Caracal C. I'm a fan

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Shuler13

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I was able to get to the range today with my new Caracal C.

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I was a pleasure. No sign of a hiccup (No FTF, FTE, slide stayed back on empty, etc)
Prior to the range I cleaned it and oiled it. At the range, I ran 3 mags of WWB at 7 yards and hit center of mass consistently for warm up.
I tried 4 different types of ammo with 5 shots 1 second apart at 10 yards: WWB 115GR FMJ, Tula 115 GR FMJ, Federal 115 GR FMJ, and Lawman 124 GR TMJ. The results are below

This is my first compact 9mm. The feel was different than other 9mm what I usually take to the range (Sig P226, M&P 9, 5906, RIA 1911) but still comfortable.

Impressions: The trigger still feels great. Very smooth. Not awkward like my old S&W Simga and better than my old Glock22 (IMO). I was not as accurate as I am with my full size 9mms, but still consistently found the rounds inside a 5inch group at 10 yards. This sights (2 dot vertical) will take some getting used to. I have medium hands and the grip size was fine. I do like the shape of the grip a lot more than my old Glock. I was concerned about the recoil because it is a smaller polymer, but I didn't notice a significant difference from my others. I see this becoming a regular in the rotation.


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The fit and finish on couple I examined was first rate and it is most ergonomically pleasing plastic framed gun out there. I do like clean lines and nicely rounded frame not unlike ole' classic H&K P7. I did save up money for Caracal C but went with Glock instead as it is most proven design among newest generation of handguns.
 
I liked my F model so much I bought the C model as well. Both have been completely, surprisingly AWESOME in every way. Love 'em.
 
I have been waiting intently for these to show up in shops near me. Even the big shops haven't gotten ahold of them here.

While the reviews I've seen so far say that the trigger is 'almost as good as the PPQ's trigger', and the ergos seem to get B+ to A- reviews (vs PPQ's A+), the bore axis and lack of felt recoil get consistently rave reviews, and I have seen enough to know that this is an extremely rugged pistol. I suspect that this may rival the PPQ for best pistol in the price point, if not surpass it. I'm a dedicated PPQ lover, but a pistol that matches it's ease of accuracy, and allows for extremely quick and precise follow-up shots, should be enough to earn the right to call itself a step up.
 
I think the trigger is better than the PPQ (I like that trigger a lot too). The Caracal is just as smooth but it has a better reset IMO. The PPQ has a more slack (which some people like for trigger prepping purposes) but I like the more constant uptake of the Caracal, but that's just one man's opinion....
 
Nice video, as usual. Would very much like to see you do some comparisons with other like guns, such as the Glocks and others like Steyr and XDM's and M&P's using variables such as trigger, muzzle flip, size, reliability, accuracy, ergos, etc. I know lots on youtube do this, but you seem to be able to get your hands on new stuff earlier than most and you present your videos and yourself in a professional manner. And you edit! So, something to consider...
 
It looks like a nice pistol, but how easy are those sights to use compared to three-dot?

As a lefty, I wish it had an ambi slide stop, but not too many people seem to want to put those on guns...

I'd also like to thank you for posting a video that wasn't 90% wind. Most outdoor videos I have to turn off after 30 seconds because I can't take the phewfpeepfpefhjefepfhe drowning out the speaker.
 
RBid said:
I have been waiting intently for these to show up in shops near me. Even the big shops haven't gotten ahold of them here.
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You can get them from centerfire, but I saw one listed on gunbroker. The seller was my local gun store less than a mile from my house.

Even if it weren't, for the current price ~$400, I would have bought without handling.
 
Would very much like to see you do some comparisons with other like guns, such as the Glocks and others like Steyr and XDM's and M&P's using variables such as trigger, muzzle flip, size, reliability, accuracy, ergos, etc.
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Thank you for your comments/suggestions. I just got into making videos last month when people kept asking me about 'which gun to get for x or y purpose' and I was pointing them to everyone else's videos that I respect (Hickok, MAC, ect...) and I thought, "Why don't I make a video?" :eek:

I'm still learning and my curve is steep but I've been recording everyone's comments/requests in a log on my mac and I'll try to get to all of them one of these days. Problem is, I have a job/wife/ect... that keep me from shooting as much as I want (I have a once a week minimum deal with my wife :D)!

Back on topic--I got mine from centerfire and they're great to deal with. I've never seen a Caracal in any of my LGSs so I had to go the online route.
 
Skribs said:
It looks like a nice pistol, but how easy are those sights to use compared to three-dot?

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It's not bad. Much easier to center than some 3 dot I've used. Vertical alignment was easier after the first few mags.
 
but how easy are those sights to use compared to three-dot?
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I think it really depends on the shooter. My wife is cross eye dominant and for whatever reason can not hit jack with 3 dots (believe me, I've tried all the methods for correcting this... no avail) but I handed her one of my HD G17s with Ameriglo I Dots on it and her accuracy DRAMATICALLY improved. She also shoots the Caracal's well. So, I've since changed "her guns" (as she calls them :banghead:), one of my G17 and 34s, over to I dot sights for her.

I think it wouldn't take most people more than 30-40 holster presentations to pick it up. For some, it's easier to ignore or even black out the rear and run it like a competition blade rear type set-up...
 
I am a Caracal Fan and would buy the SubC model in a minute if they imported them here. I have the F model and don't know if getting the C makes sense as I have several other 9mms.

As plouffedaddy knows - I find the Caracal F in my hands to be inherently more accurate than many of my other pistols. I was amazed how I accurate I shot it the first time I ran rounds through it. I did a shoot off with my G19 - I am SO much better with the Caracal. The G19 has just about the same barrel length as the F even though the F is bigger.

Anyway - I have nothing but positives on that pistol. I might add - the dot over dot sights don't bother me.
 
plouf,

It's hard for me to conceive of a better trigger reset than the PPQ's, because of how quick and positive it is. Beating 1/10", and the audible and tactile indication would be impressive! Having said that, "hard to conceive" and "not possible" are different beasts.

As far as the take up on the PPQ trigger goes... Yup. If they have similar breaks, and difference in take up (or lack thereof), then I can see it being a matter of preference, rather than the PPQ's being strictly better.

You have me intrigued, sir! I want to shoot one of these things!
 
I'm a big fan of the Caracal C as well. Great trigger, great ergonomics and after almost a year I have had zero malfunctions of any kind with it. I'd pick a Caracal over a Glock any day and to think they were both designed by the same guy!

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It's hard for me to conceive of a better trigger reset than the PPQ's, because of how quick and positive it is. Beating 1/10", and the audible and tactile indication would be impressive! Having said that, "hard to conceive" and "not possible" are different beasts.
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I think it may be a matter of preference here as well. Caracal's reset is absolutely longer than the PPQ short reset. But, to me, I think the reset on the PPQ is a little too short. I've never had it happen to me but several people I've let shoot it have accidently double fired it. Before someone says it---it's a training issue, I agree. But under stress people do strange things and I would just feel a little more comfortable using it in a HD/SD scenario if the reset was a little longer.
 
It needs somebody in the US to import it under their name. Say, for instance, Colt did it (though Colt's record in that category has not been stellar) or perhaps Ruger. Give it a jazzy, currently hip kind of title (like Extreme was last decade) and it'll take off.
 
I had been trying to decide between a Gen 4 FDE19,PPQand an FNS-9 for a couple months when two weeks ago after renting a PPQ and fondling an FNS-9 again.I bought a Caracal C.
Funny how months of studying between the three culminated in buying a gun I'd only read a couple reviews on and never seen or shot.
Anyway I put 200 rounds of Independence 115gr. through it that day.It was real easy to shoot.The trigger is good. I really can't tell you which trigger I think is better(PPQ-Caracal C).
As far as ergo's go.The PPQ feels great but a little weird(?) for me.Maybe I'm just so used to Glocks that it's too ergonomic.lol.
Last week when I was stuffing my Range bag I noticed a whole case of unjacketed round nose lead rounds that I bought about five years ago before realizing I couldn't shoot them through a Glock barrel.I ended up putting 350 rounds of the unjacketed ammo through it.
The more I shoot it the more I like it.
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I'd pick a Caracal over a Glock any day and to think they were both designed by the same guy!
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The Caracal was designed by Wihelm Bubits. He was employed by glock. He later designed the Styer M series pistols--which are in my opinion are extremely underrated pistols. He then designed the Caracal. Bubbits saw the Steyr M series as an evolution of the glock. There are things that I really like about them compared to my glocks. I believe Bubits then designed the Walther PPS, another highly underrated gun. In creating the caracal he picked up where he left off with the steyrs. I have yet to get any trigger time with a caracal but would really like to. The ancestry of the M series guns is apparent when one looks at the caracal.

In sum, Caracal may be a new name to many but the track record of Mr. Bubits designs is well established. Based on his other designs alone I have been interested in the Caracal since I first saw it.
 
Has anyone really given the Caracal a real test, a torture test, a longevity test of any sort? Does any police or military use them?

They look alot like the Styer pistols. Interesting. For the right price (less than $400) I'd give one a try.
 
##Rumor Alert: I read somewhere there are some foreign police forces that use them. I also read that there was a torture test performed that was impressive.

Personally, I'm not sold on torture tests. I bought one ($400 OTD) and tried it. I'm impressed. I'll report back after 10 years.

The way I figured, for $400 I'd try it, and be a braggart when the prices go up in a couple years.
 
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