[Review] Canik TP-9 Elite SC – Your New Concealed Carry Subcompact?
first published on October 15, 2019 by Josh Brooks
[mashshare]If you’re anything like me, subcompact pistols are a must for concealed carry. The Canik TP-9 Elite SC is Canik’s new take on the Canik TP-9 SF Elite with a subcompact twist which makes it even better for concealed carry.
We got our hands on one, and here’s what we think.
Spoiler Alert: We thought it was amazing.
Navigate This Article
Why is a Subcompact Better for Concealed Carry
Let’s preface this section with the fact that this is indeed a subjective statement. Depending on the individual needs of the person, a subcompact pistol may not be exactly perfect. That said, subcompacts have been the go to choice for many people for over fifty years when the .38 snub-nosed revolvers first hit the market.
If you’ve been carrying a full-size handgun without ever considering a subcompact before, here’s some reasons to change your mind.
- During the summer months, carrying a bulky full-sized handgun can be obnoxious. A subcompact pistol is easier to conceal in the small of your back or front pocket. This makes them ideal for carrying in your every day casual summer clothes. No need to wear heavy and uncomfortable clothing to conceal your 1911. Just get a subcompact and put it in your front pocket.
- The lighter your concealed carry weapon, the more likely you are to not forget or ignore it. Hear me out. How many times have you left your P226 sitting on the night stand in your EDC holster because you didn’t want to strap it on for your trip to the gas station? Be honest with yourself. You won’t have that same issue with a smaller and lighter subcompact.
- Having a weapon that you like to carry means you are more likely to have the weapon on you when you need it. A self-defense situation can happen at any time. If you find yourself the victim of the bullet-point above, then a subcompact is the something you should add to your arsenal.
- Printing. Subcompact handguns are smaller and lighter by design. This makes them easier to conceal, and makes printing much less of an issue if you’ve chosen your firearm based off of your body type.
Meet the Canik TP-9 Elite SC.
The Canik TP-9 Elite SC is Century Arm’s newest addition to their Canik line of handguns. If you’re at all familiar with the Canik TP-9 line of handguns, then believe it or not you’re already incredibly familiar with this handgun. From the ground up, the Canik TP-9 Elite SC was designed with the SF Elite in mind. It’s a true subcompact version of the popular SF variant that shaves off much of the weight and size to make it more concealable.
Here’s the opening statement from the press release Century Arms released on their new subcompact pistol. You can read the full release here.
DELRAY BEACH, Florida – (October 2, 2019) – Century Arms is proud to introduce the newest addition to the already impressive Canik line of handguns. The TP9 Elite Sub Compact (SC) is a concealable, lightweight, reliable, double stacked, striker-fired polymer pistol. This pistol comes chambered in 9mm and features a 12 round standard capacity, while still being easily concealed at an impressive 1.45” width and 6.70” overall length. This pistol capitalizes on all of the amazing features the Canik brand has become known for while adapting to the needs of the discreet firearms owner.
Features of the Canik TP-9 Elite SC.
- Interchangeable back strap in 2 sizes (small and large)
- Blackout rear and phosphorous front white dot sight
- Micro red-dot interface with co-witness feature
- Striker status indicator
- Ambidextrous slide stop
- Loaded chamber indicator
- Front slide serrations
- Reversible magazine release
- Integral accessory picatinny rail (MIL-STD-1913)
- Tungsten Cerakote over nitride slide finish
- Match grade nitride coated barrel
- Small parts and internal components nitride or high-wear nickel-coated
- The TP9 Elite SC comes with two magazines: one 12rd +optional finger rest base plate and one 15rd with extended baseplate. Also included are toolbox, user manual and a concealed carry holster with reversible clips for IWB and OWB use.
Specifications of the Canik TP-9 Elite SC.
| COLOR | Tungsten Slide/Black Frame |
| UPC | 787450596733 |
| CALIBER | 9mm Luger |
| CAPACITY | 12/15+1 rds. |
| BARREL | 3.60” |
| OVERALL | 6.70” |
| HEIGHT | 4.6” |
| WIDTH | 1.45” |
| WEIGHT | 24.78 oz unloaded |
The Canik TP-9 Elite SC on the Range.
We ran about 300 rounds through the Canik TP-9 Elite SC on our range test day with three different shooters. We’ll be completely honest with you here, this handgun simply works. One of the primary concerns we had going into it was the position of the ambidextrous slide release. Our fear here was that due to it’s location, we might have issues with releasing the slide when the magazine went empty. It turned out to not be a non-factor for any of our shooters, regardless of hand size.
Reloads with this handgun were a dream. The magazine release doesn’t only let go of the magazine to let it drop out, but actually ejects it which assists in speeding up reloads.
It’s also worth noting that we ran a few drills using the included holster. All in all, it worked just fine and don’t think purchasing a third party holster will be a requirement until someone comes up with a far better design than what was included with the package. Good luck holster designers, may the odds be ever in your favor.
Here’s a review on the new Canik subcompact from Sootch00 Fun Gun Reviews if you want to see another review.
The Canik TP-9 Elite SC as a Carry Pistol.
After taking this gun to the range, it was time to give it one last test. We carried the Canik TP-9 Elite SC for a few days with the included holster. Now, this did require me to bench the Sig P938 for a few days, but I can honestly say that this may be my new every day carry pistol. Sorry Sig, she just has more ammunition than you.
The included holster comes with belt clips that are reversible. You can easily reverse the position of the belt clips to fit your preferred carry style. We chose to carry inside the waistband, and let me tell you that it was an outstanding carry experience. At no point in time did the pistol ever feel uncomfortable, and at times I found that I actually forgot that I was wearing it, which is exactly the kind of thing you want in your EDC.
If your every day carry handgun is uncomfortable for you to wear, and doesn’t provide a good experience, there is a chance you wont put it on when you leave the house. I have no concerns with that and the Canik TP-9 Elite SC.
Final Thoughts on the Canik TP-9 Elite SC.
Overall, this pistol is easy to recommend to anyone. It comes in at $429.99 MSRP, and provides you with a solid carry holster and a number of great features. If you’re looking for your first subcompact, or a new every day carry pistol, we recommend getting in some range time with the Canik TP-9 Elite SC and taking the leap.
That’s just our opinion though. Let us know down in the comments section if you’ve experienced any issues with your Canik TP-9. We always love to heard feedback from our readers!
