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We've reviewed 13 models of Caniks (see our guide HERE) for good reason. They're great pistols that tend to come with more accessories out of the box and are typically available at veryc ompetitive prices. This latest release from Canik continues that theme to an extreme. A Taran Tactical Innovations (TTI) model with an MSRP under $1,000! The next-lowest priced TTI model is listed at $1,599.99 and is Glock based. I guess we can conclude that a Glock needs a lot more help from TTI than a Canik.
What is it? The Canik TTI Combat is a suped-up ful-size handgun. Enhancements all around, but most notable is the ported barrel and muzzle weight which combine to make a very low recoil, flat shooting pistol. Those familiar with Caniks will note enhanced textures, further slide weight reduction, and a new optics-mounting system.
Who's it For? Normally a pistol with these looks, features, and size would be a dedicated competition gun, however the light overall weight, and blast-diverting muzzle device may make this an acceptable fighting gun depending on your tastes and needs. Afterall, it is named the Canik Taran Tactical Innovations Combat.
Take a Look at the Canik TTI Combat in the Tabletop Video below:
The "Kit" that Canik is known for continued for the TTI Combat with a few extra goodies.
Included in the box is:
Canik TTI Combat
MeCanik M03 Red Dot
3 optics plates
1 18-rd magazine
1 18rd magazine with +3 extension
Canik Tool Set
Bore Brush
Cleaning Rod
Canik punch
TTI reduced-power spring
Magazine loader
Canik/TTI Coin
Specifications of the Canik TTI Combat can be seen below. To compare them against a Canik model you may already know see our reference guide HERE.
Pricing As of 1APR24
Click links for current pricing
The pistol is supposed to be available 22APR24
More than just aesthetics and texture, the Canik TTI Combat has a few tricks done to it which really change the shooting characteristics.
Reciprocating Mass is a big part of what you feel during recoil. Slow-motion footage has shown us that it's not the round firing that generates most of felt recoil, it's the slide slamming to the rear that causes muzzle rise. That same weight of course returns forward and theoretically returns the gun to it's previous state, but if we can shed some weight the sensation will be smoother. Pictured left are the Canik Rival (top), TTI Combat (middle), and METE SF (bottom) slides without barrels.
Yes, the optics and plates add about 2 ounces, but the weight of the steel cover plates would counter that. The extra cuts on the TTI Combat slide have shaved weight off the slide. The total length with muzzle device is about like an SFX or Rival, but the mass you feel in recoil is less than the METE SF.
About that Muzzle Device: The barrel is actually ported, and so no compensator is really needed on the Canik TTI Combat like on other guns which have one threaded on. The barrel of the TTI Combat is in fact, not threaded, but does have grooves to fascilitate the attachment.
So what does the muzzle device do aside from give us that nice look? It serves two functional purposes. Firstly, it diverts gasses off at angles that would overwise be going straight up into the sight picture. Second, the muzzle device adds 1.9oz of weight to the farthest-forward part of the gun where it can serve best to steady the nose of the gun and bring the shooter back down on target after recoil.
Are there drawbacks? Potentially, the muzzle weight, ported barrel, and reduced slide weight could combine for a short-stroking slide that can't fully cycle. This happening would depend on the total energy of the ammunition used (see our range ammo guide HERE), and how firmly the shooter supports the pistol during recoil. To test this we used the very-low energy Fiocchi 9AP load and two shooters. We also included 11 other loads as we alsways do.
With that in mind we hit the range. As always, to keep things fair, the standard GBGuns range protocl was followed including:
Cold Shots: Truly the first rounds through the gun.
Full Magazine +1: Suprisingly some modern guns still struggle with this. It's a test of how much play is in the magazine as well as how the slide cycles with pressure. This is also when I do my best to learn the trigger. For the Canik TTI Combat we used the extended magazine as the full one to test its function.
What's For Dinner™: A test to see what ammunition the gun will eat. Does the gun feed the round from slide lock, will it cycle and feed another round of the same type, does the slide lock to the rear on empty, and is there any notable point of impact change with different loads. This test had potential to be interesting for the TTI Combat.
For this gun we used the following ammunition:
Priced and linked where found at the time this article was written
65gr Norma Range Training Frangible $12.99 / 50 at True Shot
70gr Federan American Eagle Frangible $31.99 / 50 direct from Federal
100gr Hornady Critical Defense Lite $23.89 / 20 at Global Ordnance
115gr Speer Gold Dot $36.99 / 20 at Optics Planet
115gr Winchester Silver Tip $19.49 / 20 at Optics Planet
124gr PMC SFX JHP $30.00 / 50 at Optics Planet
124gr ZQI FMJ $249 / 500 direct from ZQI
130gr Federal Syntech PCC $28.99 / 50 direct from Federal
138gr Federal Syntech Defense SJHP $19.59 / 20 at Optics Planet
158gr PPU Subsonic $23.74 / 50 at Sportsman's Guide
Sights & Trigger Control: on a 6" spinner target at a distance of 12 yards. We got this from Titan Great Outdoors and use it to gauge how learnable the trigger is and usable the sights are for forced, timed, precise shots.
Practical Accuracy: Five shots from a distance of seven yards at a one inch target. This isn't so much about printing a tight group as it is a culmination of our shooting experience and time for us to collect thoughts prior to making a conclusion.
After Shots: Final impressions and reflections from the range session.
The entire process can be seen in the Shooting Impressions video below.
Ammunition seen in our Shooting Impressions video was made possible by our Patrons and supporters of our ammunition savings account through Ammo Squared.
On the range we were immediately impressed with the Canik TTI Combat. The more aggressive texture practically glues the gun to your hand and the port & muzzle weight combination definitely help the gun shoot flatter. As you saw, we were able to keep the gun running even with Hornady Critical Defense Light, but we also saw that a soft wrist may warrant either using hotter ammo or the included reduced-power spring.
Teya made the deciscion that we should review the Canik TTI Combat with the included MeCanik M03 dot and that's where ironically we ran into trouble. Through no fault of the dot, after about five minutes in spring Western Oregon air we had trouble figuring out which dot to use for aiming. A unique combination of tree pollen and steep sun angle meant that shortly after mounting the dot the glass appeared to have dozens of dots. We were saved by the MeCanik M03's 6moa dot being larger than the artifacts we were seeing from tree pollen and the just-wrong sun angle. By aiming in a different direction the sun no longer hit the lens at that angle and everything was fine again. A minor nuissance, but worth including in our list of Red Dot Considerations.
About the MeCanik M03: This dot is included with the Canik TTI Combat and launching simultaneously with the pistol. Mounting was very easy with the plates, hardware, and necessary tools included with the TTI Combat. Brightness settings stepped easily enough for us to adapt to Oregon's wild sun angles and the large window made finding the target easy with minimal tunnel vision. Adjusting to zero was quick thanks to tactile and audible clicks with each turn of the MeCanik tool. Since the rest of describing a red dot are specs, below are the spec direct from the product page. The dot is available as of today with an MSRP of $249
