Initial Thoughts
My first thought when unboxing the MC 14T was that it’s absolutely stunning. EAA sent me the Lady version, which is an aesthetic upgrade from the original. The MC 14T comes in many cool finishes, but this one is particularly gorgeous.
The frame, slide, and barrel immediately catch your eye, with a gloss-black finish that gives off the perfect amount of shine. Then, you notice all the gold small parts that add a touch of luxury. And lastly, you’ve got engraved wood grips that make this pistol feel like a custom piece.
Related Review: Tip-Up 14 Shot EAA Girsan MC 14T .380
My next thought was, “Wow, it’s big for a .380!” I assumed it would be smaller because most .380s are, but I was pleasantly surprised. The MC 14T is not your typical polymer pistol, and it has a nice weight to it.
The Specs
- Caliber: .380 ACP
- Capacity: 13+1, 10+1 for restricted states
- Trigger Pull: 7.75 pounds double action, 4.4 pounds single action
- Weight: 22.4 ounces
- Barrel Length: 4.5 inches
- Overall Length: 6.8 inches
- Sight Radius: 5.5 inches
- Height: 4.8 inches
- Width: 1.25 inches
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MSRP: $682 for the Lady version
Tip-Up Barrel Design
Many shooters have difficulty racking the slide on a traditional semi-auto pistol because of a disability, injury, arthritis, or simply a loss of strength due to age. Other manufacturers have developed guns that are easier to rack, but EAA took it one step further.
According to the company’s website, the MC 14T is the “easiest loading and unloading .380 ACP pistol on the market.” The tip-up barrel design completely eliminates the need to rack the slide to chamber a round.
Instead, you release the level to tip up the barrel, load a round, lock the barrel back in place, and fire. You can either drop the round in manually or use the loading baseplate tool that attaches to the bottom of the magazine. I found the process as simple as it sounds:
I don’t have trouble racking a slide, but I have small hands, which makes certain manipulations challenging. At first glance, I didn’t think I’d be able to release the barrel with my trigger finger alone, but I was wrong. It’s much easier than it looks, and I didn’t even have to break my grip.
Features & Controls
Unlike most small .380 ACP pistols, EAA included an accessory rail, which is excellent for those who want to add a light. This feature makes the MC 14T a viable option for concealed carry and home defense.
All the MC 14T controls are well-built and pleasantly easy to work. The ambidextrous slide safety is smooth to engage and disengage. It gives both audible and tactile feedback. The ambidextrous magazine release button is effortless to press, and the magazine drops quickly with force. The tapered magazines also make inserting a breeze.
Grip
Being a double-stack, the MC 14T has a thick grip. I would say it’s on the upper end of what I can comfortably shoot with small hands. I can get a full grip and then some. My husband, who wears size XL gloves, can also get a full grip, which is great news for those with larger hands.
The grip is comfortable and feels ergonomic in the hands. I like the wood grips, although I may swap them for something thinner based on my hand size. I would also prefer if the checkering were all over, as the wood can start to feel slippery if your hands get sweaty. The front and rear of the grip feature a striped texture that’s very grippy.
Trigger
The MC 14T has a double-action/single-action trigger, which I wasn’t excited about, to be honest. I carry and shoot striker-fired pistols, so DA/SA always feels a little foreign. My first pistol was a Ruger LC9, and the extremely long and heavy trigger pull scarred me for life.
I started by cocking the hammer to the rear to shoot single action first. The pull is very short and smooth. And for my short fingers, it’s easy to reach the trigger in SA even though the grip is slightly large for me. Shortly after, I gave double action a go. The pull is noticeably longer, but it’s also surprisingly smooth. I expected it to be harder to squeeze like other DA pistols. If given the choice, I’d shoot in SA, because in DA, the trigger is a bit of a reach for me.
Related: Striker-fired vs. Hammer-fired for Concealed Carry – Is There a Right Answer?
Overall, the trigger is good for a DA/SA pistol. As a gun marketed toward shooters who can’t rack a slide, the trigger also needs to be easy to pull, and EAA delivered here.
Sights
The MC 14T comes with basic three-dot sights. The front sight is a fixed white dot, and the rear is a U-notch with white dots. Although they’re not fancy, they’re easy to pick up.
After about 100 rounds, I noticed the finish coming off the front sight. This likely happened from heat since the porting is right underneath. Pistols are meant to be used, so it’s not a deal-breaker, but I’ll admit it hurts to see on such a beautiful gun.
On the Range
Shooting the MC 14T was a pleasant experience. It feels good in the hands and is accurate right out of the box. The ported barrel helps reduce muzzle rise and recoil, and it was easy to get back on target for follow-up shots.
Overall, the recoil is minimal and easily managed. It’s slightly snappy, like .380s tend to be, but nothing compared to a typical tiny concealed carry gun. If you normally shoot 9mm, you’ll find this to be very soft-shooting.
One note on holster compatibility: since my preferred holster maker doesn’t have an option for the MC 14T, I spent some time searching online. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any that I would consider using. I’m not a “throw it in your purse” kind of girl, so I’m still on the hunt for a quality Kydex holster to see how this one carries.
Pros & Cons
