Caracal 9mm pistol from the UAE (review)

Awe crap! I went and bought a Caracal!

And I predict that if Caracal can keep them under $400 for the next 12 months, I'll bet that many others will do just as I did--really hard to pass up a quality gun at this price point.

With some decent marketing, I can see this gun becoming like the XD.

Well put together review.

Too bad it choked on the mud at the end, was that just an unusually tenacious coating of muck, or do you think the full-length slide gave the grime more surface to grip over Insert-style rails ?

Too bad it choked on the mud at the end, was that just an unusually tenacious coating of muck, or do you think the full-length slide gave the grime more surface to grip over Insert-style rails ?

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sturm has commented on this already on his youtube channel:

"It's interesting how many people have unreasonably high expectations of reliability. The Caracal handed the mud better than most pistols I've done the same to. What's notable is that with a quick splash in the water it resumed working whereas pistols like the M9 won't resume proper function until they're thoroughly cleaned. The Caracal was absolutely packed with mud (it had 3 trips to the mudhole total)."

personally, i'd be happy with a "semi-semiauto" after that kind of abuse--it still went bang and you could still (at least) cycle the action manually

Here's a video I took at the SHOT Show media day of the gun.

http://youtu.be/Y_sUGA2Fhug

Gianfranco Peletti, an italian journalist, has made a 5000 rounds test, fired from his Caracal F Quick Sight in 92 minutes. The test has been published in the italian “Armi Magazine” on January 2012. There’s also a video on www.youtube.com/watch?v=50QPNRXOuw4. Just before the test the pistol was fired another 1300 times during a training course and was put in the test without cleaning. Now his Caracal has a total of 16000 rounds in two years.
I dryfired one at my local shop and the trigger was smooth and light, even too much for my tastes, being primairly a DAO revolver guy. Anyway I like the Caracal, even more the C version with regular sights. A great Glock opponent.

The foregrip and stock combo for the F model sounds intriguing, I'll just assume it would be a SBR tax stamp right off the bat. (mentioned at the bottom of the page)

http://www.shootingreviews.com/caracal-designed-to-challenge-glock/

Awe crap! I went and bought a Caracal!

And I predict that if Caracal can keep them under $400 for the next 12 months, I'll bet that many others will do just as I did--really hard to pass up a quality gun at this price point.

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Where did you buy one for under $400? This pistol needs to be $400, Glocks should be $400 also.

I will buy one asap for $400.

Where did you buy one for under $400? This pistol needs to be $400, Glocks should be $400 also.

I will buy one asap for $400

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Long Mountain Outfitters. $395. I almost bought two!

EDIT: typo. fixed.

And for the record, I am NOT disappointed

This is one very nice pistol!!!

Had my Caracal F for about 3 weeks, been to the range 3 times with it and have enjoyed shooting it every time. No issues at all, only about 200 rounds through it but many more to come.

So far I put it on par with my Glock's, the only minus being the lack of sight choices.

So far I put it on par with my Glock's, the only minus being the lack of sight choices.

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I agree that the lack of (rear) sight choice could be a potential negative for some. There is a rumor that Caracal is looking into offering a dovetail rear sight option. That said I'm finding the sock rear sight to be super fast and intuitive, and have no desire to change it.

The front sight may get swapped out for something slightly more narrow however...

The front sight may get swapped out for something slightly more narrow however...

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I'm looking into that option too. Would also like to have the rear sight opened up slightly, just need to find someone to do it for a reasonable price.