My new Caracal

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nwilliams

nwilliams

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I went out today with the intention of buying a scope mount and I ended up coming home with a scope mount and a Caracal compact pistol.

When I saw this gun in the display case my heart skipped a beat. I've been wanting a Caracal since I first heard of them and I never expected to come across one so soon. I figured it would be another year before I saw one of these first hand but there it was looking back at me just begging me to give it a home. I didn't hesitate and impulse bought it.

After purchasing it I took it out onto the gun shops range and put 150 rounds of Blazer through it. The gun shot like a dream and from the first round to the last I was astounded at how accurate and comfortable this gun was to shoot. I've owned a lot of handguns over the years, many dozens in fact and very few seem to point as naturally as this gun does. Ive owned many striker-fire pistols and the trigger in this one feels nicer than any other I've felt, it's low weight and smooth and the reset is short. The recoil is very mild and the grip is very comfortable and it has a very low profile.

The gun comes with two 15 round mags and the manual is actually quite nice. For under $600 this seems like one heck of a nice gun and it offers something new for those who want something a little different than a Glock, M&P or XD. I'm really quite impressed with this compact 9mm but I can see a full size Caracal as well in my future.

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I've had an eye out for the Caracal myself, but as yet they aren't in my local shops or at gun shows yet. I've never gone for Glocks, so I'm hoping it's a "sort-of-Glock" that I may like.

How do you like the sights and how would you describe it's qualities? Usually I prefer three dots.

How did the takedown and clean process go?
 
that thing looks baddass! i love the streamlined look to it. man, another one on the gotta have list! thanks alot buddy. my girl is cursing you as i type this. that means we are now ceremonially best friends.:D
 
How do you like the sights and how would you describe it's qualities? Usually I prefer three dots.
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I'm more of a fan of three dot sights as well but I didn't find the two dot sights on this gun all that bothersome. The shots were going exactly where I wanted them and I had no problem staying on the front sight through each shot. I'm very interested in the quick sight system on the full size Caracal, that ought to be something a bit different.

How did the takedown and clean process go?
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Take down is a breeze, pretty much exactly the same as any other striker fire pistol.

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Does that mean you have to pull the trigger, dry fire once, to disassemble?
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I had to actually go try it to answer this for certain. No, you simply pull back the slide slightly and then pull down on he take down lever and the slide comes off, no need to dry fire.
 
I thought it looked alot like the old Steyr M / Steyr S series pistols. According to Wikipedia the Chief designer for those pistols and the Caracal is the same engineer. Maybe the Caracal will fare better, and thanks for the review.
 
Nice score... I thought we had another big cat collector with that title! I have an Ocelot. The ergonomics look thought out there..
 
Looks like a Glock had a child with a M&P
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the caracal was designed by willy bubits, who was a (not the) glock designer. he also largely designed the steyr M series (for what that's worth lol). the caracals design resembles the steyr m more than anything, but it's still very different.
 
ugaarguy, that was my take on it as well. It really does remind me of the Steyr M9.

If it's anything like the M9, it's got a lot going for it already.
 
And to think I just bought another Steyr.

As to what it looks like. It looks like a gun Bubbits made after leaving steyr using that gun as a jumping off point.

I'd be very interested to hear from someone who has trigger time with the Steyr and this to see if they feel there is any improvement.

If this is like the steyr it will be a good gun. Like the steyr though it will need better marketing. This is the first I've even heard it was available state side. There are some very well established striker fired pistols. Marketing and price point will be important for this gun.
 
One thing I've always loved about the Steyr M series is how naturally they point and the balance. The Caracal definitely shares those attributes so the fact that they were designed by the same person makes a lot of sense.

The Steyr M is a great gun, I had an M40 years ago and then sold it and I've regretted it ever since, although I sold it because I'm not a big fan of .40. I will buy an M9 eventually when I come across one for a good price. I've always believed that the Steyr M series is a hidden gem in the world of striker fire guns.
 
I've always believed that the Steyr M series is a hidden gem in the world of striker fire guns.
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I totally agree. I bought my first M9 from a dealer for $240. Probably the best value of any gun I've bought. It compares very favorably to the G19 IMHO.
 
I really like my second generation Styer M9. Everyting that I didn't like in my Glock was refined in the Styer. I would be very interested to hear the opinion of how the Caracal shoots compared with the M9, from someone who owns both.
 
So, back to the topic. Does anyone own one of these, that can compair it to a Styer M9 A1?

I would love to be able to buy one just to compare, but I just can't afford it.
 
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