I am not dating myself much when I say that I remember when Canik first hit the scene. Many of us scratched our heads, wondering who this new upstart handgun company was. Today, they have established themselves as one of the major players in the handgun world. This was solidified with their MC9 pistol. Today, they have taken that success further with the Canik MC9LS.

Canik MC9LS

The MC9LS is a pistol built on customer feedback. While some companies pay lip service to what their customers say, Canik takes it to heart. The gun’s heart and soul are from the successful MC9, but it has some upgrades.

First, they have increased the magazine capacity to 17 rounds. I am personally a fan of that. If I could carry 90 rounds and conceal them, I would. With the new capacity, those serious about EDC can carry up to 35 rounds when they have just one extra mag. If you get into a situation where you need more ammo than this, you need to call for an airstrike.

Longer Barrel and Slide

The gun is also slightly longer. Canik has given us a .53″ increase in the barrel and a .91″ increase in overall length. The greatest benefit of this is a longer sight radius. This, in turn, gives me greater accuracy. Even a slightly longer sight radius can be enough to make a critical difference. Like most modern handguns, the MC9LS comes pre-cut for an optic as well.

The MC9LS has the same trigger that we like so much in the MC9. In fact, I believe the Canik trigger is one of the best on the market. It has a clean break with a nice short reset. The fit and finish on the gun are also good. There is no rattle, yet it is not overly tight. This allows us to run pretty much any ammo we have at our disposal. This is critical for a personal defense gun. We simply can’t have a gun that is snobby about which ammo it will shoot.

Canik MC9LS – A Serious Shooter

On the range, the gun performed well. It is only 23.77 ounces yet absorbs recoil like a heavier gun. Once again, the trigger shined, and I found it to be a fast shooter. Over two days, I ran approximately 500 rounds through the gun with no malfunctions. That is significant and a testament to Canik.

I ran the gun from concealed and found it to be comfortable. The gun has no harsh edges, and it would be a very comfortable EDC in any environment. I did my testing over a couple of abnormally warm October days in Arizona, which means that sweat and slick hands become an issue. I found the gun’s texture to be good, and I could maintain my grip easily. The cuts on the slide are also deep enough that I was still easily able to manipulate it.

Something nice about Canik is that they strive to go above and beyond. While other companies give you your gun in a cardboard box, Canik gives you everything. The gun comes in a slide-lock hard case that is full of accessories. These include a holster, two mags, a cleaning brush, a cleaning rod, and two back straps. One of the coolest pieces in the kit, though, is the tiny Canik. It is, in fact, a micro tool kit to help you mount optics and perform maintenance.

More for the Money

All of this, in totality, demonstrates Canik’s commitment to its customers. The MC9LS is a solid evolution from the MC9. While I try not to bring price into reviews, I need to make an exception for this. The MSRP on the MC9LS is only $499.99. I think it is a heck of a lot of gun for less than $500. Throw in everything else you get, and nobody comes close in value.  If you are looking for a good EDC pistol, you would be well served to consider the MC9LS.

For more information, visit:https://www.canikusa.com/

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