It appears that evidently lately, I’ve reviewed an uncommon variety of 9mm pistols. From micro- to duty-sized, the 9mm juggernaut continues to be rolling. I’ve checked out a number of manufacturers of pistols with barrel lengths from a paltry three-plus inches as much as a duty-sized 5 inches. Typically, I’ve been impressed with them, some greater than others.
I simply picked up one other fascinating pistol – they’re all fascinating, in some respects – that has a four-inch barrel and makes use of 15-round magazines. These numbers are widespread… the weapons that sport them have usually been designed in response to the Austrian elephant within the room, the Glock 19. This isn’t precisely information. There’s nothing mistaken with constructing weapons that benefit from some traits launched by some of the profitable pistols ever constructed – I get it. Nothing mistaken in any respect.
So, after I noticed the PX-9 in a few on-line evaluations and checked its specs on the Tisas web site, I used to be impressed. I contacted my of us at SDS Arms in Knoxville, Tennessee, and organized to get one for a overview. I picked it up and was not ready for what I noticed after I opened its hard-shell case…
There was, to place it in a phrase that we use right here in Redneck Acres, a complete crap-ton of s(tuff) in it. For a road value of $320, you get, along with the gun and two Sig P228-pattern, 15-round magazines with a loader:
two further backstraps;
a punch pin to put in the backstraps;
4 further grip panel inserts;
an prolonged journal effectively;
a cleansing jag-tipped plastic rod;
a brass cleansing brush;
a plate for serving to mount a purple dot, with screws;
a minimalist holster, right-handed;
the omnipresent lock
You’ll be able to customise this pistol to your coronary heart’s content material, all from the field it got here in.
The Gun
We’ve got right here a compact 9mm with two magazines, as famous above. Let’s take a look at it in a bit extra element.
First, the specs from its net web page…
Motion Sort: Semi-Auto
Operation: Striker-Fired
Caliber: 9MM
Body/Receiver – Slide End: Polymer – QPQ Tenifer
Sights: Fastened Rear Black/ Entrance Fiber Optic (Glock appropriate)
Optics Prepared/Minimize: RMR footprint
Capability (w/ Included Mags): 15+1
Barrel Size: 3.5″
Threaded: No
Barrel End: QPQ Tenifer
OAL: 6.6″
Top: 5.35″
Width: 1.3″
Weight (Unloaded): 23 oz
Options
– Excellent Ergonomics. The gun matches my hand very effectively
– Interchangeable Grip Panels and Again Strap permit for 27 Grip Configurations. It ought to suit your hand, too!
– Sig 228 Sample Magazines. In the event you personal that pistol, you possibly can swap mags backwards and forwards.
– Co-Witness with Most Optics. This can be a nice characteristic that not all pistols share.
– Flat Tactical Set off with Tactile Reset. I measured the set off at 5 kilos, 4 ounces, with little or no take-up and no creep.
– QPQ End Barrel. The barrel end ought to be robust and put on very effectively.
– 1 yr Guarantee/Lifetime Service Plan. Right here’s what meaning: They may warrant their firearms to be free from defects in efficiency and workmanship for one yr from the unique retail buy date. You probably have an issue that’s immediately attributable to the standard of the product, please contact them.
Their Lifetime Service Plan will restore any defect in materials or workmanship for the lifetime of the firearm. The Lifetime Service Plan will start after the 1-year guarantee has expired. The Lifetime Service Plan covers materials defects and doesn’t embrace put on objects equivalent to cosmetics, grips, magazines, recoil springs, or sights. This Lifetime Service Plan is obtainable along with the 1-year guarantee and isn’t an extension of the guarantee.
So now you realize.
Images
Let’s take a better look.
First, sights. You have got a inexperienced fiber optic entrance (with an additional rod) and a serrated rear notch which might be Glock-17-compatible.
One other good characteristic is the cocked striker indicator. You’ll be able to see at a look if it’s essential rack the slide or not.
A really clear sight image.
Now, the grip. As acknowledged, you get six grip panels and three backstraps. That’s good, for a $300 gun.
Right here I present the big backstrap and the magazine effectively put in. I additionally swapped grip panels however didn’t see any markings on them. The gun matches now, and the mags are straightforward to insert.
Under we’ve the slide – very clear; the barrel and recoil spring, and the feed ramp. The polish job on the ramp jogs my memory of Springfield Armory’s feed ramp polish jobs – you possibly can nearly see your self in them.
(You’ll be able to’t actually see how effectively polished this ramp is, however it’s shiny.)
Subsequent, the body. Once more, every little thing is clear, and you’ve got longer body rails up entrance than is common on many pistols.
Right here is the set off, takedown lever, and finger pad. The set off was first rate… it broke at simply over 5 kilos and had some take-up however minimal creep earlier than you hit the “wall”.
Lastly, you received’t neglect the place the gun comes from or what caliber it’s…
Comparisons
I occurred to have a few different similarly-sized 9mms, and I assumed I’d take a couple of pictures to point out how this one compares with a Canik MC9L and a Springfield Echelon 4.0. The Canik and the Echelon have a touch longer barrel, however they’re shut, and you will get an concept of comparative dimension. These pics will not be meant to “show” something… I had the weapons, so I assumed I’d evaluate them. Yow will discover my evaluations of each of those different weapons elsewhere on this website if you happen to’re interested in them.
(high down) Echelon, PX-9 Carry, MC9L
(L-R) MC9L, PX-9 Carry, Echelon
(high down: MC9L, PX-9 Carry, Echelon)
Cleansing The PX-9 Carry
The PX-9 comes aside very simply. As an alternative of Glock-style tabs, you will have a takedown lever. Right here’s the drill…
Take away the journal and ensure the gun is empty.
Lock the slide again.
Rotate the takedown lever clockwise 90 levels.
Pull the set off and launch the slide.
Pull it off the entrance of the body. Separate the barrel and spring, then clear.
To place issues collectively, reverse this course of. Whenever you’ve bought the slide again on the body, lock it again, rotate the takedown lever again up, and launch the slide. Take a look at for perform.
Goal Time
I’m having fun with taking pictures the PX-9, so I needed to seize at the least one goal to point out right here. The gun is enjoyable to shoot, which I can’t say about all of the weapons I overview.
I attempted three manufacturers of 9mm ammo, all 115-grain FMJ. Black Hills Ammunition equipped a few of their wonderful 9mm ammo in that loading (they make six completely different 9mm hundreds), plus I added some Fiocchi Vary Dynamics and PMC. I wish to shoot 5- or 10-shot teams with a defensive pistol; what you see listed below are 10-shot teams.
The goal proven right here was shot at 15 yards and was typical of the accuracy the gun displayed total. I solely had two hiccups, failures to feed, however I attributed that to a dry gun. There was no oil evident in any respect on or within the gun, which doubtless prompted the stoppages. I do know this to be the case, as at a later session, I had oiled the gun and it carried out high-quality. I usually will look a gun over earlier than I shoot it, however I’ve by no means had a “dry gun” not perform correctly. Evidently, this pattern is oil- (or lack-of-oil) delicate. At any fee, it ended up working high-quality, and its 5-pound, four-ounce set off confirmed little take-up and nearly zero creep earlier than the striker fell. Talking of the striker, you will have a cocked-striker indicator on the rear of the slide, a red-tipped rod that’s seen when the gun is cocked. That saves guesswork.
Conclusion
The sub-compact and compact markets for 9mm striker-fired pistols are enormous, as everyone knows. It appears that evidently each week, somebody brings out one more one to compete with what’s already there. Nevertheless it’s a bit uncommon to search out weapons which might be each well-built and sport value.
The Tisas PX-9 household matches squarely into this market. The weapons are fabricated from high-quality supplies, are well-fitted and completed, and so they perform correctly. All of that is completed at a really cheap value level. If you’re trying so as to add a compact 9mm to your carry rotation, take into account the PX-9. This optics-ready carry mannequin is simply in regards to the excellent dimension for hid carry… add a purple dot and holster to have a dependable weapon at your facet. Plus, it received’t break the financial institution. There’s rather a lot to love on this customizable pistol.
