View Full Version : Caracal F 9mm Review
Alright gentlemen, I have been lurking here for awhile now and I decided to finally jump on-board. The Caracal came up last week in a thread involving the US importer and a dealer in France, and suffice to to say, things did not go well.
I was lucky enough to pick a gun up right around the time those threads were getting heated, and I spent the weekend trying to put together a comprehensive review that addressed a lot of the questions I had, as well as some of the things I have seen asked on this very forum (especially concerning how it stacks up to the M&P). I originally put this together for SteyrClub, but I thought it might benefit some folks to post it here as well.
I started the review by using the Steyr M9A1 as my yardstick for evaluating most aspects of the Caracal because, well, the review was originally intended for SteyrClub, and the Emirati shooter is a sort of spin-off of "the other" Austrian iron. I tried to incorporate more "mainstream" guns in the second part of my review, and some may want to just fast-forward to that part.
I have been a big fan of the Steyr M(A1) series pistols for a few years now, so when I found out the same designer had teamed up with a R&D team in the UAE to create a Steyr-like pistol, I was intrigued. This pistol has been available abroad for a couple of years now, but only recently has Caracal been working with their US importer Waffen Werks to get these guns stateside. I was lucky enough to grab one of the very first.
The first thing I noticed was the "Plasox" slide finish - every picture I had seen of the slide made it look dull and boring, but that isn't the case at all. The Plasox finish has a slight shine and has a very slick quality about it. My only concern is that it might not hold up as well to regular carry over the long haul as Tennifer or some other finishes, but we're a long way out from being able to judge.
The pistol comes in a decent hardcase and includes 3 18-round magazines, a manual, and a generic triggerlock:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0457.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0458.jpg
Tthe magazine release is ambidextrous (button on both sides), and as I happen to shoot pistol left handed, I was curious how this feature would work out for me. It is located in a convenient spot - I have no trouble actuating the release with either thumb on the right side of the gun, or my middle finger on the left side (as I am accustomed to doing, having "grown up" around right handed guns). Still, muscle memory is hard to overcome, and I honestly see no reason to change up the way I have been doing things for years - I do not find the thumb method to be any faster than using my middle finger on the other side of the pistol, so I am going to stick to the tried-and-true middle finger method.
So how does the Caracal size up compared to the Steyr M9A1? It is a little larger, but it is very well thought-out.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0482.jpg
I love the grip. Before getting my hands on one, I thought the grip looked somehow disproportional to the rest of the pistol in the pictures I have seen of the Caracal (a by-product of the 18 rounds stuffed inside, I suppose). But having one in front of me, it feels like Caracal made the perfect love-child of a Steyr M9A1 and a Gen 4 Glock 17. The Glocks have always struck me as a bit too fat and brick-ish, while the Steyr was always a slight bit on the skinny side; I prefer the latter when forced to choose. The Caracal is actually a slight bit thinner than the Steyr M9A1 in the rear width, but fatter when comparing the width of the pistols laid flat (running parallel to the rounds in the magazine):
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0483.jpg
This grip design is a total win for me. I used to like finger grooves so long as they conformed to my hand, but the more I shoot, the more I realize they are more prone to get in the way if you do not have a perfect grip on the firearm. Don't get me wrong - I love my Steyr, and it fits my hand like a glove - but I think Caracal nailed it with their grip. It really does seem just about perfect.
The Emiratis did not build a replaceable backstrap into this design, and that strikes me as a mistake. I'm guessing they desided to forgo this feature because of the optional shoulder stock accessory - I'm not sure they could have made both work - but I think they went the wrong direction here. Virtually all of the competitive handguns on the market these days are coming with replaceable backstraps, and I believe Caracal sales will suffer for this oversight.
The grip is a bit taller than the Steyr, and this may be a problem for concealed carry, but that report is going to have to wait until after this gun as proven itself at the range. I would like to say that the thinness of the grip may make up for height problem - we'll see. Then again, even if the F doesn't pan out for CCW, the Caracal C (compact) may just be the ticket for those guys who have trouble concealing a fullsize...
The Steyr and Caracal slides seem to be very similar:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0484.jpg
One thing that might stand out to you in that picture is the slide release - it is much more pronounced than the Steyr (which always struck me as a bit undersized). When I hold the gun in my right hand, this slide release is in the PERFECT spot. I think it is large enough that even if you are a "high gripper" that tends to accidently trip the slide stop while shooting (causing a failure to lock on the last round), this setup should be large enough to prevent that from happening. I almost wish they had made the slide stop ambidextrous, and I guess that would be my second major complaint. But then again, I am in the habit of "power stroking" the slide to feed rounds from a fresh magazine, and I again see no reason to change up my routine.
The trigger is perfect - it is better than the Steyr, and any other polymer gun I've ever tried. It has a familiar springy and positive feel that has made the Glocks famous, but smoother and (I think) lighter. The reset is pronounced, and just about the right length. I think this is my favorite part of the Caracal, and I'm going to go into much more detail on this later.
Some quick pre-range-session thoughts:
- Upon reviewing the manual, I discovered the warranty period for the pistol is 1 year from date of purchase, and only applies to the original owner. I really hope they (Caracal or Waffen Werks) do not enforce this - lord knows how many second-hand Steyrs were returned to SAI for extractor work, etc. They expressly state that the use of reloaded ammunition voids the warranty, as does any disassembly beyond field stripping. I believe this more or less accords with the policies of most other manufacturers.
- The rear sight is built into the rear striker plate, and while I was very concerned that there may be some slop (like the Steyrs, or almost any other striker-fired pistol I have laid my paws on), I'm glad to say there is not. The striker plate is very sturdily planted in place, and does not appear to be any potential threat to accuracy or consistency of sight alignment.
The two-dot setup of the sights remind me very much of a Sig pistol I used to have, except the rear sight takes on a sort of trapezoidal shape similar to the Steyrs. One would think this setup would bode well for those accustomed to shooting the Steyr traps, but to be honest, I find the rear sight somewhat distracting. This is probably just the result of lack of experience with these sights, so I am hoping they will grow on me. On the whole, they are very much like the Steyr traps, but with less "daylight" on either side of the front sight post.
- Disassembly is very much like the Steyr, but probably more similar to Glocks - two "wings" runs through the bottom of the frame, under the trigger guard. You depress both tabs down and pull the slide forward and off of the frame.
- I know published weights are out there, but I thought I might as well measure them anyway. I dropped both the Steyr and Caracal on a scale at the office (unloaded, no magazines), and the Steyr (w/ BT guide rod) weighed in at 1.55 lbs; the Caracal (with factory plastic guide rod) was 1.50 lbs.
On to my range experience, and a comparison with some guns you guys might be more familiar with...
If you disagree with any part of my assessment, don’t take it to heart – I am not a professional gunfighter or gun reviewer. What follows is only my opinion of these guns after spending a beautiful Texas afternoon at the range, turning money into smoke and noise.
I had completely forgotten to clean/lube the Caracal before heading out to the range, but fortunately, it was pretty much spotless straight out of the box. I hosed down everything with a can of Remoil, and applied a drop of Militec-1 to the frame rails, slide rails, locking lugs and top of the barrel, and then put it all back together and wiped off the excess lube. Ready to go.
For this range trip, we brought along a Steyr M9A1, Springfield Armory XD9, Glock 17 (Gen4), S&W M&P9, and the Caracal F. Excluding the new Caracal, I've have had trigger time on all of these guns except the Smith - prior to Saturday, I had only tried the M&P and M&Pc in .40S&W. I shot all of these guns back-to-back with the Caracal to get a better idea of how the Emirati gun stacked up...
Ergonomics
Ergonomics of the Caracal are extraordinarily similar to the Steyr and M&P9 - the three guns have an almost identical recoil impulse. All three guns are a joy to shoot, with minimal muzzle flip and very fast follow-up shots. If the shooter does his part and really gets behind the gun, they hardly seem to move off target between shots.
With regard to grip size and angle, the XD9 seemed to be the clunkiest of the batch with its bulbous slide and more acute angle. Perceived recoil and muzzle flip seemed to be the highest with this pistol, and it was probably the least interesting shooter on the bench. The Glock wasn’t bad, and overall size and shape of the grip seemed better than the XD, but it still ranked 4th out of the 5 in my opinion. It was just slightly slower for me to get back on target, and I think that was due to slightly more pronounced beaver tail of Steyr, Smith, and Caracal – these three just do not flip very much at all, and the shooter can get a really high grip on the frame. The Glock is still very similar, but to me, it did feel like there was a marked difference.
The Steyr has a very small and thin grip and tends to work better with shooters with regular-to-small sized hands. I really, really like the Steyr, but I do believe the Caracal and Smith have better grips. Out of the box, I think the Caracal is the most comfortable to me, but the interchangeable backstraps on the Smith are an excellent feature. I liked the medium back strap on the Smith, and when equipped, it’s hard to pick a clear winner between the two guns. I suppose the win would have to go to the Smith, if only because it is adjustable to a wider range of shooters.
Controls are similarly located on all guns. I hate to admit it, but I think the under-dog Steyr has the worst controls-layout of the "big three", owing only to its undersized controls. The slide stop can be especially hard to manipulate at times, as it’s a bit undersized compared to the rest of the group. The XD and Glock slide stops are fairly unremarkable and quite similar to the Steyr – not a lot to say here. The M&P wasn’t much better with regard to size and shape of the slide stop, but it is fully ambidextrous, and as such I would say it’s a clear winner. We all had a pretty hard time working the S&W slide stop - especially left-handed - but I believe that had a lot to do with the fact that it was a brand new gun. The Steyr we tested was definitely more “broken in”, and I believe the Smith will get easier to manipulate with time. The Caracal slide stop is a bit bigger than the Steyr and S&W, and definitely easier to activate; the Emirati shooter could have been a clear winner if the designers would have made this control ambidextrous.
The magazine release is ambidextrous on the Caracal, which I believe to be a big plus. The other pistols were setup for right-handed use, and while one or two were reversible, the ambi design of Caracal is very convenient and nicely executed. Actual location and size of the mag releases seemed to be similar for all guns and all were quite functional and unremarkable, so there isn’t much more to say here…
On the whole, I would say the M&P9 wins in the category of ergonomics, because of its ambidextrous slide stop and replaceable backstraps. The Caracal is my second favorite of the batch, but the designers really should have taken a look at the market and realized that replaceable backstraps have become the standard and this feature is really needed to compete. The Steyr ranks third on my scale, followed by the Glock. The XD comes in dead last on my scale.
Brass Ejection
We paid special attention to brass ejection during this test. A Frenchman named Edmond has posted reports on every corner of the internet, reporting wild and nearly-dangerous brass ejection from his batch of Caracal pistols – eye protection was a very serious consideration after reading his posts. I’m happy to say that my Caracal never went for any of our eyes during shooting. Ejection is definitely to the right and rearward, but nowhere near the shooter’s face. I would say the Caracal is far more consistent with its ejection pattern than any out-of-the-box Steyr I have seen – the M-A1 pistols seem to be all over the place at times, and I’ve had many-a-spent-cartridge bounce off the top of my head during range sessions in the past. The Steyrs seem to eventually settle down and flatten out, resulting in a less-erratic right-and-to-the-rear ejection pattern. I watched a few shooters fire the Caracal and Smith & Wesson side-by-side, and as far as I could tell, the ejection pattern was identical.
Triggers
All of the guns had quite serviceable triggers, and it would be really hard to complain if one were stuck with any of the 5. However, the unanimous consensus among the 8 of us in the group was that the Caracal was the clear winner. The trigger is where the Caracal really shines.
I tested the triggers of the two guns I own – the Steyr and Caracal – the day before hitting the range. My Steyr trigger has the benefit of a BigTaco polish job and delron striker cup upgrade, as well as several thousand rounds downrange and Lord-only-knows how many dry-fire pulls; the result was a consistent 5.5 lbs. break. Out of the box, the Caracal tipped the scale at an impressive 3.75 lbs. – I’m in love. This weight really does feel just about perfect to me.
The Steyr has a very short take-up distance with little spring resistance, and then a crisp, short break. Reset is a bit longer than some might like, and not at all what I might call “positive” – it’s up to the shooter to gently release the trigger in order to find that audible “click” of reset, indicating that the gun is ready to fire again.
The Caracal is much more similar to a Glock in that the trigger pull is much more “springy”. The primary difference between the Glock and Caracal is that the Glock “breaking point” is much more definitive – the Caracal is much more of a smooth pull, with little warning that it is about to break before dropping the striker. I suspect a lot of loyal Glockers will not like this characteristic of the Caracal, but my personal experience is that this smooth, “less telling” break was more conducive to better shooting. You gently squeeze the Caracal trigger while focusing on the front sight and your focus is not “disturbed” by that marked breaking point that is characteristic of the other striker-fired pistols. Trigger reset is not as positive as the Glock, but neither is it as limp as the Steyr. Reset distance is comparable to the Steyr, and there is an audible and felt click when the trigger is ready. On the whole, I would say the Caracal trigger is an almost perfect blend of the Glock and Steyr, and I am very impressed.
The M&P had a good trigger, but it was a little gritty. There are enough glowing reviews of the Apex trigger kits to make me really interested in trying one out… In stock form, I believe the XD and M&P are a bit unremarkable compared to the other 3 guns, although still perfectly good and serviceable.
Sights
I was not a fan of the rear sight on the Caracal at first, but I’m pleased to say that performance on the firing line was better than I expected. The Caracal sights are pretty easy/fast to pick up and seemed to be more than adequate for shooting at 20 yards. There really aren’t a lot of surprises in this category… I found the Steyr trapezoids to be the fastest to pick up out of the 5 guns. The three-dot setup of the XD and the M&P provided a traditional and familiar feel. The trapezoid rear sight of the Caracal combined with the “straight 8” dot pattern worked really well – fast to pick up and more than adequate at the ranges tested. The Glock “cup and ball” is what it is – simple and effective.
I find the three-dot setup to be the most comfortable personally, so if I had to pick a favorite of the 5, I would probably pick the XD/M&P. While I really like the innovative design of the Steyr trapezoids, the reality is that most of my shooting is done on a square range at bullseye targets – the faster pickup just doesn’t do a lot for me. The Caracal and Glock sights are perfectly serviceable, and as I said before, more than adequate at the ranges tested.
Performance/Reliability
This category is going to be hard to measure. There were 8 of us that showed up for the range trip and experience varied greatly – from first-time to experienced shooters. Conditions of the pistols also varied - the M&P9 and Caracal were brand new, the G17 had less than 500 rounds through it, and the XD9 and Steyr M9A1 both had somewhere north of a thousand rounds downrange. I did my best to expose the Caracal to as wide of a variety of ammunition as possible – it was fed:
(48) Monarch 115gr. FMJ (steel case)
(10) Wolf 115gr. FMJ (steel case)
(6) Winchester Ranger 127gr. +P+ JHP
(20) Remington ShurShot 115gr. FMJ
(16) Winchester Ranger 147gr. JHP
(50) 115gr. Winchester “White Box” FMJ
(50) 124gr. Winchester NATO FMJ
(50) PMC 115gr. FMJ
(50) Remington UMC 115gr. FMJ
That’s 300 rounds total. We would have fed it more, but it gets awful expensive feeding 5 guns and we all had to shoot the other plastic-fantastics, too. The Caracal gobbled up all of the FMJ ammo with zero issues, but it did not like the Winchester rangers in either weight or pressure. In both instances, multiple shooters experienced slide-lock-back with additional rounds in the magazine – I’ve never seen this before, and it was truly bizarre. This happened 3 out of 6 times with the 127gr. +P+, and one time with the 147gr. JHP. I’m not sure if the gun doesn’t like Winchester Ranger, or if it doesn’t like hollow-points in general – this will be the subject of (expensive) future testing. I really wish I would have brought along another brand of hollow-points, but I did not anticipate this weird behavior from the Emirati shooter. I am pleased that we had no hiccups with the 278 rounds of FMJ ammo, and I hope the gun continues to gobble up everything I throw through it in the future.
The G17 Gen4 choked 4 times (FTE) on 115gr. Remington UMC “yellow box”. This could be due to a couple of things… The gun has the original guide rod and spring, and I have read that many users are experiencing malfunctions due to this part (and that Glock is replacing them). Also, the shooter’s grip sucked and he was probably limp-wristing the pistol. I gave him some tips on improving his grip, and his groups immediately tightened up and he did not experience any further malfunctions.
The XD9, Steyr, and M&P all performed flawlessly. The M&P9 was fed an identical diet of FMJ that we ran through the Caracal, and was exposed to the same mix of shooters with varied experience. I did not really track who was shooting the Steyr or XD, or what they were putting through them, so I can’t really say a lot regarding the performance these last two guns (other than that no malfunctions were reported).
Magazine Capacity
There really isn’t much to say here, but in case anyone isn’t already aware: the XD9 and Steyr come standard with 15 round magazines, the M&P9 and G17 come with 17 round magazines, and the Caracal F magazine holds 18 rounds. Steyr is now shipping their M9A1 guns with 17 round magazines, but they have only been available for about a year.
Size
This is the easy part of the review. Because the Caracal was the focus, I created overlays to demonstrate the size relative to the other 4 pistols:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/red-and-blue-2.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/mp9-caracalf9.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/g17-caracalf9.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/xd9-caracalf9.jpg
We also had an H&K P2000 .40S&W laying around, so I made an overlay for that pistol, as well:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/p2k40-caracalf9.jpg
Final Thoughts
I really like the Caracal – probably even more than my Steyrs. The ergonomics, capacity, and amazing trigger provide an impressive first-showing from the Middle Eastern manufacturer. My only concern is that the Emirati shooter may not like JHP ammo, and this would be a dealbreaker as far as I’m concerned. However, because I didn’t bring along a sufficient mix of ammo along to truly test performance of defensive hollowpoints, I can’t definitively make a call one way or the other - it is entirely possible that my Caracal just doesn’t like Winchester Ranger.
I think it is really hard to compete with the Smith and Wesson M&P9. This gun really has everything going for it – ergonomics, price point, and an emerging reputation for a robust and reliable design. I believe that most shooters looking for an innovative “new” design will flock to S&W, and those that prefer a more traditional, “tried and true” alternative will purchase a Glock. That said, I think the Caracal does a fine job mirroring many of the qualities that make the S&W so attractive, and it isn’t without its own unique charms. The trigger alone is a strong selling point in my opinion, and I think the overall design will appeal to a lot of shooters. Future testing will reveal whether or not this gun will gain favor over my M9A1 – I’ll keep you guys posted on the progress as I get more rounds downrange with the Caracal.
In the meantime, I welcome any questions or comments…
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0497p.jpg
Nicely done, Syn. The Caracal's trigger, for me as well, is the greatest stand-out feature. It's nice to see a trigger like that, straight outta the box. I also like the slim feel of the grip, though I'll say it's a bit thin (sorta blade-like) for me, in the area that sits in the web of your hand. Wish it was a little rounder there, but what it really needs is a set of interchangeable back straps, like that on the M&P.
Nice review, thanks for taking the time for a write-up.
3.75 lbs trigger pull on service striker-fired pistol seems a bit too light to me.
Great review!
So far I have about 100 rounds of hollowpoint through each of the Caracals without any problems.
Forgot to ask a question: it appears that striker channel on Caracal is open at the slide back plate. Is it possible to feel the striker being cocked (with thumb of strong hand) when trigger is being pulled?
Great review. The only thing that has me wondering is your take on the slide-release, as you being a lefty experience it quite differently, as what's too small in your eyes seems to me to be fairly huge and in-the-way through my experiences as a righty who uses a modern thumbs-forward grip (speaking as far as my experience with Steyr M-A1's is concerned), from what you've described if the Caracal's slide-release is better and larger in your eyes, than it'll probably be even more problematic and intrusive to anyone whose grip is like mine (and your excellent pics seem to bear that out).
They look pretty good but honestly as a huge Steyr M-A1 fan I find myself in a word "underwhelmed" and happen to see more things that have been overlooked than improved upon. I'll probably buy one anyways just to be sure though...
Forgot to ask a question: it appears that striker channel on Caracal is open at the slide back plate. Is it possible to feel the striker being cocked (with thumb of strong hand) when trigger is being pulled?
Yes, it is open on the backplate and you can see/feel the striker being cocked. I snapped a few bad pictures that I hope illustrate:
Striker down:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0501.jpg
Striker cocked, pulling trigger:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0507.jpg
The only thing that has me wondering is your take on the slide-release, as you being a lefty experience it quite differently, as what's too small in your eyes seems to me to be fairly huge and in-the-way through my experiences as a righty who uses a modern thumbs-forward grip (speaking as far as my experience with Steyr M-A1's is concerned), from what you've described if the Caracal's slide-release is better and larger in your eyes, than it'll probably be even more problematic and intrusive to anyone whose grip is like mine (and your excellent pics seem to bear that out).
Understandable - these guns are really great because they allow you to get a high grip on the frame, but the unfortunate side-effect is that RH shooters can easily inadvertently trigger that slide stop. It does seem that the Caracal designers put some thought into this, though - they built a sort of polymer "shelf" under the slide stop lever. At the very least, this should provide tactile feedback to a RH user to remind them that they are about to "ride" that control. It is kind of hard to describe, but these pictures should clear it up:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0557.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0558.jpg
Yes, it is open on the backplate and you can see/feel the striker being cocked.
Excellent. I think this should be a standard feature on striker fired pistol that would alleviate some concerns about smaller margin of safety during reholstering.
As a heavy Glock shooter, I am really a big fan of the Caracal trigger. Best of any striker pistol I've ever shot.
Grip is great as well.
Wouldn't worry about that Gen4 not liking UMC, my 10 yr old Gen3 never ran on it either. Pretty weaksauce and the only ammo it wouldn't run on other than Speer RHT.
Thanks for the review.
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but why in the hell would they make the rear sight part of the back plate? It's goofy, without any benefit that I can see, and may hinder 3rd party sight manufacturers from jumping on board.
IMO, for this pistol to succeed against it's current competition (see Final Thoughts in post #3), they are going to have to lower their pricepoint, big.
Think HS2000 before Springfield got involved.
Also, I read about heating issues during extended shooting. Did you notice this?
eternal24k
11-12-10, 07:48
nice write up,
cheers
Nice review.
What do you think about mag catch cut in magazines? It was big problem for me.
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but why in the hell would they make the rear sight part of the back plate? It's goofy, without any benefit that I can see, and may hinder 3rd party sight manufacturers from jumping on board.
Not at all - that is a very fair concern, and I agree. But the good news is that Caracal USA has already contacted Trijicon and they were not dissuaded:
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv93/INRANGEinc/caracal/125-2574_IMG.jpg
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv93/INRANGEinc/caracal/125-2567_IMG.jpg
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv93/INRANGEinc/caracal/125-2563_IMG.jpg
Still not ideal, but not as bad as I would have expected.
IMO, for this pistol to succeed against it's current competition (see Final Thoughts in post #3), they are going to have to lower their pricepoint, big.
Think HS2000 before Springfield got involved.
Also, I read about heating issues during extended shooting. Did you notice this?
Price point is going to be a big issue - I'm a huge Bubits fanboy, but even I would scoff at anything north of $550, and I wouldn't expect the average guy on the street to be real interested unless they can get the price down to $450-500.
Heat was no more an issue with this pistol than any other comparable gun we fired that day, which is to say no problem at all. I only put 300 rounds through it, though - I will pay special attention to heat on future outings.
What do you think about mag catch cut in magazines? It was big problem for me.
I haven't noticed any issues - I'm curious what you found problematic about the setup?
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0578p.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0580p.jpg
I haven't noticed any issues - I'm curious what you found problematic about the setup?
That metal protrusion looks like a finger slicer to me.
That metal protrusion looks like a finger slicer to me.
And something to hang up in a mag pouch (my nylon duty gear comes to mind).
Syntax360...thanks for the response.
That metal protrusion looks like a finger slicer to me.
For fast magazine changes... it is. Also precludes use of soft magazine pouches and magazine "pockets" (as on several "tactical" clothing offers). :big_boss:
As to sights. During my shooting we (I tested it together with 2 friends, all of us IPSC/IDPA/3gun shooters, one active mil) found them to "tight" for fast shooting. However, when we mounted stock and foregrip (standard Caracal set for LE sales) then sights become much better, because stock moves eyes closer to rear sight. Our filing was that sights were designed with using stock in mind.
But as I wrote previously, overall impression on pistol was very good. And, no, brass was not hitting me :D
The Caracal C and F are now being sold for SteyrClub members for $550.
We just used a Caracal as a prop gun on one of the stages at our Toys for Tots charity match. Over 80 shooters each put 6 rounds through a new straight out of the box Caracal. Absolutely no problems or hiccups. Even relatively novice shooters had no problems such as limp-wristing issues. The funny thing is the grip seemed to fit virtually all shooters. We had some ham-fisted guys and they liked it, my wife has small hands and she likes it over her Sig 225. The gun was given away by random drawing after the match to one happy shooter.
Nice review! Thanks for sharing.
XD9's have a 16rd mags not 15rds btw
Following up on my initial review, I had a chance to shoot the Caracal some more a few weekends ago and did get to run some more JHP through it. The weird slide lock issue with the Winchester Ranger had me worried, so I picked up some Federal Hi-Shok JHP and Remington Golden Saber +P JHP at a gunshow before heading out to the range.
I also brought along 50 rounds of Silver Bear to function test - I have 950 more rounds of this at home, so I was really betting on this stuff working. I'm happy to report that the gun didn't miss a beat.
Next up, I fired 30 rounds of the 115 gr. Federal Hi-Shok JHP - again, no problems.
Next, I moved on to the box of 124gr. +P Remington Golden Saber JHP. It's been awhile since I've shot this stuff - I forgot how cool and distinct the muzzle flash is (almost a bright silver/white). Again, the Caracal chugged through the box with no issues. One thing I realized after I was done shooting the Remington is that they were +P - I had completely forgotten about the higher pressure rating until well after I was done shooting. Seriously, perceived recoil on this gun is comically soft.
So, back to the "problem" ammo - I loaded up a magazine of Winchester Ranger 147gr. JHP and all was well until about round #10 - the slide locked back even though there were still rounds waiting to feed. I finished up the magazine and decided not to waste any more Winchester Ranger RA9T - the gun just doesn't seem to be able to make it through a magazine of this stuff.
So, Winchester Ranger aside, this gun has been running like a top. We're at a measly 415 rounds total, but we're slowly-but-surely getting more lead down-range through the Emirati shooter. I have no intention of cleaning or lubricating this gun until it starts to choke, or I have 1000 rounds through the pipe (I'm not counting the Winchester Rangers - we know that's a problem load for this gun, so I'll have to adjust-out those 37 rounds for the final tally).
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/2010-11-290709.jpg
One big problem with this weapon system is the absence of holster availability. Caracal USA tells me that Blackhawk makes a Serpa for it, but I haven't been able to turn up a part number (or for that matter, any other evidence that such a rig exists); they also sent Blade-Tech a couple demos to work up holsters. Well, I decided to beat them to it...
I sold a pistol a few months back (actually, my very first pistol) - a SigARMS Mauser M2 .40S&W. I had a Blade-Tech UCH for it, but since I shoot south paw, I didn't think it worth giving up a decent slab of kydex to a buyer that probably would have no use for it. I sold the gun without the holster, and it's been collecting dust ever since.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/2mauser2.jpg
I remembered that holster last night and decided to use a truly excellent tutorial (http://www.steyrclub.com/vb/threads/2602-Procedure-For-Forming-Kydex) to modify my existing UCH to work with the Caracal F. I fired up the toaster oven and stripped the hardware from the holster and popped it in. After about 2 minutes @ 350 degrees, the holster was a pretty malleable sheet of burning hot kydex; I wrapped the Caracal between the hot kydex and placed the whole thing between a few pillows with some weight on top. After a few minutes, I had a pretty decent form, but it needed some tweaking.
I used a heat gun today to reshape a few parts of the rig, and after about 5 minutes I had a nearly perfect holster:
Caracal F on top with modified UCH, Steyr M9A1 on bottom with factory UCH:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/pDSC_0617.jpg
The jury is still out on this gun, but if it makes it through the 1,000+ round challenge I'm putting together in 2 weeks, I just might retire my Steyr M9A1 from its position as my dedicated CCW. Anyway, here's some more shots:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/pDSC_0620.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/pDSC_0618.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/pDSC_0619.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0622.jpg
Nice way to take matters into your own hands, Syn! That actually looks a little bit like an AIWB I've been working on (back burner project). Hey, I like your background art, too! :cool:
CaracalUSA
12-22-10, 12:51
Caracal Serpa
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv93/INRANGEinc/caracal/serpaholster.jpg
Is anyone doing torture tests on the Caracal F or C? I really want to get one but I really want to know that this handgun will hold up with my M&Ps. Unfortunately I do not know anyone in my area (Southwest Arizona) that has one so I can handle it and shoot it. The only comprehensive report was Syntax's from the batch that is in the USA and I have not seen a single other worth looking. I don't even know of any dealer carrying them in AZ.
Thank you for your time.
CaracalUSA
12-29-10, 20:24
We are trying to get some to that area. Also we are on the cover of Small Arms Review this month with a feature article as well. They got the first Caracal F registered as an SBR. Most of the large bookstore carry it.
Also look for it in Combat Handguns around May. S.W.A.T. magazine should be in the first quarter and Shotgun News is coming up too!!
Thanks for your interest!!!
OK, gentlemen - I'm overdue for an update. I had intended to blow through a case of ammo the first week of January, but things didn't pan out quite the way I wanted. The good news is I have a stockpile of ammo waiting to be run through the Caracal; the bad news is I haven't hit the 1,000 round marker yet. At last count we were at 415 rounds...
The Caracal got to see some range time during the first week of January. Rather than breakdown exactly what we shot, I'm going to update the original round count totals:
(350) 115gr. Silver Bear FMJ (steel case)
(48) Monarch 115gr. FMJ (steel case)
(10) Wolf 115gr. FMJ (steel case)
(20) Remington ShurShot 115gr. FMJ
(50) Remington UMC 115gr. FMJ
(50) PMC 115gr. FMJ
(50) 124gr. Winchester NATO FMJ
(50) 115gr. Federal Hi-Shok JHP (9BP)
(20) 124gr. +P Remington Golden Saber JHP
(100) 115gr. Winchester "White Box" FMJ
Total: 748 rounds
So far, no cleaning, oiling, or malfunctions with any ammunition - except Winchester Ranger (as discussed earlier, slide-lock on loaded magazine - tested Ranger has been removed from round counts). I am quite pleased with this pistol thus far.
And since no update is complete without some gun porn...
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Hico%202011/pDSC_0050.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Hico%202011/pDSC_0052.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Hico%202011/pDSC_0053.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0635.jpg
The next update will be after 1k, probably when I tear it down to clean it.
Hey CaracalUSA, I could really use a threaded barrel for this thing - any update on when you guys might cook those up? I'd like to see how this gun runs with my Evo-9...
Got any pics of the internals?
Got any pics of the internals?
This is classic, given the last picture posted...
This is classic, given the last picture posted...
didn't mean it like that. :o
crazymoose
05-27-11, 02:54
Not to resurrect an old thread, but here is a bit of pertinent information regarding the Caracal's finish: Plasox is the name for a plasma-based (as opposed to gaseous or liquid bath) ferritic nitrocarburization process. Theoretically, this should yield an Fe2O4 surface layer very similar to that produced by Tenifer or Melonite, with similar durability. This process also does not produce hazardous byproducts.
Sorry to bump an older thread, but the article that I wrote about the Caracal is now available free in an online version of SWAT magazine.
You can use the arrow keys on your keyboard to make the pages bigger or smaller, as well as the wheel on your mouse. You can left click with your mose to move the article around to be able to read different parts after you expanded it to areadable size.
Note, I did not select the title of the article, the editorial staff did.
http://digital.swatmag.com/SWAT/2011/SWAT1106/?Page=80
Gentlemen, I have been shooting one of these pistols for the past month. I have put over 1200 rounds through it without a hitch, using four different kinds of ammo. I also participated in the Caracal USA match in Oak Ridge a while back, where we ran guns so hot, we put them in coolers so we could handle them, and they never failed. I personally got to help confirm zero on about 20 of the pistols, and they were all spot on. This pistol has a trigger that is lighter than a stock Glock 17, and holds one more round. I really love the high hand to bore axis it provides. Here is a link where the F and C models are available that also provides pics and technical data:
http://shootersconnectionstore.com/Double-Action-Pistol--C351.aspx
Nice first post......
Until there are aftermarket sights available i wouldnt even begin to consider this pistol.
Until there are aftermarket sights available i wouldnt even begin to consider this pistol.
And this can be a problem...
Larry Vickers
06-14-11, 07:12
The kind folks at Caracal USA sent me one of these to try out- here are my first impressions;
Overall excellent build quality
Very nice trigger - best one on a polymer gun I have tried
Sights definitely need improvement - Caracal USA is aware of this
Slide stop is just that; not a slide release
In general I am impressed with the Caracal - with a few tweaks it could be a player in the polymer field
This was just my 2 cents on an excellent review
Cheers
Larry Vickers
The kind folks at Caracal USA sent me one of these to try out- here are my first impressions;
Overall excellent build quality
Very nice trigger - best one on a polymer gun I have tried
Sights definitely need improvement - Caracal USA is aware of this
Slide stop is just that; not a slide release
In general I am impressed with the Caracal - with a few tweaks it could be a player in the polymer field
This was just my 2 cents on an excellent review
Cheers
Larry Vickers
Hi Larry,
How would you compare the Caracal's accuracy with a Glock 17/19?
Thanks Larry!
Slide stop is just that; not a slide release.
I am wondering if they changed the slide release from the ones that I was sent to review to a lower profile one, because the ones I received defenitely had an extension to serve as a slide release.
Here are some quick pictures that I just snapped of the Compact Caracal.
First from the side view:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m115/edagain/caracal1.jpg
Then from the top:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m115/edagain/caracal2.jpg
While this might not represent everyone's idealized slide release, there is definitly something to hit with your finger to release the slide and I had no issues with this aspect.
eternal24k
06-14-11, 16:43
Larry,
out of curiosity, which flavor of the Caracal did you sample? Full size I assume?
Hi Larry,
How would you compare the Caracal's accuracy with a Glock 17/19?
I am not Larry, but neither myself, nor Wayne Dobbs (who is a much better shooter than I am) found that either Caracal grouped as tightly as a Glock 17 or 19. To be able to really compare the Glock and the Caracal, I would need to have the same sights on both guns.
Depending on sights, I have seen a significant differance in how accurately I shoot Glocks. I few years ago I came very close to selling a Gen2 Glock 17 to a friend, but instead switched the Meprolight three Dots to a set of Trjicon 3 dots and immediately changed my mind.
I am not Larry, but neither myself, nor Wayne Dobbs (who is a much better shooter than I am) found that either Caracal grouped as tightly as a Glock 17 or 19. To be able to really compare the Glock and the Caracal, I would need to have the same sights on both guns.
Depending on sights, I have seen a significant differance in how accurately I shoot Glocks. I few years ago I came very close to selling a Gen2 Glock 17 to a friend, but instead switched the Meprolight three Dots to a set of Trjicon 3 dots and immediately changed my mind.
I have Meps on my G19. Maybe i should switch?
I seem to be almost hypersensitive to sights in the way it effects my performance. I could certainly shoot the gun okay with the meprolights and they would be fine in the day when I was happy to get all my shots in the chest of a silhouette at 25 yards, but not whwn I want to keep all my shots in the head at 25 yards.
I also had an experience with my M&P when I switched from a 10-8 rear with a .125 notch to a Warren rear. Again my shooting went downhill noticably. I tend to shoot best with the three dot trijicons or a 10-8 rear with a .125 notch and a .125 front of the right height.
A few folks had asked for some pictures of the pistol disassembled - I finally got around to putting together a complete tear-down tutorial that can be found over at SteyrClub (http://www.steyrclub.com/vb/threads/8753-Caracal-F-Complete-Disassembly). I'll spare you guys the full pictorial, but here are a few shots detailing the fully-stripped gun:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/DSC_0022.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/250.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/450.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/Syntax360/Caracal%20F/600.jpg
eternal24k
07-27-11, 08:12
it's a good looking design. Thanks for sharing.
it's a good looking design. Thanks for sharing.
It is a sleek looking pistol. Much more attractive to me than the PPQ. Though I believe the PPQ will be my next 9mm handgun purchase.
first ,thanks alot, synt for the overview, great insights and tutorials.
it appears that the designer(bubbits) combined the best of all other poly guns ,to a one slick looking pistol.
my only beef with it so far is the sights system.
first ,thanks alot, synt for the overview, great insights and tutorials.
it appears that the designer(bubbits) combined the best of all other poly guns ,to a one slick looking pistol.
my only beef with it so far is the sights system.
The lack of night sights needs to be rectified.
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