Canik USA is running hot and heavy these days on line extensions to their Mete and TTI products. Late 2024 saw the advent of two new compact standouts in the Mete line, and I’ve had the chance to test one of them, along with an equally outstanding new optic.
Design and Virtues of the Canik Mete MC9 LS
The Mete MC9 L and LS models are on-trend with the market’s interest in guns that are concealable for some and offer robust capacity and easier handling. “Score!” was my initial—and continued—response to the MC9 LS. It’s distinguished from the MC9 L only by its slightly longer barrel at 3.64 versus 3.18 inches. By “robust capacity,” I mean 17 rounds of 9mm squished into a magazine that’s so compact they added an extended floorplate to enhance grip, resulting in a gun that’s just 5.43 inches tall with 17+1 rounds on board. Two of those mags are included, by the way.
Canik Mete MC9 Sights
On the slide are deep cocking serrations front and back and a removable plain white dot front sight for which Canik sells a tritium replacement. On the back is an optic slot drilled in the RMSc pattern with a nice cover and a driftable plain rear sight.
The frame sports sandpapery texture on the grip sides and where the support hand thumb contacts the frame when using a two-thumbs forward grip. In my opinion the effect of that texture is negligible for the purpose of recoil management. That said, it looks good and since I experience this little gun as very easy to handle in spite of being small, maybe I’m wrong.
There are three backstrap choices; I’ve used the thinnest.
Intelligent design is evident on the frame, with its gently sculpted indentations right where the length of the thumb and trigger finger grip the gun. This allows for easier handling for just about any shooter of any size. The distance from the top of the backstrap to the front of the trigger is shortened by this feature, a great advantage in design. Even so, I do consciously make an effort to put a little more of my trigger finger on the trigger during presentation, as I find it facilitates a clean press of the trigger with no drag on the frame.
About the Canik Mete MC9 Mag Release
Also enhancing the great handling of this gun is a reversible magazine release and mags that fall cleanly from the well on release. Incidentally, the test gun runs the 18-round mags of my full-size Caniks just fine.
Canik gives us a few choices of color. Those include all black, black slide with flat dark earth frame, and all-over flat dark earth.
Another friendly feature is the extended slide lock, also ambi. For me, it eliminates the bother of using two hands to send the slide forward, and allows for easy intentional lockbacks with no hand strain. The LS loads reliably for me with this method.
Range Results
Reliable feeding is in the bag with this gun. Canik has in the past recommended a 200-round break-in with 124 grain ammo for their 9mm striker-fired pistols. So I did just that, running a combination of Blazer Brass and Aguila FMJ. After that, I messed with 115 grain ammunition and a couple rounds of 95 grain HP from a cherished supply of frangible. Then it was Federal JHP in both 124 and 115 grain varieties. Even when mixing ammo types or weights, this gun doesn’t malfunction.
Included Mete MC9 Accessories
The Mete MC9 LS package is full of useful accessories. Included is a bulky but useful IWB holster, which can switch to other hand or OWB use if a person takes time to move four screws around. The holster is black kydex with the finish being the sort of matte that incurs an upgrade fee when ordering a custom holster. The belt loops are under-hooked enough to keep the gun secure. Also in the package are cleaning tools and a miniature replica of the gun with handy tools hidden in the magazine floorplate. I used the included driver to remove the optic slot cover, though it wasn’t a fit for the C&H Precision EDC, which came with its own Allen wrenches so no pain there.
Canik Mc9 Holster Options
Incidentally, lots of companies already make holsters for this gun. It fits in Canik’s original MC9 holster for the micro-compact.
Lots of people hail the virtues of Caniks in general for their excellent triggers. I believe they are the best stock triggers in the striker-fired sector, on par or better than triggers of brands that cost much more. But too few people focus on the excellent barrels these guns have. The unremarkable semi-polished feed ramp and blued finish belies construction that delivers fantastic accuracy. That is true even of the short barrels such as the one in the MC9 LS. Outfitted with the C&H Precision optic and given time to effect good trigger action, I find it easier than ever to land rounds in the six-inch “10” ring of a target 25 yards downrange. Especially when partnered with an excellent optic, this affordable subcompact gun is easily capable of match-grade performance.
The Optic: C&H Precision
A new release from Ohio-based C&H Precision, the C&H EDC optic is a tough, aluminum-housed closed emitter, sized for compact guns. Skepticism is the default mode for me in approaching pistol optics, having seen isolated samples of the “best” in terms of popularity, price, or construction fail in some way. As an instructor for the community’s concealed carry licensees as well as for an agency transitioning to red dot sights (RDS) from irons, I see plenty of samples, and approached the EDC with low-to-no expectations of excellence. Wow, was I surprised.
What C&H Got Right
This compact optic weighs about half an ounce. It mounted easily using factory instructions. The battery (included) compartment is on the side, allowing easy access when needed. A single 3 MOA red dot is my preferred focal point. The MRS system (optional) offers the dot plus two other circle/dot choices. Green dots are not currently available but may be in the future.
Zeroing this optic held no disappointments. Though pinpoint accuracy at distance is not an expectation with any 1x magnification optic, this one is a star in a crowded field. It helped me deliver tight, consistent three-round groups at 25 yards and only required three adjustments of elevation/windage to put it at my desired zero. It has stayed there and unlike some earlier-generation carry optics, there is no post-recoil distortion and there’s been no fighting to keep it zeroed between range visits.
The EDC optic is motion-activated and automatically shuts off after five minutes of inactivity. It’s truly state of the art. At $249.95-279.95 depending on reticle choice, it’s priced fairly. While the single sample of this optic I’ve used is not necessarily representative of all, C&H Precision appears to be a motivated, growing company that’s still small enough to deliver personal service if needed. They’ve made a fan of me.
Ideal Combo, but for What?
Many people benefit from a larger-than-micro gun for concealed carry, finding the leverage of a longer barrel enhances grip tuck. I am not one of those people, but I can see wearing the MC9 LS under a coat in winter. As a practice/range gun, it is surprisingly ideal for its size. Paired with the EDC red dot, I shoot it as well as a full-size gun, sans the added weight and bulk to interfere with setting up targets and other chores. Even for duty use, it could work. Though I’ve never been a believer in compact guns for duty, this one just makes sense. It has good capacity, is accurate at distance, and importantly, has less bulk to tear up upholstery or get caught in the seatbelt.
Cost-wise the Mete MC9 LS (current market price around $460) and C&H precision ($249.95 base) are on the low end of moderate, but perform like packages costing 30-40% more. There is true value here for both the beginner and advanced shooter; both the recreational and serious user.
SPECIFICATIONS: CANIK METE MC9 LS
- Capacity: 17+1
- Height: 5.43 inches
- Length: 6.75 inches
- Width: 1.16 inches
- Weight: 23.73 ounces with empty mag
- Current Mkt: $460
SPECIFICATIONS: C&H PRECISION EDC OPTIC
- Lens Diameter: 16mm
- Weight: 17 grams with battery
- Dimensions: 41mm long x 25mm wide x 24mm tall
- Power: One CR 1632 3V Lithium battery, on/off option with motion-on and five-minute shutoff
- Reticle: 3 MOA red dot (multiple reticle model offers 23 MOA circle in addition). 10 brightness settings. Night vision compatible. Parallax-free to 33 yards
- Click Value: 1 MOA with total range of 70 MOA elevation, 70 MOA windage
- Impact Resistance: Rated for +P and +P+ ammunition
- Waterproofing: IPX7 rated (1 meter for 30 minutes)
- Price: $249.95-$280.00 as of December 2024
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