5 Budget Firearms You Should Have: Part 5-Canik TP9SA & TP9V2

I once heard a story about a man who heard from God.  God told him in a vision that there would be a terrible flood in his city, but that God would save him.  Sure enough, the flood came and the man went to his roof to wait on God to save him.  Some of his neighbors came by on a raft they had made.  They asked the man to jump on the raft with them.  He refused because God told him he would save him.  Not too long after that a police boat came by picking up stranded civilians.  They asked the man to come aboard so he would not drown.  He refused because God had told him he would save him.  With the water about to sweep the man away, a helicopter hovered overhead.  They dropped a rope ladder down to the man.  He refused again because God was coming to save him.  Moments later he was swept away and drowned.  When he went to heaven, he asked God “Why didn’t you save me?”  God replied, “You goofball… I sent you a raft, a boat, and a helicopter!”  The moral of the story is… if you let the opportunity to buy a Canik TP9SA or TP9V2 pass you by you just might die.  And it rhymes.
One of the first handguns I ever purchased was an HS 2000 out of Croatia.  I paid $249 for it.  It quickly became one of my favorite guns.  When these first hit the American market people were skeptical about these pistols.  Could a small obscure country like Croatia really come up with a polymer service pistol that could rival a Glock?  Springfield Armory thought Croatia had done just that!  In 2002 the HS 2000s licensing rights in the States was purchased exclusively by Springfield who quickly slapped their logo on it, knighted it the Springfield XD, and drastically increased the price..  The same gun you could buy for $249 started selling for $400 to $500.  As good of a gun as the HS 2000 was, I believe the Canik line is much better.  With a price point of under $350 dollars, the Canik TP9SA & TP9V2 makes the list as our fifth and final gun in the blog series 5 Budget Guns You Should Have.
There are 2 models available currently.  The TP9SA and the TP9V2.  The SA is a striker fired single action pistol.  It has one of the best triggers I have ever felt on a stock polymer pistol.  It’s light, crisp, almost no creep, and has a short tactile reset.  It really is amazing.  The TP9V2 has an almost identical feel, but gives you the option of de-cocking the striker on the first shot.  This makes the first shot a double action trigger that is longer and heavier.  Some people are big fans of this option for carry or defensive purposes.  The V2 also has a slightly shorter barrel than the SA version.  Here is a brief overview of the features of the pistols.
F1CTP9SA F1CHG3352Nv2
Canik TP9SA 9mm Pistol (Black or Desert Tan)

  • 4.47″ Cold Hammer Forged Barrel
  • Cerakoted Finish on the Slide
  • Improved Single Action Trigger
  • Ambi Slide Mounted De-cocker
  • White 3 Dot Sights
  • Adjustable Dovetailed Rear Sight
  • Loaded Chamber Indicator
  • Striker Status Indicator
  • Reversible Magazine Catch
  • Two Interchangeable Backstraps
  • Picatinny Rail
  • Two 18 Round MecGar Magazines
  • Holster With paddle or belt option
  • Cleaning Rod/Brush, Mag Loader, & Hard Case
  • Our Price- $339.95 With Free Shipping (prices as of 9/18/15)

Canik TP9V2 9mm Pistol (any color you want as long as it’s black)

  • 4.1″ Cold Hammer Forged Barrel
  • Cerakoted Finish on the Slide
  • Improved Single/Double Action Trigger
  • Ambi Slide Mounted De-cocker
  • White 3 Dot Sights
  • Adjustable Dovetailed Rear Sight
  • Loaded Chamber Indicator
  • Reversible Magazine Catch
  • Two Interchangeable Backstraps
  • Picatinny Rail
  • Two 18 Round MecGar Magazines
  • Holster With Paddle or Belt Option
  • Cleaning Rod/Brush, Mag Loader, & Hard Case
  • Our Price- $339.95 With Free Shipping (price as of 9/18/2015)

We have had a ton of positive feedback on these pistols.  I have heard of zero reliability or feeding issues with them and reports are the cold hammer forged barrel makes them very accurate.  I am a Glock fanboy and I am proud to admit it.  I will, however, say that this pistol feels better in my hand then my Glocks.  The angle of the grip and the position of the magazine release and slide release are perfect.  I can manipulate them without changing my grip on the gun, something I can’t do on my Glocks.  Takedown is just like a Glock.  It’s a breeze.  Canik is also an ISO 9001 certified company and you can tell by the quality of TP9 series.  This pistol feels like quality in your hands.  When you consider the overall package you get with this gun, I can say it may be the best deal for a new pistol in todays market.  For anyone looking for a new budget home defense pistol… this is what I recommend every time. Here is the package as it will come to you.
Screenshot at Jun 17 11-21-17
Don’t be like the man waiting on the roof who let the opportunity pass him by.  That guy died.  Don’t be like him.  I don’t think the deal can any better on this package.  In all seriousness, what are you waiting for?
Below are links to purchase the TP9SA & the TP9V2.
Canik TP9SA 9mm Handgun- $339.95
Canik TP9V2 9mm Handgun- $339.95
An added bonus is we currently have a ready supply of factory new Canik TP9 Series 18 round magazines.  These will work with both the SA and V2 models.  They currently sell for $23.95 each.  You can purchase them here.
As always, if you have any questions or would like to place an order please call or email our friendly and knowledgable sales staff at 1-888-748-5252 or [email protected].  We would love to help answer any questions you have.
Look for more blog posts and series to come in the near future.  Until then…
Stay safe, have fun, and shoot more.
Daddy Fungus
AIM Customer Service Manager
 
 
 
 

5 Budget Firearms You Should Have: Part 4-AK 47

There are two births in history that changed the world.  The birth of Jesus Christ and the birth of the AK 47.  No matter what your opinion is on either of them, they undoubtedly changed the world forever.  In the firearm world, the birth of the Kalashnikov rifle is as close as we could come to an immaculate conception.  A simple web search revealed there are an estimated 500 million AK variants in use in the world today.  It is without a doubt the most infamous and instantly recognizable firearm in history (right up there with the 1911 45 and the M16.)  Simply speaking the AK47 as designed is tough as nails, simple, reliable, powerful (ballistically), capable (in every measurable way), accurate enough, and light enough.  But is it a budget friendly firearm?  Thanks to modern advancements in manufacturing and several new and old manufacturers efforts the answer to this question is an emphatic yes!  This is why the AK47 is the fourth topic in our series on 5 Budget Firearms You Should Have.
First, I need to get something out in the open.  I have a love hate relationship with the AK platform.  I love the many benefits of the rifle, but I hate them in practice.  Undoubtedly this could be fixed with training and practice.  For me, my big round American hands would rather slam the magazine straight into my AR lower than try to rock it in to an AK receiver.  I would also rather rack a charging handle or slap a bolt release on my AR than try to reach under/over to manipulate the charing handle of an AK.  I am just not enough of an “operator” yet.    I know very experienced shooters who love them and operate them like a boss… so I know it is just me.  Despite my personal preference, I would be doing a huge disservice to anyone looking for a budget rifle if I did not recommend the AK 47 platform.  No matter how you or I feel about the AK, everyone should own at least one.
I would like to spotlight one great budget AK option of the many we sell.  Enter the Inter Ordinance AKM247 rifle.  Before you begin throwing your rotten vegetables at me, please let me explain.  IO AKs have not had the best overall track record.  All that changed when IO decided to step up its game in 2013.  They moved to Florida and began manufacturing a 100% American made AK.  In the past, American made AKs were not well thought of.  They usually consisted of American receivers and barrels mashed together with a mix of surplus parts.  The current IO line of AKs is a completely different machine.  They developed new manufacturing processes and designs which greatly improved the overall quality of the rifles.  Brand new nitrided barrels are head spaced to brand new trunnions and fit perfectly to new receivers using modern CNC equipment and custom made jigs.  What does this mean for you and me?  The days of crooked barrels, poor rivets, and canted sights are now over thanks to manufacturing advancements and new QC standards.  In 2014 our Vice President visited their facility and was very impressed.  We have been selling their new 100% American made AKs ever since.  Here is what you get for $489.95 with the IO AKM247.
 
F1IOAKM247

  • Quality Mil-spec Receiver
  • Adjustable Front & Rear Sights
  • Military Finish
  • Buffer
  • Bolt Hold Open
  • 16.25″ Nitrided Barel
  • Extended Mag Release
  • 30 Round Magazine
  • Black Polymer Furniture
  • Bayonet Lug

You will be hard pressed to find a better AK for under $500 dollars.  Another $30 dollars gets you beautiful wood furniture along with a CNC machined side scope-mount rail on their AKM247C (photo below.)
F1IOAKM247C2
Their rifles also come with the peace of mind of knowing you bought a completely American made and built rifle!  As the customer service manager here at AIM, I personally handle all returns and issues on the products we sell.  I can tell you that in the hundreds and hundreds of these rifles we have sold, we have had extremely positive feedback.  I can recall just 1 rifle that was returned to us for an actual issue.  The customer reported having feeding issues, but it is hard to know if it was the rifle, the mag, or the ammo.  Bottom line is you can’t go wrong with this rifle, especially when you consider the price.
IO’s  AKM247 & AKM247C  are not the only players on the budget AK field.  You can also check out the Century Arms RAS-47 and the DDI AK47S.  Both of these would also make great options.  You can find all of these and more in the New Rifles section of our website.  As always, if you have any questions or need help deciding which one to buy feel free to call or email our knowledgeable and helpful sales staff at 1-888-748-5252 or [email protected].
Keep an eye out for our final post in this series on 5 Budge Firearms You Should Have.
Until then…
Be safe, have fun, & shoot more
Daddy Fungus
AIM Customer Service Manager