CANiK TTI Combat: Collaboration Blends the Best of Defense and Competition

CANiK has made a strong start in 2024, maintaining its 2023 momentum. An unprecedented collaboration with  Taran Tactical Innovations (TTI) in the form of the CANiK TTI Combat is the latest offering. In interviews, Taran Butler expressed his familiarity with CANiK, citing years of competition success showcased by CANiK pro shooter Nils Jonasson. Butler did not hesitate when an opportunity to collaborate with CANiK presented itself. After nearly two years of development and testing, the TTI Combat was ready for its 2024 SHOT Show debut.

EVOLUTION, TTI STYLE

The TTI Combat is a premium CANiK model showcasing the full potential of the platform. Butler’s own multi-discipline world champion competition experience and the business producing custom enhanced pistols, rifles, shotguns, and components lend credibility to the TTI Combat that is hard to resist. This doesn’t even mention his prominence in becoming the go-to trainer of Hollywood stars, providing cutting-edge gun skills that thrill on the screen.

You know something is different about this CANiK as soon as you open the TTI Combat’s double-layered hard case. Inside are different-sized grip backstraps, multiple optic mounting plates, a toolkit/punch, TTI aluminum magazine base pads, a speed loader, an extra guide rod recoil spring assembly, a holster, and a commemorative coin, among other items. The tools and support items in the case are not mere window dressing. These items are extremely helpful in modifying/altering the TTI Combat in terms of mounting red dots, changing backstraps, swapping magazine base pads, and cleaning the handgun. The bits and drives are well-made and show no sign of wear even after multiple uses.

TTI did not merely provide copyright permission for their logo with the CANiK TTI Combat. Yes, CANiK is the manufacturer, but Butler also contributed design input that involved overall aesthetic, a ported barrel, compensator, magazine base pads, frame shape, and trigger characteristics. The slide serrations and cutouts at the front of the slide demonstrate TTI’s input and CANiK’s meticulous attention to detail, executed successfully.

Picking up and manipulating the TTI Combat only further reinforces the good vibes created by its aesthetics. The light 90-degree breaking aluminum flat trigger with a short reset leaves no doubt that the TTI Combat is not your typical polymer striker-fired handgun. The CANiK TTI Combat was created to compete and to defend. You can see a little Sand Viper in the CANiK TTI Combat. Why not take advantage of the CANiK price point to quality ratio factor? Anyone wanting to own a weapon that TTI has had a hand in will benefit from this collaboration.

The TTI Combat arrives with a unique CANiK polymer frame and slide designed by Butler. Aggressive grip texturing is present, as is an integrated flared magwell with a removable aluminum competition magwell. The double undercut trigger guard allows for the shooter’s hand to sit as high as possible on the frame. This assists in limiting muzzle flip during recoil due to the low center of gravity.

Did I mention that CANiK’s first-ever compensator is also present on the TTI Combat? It is based on Butler’s input with an ingenious attachment method not requiring a threaded barrel. This is good news for those living in jurisdictions that prohibit threaded barrels. The TTI’s compensator is machined in a way to give a unified appearance with the slide and frame, allowing the TTI Combat to fit into a wide array of available holsters for the CANiK lineup.

The TTI Combat arrives with a ported and spiral-fluted 4.6-inch barrel, a flat-faced 90-degree break trigger, fully adjustable sights, two 18-round magazines with one flush-fit TTI base pad and one +3 TTI base pad, a serrated and ambidextrous slide release, three backstrap size options, and multiple mounting plates to accommodate various red dot sights. The TTI Combat slide features a low-profile optic cut for the direct mount of CANiK’s MECANiK line of optics. The MECANiK red dot uses the Trijicon RMR pattern.

MAXIMUM EFFORT

Besides training, what are the most efficient ways to increase handgun efficiency gear-wise? It’s about having a pistol that provides reduced muzzle flip, sights that increase the ability to place rounds where desired, and a smooth trigger pull. It’s not about style but performance. Running your handgun more efficiently makes you deadlier when you’re in a fight for your life.

Personal defense has no responsibility to be “fair” or “even” contest. That’s why aftermarket products attract with the promise of superior performance. With the CANiK TTI Combat, you have something out of the box addressing these concerns, especially if you choose the model that comes with the MECANiK red dot sight (or mount one of your choosing.)

Compensators are expanding beyond competition applications and becoming more prominent in personal defense weapons. For this reason, compensator size is shrinking while still maintaining effectiveness. The TTI single-port comp extends only 0.62 inches from the slide. The CANiK compensator connects to the pistol’s fluted barrel via a camlock mount, not the typical screw-on to a threaded muzzle. The angled front faces on the TTI Combat compensator aid in holstering.

The compensator on the TTI Combat is considered a crucial part of the CANiK upgrade. Part of the challenge of using a handgun is controlling muzzle flip. Muzzle flip reduces the speed at which you can accurately fire multiple rounds on target as well as transition effectively to the next target. This is crucial in a personal defense encounter. Recoil and muzzle flip also cause the pistol to move in the hand. The weapon must return to alignment so the sight picture can be recovered before firing again. A compensator mitigates these effects.

BOTH EYES OPEN

The most obvious personal defense handgun equipment upgrade over the last 10 years must be red dot sights. Though technology should not be used as a crutch for diligent practice and training, red dots are a positive addition compared to the centuries-old iron sight concept. With a red dot, a user can focus on the target, as nature intends. Moreover, because indexing a red dot is far easier than aligning multiple pieces of steel on opposite ends of a reciprocating slide, shooters find they can shoot faster than they could with irons.

A CANiK MECANiK 03 was mounted to the TTI Combat. The MECANiK 03 uses a top-mounted CR2032 battery, offering 60,000 hours of run time. It features a 6 MOA dot. The anodized aluminum housing is durable while still weighing only 1.6 ounces. The MECANiK 03 is IPX7 waterproof rated. The low mounting position of the TTI Combat’s slide cut is appreciated, with the MECANiK 03’s dot seamlessly located. The choice of this red dot may elicit a snicker from elitists based on its Chinese origin. All I can say is that the one used for this article has been performing without issue for over 500 fast-paced rounds. Frankly, I like the field of view offered by its large window and thin housing.

The Butler/TTI-pattern CANiK frame maximizes the natural pointability of the TTI Combat. This is very important in the realm of both eyes open focusing on the target. The MECANiK 03 red dot plays its part as well. The large rectangular “windshield” offers a superior field of view compared to most other red dot options. The glass is clear with no color cast or other optical artifacts being obvious. The dot is crisp with no halos or disfiguration. The CANiK TTI Combat, combined with the MECANiK 03, proved very capable at quick target engagement, with shots broken faster than it takes to read the description.

Along with grip, the importance of the trigger cannot be overestimated. This is usually the realm of aftermarket upgrades. Which isn’t needed with the TTI Combat thanks to its enhanced CANiK aluminum trigger with a wide trigger shoe and safety tab to match. The trigger break was in the 3.5 to 4-pound range per my old school RCBS trigger pull scale. However, a very short and firm tactile reset puts it over the top in terms of effective triggers. An interview with Nils Jonasson sums it up best when he stated, “The whole point of our enhanced trigger is to allow the gun to fire without moving the front sight.”

The broad, flat face of the trigger allows a straight rearward press. All of this translates into a handgun that can send rounds downrange rapidly and accurately. The quality of the TTI Combat trigger is the real surprise and contributes to the feeling of getting more than expected, an envious position for any product. The key with the TTI Combat is it offers the same extraordinary trigger pull every time. The trigger is definitely an asset.

EVALUATION

After strapping on the holster provided in the TTI Combat kit, a variety of 9mm loads were tested, including Federal, Hornady, Wilson Combat, and Black Hills Ammunition. Plate racks and dueling trees were engaged. Thanks to the minimal recoil and muzzle flip, the MECANiK 03 dot could be oriented to the next target seamlessly. In other scenarios, the big question on my mind was how did the compensator affect muzzle flip. The MECANiK 03 stayed on target, fluttering around the IPSC “A” zone, but never wandered out of it, even during multiple round drills. The TTI Combat’s simplicity of operation, consistent trigger pull, and compensator allowed for the rapid engagement of targets. This is further accentuated with well-laid-out ergonomics ensuring that the hand is near the optimum grip position as soon as the TTI Combat clears the holster.

I fell back on my recent experience attending a Justified Defensive Concepts (JDC) Red Dot Pistol Essential class at EVTC with the CANiK TTI Combat. Brett Harnish, the founder and driving force behind JDC, structured the syllabus for the Red Dot course perfectly. To paraphrase, “It shows the benefits of red dot while helping you solve the biggest drawback folks face when using one reliably; finding your dot during the draw and maintaining visual contact with the red dot during strings of fire and after weapon manipulation.” JDC Red Dot Essentials provided solid training, something you would expect with Brett’s resume—Marine, Border Patrol agent, other law enforcement positions.

The TTI was fired one-handed, including the use of the non-dominant hand to test the pistol for reliability issues that my stem from ammo sensitivity, especially with the compensator present. Premium self-defense JHP and target 9mm loads including 115-, 124-, and 147-grain bullets were fired. The TTI Combat digested anything fed to it. Being finicky is not an endearing trait with a competition or personal defense handgun. I put nearly 500 rounds through the TTI Combat for this article.

PERFORMANCE

Diagnostic instructional scenarios in the form of the Bill Drill and IDPA 5×5 qualifier drills were used to explore what the TTI Combat offered. Each of these drills places a premium on recoil control, trigger manipulation, and sight tracking. JDC’s emphasis on the importance of grip for initial red dot placement as well as target focus was beneficial in performing these drills. Tracking the red dot up and down on target during multiple round drills reinforced that grip is the key. Proper grip starts from the holster and sets the stage for the most efficient use of a red dot-equipped handgun. The majority of aiming any pistol, red dot or not, is achieved through kinesthetic awareness. Kinesthetic awareness is the body’s knowledge of the relative location and engagement of tension in its parts. This especially pertains to red dots, with proper grip and tension applied to the pistol as soon as possible.

With the Bill Drill, you start with the handgun in the holster with hands in the “surrender” position at shoulder level or hanging down at your sides. A target is placed 7 yards downrange. On command, you draw and fire six rounds as rapidly as solid hits allow. Following your sights during recoil is crucial. When done properly, the front sight is never stationary… you just “ride” the recoil long enough to confirm the front post is back in the “A” zone and send another round into the target. The CANiK TTI Combat allowed me to generate times in the 2.5- to 2.8-second range.

The IDPA 5×5 classifier is another good indicator of how well you and the handgun meld together, especially if you track your performance with different handgun styles. The target is 10 yards away. Four strings of fire are used to generate a total time with penalties for anything out of the “A” zone. String 1 is draw and fire 5 rounds freestyle, String 2 is draw and fire 5 rounds strong hand only, String 3 is load 5 rounds into a magazine, draw and fire, then perform an emergency reload and fire 5 more rounds, and String 4 is draw and fire 4 rounds into the body and 1 round to the head, freestyle. The CANiK TTI Combat helped me generate times in the 22- to 24-second range for the IDPA classifier.

I felt I was letting the TTI Combat down at times during all the drills. The times recorded with the TTI Combat were some of my best, of late, and impressive considering it’s still a relatively new partnership between me and the weapon. You could tell the TTI Combat MECANiK 03 combo wanted to go faster, but my abilities were not up to it. This is a credit to the weapon. The MECANiK 03 sight combined with the compensator and TTI Combat ergonomics, minimizing muzzle flip, allowed for superior sight tracking between shots. The TTI Combat’s trigger pull was another significant advantage. The TTI Combat magwell behaved like a funnel during magazine changes. There were no reliability issues during the high-volume, fast-paced drills.

FINAL WORD

A few quick observations based on time spent on the range with the TTI Combat: CANiK advises that the MECANiK 03’s concave face housing is designed to rack the pistol with one hand if needed, without touching the lens. I do not favor this method. Why use your optic to leverage the slide open? Take advantage of the aggressive front and rear slide serrations to get the job done. However, be mindful of your hand placement when manually racking the slide. Do not grab too far forward on the slide near the comp. Two bad things can happen—you might pinch your hand between the slide and comp, or the slide might not move as you’re grabbing the compensator instead of the slide.

Lastly, concerns of blinding muzzle flash when using a compensator were not confirmed. Slow-motion videos and burst photography did not reveal this phenomenon. You could definitely see the gas cloud of muzzle blast directed upward, which counteracts muzzle flip—but no ignition.

The CANiK TTI Combat will be recognized as a combination of positive features found on striker-fired predecessors as well as many innovative tweaks, thanks to the TTI collaboration. Many may ask what the TTI Combat offers to shooters compared to other polymer-framed striker-fired handguns already on the market. Red dot compatibility and a compensator are certainly nice touches. The TTI Combat benefits from lessons from both CANiK and TTI, combined with a manufacturer intimately familiar with quality weapon production and how to tastefully improve upon a platform.

SPECIFICATIONS