Girsan MC28 SAC--great new pistol find

Congrats, sounds like you found a bargain. A friend has a Canik (Paid $340) and loves it. He put fiber optic sights on it and it has been accurate and reliable. Some of the Turkish pistols are very good bargains.

some of these lower cost imports are great. solid reliable affordable and fun to shoot. it's a good era for pistol choices. congrats on your newest. enjoy 'er.

BJ, it seems you are the first and possibly ONLY 'end-user' I've seen post about this model. I've watched all of the You-Tubes on it, but certainly hope you can offer more insight. I see the other pistols you posted about and I am quite familiar with them all.

To me, the Canik TP9 (series) is a bit oversized by comparison with other models in the genre. I would say the same with the Ruger American. The MC appears to be closest to a Glock 19 in size, or possibly the Ruger SR9. Is that correct? Does that striker indicator move backward at all during the trigger press, like an SR9, or does it just slip forward and out-of-sight at the discharge? Is there any indication as to the finish on the slide being tenifer-melonite, or is it some Cerakote-ish type of coating? Is the barrel stainless? How difficult were the mages to load completely? What grip insert are you using?

Thanks for the input, Sir.
Vic

Good to here more about this brand's products. In-depth reviews are pretty hard to come by from some of the main YouTubers.

Since Zenith has started importing them, I think there has been an uptick in Girsan's exposure. If ever I get out of the People's Republic of California, I plan on buying a Tisas Zigana, also imported through Zenith. Hopefully, Zenith will start importing the MC 21, which is a very cool looking pistol, in my opinion. Turkey has a decent balance of low labor cost, good production technology, and good quality control.

I am sometimes surprised with the price of some of these off-brand, odd country, proprietary designs. I don't think they are bad guns or anything like that, but it does seem funny that you have been able to get FNs down at $350 or so or metal framed Stoegar Cougars for $300, but pistols of more mysterious provenance and inexpensive polymer construction are also $350. And metal framed Caniks up over $400?

BlackJack said:

Shot a steel match with the pistol on Saturday. Still no failures of any type, even when I'm concentrating on quickly dispatching steel arrays. I'm used to a shorter trigger reset but adjusted quickly to the Girsan's slightly longer one. The loaded chamber port on top of the barrel and the cocking indicator button on the back end were very useful for this exercise. You can feel the cocking button when the pistol is holstered as well as seeing it clearly when you're getting ready to take a shot. Still like the pistol very much.

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Also have a Girsan MC28. With two observations to add. One, slide becomes hot to the touch after about 150 rounds. This happened on 2nd and 3rd range visits. Two, the slide failed to retract on about three occasions-out of around 15 mag changes. Now trying to narrow it down by using one of the three mags exclusively to identify a possible offending magazine. A friend also has one and no problems on initial range visit. Please be advised that the Zenith distributor sells direct to customers. Got mine for around $ 250 last month. It is now on the site at over $300! This is now consistent with pricing on other online firearm sites. Turkey makes dependable, quality-driven firearms. I like this one very much and will give it a chance. Next report shortly.

Zenith has stopped importing these pistols. You can now get them really cheap but you are buying an orphan. You won't be able to buy magazines, spare parts or holsters so you are taking a risk that you might end up with a $250 paperweight.

Girsan had 1911 clones on the US market a few years back (good, well made guns) imported by - maybe, my memory sucks - EAA and serviced by Bud's GS. Anyway, Girsan lost their importer then too. Importers are a flighty lot. Same thing happened to Grand Power (Slovakia), dropped by Century Arms a while back, then picked up, but not with much enthusiasm, by the outfit that imports Bersa guns.

Girsan is still making 1911's. I bought a MC1911 C not more than two months ago, imported by Zenith.

cstarr3 said:

Turkey has a decent balance of low labor cost, good production technology, and good quality control.

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Absolutely the truth here

RX-79G said:

but it does seem funny that you have been able to get FNs down at $350 or so or metal framed Stoegar Cougars for $300, but pistols of more mysterious provenance and inexpensive polymer construction are also $350. And metal framed Caniks up over $400?

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Stoeger is Turkish. And the metal Caniks go up and down in price, but I believe the market has discovered that these are extremely well-made CZ clones for the price.

Good Ol' Boy said:

Girsan is still making 1911's

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I have a Tisas 1911. On a model like that, parts interchange with other brands (at least the Tisas does), and you're buying into the platform. Only thing I've bought is some wood grips and some mags, both "generic 1911" items, not made by Tisas. Wouldn't trade it now.

MAKster said:

Zenith has stopped importing these pistols. You can now get them really cheap but you are buying an orphan. You won't be able to buy magazines, spare parts or holsters so you are taking a risk that you might end up with a $250 paperweight

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I see this bandied about a lot, but it makes me wonder... how many times have you had to use warranties on guns? I have a lot of used guns, quite a few surplus orphans. I haven't broken anything yet, other than a pair of extractors on some old CZs (and those take modern ones).

How much fun and usage do you need to justify $250, serious question? A year, 2 years? When do you feel you got your money's worth?
A lot of these guns will be chugging along for a decade or more. The metal surplus ones have been going strong for many decades, and I trust them all.

lsudave said:

Absolutely the truth here
Stoeger is Turkish. And the metal Caniks go up and down in price, but I believe the market has discovered that these are extremely well-made CZ clones for the price.
I have a Tisas 1911. On a model like that, parts interchange with other brands (at least the Tisas does), and you're buying into the platform. Only thing I've bought is some wood grips and some mags, both "generic 1911" items, not made by Tisas. Wouldn't trade it now.
I see this bandied about a lot, but it makes me wonder... how many times have you had to use warranties on guns? I have a lot of used guns, quite a few surplus orphans. I haven't broken anything yet, other than a pair of extractors on some old CZs (and those take modern ones).

How much fun and usage do you need to justify $250, serious question? A year, 2 years? When do you feel you got your money's worth?
A lot of these guns will be chugging along for a decade or more. The metal surplus ones have been going strong for many decades, and I trust them all.

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I believe this thread started on the subject of Turkish guns and linked with posts related to the Girsan MC28 SA, etc. Granted, production of these firearms may cease and that's unfortunate. The label of " orphan" or " discontinued" represents opportunity to pay less for more. Realistically, any gun company can produce a lemon out of the box or models subject to recall. How long you keep a gun or whether the warranty beckons down the road is one thing. Irrespective of the sales price, if the purchase makes you happy, you take your chances. The joy, for me anyway, has been in the pursuit of good deals wherever they are.

I have a lot of used guns, quite a few surplus orphans. I haven't broken anything yet

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Like I always say, if you've never broken a gun, you just ain't been shooting enough.

Lack of spare parts rather quickly relegates a gun to safe queen status. OTOH when they were cheap enough like with the Star BM or TTC pistols I bought three -- one to shoot the best to "collect" and the worst for parts.

Just got a Sarsilmaz B6P. After one range session I'm sure it's a keeper. Very impressed with my first Turkish pistol.

VThillman said:

Girsan had 1911 clones on the US market a few years back (good, well made guns) imported by - maybe, my memory sucks - EAA and serviced by Bud's GS. Anyway, Girsan lost their importer then too. Importers are a flighty lot. Same thing happened to Grand Power (Slovakia), dropped by Century Arms a while back, then picked up, but not with much enthusiasm, by the outfit that imports Bersa guns.

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I ran a couple of 1911's thru the course. Both functioned fine and ate anything that I ran through them. Good looking guns but there were a few plastic parts in them that kinda spooked me. Don't know how well they would stand up in the long run. Well worth the money, though.

evnbeta said:

Also have a Girsan MC28. With two observations to add. One, slide becomes hot to the touch after about 150 rounds. This happened on 2nd and 3rd range visits. Two, the slide failed to retract on about three occasions-out of around 15 mag changes. Now trying to narrow it down by using one of the three mags exclusively to identify a possible offending magazine. A friend also has one and no problems on initial range visit. Please be advised that the Zenith distributor sells direct to customers. Got mine for around $ 250 last month. It is now on the site at over $300! This is now consistent with pricing on other online firearm sites. Turkey makes dependable, quality-driven firearms. I like this one very much and will give it a chance. Next report shortly.

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Follow up: Pleased to report no more hangups. Gun is operational/dependable. Prior issues may have been because of one gun in the batch needing an extended break-in period. I will keep this in the collection and part of the family. For serious shooters, we know that some guns do get better and enjoyable with age. I hope other Girsan owners keep the conversation going.

I will let you guys know my experience with the MC28. I am a big fan of Turk handguns. I own one of the original TP9s and a Girsan Yavuz 16 Regard. I just ordered the MC28 and am awaiting delivery.

BlackJack said:

Apparently it was built to NATO specs to compete for the Turkish military and police selection but lost out to another Turkish made pistol, however I'm told the Girsan is being purchased by Polish military. I'll post a shooting review as soon as I get out to the range, but from what I see on youtube, I'm expecting great things.

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They make certain components for German Walther 99 guns and their police use domestically made Walther 99 pistols, so it's kind of surprising their military is going to Turkey for next handgun. However going to Turkey for next handgun is smart if the gun is reliable and is less expensive to buy. That is what we should do in our country to save taxpayers money. I for one am sick and tired of giving hard earned taxpayer money as subsidies to companies like Colt, Sig-Sauer,...... to save few hundred or several hundred jobs. That to me makes zero sense. Turks make wonderful wool rugs, fig preserves, pomegranate juice, .......and apparently guns. Good for them.

PabloJ said:

I for one am sick and tired of giving hard earned taxpayer money as subsidies to companies like Colt, Sig-Sauer,...... to save few hundred or several hundred jobs. That to me makes zero sense.

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It becomes awkward when wars break out and your enemy is the supplier of your military goods.

ZENITH FIREARMS ELIMINATES PRODUCT LINES TO SUPPORT ROLLER-DELAYED BLOWBACK-CENTRIC BUSINESS MODEL

https://zenithfirearms.com/blog/news/

Afton, VA: Zenith Firearms has eliminated three product lines to make way for a heightened and exclusive focus on its signature roller-delayed blowback firearms. This move is the logical result of Zenith’s recent decision to change its business model from one in which it distributes a wide variety of firearm products, to one in which it intensively researches, develops, manufactures, and distributes only those firearms that comprise its signature line. Zenith sold all remaining inventory of its eliminated product lines, which include Tisas, Girsan, and Tedna, to Texas-based firearms wholesale liquidator CDNN Sports.

I think SAR already has at least 2 other importers - EAA and Trimports, I'm not sure about Girsan and the others listed.

PabloJ said:

I for one am sick and tired of giving hard earned taxpayer money as subsidies to companies like Colt, Sig-Sauer,...... to save few hundred or several hundred jobs.

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Caracal is basically subsidized by the combined wealth of the United Arab Emirates. If they weren't so fricken inept it would be nothing for them to sell their pistol line here all for under $200 to the American consumer, and American companies like S&W, Ruger, SCCY and others would suffer because they're pricing their pistols based on manufacturing cost while Caracal would be pricing their line below cost to capture market share. If the U.S. military did things the way many of these foreign countries do things - they would never have been pistol trials. The Army would have had a meeting with S&W, Colt and Ruger and given them the requirements and then there would have been a secret selection process and then there would have been an announcement about what the new pistol was going to be. There wouldn't have been a Beretta or Sig Sauer P320.

gc70 said:

It becomes awkward when wars break out and your enemy is the supplier of your military goods.

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SInce Recep Erdoğan has taken over Turkey, it has not been a good friend to the United States or Europe. Turkey has surpassed China as the world's biggest jailer of journalists. I don't think Erdogan's neo-Ottoman policies are going to lead to war with the United States but I could see a time when economic sanctions would be discussed.

evnbeta said:

I believe this thread started on the subject of Turkish guns and linked with posts related to the Girsan MC28 SA, etc. Granted, production of these firearms may cease and that's unfortunate. The label of " orphan" or " discontinued" represents opportunity to pay less for more. Realistically, any gun company can produce a lemon out of the box or models subject to recall. How long you keep a gun or whether the warranty beckons down the road is one thing. Irrespective of the sales price, if the purchase makes you happy, you take your chances. The joy, for me anyway, has been in the pursuit of good deals wherever they are.

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Note: To all Girsan owners. Sent mine back to Zenith with double-feed issues. They replaced the ejection spring and returned it to me within three weeks, at no cost to me.