seen that movie before with the Canik TP9 Sub Elite.
As it turned out, the METE MC9 pistol uses the same magazines as the TP9 Sub Elite. However, as much as I appreciated the Sub Elite for CCW/EDC, the MC9 feels even better in the hand. Holding the gun steady at ten yards, the first two bullets of the Black Hills HoneyBadger ammunition I fired were on paper, right where the front sight was aimed. I was excited to test this new gun.
During my initial review of the MC9 pistol, I used a wide variety of 9x19mm ammunition from numerous manufacturers. The little pistol consumed it all without issue. My son Zach and I shot the pistol two-handed, single-hand right and single-hand left. No problems. From 15 yards, putting rounds onto a steel half-silhouette wasn’t an issue.
We used the 12- and 15-round magazines that came with the pistol. Although the magazines are categorized as “subcompact” in the Canik USA literature, just like sticking a G17 magazine into a GLOCK 26, you can slide an 18-round SFT magazine into the MC9…it just hangs out, semi-naked from the grip.
Like its big brothers, the MC9 has an optic cut on the slide from the factory. You can mount a Shield RMSc optic directly on the MC9 slide without any adapters. All the tools and hardware to do so come in the MC9 pistol package.
The Canik pistol package also arrives with three different sizes of backstraps, a flat base and finger rest base for the 12 round mag, a mag loading tool, a tool to change the backstraps, and a polymer holster. Oh, and a cleaning brush.
At an MSRP of $439, it’s like you are stealing the gun.
Carrying the Canik MC9
As mentioned at the outset, I take the subject of concealed carry seriously and I don’t change out my EDC gun lightly. Since I picked up the MC9 and did the initial review, I’ve been considering carrying the gun. Before I made the switch, though, I wanted to run through some more challenging drills.
Once more, I packed up the steel targets along with my gear bag and a can full of 9mm NATO ammunition for a day at the range. With every magazine I put through the little pistol, I grew to like it more and more until my feelings were bordering on love.
Having made the decision to carry the Canik METE MC9 pistol, I needed a serious CCW holster. The choice wasn’t difficult. I have been wearing a CrossBreed Reckoning in the IWB configuration for about three years now.
A trip to the CrossBreed website led me to order something a bit more fancy than the norm. I decided on a Reckoning holster with the “Freedom Fusion” red, white, and blue design. For the leather backing, I went with the horsehide.
If you’re serious about wearing an IWB holster day in and day out, spend the extra money and get the horsehide from CrossBreed. I learned that lesson about 12 years ago and haven’t looked back. To carry my spare magazine, I ordered a Confidant single mag carrier from CrossBreed as well.
Additions and Extras
Night Fision Tritium Sight
While the MC9 has quality steel sights, I truly believe in Night Fision tritium sights, having been working with them for several years now. The rear sight on the MC9 is perfect as is and didn’t need to be replaced. Night Fision will sell the front sight only or a set for the MC9.
I chose a Tritium front sight with the bright yellow (safety green) polymer ring. The polymer rings from Night Fision that hold the tritium gas tubes in place are translucent, thus allowing the sight to appear brighter than companies that use opaque polymers.
Night Fision has a fantastic and inexpensive sight installation kit. I ordered one with the front sight and I installed the new Tritium aiming point on my MC9 on a Saturday afternoon at my workbench.
Shield RMSc Red Dot
As the MC9 has the factory slide cut for an optic, I decided to try out the Shield RMSc version from that company. The Shield optic fits perfectly on the slide and secures with the hardware that Canik supplies with the pistol. I even used the little tool kit they provided.
Because the optic mounts directly to the MC9 slide without the need for special mounting plates, it doesn’t block out the front sight or occlude the rear sight notch. Zeroing the aiming dot is simple. Take the tool supplied with the optic and adjust the dot until it sits on top of the front sight. Easy day.
As you can still see your standard sights through the red dot sight’s lens, the paranoia about pulling your gun and the battery being dead isn’t a crisis. If for some reason the red dot isn’t working, just use the standard sights.
Also, just to experiment, I had an Olight Valkyrie mini tactical light on hand. I mounted it onto the accessory rail on the MC9 and the fit was darn near perfect. If that’s your bag, this little Olight is rechargeable and puts out 600 lumens.
The only other addition that I made was to disassemble the pistol, clean it with Froglube solvent and then apply the Froglube green CLP to the slide rails. At press time, I’m about 500 to 600 rounds into the evaluation of the MC9 and the gun has run flawlessly.
CCW Paradise
Thanks in large part to Florida for kicking off the “Shall Issue” concealed carry system nearly forty years ago, we have turned the nation around and back toward the original intent of the 2nd Amendment; no government permission slips required in a majority of states.
When I left Marine Corps active duty in the early 90’s and became a cop, your choice for a compact concealed carry gun was either a Smith & Wesson J-frame (or similar revolver) or a semi-auto pistol of dubious reliability. Compact pistols almost never ran perfectly out of the box and those that did would invariably choke on JHP ammunition.
During the last thirty years, what we’ve witnessed is nothing short of miraculous regarding the vast availability of very compact pistols that run reliably and sell for more than fair prices. The Canik METE MC9 pistol is one of many ultra-reliable, subcompact handguns that is, for all intents and purposes, perfect for everyday concealed carry.
Paul G. Markel is the founder of Student the Gun University and has been teaching Small Arms & Tactics to military personnel, police officers, and citizens for over three decades. He is the author of numerous books and is a combat decorated United States Marine veteran.
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