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In the world of micro pistols, there’s a wide variety of options on the market today. Things get tricky when you start going into the lower-budget options and finding a reliable choice for everyday carry becomes harder. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not impossible with things like the Taurus options and other manufacturers coming out with entry-level budget-friendly carry guns. Canik is no different with the release of its METE MC9 into the market. This little package has a fairly impressive capacity with everything you need in a kit for sub $500. Let’s take a closer look at the Canik METE MC9.
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Specs
This budget-friendly concealed carry handgun offers a number of features for its relatively low price point. Coming standard with a 12-round and 15-round extended magazine, the little MC9 packs a fair amount of capacity into its small stature. With a length of just over 6″, the MC9 comes in the same realm as a shield but has a width of just 1.12″ and a height of 4.5″ making it one of the higher capacity options in its size group. Canik kept the MC9 lightweight with an empty weight of 21.2 oz The overall size and weight dimensions make it almost identical to a SIG Sauer P365XL.
Regarding accessories with the handgun, the MC9 comes with 2 magazines, a holster, a cleaning kit, swag, and a hard case as standard. $439 MSRP on this gun may still be high for some but the fact you receive everything you need to get started is a huge plus when looking at overall value. Add in the fact it has an ambidextrous slide release and comes standard with an optics cut standard from the factory and you really have a well-rounded pistol that’s hard to beat for the price. As I previously said, the MC9 has an MSRP of $439.99 and is starting to ship now. It seems like a promising handgun but how did it shoot?
Spec List
| MSRP | $439.99 | Manufacturer | CANIK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer Part # | HG7620BD-N | Model | METE MC9 |
| Action | Semi-automatic | Type | Striker Fired |
| Size | Micro Compact | Caliber | 9MM |
| Barrel Length | 3.18″ | Color | Black, Flat Dark Earth |
| Capacity | 15 Rounds | Accessories | 2 Magazines |
| Description | 1-12Rd, 1-15Rd | Safety | No Thumb Safety |
| Sights | 3 Dot | Subcategory | Pistols – Polymer Frame |
| Finish | Matte |
Range Time
For testing, I did most of my shooting with the slightly larger 15-round extended magazine since it gave me slightly more traction. So far, I put roughly 550 rounds through the little METE MC9. Typically for reviews I like to try and get close to the 1,000-round mark but with sub-compact carry guns, you can learn most everything in about 500-600 rounds. This is a very well-balanced handgun with a slightly snappy impulse but it’s subtle and overall recoil management is easy. The three-dot sight setup is certainly usable and the high contrast black-white setup makes picking up your sights extremely quick with almost no effort. There are no fancy tritium inserts or anything like that, but for a basic iron sight, it does its job very well.
The trigger on the METE MC9 isn’t something to sleep on either. When I initially picked up this little pistol, I wasn’t expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the trigger compared to the price of this gun. The striker-fired trigger has a slight take-up before hitting the defined wall and breaking around 5.5 lbs before having a medium-length reset to start the whole process over.
The reset was a bit longer than I am used to on most guns but it’s certainly easy to learn with just a little practice. Even with the slightly longer reset, it was still very easy to fire the MC9 quickly at the range. I really can appreciate the addition of an optics mount, it is certainly a nice touch. The MC9 comes with a modified RMSc footprint so any of the Holoson K series optics will fit onto that optics cut.
Accuracy and Reliability
When it comes to accuracy, the Canik METE MC9 can hold fairly tight groups at 25 yards. While resting, I shot a few 5-shot groups and the average group size between them was 1.5″ with the largest group being 1.92″. For a small pistol with a barrel just over 3″, I think this is perfectly acceptable and overall it has the ability to outshoot 90% of people who would carry it. It’s hard to judge accuracy at distance for a small pistol, but it’s nice to know the gun can perform if you need it to in a certain situation.
In terms of reliability, the Canik METE MC9 has been 100% reliable during the 550+ rounds I fired through it so far. For my testing, I used Blazer Brass 124gr, Federal American Eagle 115gr, and a box of Federal 124gr HST rounds. With all that variety of ammo types and grain weights, I’m happy to report the MC9 was 100% reliable across the board with no malfunctions of any kind. The self-defense ammunition made it a bit snappier to fire quickly but it’s still manageable especially when your life is on the line. I always tell people to at least test a box of self-defense ammunition through their new carry gun to ensure it runs reliably with whatever ammo they choose to carry for daily self-defense.
Ease of Concealment
Right out of the box, the Canik METE MC9 comes ready to carry. With an inside-the-waistband holster already included, all the customers need is a box of self-defense ammunition and they are good to go. Most of you know that I’m not a huge fan of two-clip holsters but as a starting point, it really isn’t a bad holster to get people going until they can order something they desire. It adds to the overall value of the MC9 where someone with a strict budget could get a complete carry gun set up for slightly less than other options that just offer the firearm. The overall comfort level of this holster is fairly high with the two-clip system distributing the weight of the MC9 and offering a sturdy carrying platform.
Overall Thoughts
So what are my final thoughts on the METE MC9? Overall, I think if you’re on a budget and looking for the biggest bang for your buck, this is a fantastic option. I review everything from budget options all the way up to super high-end carry guns and this offers a fairly large amount of value for its price. The trigger takes some getting used to but if you want to have a full carry set up without breaking the bank, I would recommend this option. If you can push your budget slightly higher, I would recommend getting something with a better trigger out of the box. I still really enjoy this gun and think it’s a powerhouse deal for the price but it isn’t perfect which is ok.
What do you guys think of the Canik METE MC9? Is it a strong option for people who want to carry a gun but are budget conscious? Tell me your thoughts in the comments below. If you have questions about the MC9 or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you in the next review.
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