The METE MC9 pistol was recently upgraded to increase capacity and overall size. The two new models from CANiK are the MC9L and MC9LS, upgrading the METE capacity from 12 rounds to 17. Century Arms sent me the MC9L to review, and from the box to the range, the gun ran great with all types of ammunition.

The CANiK METE MC9L

CANiK has always been a step above other manufacturers by providing not just a gun but the total package for concealed carry. Included with the MC9L is a concealed carry IWB holster, cleaning tools, different-sized backstraps, and two magazines. For a newer gun owner or someone new to concealed carry, this lowers the barrier to start carrying immediately.

Is Bigger Better?

The simple answer is yes. The longer answer is yes if the gun is easily concealable, fits your hand, and you can manage the recoil. While the width of the pistol didn’t increase much, the overall length did slightly. The main change is in the overall height, which significantly impacted getting a proper grip on the pistol. Let me explain.

In August, I attended the GOA GOALs Conference in my town of Knoxville, TN. The release of the Gun Owners of America MC9 collaboration with CANiK was announced there. I was invited to a pre-release range day to shoot with other local East Tennessee content creators, YouTubers, and writers to shoot the only pistol that had made it to the United States pre-embargo.

When BlackDiamondJosh and I practiced drawing from the FATTAC holster using the 12-round magazine, he and I struggled to get a proper draw. My medium-sized hands and his large-sized hands were both too big for the shortness of the grip. This left our pinky fingers dangling, forcing us to readjust our grip.

When we used the 15-round magazine that added some extra grip height to the pistol, we had no problem getting a proper grip from the draw without changing our grip later. That is to say that the new MC9L is worth the upgrade just because of the additional grip height.

STILL Easily Concealable

My biggest question was whether the new MC9L would be easily concealable with the additional height added to the pistol. As I mentioned previously, the overall length barely increased, and the width didn’t increase enough even to note. Neither did the barrel length.

The height changed by 1.1 inches, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but depending on the gun’s size, it can matter when concealing a firearm. Ultimately, concealability is dependent on the gun’s size, holster selection, and where on your body you prefer to carry.

The holster included with the MC9L is simple in design and allows you to carry the gun immediately after purchase. I could still conceal the pistol under my clothing without printing using this holster.

An aftermarket holster with adjustable clips that allow you to conceal the gun deeper is what I would recommend for longer micro-compact pistols. You can go nuts with holster options, including adjustable cant, one or two holster clips, an add-on claw, and more.

This pistol works any way you want to carry it on your body, whether Appendix or elsewhere IWB or OWB.

Getting the MC9L On Target

I think CANiK got it right with this pistol by keeping the iron sights even with a red dot optic mounted. Many prefer to co-witness their sights or at least have backup iron sights if an optic fails.

Regarding the stock iron sights, I would recommend upgrading to something more visible, preferably night sights. The white dot front sight is easy to pick up in the daylight shooting. However, if the intention is to use this gun as a carry gun, night sights are a must.

The MC9L accepts micro-optics with the Shield RMS/RMSc footprint. After removing the optic sight lid, the optic is intended to mount directly to the slide.

In the pistol box, a miniature CANiK pistol holds different optic set screws inside the magazine well. To access these screws, simply slide off the miniature base pad. Remember to read the torque specification for whatever optic you mount, as each manufacturer has a recommended set number.

Shooting the New CANiK METE

As stated at the beginning of this article, I ran several types of ammunition through the pistol with zero malfunctions. I didn’t clean or oil the gun whatsoever.

My expectations were high before ever shooting the MC9L. Specifically because I own several CANiK pistols and have competed with them in shooting sports, like 3 Gun and USPSA. Those pistols have withstood thousands of rounds and performed in different temperatures and environments. So, I also figured the micro-compact would do the same.

The MC9L shot decent groups and was more manageable to shoot than the original MC9 pistol. This pistol is one I plan to start using in my carry gun rotation as it is one I would trust my life with.

For more information, please visit CANiKUSA.com.

Hearing and Eye Protection

It is so crucial for every gun owner to have the proper hearing and eye protection designed for shooting. Using Airpods or other Bluetooth devices is not enough and, in fact, usually isn’t rated for high-decibel sounds.

One of the most comfortable pairs of hearing protection I’ve tried lately is the Shell Shock EXO PRO Electronic Earmuffs. These have comfortable PureSeal gel cups that provide a proper seal when wearing eyewear. They are ANSI-rated and effective for both pistol and rifle calibers.

My choice of eyewear is Hunters HD Gold. Their lenses are also ANSI-rated, can be made with your prescription, and offer custom lenses made for your favorite frames (Oakley’s, Costa’s, etc.). The Gold lenses are what I wear mostly when shooting and hunting. The lenses darken based on the amount of UV light they are exposed to. In addition, they are more scratch-resistant, thanks to the coating.

For more information, please visit ShellShockPro.com and HuntersHDGold.com.

CANiK METE MC9L Specifications

Accuracy & Chronograph Data