Read more about the MC28 : https://zenithfirearms.com/product/girsan-mc-28-sa/
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Click here to pick up some ZQI ammunition for your gun : https://zqiammo.com/
The Girsan MC28 isn’t a household name, but this humble import is a great buy.
Girsan isn’t a company many people are familiar with. Fresh on the US market, they have a reputation to build if they intend on sticking around. Who is Girsan?
Girsan is a Turkish company whose guns are being imported by Zenith Firearms. They make handguns and shotguns and mostly focus on people entering into the firearms community. Saying they are a budget gun company isn’t exactly fair. The pistols and shotguns the produce are very well built and quite reliable. They are far superior to what some of us in the industry dismiss as standard price point guns.
For this review we focused on their most practical personal defense weapon, the MC28 SA. How did it stack up? Keep reading to find out (or you can cheat and just watch our video).
This 9mm combines a lot of familiar features in an affordable package.
Features
- Caliber – 9×19 mm
- OA Length – 7.6 inches
- Barrel Length – 4.25 inches
- Weight (Empty) – 1.6 pounds
- Height – 5.7 inches
- Operation – striker fire, semi-automatic
- Sights – dove tailed
- Capacity – 15 +1
- Barrel – cold forged
- Includes – cleaning rods, hard case, (3) 15-round magazines
- MSRP – $399
Design
Looking at the MC28 we see a few similar styling queues from some of the better known guns on the market–driftable 3 dot sights, removable back straps, forward and rear cocking serrations, and a reversible magazine release. Like some of the competition, the MC28 is well suited for most shooters, no matter their dominant hand or size.
The sights are very good out of the box. Dove tailed in and made from steel, they can be easily drifted for zeroing. Beyond that, the rear sight has a small ledge that aids the shooter in single handed manipulations. These sight have just enough room to allow for repeatable and accurate shots. Yet they still maintain a high visibility three dot sight picture for pure speed. Aftermarket sights aren’t readily available, so it’s a good thing the factory sights work well.
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The compact design is large enough to control, but still slim enough to conceal.
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As this is a striker-fired design, the gun has a few passive safeties built in. The trigger face safety and the the firing pin block are very reminiscent of a GLOCK.
The take-away here is that the stock features of the gun are all things you can work with. And the familiarity of the design means it doesn’t feel foreign. They are big selling points of this gun. I have to say the Turkish do build a nice gun.
How does it shoot?
Shooting the MC28 is like shooting many other polymer framed handguns. Recoil is tame, controls are easily accessed, and the grip angle and construction make for a very comfortable gun. If the grip seems a bit small or large that can be easily fixed as well with the addition of a different sized back strap.
Pull the trigger and you’ll find recoil very similar to a GLOCK. The trigger breaks cleanly but has a long pull and a bit of an anemic reset. My one and only complaint with this gun is that the reset isn’t very tactile or audible. Beyond that it’s a perfectly functional trigger and it will allow you to squeeze above average accuracy out of your MC28.
These guns are far more accurate and controllable than you’d expect. Are they producing half inch groups at ten yards? No. But they are doing a damn good job, especially at their price! Beyond the price, which is enough of a selling point for some people, there is genuine value here. These guns shoot well. The controls are very accessible while still being well shielded in an attempt to prevent inadvertent actuation. Reloads are fast and easy to accomplish. Everything you’d hope to have in a pistol this size is here.
I put the MC28 through the normal review paces and it did very well. Shooting a steady diet of IMI 115gr EX-Star, I had zero issues to speak of. The gun ran like a sewing machine for 500 rounds. Moving to steel cased ammo, I did have two problems to speak of. First I had a failure to eject (a Wolf steel case became stuck in the chamber) The second problem occurred when I had a magazine failure where the steel cased ammo locked up in the magazine causing it to lose spring tension. I don’t find this to be a deal breaker. As long as you shoot brass ammunition the MC28 should be good to go.
I hadn’t expected the MC28 to shoot as well as it does.
Accuracy of the MC28
The MC28 is, for the most part, a full sized fighting gun. With good weight and plenty of grip to hold onto these guns are designed to be held tightly. Throwing lead down range from its 4.25-inch barrel, the gun achieves pretty stellar accuracy. Taking 5 shots at 10 -meters I was able to produce groups consistently under 1.25 inches. Like I said above–this isn’t anything ground breaking, but at the MC28s price point this is very impressive. Moving closer to the target (the 7-meter line) groups shrank to sub 1 inch holes. For me the combination of great sights and a good trigger make the MC28 a highly accurate package.
In the end
At the end of the day there are lots of great handguns on the market. Manufactures are continually popping up and new guns are hitting our shores every year. The Girsan MC28 SA is a perfect example of a gun that is flying under the radar right now. They are available online or at your local dealer and are able to be owned at a very low price. Take advantage of the fact that people don’t know much about these guns yet. Once they do you might see that price start to rise and supply start to drop.
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Shooting the Girsan was as easy as a lot of the guns that cost twice as much.
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Take down is easy.
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And the gun’s guts are well put together. From a value standpoint, the Girsan looks to be a solid buy.
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Would anyone know what kind of IWB kydex holster would fit the Girsan MC28 SA? I heard it’s a clone of the S&W M&P but bc I’m new to gun ownership so I just want to make sure I make the right purchase.
If it’s a good gun, and at the right price, why not buy. ( just bought 2) same as s&W sdv9mm only with longer grip
The huge issue with this and the compact model is that there are no magazines available for these pistols and Zenith apparently has no plans to produce them or have magazines in their distribution channels.. The folks at Zenith will tell you that the pistols will take CZ 75 magazines without modification. Let me tell you that is complete baloney. I live in KC where CZ USA is located and there are no CZ 75 magazines that will lock into these pistols. I can also state there are no Mec-Gar magazines on the market for these pistols either. Zenith seems to be suffering from the same disease as EAA with SARS and pistols like the Sargun 45 and ST-10. If you do not support the product and at least provide additional magazines you are going to kill these model before it has a chance.
I know, I’m late to the party, but I recently found this article because I searched for the MC28 online. The one important thing to point out here is the article has an error regarding the specs of the reviewed MC28. The reviewed pistol is not just a Girsan MC28, but rather the Girsan MC28 SAC… Single Action Compact, and that would make the barrel 3.8″ with no beaver tail, and not 4.25″ as stated in the article. The MC28 SA… has the 4.25″ barrel, and has a beaver tail grip. From what I can tell in my research those are the only two differences between the Full Size (MC28 SA), and the Compact (MC28 SAC) which is the one being reviewed here.
I purchased the MC28 in December 2015 in Canada. Your review is spot on. I shoot this gun well and find the recoil lighter than some other 9mm’s I’ve fired. My only complaint, like you said, is the reset. Upon first releasing the trigger you get a very audible click.but that’s not the reset. Keep releasing and you get another much softer click.That’s the reset. It really bugs me. I’m debating about taking it to a gunsmith. Don’t know if it’s worth the cost. Otherwise it’s a great gun.
I’ve read on the internet that it’s an M&P clone. I’m wondering if APEX parts will fit. I’d appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.
looking for dealer in Minnesota that stocks MC28
This positive review does anything but surprise me…As the article states, to many this company/products are completely unknown and if introduced would likely at the outset be quite skeptical. However, once they handle some of these gems they will quickly be won over by price relative to super quality. Bottom line is that Turkey makes some of the best firearms in the World…I can personally attests to this in that I have numerous shotguns and pistols which as the writer states are of far better quality than the price-point might suggests. There are very few companies of this ilk but some of the Eastern European old “Iron Curtain” Cold War Countries such as Serbia offer similar incredible values. American Firearms Manufactures such as Ruger etc. must find it difficult to maintain competitive pricing but then again American Arms Companies values (Stocks etc.) are at all-time highs (unless you’re Colt which is a whole different Company).
Please read the history of Turkey (Armenian genocide as one example). Why support them when they now are leaning more and more to an Islamic regime with terrorist sympathies?
AGREE
Let’s not be hypocrites, others could say the same about us. Been to an “Indian Reservation” lately? Imagine how humiliating it must be to have been deliberately infected with deadly foreign diseases, reneged on what were supposed to be honorable agreements, and driven westward on the Trail of Tears just to be relegated to the most undesirable land in our incredibly fertile and productive country and have it called a “reservation.” Buy a Winchester today and relive the history!
Ever read or hear of the rape of Nan King by the Japs? Some of what they did to the Chinese makes the Turks look like minor league pikers. How much do you own that was made in Japan? We can dig up some pretty nasty things done right here in the good ole USA while we’re at it. I’ll take 2 and shoot the hell out of them.
Ironic to see such a comment on a “gun” review. I am half Armenian from my mother and that made me read a bit about the so called Armenian genocide claims. History can be such diverse ifyou are looking from a political window. I would strongly advise to read more from different sources (trusted archives) rather than just listening to falsified stories from Armenian diaspora or reading the twisted propaganda generated by certain countries fighting against Germany and Ottoman during World War I.
Here is an alternative link for you to take a brief look at: http://www.factcheckarmenia.com
BoOoOo! There is another Armenian bastard!Turkish nation and Turkiye is bigger than you can imagine in your miserable mind.
Just because you say or believe something does not make it true or right. There was no Ermenian genocide but lies. So called tradegy happened around 1915 1. World war. Jewesh genocide happened in 1940’s and recognized by United nations because it was a court order. Where is the court order for Armenian genocide? None, because there is no evidence for that. but There is enough evidence how Armenians living in East of Anatolia massacred Muslim ottoman people including Turks and kurds and others around 1915.
Doesn’t matter how good it is. I will NEVER own a firearm made in Turkey.
Shrugger, why would you never buy a Turkish gun?
As for me. I was a little confused on him referring the IWI hollow points as NATO ammo. Maybe the case dimensions, but pretty sure NATO forces don’t use hollow points. I could be wrong, there used to be exceptions for military pilots flying cargo planes, for anti hijacking purposes. In any case I may be looking at one of these pistols and that ammo in the near future.
The US Marines have the green light for hollow points.
You don’t say why you will never own a gun made in Turkey. I own two (2) Stoeger 8000, one in 9mm & .40. One is a personal carry. Both are accurate, dependable and will eat anything and everything that I feed them. The barrel rotates during lockup which reduces recoil and adds to their accuracy as the barrel always remains on a straight axis. Take down is quick and easy as is reassembly. The machining and finish are excellent. What’s not to like?
The Stoeger is machined from Baretta tooling, just manufactured in Turkey to cut down on costs.
Have you acctually owned one of these firearms or are you basing your opinion on hearsay?
All in all Turkey has and continues to manufacture some very fine firearms.
Shrugger, hope you and a lot of others keep feeling that way. It will keep the prices down. I have had two Turkish built hand guns. Quality machining, nice grips, accurate and low price. What is not to like?
Reminds me of my Taurus 24/7 series pistols(yes I love my 24/7 OSS pistols and they will remain with me) Turks know a good design when they see one.
The Grip angle, trigger shape and angle, and size, shape, and placement of all the internals look identical to an XD.
Good review. FTF Wolf or steel cases ammo is a problem. Not a deal breaker but in similar priced pistols and tests, guns like Hi-Point did not have those issues. I would have liked to see it tested with more ammo types to see if it’s a larger problem. Perhaps with sufficient break-in time it will work out the kinks. As a full sized, budget carry pistol shooting quality ammo it looks fine. BTW, you should always use good quality ammo in your carry weapon.
Turkish gun manufacturing has been around for centuries, dating back to the Ottoman Empire. Turkey also has the the 10th largest army in the world, so their gun manufacturers get plenty of work and R&D money. For years, the suffered from ergonomics and aesthetics issues, but never quality and reliability. I guess it worked fine for their domestic market but struggled in the highly competitive US market. I think they finally listened to the American public and may have designed something that works for us. What will hurt it in the end is the availability of low cost, but high quality magazines and other aftermarket accessories.