Two years ago I bought a Canik TP9sfx. This is a 5” pistol with a machined slide for an optic. I installed a Vortex Viper and learned how to shoot a red dot. My old eyes love it.
I like the pistol, too. AT $750 it was not cheap, but it has an excellent trigger (light and crisp). It has been my preferred pistol for competitions.
Then I saw a Girsan MC28, 4 ½” model, with iron sights. It is also a Turkish pistol, and looks much like the Canik. I thought it would be nice to have an iron-sight mate for the Canik.
Not so. The trigger sucked. I did not like the pistol and sold it.
Both Girsan and Cank use a modied CZ75 magazine. The mags look the same, but the mag release cut is slightly different, and the mags are not interchangeable, Girsan - Canik. BUT, Girsan mags do fit the CZ.
Girsan subsequently came out with a 5” pistol, much like the Canik TPsfx. It is machined for an optic. I installed a Burris Fast Fire. The Girsan MC 28TX is similar to the one I did not like, except for the longer barrel and a better trigger.
Not a great trigger (like the Canik) but a trigger I can compete with. I had no need for this pistol, but for $300 (with some extra mags) on EE, I could not resist. I have shot some IDPA matches with it and I like it.
Yesterday I bought a barely used Girsan MC9 T. At first glance you might think it is the same as the previous 5” Girsan, with a machined slide, too. But it is a different pistol.
Externally, you can see that the mag release and slide release controls are different. The grip is shorter. It has a spacer on the mag to give full support. I have no idea why.
If the regular Girsan mag is installed, it sticks out the bottom of the grip, revealing the short grip.
But, unlike the earlier Girsans, this one comes with 3 backstrap sizes to choose from (like the Canik). It also has an ambi slide release. Mag release is not amb, but it can be switched aroundi.
Internally, it is similar to then other Girsans (a S&W M&P clone) but not identical. The trigger looks like a similar design, with different parts. No creep.
The trigger feels totally different than the other Girsans. It has a light take up and then a solid wall with a crisp release. It is a 7 pound trigger, but it is so crisp it does not feel too bad. I shot it today and groups were good. I am hoping I can drop the trigger weight with a spring change.
The claim to fame of this pistol is that it is inexpensive and comes with a red dot sight installed.
The red dot is a 5 or 6 minute sight, with 4 brightness settings. The sight adjustments screws are not labeled and not mentioned in the booklet. Clockwise is UP and Right.
The sight works well. I doubt it is as well made as the $400 sights, but so far is perfectly usable. I will not change it until it fails.
I would rate the Canik TP9 sfx with a Vortex to be a better pistol, but at double the cost, it should be better. I would rate this Girsan MC9 T a Good Buy and competitive pistol.
I would like to change the spring by the sear to reduce the trigger pull, but am not sure how to do it. Anyone know?
I like the pistol, too. AT $750 it was not cheap, but it has an excellent trigger (light and crisp). It has been my preferred pistol for competitions.
Then I saw a Girsan MC28, 4 ½” model, with iron sights. It is also a Turkish pistol, and looks much like the Canik. I thought it would be nice to have an iron-sight mate for the Canik.
Not so. The trigger sucked. I did not like the pistol and sold it.
Both Girsan and Cank use a modied CZ75 magazine. The mags look the same, but the mag release cut is slightly different, and the mags are not interchangeable, Girsan - Canik. BUT, Girsan mags do fit the CZ.
Girsan subsequently came out with a 5” pistol, much like the Canik TPsfx. It is machined for an optic. I installed a Burris Fast Fire. The Girsan MC 28TX is similar to the one I did not like, except for the longer barrel and a better trigger.
Not a great trigger (like the Canik) but a trigger I can compete with. I had no need for this pistol, but for $300 (with some extra mags) on EE, I could not resist. I have shot some IDPA matches with it and I like it.
Yesterday I bought a barely used Girsan MC9 T. At first glance you might think it is the same as the previous 5” Girsan, with a machined slide, too. But it is a different pistol.
Externally, you can see that the mag release and slide release controls are different. The grip is shorter. It has a spacer on the mag to give full support. I have no idea why.
If the regular Girsan mag is installed, it sticks out the bottom of the grip, revealing the short grip.
But, unlike the earlier Girsans, this one comes with 3 backstrap sizes to choose from (like the Canik). It also has an ambi slide release. Mag release is not amb, but it can be switched aroundi.
Internally, it is similar to then other Girsans (a S&W M&P clone) but not identical. The trigger looks like a similar design, with different parts. No creep.
The trigger feels totally different than the other Girsans. It has a light take up and then a solid wall with a crisp release. It is a 7 pound trigger, but it is so crisp it does not feel too bad. I shot it today and groups were good. I am hoping I can drop the trigger weight with a spring change.
The claim to fame of this pistol is that it is inexpensive and comes with a red dot sight installed.
The red dot is a 5 or 6 minute sight, with 4 brightness settings. The sight adjustments screws are not labeled and not mentioned in the booklet. Clockwise is UP and Right.
The sight works well. I doubt it is as well made as the $400 sights, but so far is perfectly usable. I will not change it until it fails.
I would rate the Canik TP9 sfx with a Vortex to be a better pistol, but at double the cost, it should be better. I would rate this Girsan MC9 T a Good Buy and competitive pistol.
I would like to change the spring by the sear to reduce the trigger pull, but am not sure how to do it. Anyone know?
Last edited:
