Ultimate Canik TP9SFX Review in 2024

Even before, when the Canik TP9SFX was just a newcomer to the polymer pistol market, it had already garnered serious attention from shooters. Because of that fact, you can trust that this firearm can offer something you will be impressed with. Most people know it as well-made with reliable functioning that suits different platforms. That said, it makes sense why it is a great option for carry-on-duty application, concealed, or even competition. 

One of the best parts about this Canik handgun from the TP9SFX collection is that it is incredible that Canik continued to have an overall affordable price. It is hard to deny that being a Turkish gun manufacturer contributes to that. As a matter of fact, Canik is one of the most trustworthy Turkish gun manufacturers with a long track record of offering excellent quality firearms at lower prices, which is way better than some American gun manufacturers. 

Of course, the Canik TP9SFX model is incredibly designed, just like other firearms from the brand. That said, it is no surprise knowing that it is a highly popular choice among competition shooters, primarily because it is loaded with features that can help upgrade your shooting experience. This firearm is highly suitable for beginners or professionals—it only proves how well it is constructed.  

So far, knowing about the Canik and its TP9SFX model sounds fantastic, right? Well, if you are searching for a handgun jam-packed with amazing features and a great price point, give yourself a chance to discover more about it. You will regret nothing about it. Therefore, explore more below. 

Canik TP9SFX Review At A Short Glimpse 

Don’t have much time to see the full review of this casual shooting and home-defense-ready handgun? No worries, you can make your decision by just checking the pros and cons of actually buying it. With that, you can clearly understand whether the Canik TP9SFX is the best choice for a reliable handgun. 

Here’s a short glimpse of the review with its pros and cons: 

Pros

• Super flat shooting advantage
• Good ergonomics, suitable for left and right-handed shooters
• 20 + 1 magazine
• Has smooth operations
• Reliable firing
• Smooth trigger
• Easy to use, even for beginners
• Rare chance of malfunction
• Great value for money, has a price of around $500
• Optics-ready with its mounting plates
• Suitable for  different applications 

Cons

• Uncomfortable to use for a shooter with larger hands
• No external, manual safety
• Possible issues with the interchangeable backstrap grips
• Small slide release lever
• Sights are just good 

Certainly, there are way more advantages to choosing the Canik TP9SFX compared to the possible flaws you might encounter with it. For instance, you don’t have to worry about operating it if you don’t have large hands. You can quickly get acquainted with it with an adequate size of your hands. 

This handgun can surely help you achieve reliable, flat-shooting results. It can definitely impress you that you can ask for more at just a price of about $500. Now, if you like to know more about it and have time to spare, check out the full review below. But first, let’s check out some relevant details about this handgun. 

Relevant Details About Canik TP9SFX

Here are some of the relevant details of the firearm you need to know about it: 

Brand: Canik

Series/Collection: TP9SFX

Action: Single

Caliber/Gauge: 9mm

Frame Finish: Black/Tungsten Gray

Capacity: 20 + 1

Weight: 1.83 lbs. unloaded

Grip Type: Black Interchangeable Backstrap

Barrel Length: 5.2”

Height: 6.2”

Width: 1.3”

Overall Length: 8.27”

Accessory Rail: MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny

Full Review About Canik TP9SFX

Now, it is time to dive into the full review in detail of the Canik TP9SFX. For that, you can discover the amazing factors that make the firearm great. Let’s get started without further ado. 

Magwell

When it comes to magwell, this TP9SFX model is designed with a standard one. With that kind of magwell, it is an easy-to-load weapon. However, you must remember that it doesn’t come with a bevel. Nothing can help with redirecting your magazine when you make a mistake when inserting it. 

Technically speaking, it is not that challenging to insert a magazine into the Canik TP9SFX. Yet, you can’t smoothly insert it compared to others, so that you might make a few mistakes sometimes. If you make an error and miss out on the magwell, even with just a small amount, you might end up pushing your magazine to one side to adjust it correctly. 

What’s the good thing about this handgun is that it is extremely well set up. That’s why it won’t significantly burden you even if it doesn’t come with a bevel. 

Texturing

The texturing on the Canik TP9SFX is just good. Not the best, but it can certainly help you feel comfortable holding the firearm. The most aggressive texturing of this firearm is designed on the removable backstrap. Specifically, it comes in a square pattern, which can cause a little bit of bite into your palm when you hold the firearm firmly. Nonetheless, it is comfortable for bare hands. 

Moreover,  the Canik TP9SFX also comes with a front strap equipped with seven rows of similar squares on the front. Even with that design, you can only feel most of the texturing just on the front strap’s outside and middle row. The other parts of the texturing are not designed to be aggressive. Since they are low profile, they don’t have the capacity to bite into your hand. 

Regarding the side of the grips on the Canik TP9SFX, the texturing is made with a stippling-like effect for the texturing. Most of the time, and under normal conditions, the texturing doesn’t cause any traction. However, you might face some issues in keeping a consistent and firm grip if your hands become too sweaty. Meanwhile, you won’t worry about your knucklebones contacting the frame because it is made well to be safe and comfortable. 

Another impressive thing about the Canik TP9SFX frame is its remarkable indentations between the mag release and the slide. What’s great about the indentations is that they are not just mere designs. In reality, they can also help easily reach the magazine release and reduce the trigger reach at the same time. 

Grip/Ergonomics

If you want a superb small gun, the Canik TP9SFX might not be the best choice since it is designed similarly to the popular Glock 34 Gen 5. So, it mostly fits different sizes of hands, despite the size of its grip. Unless you have significantly big hands, this gun will suit you. In fact, the grip will be long for shooters with big hands, yet the pinky can still manage to sit firmly on the grip. 

As for the extremely large hands, it usually happens that the gripping of the gun will land on the magazine extension instead. That’s totally uncomfortable, given that a secure hold of the gun is a must. That way, you can ensure the best shooting results you will actually like. After all, it defeats the purpose of having a gun when you can’t hold and control it the advantageous way for you. 

Since the Canik TP9SFX is not perfectly made, just like the other firearms, it comes with a fair share of flaws in its grip. The design is not that impressive because it does not have a lot of room to get support for the hand palm. Meanwhile, there are also added textured index points located in the middle of the frame. There, you can securely place your trigger finger as an index.

Unless you modify this gun, you can encounter an issue if you’re a higher round count shooter despite the trigger guard being well-rounded. Definitely, it is better if the grip is designed with more aggressive texturing that can help with effectively stopping your hands from slipping around on the gun when they are sweaty. 

Sights

If the grip is not that flattering feature of the Canik TP9SFX, it makes up with its superb sights. Surely, it will not be too much to say if the sights will be among your favorite components of this gun. It boasts Warren Tactical sights that are complimented by a blacked-out U-notch rear and a fiber optic front. Meanwhile, the rear sight features a slick back with no lines, preventing glare. 

Moreover, the U-notch design on sight measures 165 inches wide. Because of that, it pairs well with the .115 fiber optic front that is serrated. Also, you don’t have to worry about the quality of the sights or how to manage them because you can fully adjust the front fiber for windage. It might be tricky to adjust the rear sight the first time, but it will be manageable after some time. 

Like the other handguns, you will need to complete several practice sessions to shoot accurately with the Canik TP9SFX and rely on its sights. In reality, guns have a different feel and fit that you will always need to get acquainted with, regardless of your shooting skills. Once you exert effort, it will eventually pay off, and even shooting the smallest targets will be easier with this gun. 

Before moving on, it is vital to note that the rear sight is installed on the optics mount cover plate. For that reason, you might want to second-think if you want to add a slide-mounted optic to the gun because the primary consequence is losing the rear sight. That’s not good because you will use one thing to gain one. 

Controls

Regarding the controls of the Canik TP9SFX, it is somewhat a flaw that it is not designed with external safeties. Well, if you count the trigger safety as an external safety, that’s one. If that’s enough safety assurance for you, this won’t make a bad choice. After all, trigger safety can already effectively prevent momentum from causing the trigger to go rearward, especially when you accidentally drop the gun. 

Besides the trigger safety, the Canik TP9SFX also comes with a nice firing pin block safety. Of course, that’s another safety guarantee that effectively lowers the risk of accidental firing. Meanwhile, the magazine release is the highlight of this gun. To be specific, it is effortlessly reversible. Regardless if you are left or right-handed, you can smoothly manage it. 

Surely, the magazine release is effortlessly easy to reach. What’s more impressive is that you can reach that without actually breaking your solid grip on the gun. Even if you are a shooter with a smaller size of hands, you can still access the magazine release without experiencing any issues. In fact, it is much more compatible with smaller hands than shooters with larger hands. 

Suppose you are planning to concealed carry this handgun. In that case, it will be more practical for you to switch out the magazine release to something lower profile. That way, you can achieve successful concealed carry and avoid the magazine from hitting your body. Therefore, you won’t have to deal with any trouble carrying the gun close to your body. 

Even though having no external safeties sound like a troublesome flaw for the Canik TP9SFX, that is not the real case. To be specific, having no external safeties is great because it makes the gun best for home defense or concealed carry options. Still, there are safety features included in the gun, such as drop safety, firing pin safety, and trigger safety. That’s why you can also be assured that it will be reliable for quick firing during dangerous situations. 

Truth be told, this handgun is not the best choice for beginners, as being new to using handguns can put their safety at risk because of the lack of external safety features to rely on. Plus, the trigger has a slightly longer take-up when it comes to hitting the break. This design requires the shooter to move their finger more than other handguns to achieve quick yet smooth fire-off shots. 

Slide Release

The Canik TP9SFX is built with an impressive extended slide release or slide lock that features a wide-angled portion that is specifically made to angle towards the front of the slide release. Besides that, the angled portion comes with no sharp edges. As a result, it actually has an incredibly intuitive reach for most shooters. Unless you have extra small hands, you won’t experience difficulty in reaching it. 

Regarding the slide release, this handgun comes in quite a long size, almost three-quarters of an inch. Meanwhile, the rear of the slide release is much more manageable to reach for smaller hands than the extended slide release. Ultimately, the slide release is quite small. That’s why it is somewhat difficult for some shooters to use it under stressful situations, making the Canik TP9SFX more suitable for casual shooting adventures than competitive ones. 

Trigger

One of the highlights of Canik TP9SFX is its striker-fired trigger. To be more precise, the trigger is even one of the most remarkable features that make it popular. It is an awesome trigger for a handgun that can even be considered a budget-friendly handgun. Typically, the trigger pull starts with some spring-like action take-up, which is just common for most striker-fired handguns.  

With just a few uses, the trigger can present its real charm by producing smooth, clean, and quick shots without the need to disrupt the gun’s muzzle control. At the same time, the trigger also produces no creep when it hits the hard wall. On top of that, it also resets, so all you just need to do is to pull through a bit of light take-up. 

Do you like shooting in cold weather? If so, you might also like wearing hand gloves for cold weather shooting. With the interior of the Canik TP9SFX trigger guard, you don’t have to be bothered with that because it is built huge to accommodate your hands even if you are wearing gloves. The gloves won’t interfere with your capacity to reach the trigger to pull off accurate shots. 

Aesthetics

Design-wise, the Canik TP9SFX has a more fairly attractive design and style. That’s why it looks pretty good, even in its Black and Tungsten Gray finish. Unlike other handguns, the Canik TP9SFX can successfully steal your attention even though its frame has nothing special to boast. Fair enough, the frame finish brings a nice touch that makes it stand out. 

In addition, this handgun also has slide-forward and rear serrations that add aesthetic beauty to it since the said gun components look proportional and complement the overall looks. Meanwhile, the optic-cut cover plate mount design does not look too overwhelming and is just designed to match the other components of the gun perfectly. Simply put, it is styled to fit.  

If you are searching for a handgun that is not only built to work great in shooting but also has impressive aesthetics, this one is among the top options you can choose from. 

Disassembly

In a way, you can’t escape the need to disassemble the Canik TP9SFX because it requires constant cleaning to maintain its good condition and performance, just like the other handguns. You don’t have to feel intimidated when disassembling this handgun because the process is just like disassembling others. Of course, you need to ensure safety. That’s why the basic step is unloading it. 

After you have completely unloaded the gun, you need to remove its slide stop lever, trigger bar assembly, and firing pin. Then, you must release the magazine to effectively separate the chassis from the grip. You must also lift the trigger and move it away from the grip. Sounds like a simple process, right? So, no need to worry about disassembling it for cleaning or maintenance purposes. 

Maintenance

Performance aside, how easy the maintenance can be for Canik TP9SFX is among its best things. For short and consistent cleaning, all you just need to do is clean off the visible excess dirt you can see, especially near the magazine. You can also simply use a soft cotton cloth when wiping the gun. 

On the other hand, you can take it down if you want to have a more thorough cleaning of the gun components. You can always do the work yourself because the process of cleaning it is not truly complicated. Plus, if you have the right gun cleaning kit, a cleaning guide included can help you. 

Ultimately, the Canik TP9SFX does not have gun components that are likely to break or malfunction. That said, you don’t have to worry too much when it comes to cleaning and maintenance of this handgun. Yet, you need to remember that the more often you clean it, the better its lifespan and performance. 

Reliability

In most shooting tests, the Canik TP9SFX did not disappoint regarding its reliability. The malfunction issue has been rare and really gave justice to its well-known out-of-the-box awesome quality. With that being said, you can expect that it will be fun to shoot for casual shooting and can also impress when it comes to being competition-ready, just like what Canik claims about this specific handgun model. 

Shooting Ability

If you get to experience shooting the Canik TP9SFX, it will be easy to get impressed with its shooting ability. You can expect it to shoot flat and accurately. Thanks to its awesome trigger with reset, it even allows quick, short, and crisp follow-up shots. If you expect it to be great, the gun can actually give justice to your expectations and don’t let you down. 

Above the fantastic shooting performance, the Canik TP9SFX can also amaze you with its great control when shooting. It is a handgun that is easy to shoot and control. For that, most casual shooters and even beginners can be pleased with the gun’s performance and reliability. If you are a more experienced shooter, you will surely know how to upgrade it best, even by adding shooting accessories. 

Accuracy

The fantastic trigger can effectively aid in your pursuit of accuracy. What’s amazing about it is that it can outshoot your shooting ability. Once you have connected with the gun through several shooting sessions, you can feel impressed with how you shoot with the Canik TP9SFX. Definitely, it can shoot with high accuracy, so you must also make an effort to have the best shooting results ever before. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Have some more things you are curious about the Canik TP9SFX? In that case, you will find it helpful to check out the frequently asked questions below. 

Final Verdict 

The Canik TP9SFX is a handgun popular for good reasons. You will find it pretty challenging to find another handgun that delivers a fantastic value as much as this one. While it sounds well-praised by many shooters, you must know that it comes with a fair share of flaws in reality. There are things you must manage along with it, but you can expect that it still makes a great companion to different shooting applications. 

Realistically speaking, the handgun may or may not be the best gun for you, depending on what application you use it. Yet, you should know that you can’t have a better option than it when it comes to the realm of budget-priced competition firearms. It is well-designed with the features you need and other shooters as well. With the overall quality, the Canik TP9SFX has a class of its own. 

Suppose you are searching for a handgun with pinpoint accuracy and reliability for great shooting results. In that case, you might want to give the Canik TP9SFX a chance, especially since it has a shockingly low price and high value. Don’t miss out on this handgun if you think it will be great for you. 

If you want to check out some gun reviews and guides, just explore the Survival Gear Shack website to see more of them. Plus, you can actually learn professional skills along the way.