Review: Canik Mete MC9

---

Canik Mete MC9 Specs & Features

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Striker-fired semi-auto
• Capacity: 12/15+1 (per magazine)
• Length: 6.1″
• Barrel length: 3.18″
• Width: 1.12″
• Height: 4.52″
• Weight: 21.27 oz.
• Comes with: Plastic case, IWB holster, gun lock, extra baseplate, 15-round magazine, 12-round magazine, mag loader, owner’s manual, small/medium/large backstraps, Canik-shaped bit driver with bits and bolts, cleaning tools, punch tool

Features

• Duralumin grips
• Adjustable magazine release
• Shortened reset trigger
• Cold hammer forged barrel

The last few years have seen a race between manufacturers competing in the ever-growing micro compact category. Though top dogs like Sig Sauer and Glock led the way, other manufacturers are jumping in.

Canik, the Turkish manufacturer, introduced the Mete MC9 — a 9mm pistol that promised quality at a value-packed price.

But is the Mete MC9 worth your consideration when there are so many other options out there?

We took the Mete MC9 out to the range and did our thing, testing it out to see how it performs. So keep reading as we walk you through the specs, its features, and our hands-on assessment of the Canik MC9 Mete at the range.

How We Tested the Canik Mete MC9

For this review, we tested the Canik Mete MC9 with iron sights and a Primary Arms Classic Red Dot, shooting 3-round groups at 7 yards. We went through 500 rounds of ammunition, using both practice ammo in the form of AAC 115gr FMJ, 115 gr/124gr defensive ammunition from Nosler, and 147 gr Sig Sauer Elite.

At the helm was Sean Curtis, who has been shooting since childhood but really began to delve into guns more during his law enforcement career of over two decades. He received continued training for his roles in SWAT and was a POST-certified handgun instructor.

Background

Canik is a Turkish aerospace/defense company that began making pistols in the 1990s. Their TP series was adopted by Turkish police but their pistols weren’t widely known until they partnered with Century Arms.

Canik worked on the Mete MC9 for three years to get the micro compact just right. With such a competitive market, they knew they’d have to offer great value.

In 2023 Canik released the Mete MC9 to the world and its already growing fan base. The resulting pistol is an optics-ready (RMSc), striker-fired, 15+1 capacity 9mm pistol with good ergonomics and overall features.

Who Is It For?

The only reasons we should carry small guns are fitment or concealment and that describes the bulk of options offered in the micro compact category. Most often, people are looking for a gun that’s easy to conceal.

The Mete MC9 fits the bill and is a good option for concealed carriers. However, the gun is accurate and reliable, so it could serve as a home defender as well.

Ergonomics: Fit & Feel

Upon first picking up the Mete MC9, I was reminded of a Glock. While it has a few more angles than the Austrian pistol, the flat sides of the grip and generally square slide gave that tactile impression.

It differs, though, in some significant places. The sides of the grip feature a fairly rough texture to aid in hanging onto the Mete MC9.

These friction areas are repeated on the front strap and interchangeable backstraps.

Both sides of the grip feature a hollowing cut which makes it easier to activate the magazine release with your thumb.

Overall, the finish is solid, with the model we tested being the FDE version. Though there is a slight variation between shades in the grip and slide, the latter feels like it has a durable finish that should hold up.

Sights on the Canik are steel with a white dot front and black rear. Interestingly, the depth of the optics setting was so low I could co-witness the irons using a Primary Arms red dot.

Magazines are steel framed with a plastic base plate. They inserted and dropped cleanly and fed the Mete MC9 well with a notable exception of Nosler defensive ammo.

It should be noted the 12-round magazine left my pinky with no room so I ended up grabbing the bottom of the magazine. With the 15-round magazine, I could get all fingers on the front, though this is not uncommon with my 2X hands.

Controls

The trigger is good for a striker-fired pistol and has some distinct characteristics, such as a gently curved bow with a serrated surface. A red-colored trigger safety sits in the middle of the bow and is subtle enough that you don’t notice it.

Pulling back, the trigger travels softly for a few millimeters before hitting a defined wall. With additional pressure, the trigger brakes crisply. Reset happens almost immediately and is both very audible and tactile.

To measure the trigger’s pull, I used a Lyman digital gauge, which resulted in an average of 3 pounds and 6 ounces.

My hand size makes micro compacts a bit tougher for me to handle though I felt like the ergonomics on the Mete MC9 did well to accommodate me. I didn’t suffer any slide bite, and with the 15-round magazine, I had a better grip.

Also relevant, I often did not obtain last-round lock back from the Mete MC9 but confirmed through testing that this was a result of my hand size and placement and no fault of the gun.

Controls were easy to reach, with the slide stop present on both sides. Although not listed on the Canik website, I later learned the magazine release is reversible.

How Does the Canik Mete MC9 Shoot?

Micro compacts in defensive calibers are generally snappier, and the Mete MC9 is no exception. Using the 12-round magazine, it took me a little longer to recover sight picture on follow-up shots, though the 15-round magazine gave me better recoil control.

Testing accuracy, I stood at 7 yards and fired 10 shots of defensive ammo and 10 shots of practice ammo to see what groups I could obtain.

Both groups were pretty tight, though this is where we encountered an issue with feeding. The Nosler 124-grain would not feed consistently.

However, switching to Sig Sauer Elite 147-grain defensive ammo, the ammunition fed fine. Several ammunition brands were tested and all cycled well, though the Nosler did not feed consistently.

In addition, there were a few occasions when we began testing where the slide did not return fully into battery after firing. A light tap resolved some though others needed to be completely cleared.

These issues happened within the first 200 rounds and cleared up after a field strip and lubrication. They did not happen again throughout the remaining 300 rounds.

Reliability proved sound after this break-in period, and I focused on a few drills to see how the pistol would perform. I worked on steel and transitioned between multiple targets, firing and reloading as needed.

The Mete MC9 proved solid in all our tests. Accuracy was sound, reliability was good, and shooting impulse was manageable with the 12-round magazine and even better with the 15-round magazine.

I appreciated that Canik thought to include a custom IWB (color matching) holster in the case with the gun. It is decent in quality and I used this during testing and found it to be an adequate and welcome bonus.

Why is the Canik Mete MC9 Unique?

One of the things I found about the Mete MC9 that distinguishes it is the value. The gun itself is solid, no doubt, but when you think about everything you’re getting, it’s impressive.

The plastic, lockable case includes cleaning tools, two magazines, a holster, a mag loader, a punch tool, multiple backstraps, a thorough owner’s manual, and a Canik pistol-shaped bit-driver tool with bolts, bits, and washers in the grip.

Value is high because users can purchase this firearm at a competitive price, mount up an optic, and carry it concealed to the range with the included holster.

Final Verdict

After a day at the range with the Mete MC9, I see why so many people are fans of this line, and I’m keen to try other models from Canik.

This micro-compact provided accurate fire and was reliable after we got past some ammo it didn’t like. Considering everything you get in the case, the Mete MC9 is a strong value for a low price.

Will you be picking up a Mete MC9? Let us know in the comments below. For more options in this category, check out 9 Best Micro Compact 9mm Handguns!