By Chris Dumm
Hold the presses! There’s a new polymer-framed, striker-fired double-stack 9mm with a revolutionary design that will take the handgun market by storm!
I know what you’re thinking: “How can I live without another plastic wondernine? I’ll be sure to rush out and buy it, as soon as I finish handloading a few thousand rounds of .25 ACP and vacuuming the garage.” After spending some major trigger time with the Caracal and its funky Quick Sights, I wouldn’t be too quick to dismiss it as a gimmick.
Overview
Farago and I were intrigued fascinated by this sleek Arab/German pistol and its funky sights when we got to shoot it at the SHOT Show, and we resorted to desperate measures to line up a test sample. Our ‘Amber Alert’ stunt (okay, that’s what it was) quickly bore fruit, thanks to the quick reflexes of Scott O’Brien of Caracal USA. After doing the FFL paperwork shuffle, your correspondent was soon pouring lead downrange with one of the quickest-handling 9mms he’s ever fired.
Design
Even if you haven’t been keeping up with our previews, amber alerts, and video updates since January, you’ll instantly notice that the Caracal looks a whole lot like the Steyr M9 series. This is a no-brainer, since both were designed by Austrian engineer Wilhelm Bubitz.
In a nutshell, Herr Bubitz took a standard Glock design and chopped it like a custom ’49 Mercury. He moved the bore axis about as low as it can go, with the goal of directing the gun’s recoil impulse straight backward instead of upward. He also moved the grip forward and the slide rearward, which minimized the pistol’s dimensions and improves balance.
In the following photos, I’ll compare the geometry and dimensions of the compact Caracal 9c to the SIG/Sauer P250 Subcompact, mostly because that’s the only other smallish 9mm I’ve got kicking around my gun safe at the moment.
Here’s a comparison of their bore heights. Just how low can the Caracal do the Wilhelm Bubitz limbo? That’s the Caracal is on the left, and the SIG on the right. These equal-scale photos illustrate that the Caracal’s bore is almost a half-inch closer to the web of your thumb.
This pic compares their overall length of the two different guns. Herr Bubitz moved the grip forward under the Caracal’s slide, with a deep beavertail rear that eliminates any possibility of slide bite. As a bonus, this shape also dissuades new (or poorly-instructed) shooters from trying to cross their thumbs behind the slide.
The Caracal’s design features represent the cutting edge of semi-automatic pistol design. The low bore axis keeps muzzle flip to a minimum, and the rearward position of the slide over the grip gives the gun exceptionally fine balance. Think of it as the handgun equivalent of a mid-engined car: it puts the center of control (the grip and trigger) much closer to the center of mass of the pistol, and the end result is some exceptionally quick handling.
These design features also make the Caracal C very compact for its barrel length and magazine capacity: the 15+1 round Caracal C is only 0.1 inches taller than the 12+1 round P250 Subcompact, but it’s also 0.1 inches shorter in length and 0.1 ounces lighter. I’ve probably made the point by now that this is a really compact gun. Now what about the other details of the design?
The polymer grips are aggressively styled and textured, but don’t be put off if they look a bit like the sole of a Nike basketball shoe. All five of our shooters gave the Caracal high marks for comfort and natural pointing. The grips are only 1.2 inches thick, so even my little sister had no trouble getting a secure, comfortable shooting hold.
The carbon steel slide is blued with a very smooth satin finish, and our tester showed the scratches and apparent holster wear of being well used. One of the design’s few ‘issues’ is that the slide is very slick and the cocking serrations are a little too small to provide a really confident gripping surface.
Exactly how much of an ‘issue’ is this? Not too much; it’s easier to rack a Caracal than a Browning Buckmark, but not as easy as the blocky, rougher-finished slide of a Glock, Springfield or M&P. You’ll find yourself using those rather petite cocking serrations to release the slide, since the Caracal’s slide release was extremely difficult to use.
As this picture shows, the slide release is fairly prominent and well-placed, but our tester’s button was so stiff that it generally required the full attention and best efforts of both of my thumbs at the same time to press it down.
The Caracal went to slide lock with 100% reliability when the magazine ran empty, so this lever seems to function perfectly as a slide stop. As a slide release, not so much. I found myself using the trendy ‘slingshot’ method, which I’m too lazy to employ when I’ve got a functional slide release handy.
The Caracal features ambidextrous magazine release buttons. They’re grooved along their front surfaces and well dehorned to avoid snagging, and they were easy to engage with the thumb of the shooting hand.
The Caracal 9c’s 15-round magazines do their job perfectly: they fit tightly and drop free from the pistol, and more importantly they feed cartridges into the chamber with monotonous reliability. They have one odd feature worth noting, however: a sharp-edged square tab on their front surface.
The square tab (pictured above, stuck against the lip of the De Santis mag carrier) doesn’t present a danger of slicing your fingers, since no normal reloading drill involves gripping the upper part of the magazine. It does present a challenge, though, when it comes to selecting a magazine carrier accessory, since the Caracal’s mag won’t fit inside most ‘standard’ double-stack magazine carriers.
The tab also presents a possible weakness in the magazine’s design, because it engages the pistol’s magazine catch. It’s small and exposed to damage, and while I didn’t test this theory by mangling it, I’m pretty sure that the magazine will be ruined if the tab is bent or broken.
All of the Caracal’s other parts simply ooze quality and careful manufacture, but its polymer recoil spring guide rod doesn’t seem to be long for this world. It’s the only part that seems to be almost worn out, as opposed to merely broken in, on our well-used tester.
Takedown
The Caracal tears down with the same insanely simple procedure that its cousin the Steyr M9 uses. After you drop the magazine and clear the chamber, you point the gun in a safe direction (can’t be too careful) and pull the trigger. After you pull down on the takedown lever (inside the trigger guard) the slide just pulls forward off the frame. Pull the recoil spring and barrel, and you’re ready to get cleaning.
Reassembly is even easier: Put the slide assembly on the frame and rack it. That’s it; you’re done.
Trigger
The Caracal’s Glock-style safety trigger looks great on paper, with a short 4.0 pound pull and a short, crisp reset. We were disappointed when it didn’t quite live up to the slick, sleek handling the rest of the gun displayed. The pull is slightly vague and creepy, and we were surprised that it took a distant second-place to the excellent trigger on Joe Grine’s Steyr M9.
I’m really picky when it comes to triggers, and our Caracal’s bangswitch just didn’t impress me. It isn’t bad, but it doesn’t do the Caracal any favors in the accuracy department and it doesn’t live up to the refinement that the rest of the pistol generally shows. All in all it felt like a lighter Gen1 or Gen2 Glock trigger, and those triggers were a major reason I never really liked Glocks that much.
Other reviewers (including Larry Vickers) have praised the Caracal’s trigger, so it’s possible that our tester doesn’t represent the breed in this regard. I can only review what I can shoot, however, and our Caracal’s trigger is a bit disappointing.
Handling/Ergonomics
The Caracal has no decocker, manual safety or external hammer, so it’s ridiculously simple to operate. Our tester didn’t come with an owner’s manual, but the manual of arms could be printed in 20-point type on one side of a business card:
- Insert loaded magazine.
- Rack the slide.
- Aim and fire.
- Repeat as desired/necessary.
Just as engineer Bubitz hoped, the low bore axis does indeed keep muzzle flip to an absolute minimum. Combined with the 4.0-pound safety trigger, the Caracal C’s rate of reasonably aimed fire can be amazing even in the hands of a non-professional shooter.
In this obligatory mag dump video, I was aiming at a small (and barely visible) roller target about 30 yards off, and I ended up shooting a little high. At more practical-sized targets at defensive ranges, the Caracal puts lead on target like a machine pistol.
…Now About Those Sights
Everything else about the Caracal 9c is all well and good (well, really good) but it was the unique ‘Quick Sighting System’ (shown above) which fascinated us from the get-go, and made us want this gun bad.
The Quick Sight system enlarges the rear sight notch and moves it forward to just ahead of the ejection port. While it looks almost freakish at first, this system demonstrated two major advantages for us in testing, and one possible drawback.
On the plus side, these sights are really fast to line up on target, and it’s easy for older eyes like mine to keep both the front and rear in focus while aiming. ‘Minute of bad guy’ accuracy was instant and instinctive.
I know, another ‘Chris Dumm Hat-Cam’ video doesn’t prove anything quantitatively, but trust us: these sights are fast, and very easy to use.
Which brings me to the Quick Sight’s drawback: a very short sighting radius. 1.8 inches isn’t a whole lot of sighting length; even the most babyish Baby Browning or snubbiest snubnose J-Frame will double that and then some. How does that affect accuracy? I was just getting to that…
Accuracy
The Caracal was dynamite when it came to snap-shooting. But slowing down for carefully aimed shooting didn’t produce particularly impressive results on paper.
This 2-inch group was something of an aberration: it was by far the best group the Caracal gave us. It was shot with Remington Green Box 115-grain FMJs, but other Green Box groups were horrendously bad, and we didn’t notice clear changes in accuracy when we tested the Caracal with different loads. Unlike the closely-related Steyr M9 (which simply won’t function with many types of ammo) the Caracal isn’t sensitive to ammo variations.
This group, shot with Wolf/Tulammo 115 grain, was more typical of the Caracal’s performance. Even from the same shooter, groups didn’t consistently pattern in the same area of the target, and vertical stringing was common.
The Caracal’s accuracy was particularly unimpressive when compared to the Steyr M9, whose excellent trigger and precise (but not exceptionally fast) trapezoidal sights produced excellent groups if you fed it the right ammo.
Functioning
The Caracal doesn’t care what you feed it or how often you clean it. It just keeps running. I fed it a mixed diet of handloads, steel-cased Tulammo, Remington Green Box and some Fiocchi hollowpoints and it never even burped.
Several different shooters of varying skill levels (myself, Joe Grine, a former competitive shooter, a teenage boy with no 9mm experience beyond Call Of Duty, and a woman who’d never handled a pistol in her life) each fired at least 50 rounds through it, and it didn’t give up even a single limp-wrist jam.
I cleaned it once after 150 rounds, and through a course of over 700 rounds the Caracal experienced exactly one failure: one round of steel-cased Tulammo that proved to be an inert dud. The Caracal did its duty and gave the primer a solid dent, but nothing (even five runs through a double-action SIG) could set the damned thing off.
(Oddly, this is the only bad round of Tulammo I’ve ever encountered out of nearly 2,000 rounds in various calibers. But that’s another review for another day.)
If our test gun is any indication, the Caracal 9c is a supremely dependable pistol.
Summary
This pistol sets a new benchmark for balance and controllability, while maintaining perfect reliability and acceptable (if unimpressive) accuracy. This is an amazing accomplishment for a relatively new design, and I’m not exaggerating that I think it could be a real game-changer in the automatic pistol world. The Quick Sight system appears to trade off some accuracy in favor of outstanding speed, but the end result is still as accurate as many comparably-priced 9mms.
Specifications: Caracal 9c 9mm Pistol
Caliber: 9x19mm (9mm Parabellum)
Type: Magazine-fed, locked breech short recoil semiautomatic
Magazine Capacity: 15+1
Trigger: Striker-action safety trigger; no second-strike capability
Sights: fixed Quick Sights
Weight: 25 oz. empty, with magazine
Trigger: 4.0 lbs. pull weight, 0.4″ trigger pull, 0.3″ trigger reset
Width: 1.1″ (slide), 1.2″ (grip), 1.24″ (slide release)
Height: 4.75″ from magazine floorplate to top of slide
Length: 7.2″ overall
Barrel: 3.5″
Ratings (Out Of Five Stars)
Accuracy * * *
Not the best of breed among compact 9mms, but accurate enough.
Reliability * * * * *
One dud round away from a perfect game.
Ergonomics * * * *
Comfortable grips and controls, quick handling and nearasdammit zero muzzle flip.
Customize This * *
You can hang anything within reason from the rail, but holster and gear options are limited.
Overall Rating * * * *
A slightly better trigger, a working slide release, and slightly better accuracy will put you in 9mm heaven. Keep an eye out for the Caracal in the near future, and test one for yourself if you can.
Spray some **Hoppes #9 Dri-Lube** into the striker area. I’ve had problems with standard lubes making the trigger pull less smoother–the Dri-Lube makes the pull buttery smooth.
CRC Power Lube
Multi-Purpose-Lubricant
Ohhhh My Goodness…That Lubricant Is ALL You WILL EVER NEED.
sounds like it’s a pistol meant to be utilized effectively (for a handgun) for security forces with little training – kind of like a “take a class once, carry it and forget about it” while still allowing them to hit man-sized targets at ten yards if the situation calls for it.
since most of my handgunning is slow, carefully aimed shots at the range, i’ll probably pass on this one. plus, does anyone besides me have a hang-up with carrying a pistol with “made in the UAE” printed on the side of it – or am i just “rayciss?”
I see nothing “rayciss” here. You are just excersing your right to not send your money to an area of the world, that wants to destroy US! I whole heartedly agree about NOT sending my money there. Just as I could never understand the norinco craze. Commie gun, built by slave labor, for which stupid people plunked down good YANKEE dollars. All this did was increase chinee economy.
Folks in the UAE don’t want to destroy us – they just want us to drive big-ass American-made “F-950” pick-up trucks instead of a Prius.
Divide and conquer my friend. The Emiratis that stand to profit off this joint venture with a German company are not the same ones crying for jihad. The guys behind this venture are beholden to globalization and have a lot to lose (up to and including their heads) if Taliban-esque theocracy takes power.
Put another way, the merchants that are cutting deals with the Germans to sell guns to Americans have interests that are much more closely aligned with ours than with their radical co-religionists.
What’s the matter – is the UAE a bit too upscale for you? Honestly, Dubai makes the U.S. feel like the third world. Hell, the Dubai cops even drive BMW 5 series patrol cars.
It may appear upscale, but sometimes that’s just skin deep.
http://gizmodo.com/5857475/without-trucks-the-tallest-building-in-the-world-would-become-the-tallest-mountain-of-poop
It certainly makes it easier to appear ritzy when you utilize slave labor. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2006/11/dark_side_of_du/ I wonder if the folks that manufacture the caracal pistols drive bmws.
If the UAE makes nice with Jews (e.g., not banning Israeli passport-holders), AND the Caracal is issued in a >105mm barrel version (or Canada changes the stupid laws) I’d consider buying one. The ergonomics look good, and I imagine the Emiratis–who can afford the best–would not build a crappy gun.
I have say that I left our shooting session VERY impressed with the Caracal. The forward-deployed rear sight really does make a huge difference when it comes to the speed in which you can acquire the target – much more so than I ever would have imagined. Also, the pistol looks and feels very small in person, perhaps more so than I would have thought just seeing it in pictures. I think the Caracal may just be my next carry gun (If I can ever find one in the local gunstores.).
I have not fired it enough to have any definitive opinions on its accuracy, other than to say that it is accurate enough to fill its role as a carry gun. Certainly, I would not let any concerns over accuracy cause me not to purchase this gun.
In addition, I was not nearly as taken aback by the trigger as Chris apparently was. In fact, I preferred it to the typical Glock 5 lb trigger. Perhaps its not as sweet as the Steyr M9’s trigger, but its more than good enough to serve the role it was intended to fill. To each his own, I guess. I watched Chris shoot nickel-sized groups with the DAO-triggered Sig 250, but I could not shoot that thing worth a damn.
The only negative for me was the annoyingly small slide release. I remember thinking the same thing about Glocks back in the day – until various companies started producing after-market “extended” slide releases which solved the problem. Caracal should get ahead of the game and start making their own version asap.
Nice write up and review
“The only negative for me was the annoyingly small slide release.”
I never heard of a “slide release.” What’s that? Are you referring to the “slide stop”?
The “slide stop” should not be used on defensive pistols to release the slide as that is a fine motor skill.
Under the extreme stress of a gunfight, your ability to control small muscles, such as those in the fingers, greatly diminish and you won’t be able to feel your extremities. Finding and manipulating the small slide stop will be extremely difficult when your “fingers turn to flippers” (as James Yeager of Tactical response puts it) “If you can’t do it with mittens on, you won’t be able to do it under stress” is another good analogy.
The gross motor skill of grabbing the slide with your hand from behind the ejection port is the best method of racking the slide.
Additionally, when you pull the slide back and release it, you get an increase of approx 10% of spring pressure over releasing the slide stop, due to the extra spring compression.
Yes, slide stop, Thank you.
“Under the extreme stress of a gunfight, your ability to control small muscles, such as those in the fingers, greatly diminish and you won’t be able to feel your extremities.”
How many gun fights have you been in?
Its not about experience in gunfight to know, that stuff is already known and applied in training for the reasons Rabbi stated…Tactical Response and I.C.E. training, probably two of the top in defensive pistol instruction, both teach to use the overhand method to rack slide into battery. Rob Pincus of I.C.E. actually has a video on youtube with a caracal as well, and shows the proper way with it 😉
So can you explain to me what a trigger press is? If under stress you can work a trigger to make effective hits on targets, you can hit a slide release. That fine motor skills thing is BS, train by using the slide release and your brain will use it under stress.
This is correct. We train to use the slide release, which is just that on many pistols, per the manufacturers. It has advantages in speed and keeping the pistol pointed toward the target. Most good modern pistols will never malfunction as a result of using the slide release to release the slide. Everyone in Israel uses this method, for example, and they find no issue with reliability or with being able to do it under stress. Just use your support thumb to release the slide, because using your firing thumb to release it can result in releasing it prematurely under stress, leaving you with an empty chamber.
Rabbi – Squeezing, or pulling the trigger as the case may be in a ‘gunfight’ is utilizing these small muscles you cite. Regarding your confusion with the nomenclature, allow me to clarify. It’s a ‘slide stop’ when it locks the slide back after the last round has been fired. It’s a ‘slide release’ when a new mag is inserted and the thumb is then used to actuate it, chambering a new round. Perhaps it could also be called a ’round chambering lever’ at that.
Incidentally I trained to use the slide release instead of racking the slide with my other hand.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Slide “stop” is exactly what it is. I am retired from a state police agency but I’m amazed at the number of youtube videos and training etc using it as a slide release! There are two reasons why – the “fingers turn to flippers” is a good analogy, but when you physically rack that slide back, it’s simply better training, not only are you performing that critical operation, – over and over, but the casing seats better, and you’re not relying on a tiny piece of metal for a life saving operation- Slide stop….. Not slide release- rack the slide every time…. Makes sense. -And I’ve survived one gunfight by the way… Thanks
Joe:
How about a review of your Steyr M-9 with additional comments about the newest versions of other Steyr models?
From what I have read, Steyr bungled their debut to the US market a few years ago. As a result, their products are hard to find and there isn’t much aftermarket support (e.g. holsters) for them. This is a pity since, when they work properly, they appear to be great to shoot.
Hi Kendahl: Here’s a link to what I have written so far: http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/03/joe-grine/gun-review-steyr-m9a1/
I’m still in the process of testing it – it seems to be a little bit of a diva: for example, it choked on Tulammo that Chris’s buddy was running through it. However, Its been feeding federal and Winchester white box at 100%. Stay tuned for updates.
Thanks, Joe. I’ll be watching for your next update.
I took my M9-A1 to hell and back going through thousands of random ammo ( at the very least 100 rounds per day 4 days a week for 3+years ) and it’s begging to go back . It might just out last me . Maybe I got one of the exception piece but,I hope somebody else can experience the comforting reliability of my M9-A1 .
DBLTP
I took my M9-A1 to hell and back going through thousands of random ammo ( at the very least 100 rounds per day 4 days a week for 3+years ) and it’s begging to go back . It might just out last me . Maybe I got one of the exception piece but, I hope somebody else can experience the comforting reliability of my M9-A1 .
DBLTP
price???
I paid $430 for mine in mid-May….
1. I wonder if the super-low axis helps with preventing limp-wrist related failures.
2. Why do you have to pull the trigger to disassemble it? Is that something inherent to striker fired pistols?
It’s the way the linkage between the trigger and striker is built. Lots of guns use the Glock method of trigger-pull to disengage it. The Smith & Wesson M&P on the other hand has a little lever in the magazine well that you push down manually (with the included tool in the backstrap) instead of pulling the trigger to disengage. When you insert a magazine in the M&P, it pushes that lever back up and reengages it.
And on an xd you have a takedown lever and need to pull the trigger
I must say, I’m very intrigued. Would love some trigger time with one.
How snag prone are the rear sights since the sit so far forward?
I didn’t have a holster to fit the Caracal, but I don’t think the Quick Sights could snag on anything.
We offer a full line of holsters for the Caracal. The sights do not snag in any style of holster we have. The design of the pistol leads to nice, smooth draws.
Caracal pistols are scheduled to be delivered to wholesalers at the end of April, so look for them at your favorite firearms retailers on or before 01 May 2012. If your local retailer does not have them in stock, ask them to contact a TALO member firearms wholesale distributor.
MSRP on Standard F and C models will be $499.00
MSRP on the Quick Site models will be $519.00
I expect lower actual prices, YMMV.
I think sights are always a trade off between speed and precision. Hard to have both.
Nice review. I personally love the little slide lock because I never use mine and bump the Glocks enough that it closes on the last round frequently.
Nice review. It looks like that pistol is a hoot to shoot.
Question: did you upgrade to Direct HD or did you switch to cable?
We cut the cable two years ago, and I’ve been waiting for my chance to publicly and literally trash DirecTV. $90 a month to watch TV shows? They’ve gotta be joking!
the sights seem to me a lot like the shotgun mount advantage tactical sights. not a triangle, but similar acquisition.
how long before someone builds these sights as a replacement? drive out old front and rear sights, drop in new lowpro caracal style…
I had a chance to fire a few mags through this pistol at Shotshow, I was quite impressed. The Fast Acquisition Sights are also what caught my attention as well. When I picked this pistol up and aimed in; the sights are just right there! As far as the trigger, I thought it was pretty good. BTW- great review Chris!
That thing is ugly as hammered dog crap.
My son Joe served with Commanche Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division…Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006-2007, Tal Afar and Kirkuk, Iraq. He made it back, barely. RIP Casey Zilman Apache Troop, KIA May 24, 2007.
I’d never buy anything from the Arab world, other than gasoline since I have no choice in that matter. Just call me Infidel.
Cue old fogy’s and racists whining about buying things from Japan, Germany, Canada, England, Mexico, and every other country that’s not “Amurrica!”
Your son was not in the UAE and even if he had been, he would still be the invader going in to murder people in their homes over a difference in religion / skin color – that would make HIM the bad guy, not the people fighting off the foreign invaders.
Totenglocke, I hope a badger eats your damn testicles.
I’m stealing this quote…to good to not “borrow”..tho I basically agree with Totenglocke’s thinking.
I’ve no tolerance for racism , bigotry and prejudice yet agree one should spend their hard earned coin wherever and however they choose.
Should have read 4th Cavalry Regiment 3-4 Cav
The UAE has provided basing and logistical support to our armed forces for the last two decades. The economic and political success of moderate Muslim nations like the UAE and Turkey (another major producer of firearms for the U.S. domestic market) can be a positive example to other Muslim societies, showing them the tangible benefits of eschewing fanaticism and medieval Islamic fundamentalism.
Spot on, and add Oman to the list. We spent around a week in Dubai restocking and repairing on our way back to the Gulf of Aden.
Compact size, low recoil and good, fast sights? I think I know what to get my Mom on her next birthday.
Where can I buy one?
This is a new brand but holsters are available, I’ve bought two: a Ghost and HT.
I wouldn’t buy one…I’ll stick to polymer 9mm guns made in the good ‘ole US of A, thank you. S&W and Springfield’s are my choice.
Croatia?
Hi! I wanted to say that your review was spot-on with my experience with this gun. I am a Wife and Mom of 4, I grew up with a daddy that took me to shooting ranges and hunting instead of the mall. We’ll just say that I know a thing or two about guns. My husband is an enthusiast as well.
Anyway, My husband and I went shopping for me to get a gun that I was comfortable with handling. I have small hands and don’t care for heavy recoil. After months of shopping, we bought the Caracal 9mm. I love it. It is perfect for my grip and has a smooth recoil, I was amazed at how quickly I could re-align the sights. I like the smaller slide-stop and it is easy for me to reach the mag release button. However, just like you found in your review, the accuracy leaves a little to be desired…
I am proud to say that I have great shooting accuracy and have shot almost every pistol on the market. The Glock 17 9mm is my next favorite. I have playfully competed against 2 marines, an army veteran and many competetive men (including my sore-loser of a husband :)) and blown all of them out of the water with my speed and accuracy. I found myself very frustrated with the Caracal’s seemingly random grouping placements. Of course, I don’t think I’d have any problems hitting my intended target, center-mass, in a self-defense situation. It is perfect for anyone with smaller hands that prefer double-stack to single. As for accessories, I found a soft leather universal holster that fits it nicely, I tried out a laser sight but it didn’t improve the accuracy much. I did have a problem when I took it to a gun show to look into trading it and no one had ever heard of it and weren’t interested in it.
All-in-all, I think this would make a great self-defense weapon for any female, especially those with limited to no experience handling pistols. However, I have refined taste and don’t need a “beginner” pistol. Also, I am too picky about my accuracy to ever be 100% satisfied with this pistol.
Just a girl’s point of view…. 🙂
I am a new owner of Caracal C QS. I live in Pakistan. In our country guns get very pricey due to lot of duty and taxes paid. You cant imagine what I have paid for this gun and others that I own. So far I just have issues with the plastic guide rod and the flimsy spring it has. I was shocked to see this poor quality manufacturing in this gun. The author of the above post has also pointed out this issue. Frankly, Caracal has turned me off with its quality. I recently bought a Stoeger 9mm FT-8000 which shows some real class in its manufacturing. My question to you Gun Guru’s out there is that how long will this spring and plastic guide last? what can I do about it now, where can get better quality replacements.
@ICE-T
I’m from Pakistan too and thinking of replacing my Cougar with a Caracal C. However, as the reviewer has pointed out, I’m skeptical of it’s reliability over a longer duration. At least with the Cougar I can be sure it will go bang everytime and last me a good couple of thousand rounds at the least.
Good review. BUT it is NOT a slide release it is a slide stop. That may or may not find itself as a significant difference to you, or it may seem as nitpicky semantics, but the Caracal was designed as a fighting pistol and the ability to lock the slide effectively stems from a need to clear a potential malfunction. “Releasing” the slide is best done by powerstroking or sling shotting the slide ( I am sure that you are absolutely on board with that methodology). That being said the design of the slide stop on the Caracal has been optimized for lifting and locking the slide rather than pushing down and releasing it.
I think the review kind of sucks. Too much trying to be funny makes the review sound like ass kissing rather than objective. How does one do a proper comparison if one of the guns to be used has an issue with its sights? Kind of like an automobile comparison when one of the cars is out of alignment, especially for the handling part of the review. This is a flawed comparison.
>>>>> IMPORTANT NOTICE <<<<<<
Some Caracal C and F pistols have been recalled by the manufacturer for a serious safety issue:
http://www.caracal.ae/
nnn
Great write up! I just got this pistol and took it to the range today… I think it really does have less felt recoil then any other pistol i have shot because of the grip design. Here is a video of me shooting it if you want to check it out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Zh8r5DMQE
It is a slide stop. Not a slide release. That is why it is small.
I bought a caracal c and loved every minute of owning it. Sadly however they have recalled all caracal c pistols due to some issue with the trigger and the slide. They’re sending me a box to ship it back to get a refund :-(.
They’ll be releasing new models next year to replace the C, I may give them another chance but who knows. I won’t be waiting that long to get a new compact 9mm pistol.
these were supposed to have been tested to highest quality and milatary standards–and they still dont work? Dead issue & dead gun. Better stick to the Glock or Springfields xd
ALL caracal c pistols wewe recalled. It will be redesigned. Slides were cracking.
ALL Caracal “C” Pistols Permanently Recalled – No Fix Available
Now Caracal has announced a FULL recall of all Caracal “C” model pistols.
According to the company, there is no fix available for this issue and all pistols are to be returned for a full refund.
Here is a copy of the press release from the company. You can click here to read the PDF issued by the company.
http://gunssavelives.net/gun-industry/breaking-all-caracal-c-pistols-permanently-recalled-no-fix-available/#
thank u for the Trojen virus on your website
The Truth About Guns or Guns Save Lives web site? Neither have any virus dmc. Suggest you be concerned aout the porn sites you frequent.
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