ArizonaShooting.com

all photos via internet search, none of my own...

Rather than do a traditional review here, I'm just going to cover some things that I've not read over and over elsewhere. Anyone with more interest can use their own Search-Fu for the common material.

First off, size wise, where does it land?

Here you see from left to right a Ruger SR9C, Caracal C, Steyr, and G19. All are in the same class as to OSD, save the Ruger is a bit shorter.

Straight out, shooting my F sxs with a G17(3rd gen), the Caracal shoots softer, and is faster back onto the target. EVERYONE so far has commented on the superior stock trigger feel compared to a Glock. Many of you know the RO at Caswells who wears armor and packs a Sig? He couldn't believe the ragged hole he shot at 25ft with it. Told me that it took him 500rds with a Glock to get that good with a Glock, LOL. An young RO at Shooters World was a Glock buff, and also had to admit the better stock trigger. Said, "This thing has potential". Here's the dual-dots on my F. Rear sight notch is quite tight against the front post, making you really dial-in tight for a group.

Model for model, it weighs more than the Glock by 3-4oz. There's more steel. The read shows the steel chassis insert. Yeah, I ran a magnet over everything, the rails are not alloy. The mag tube is all steel, whereas I don't think the entire inside of a Glock mag is lined (IRC?). AFAIK, the plastic parts are merely the frame, follower, floor-plate, trigger and guide rod.

What looks like a striker cover plate on a Glock or Kahr is actually the back-end of the whole fire-control assy. inside the slide. So, changing the rear sight involves buying a suitably equipped assy. That's a downside, for sure.

Barrel on this is conventional, blast away with your pure lead! The hole in the striker plate is visible when it's at rest. Pre-tensioned, the rear of the striker is flush with the hole. When you begin to move the trigger, the striker will protrude from the hole. I like this for the safety of holstering. With your thumb over the hole, you get a poke if something is trying to wedge up against your trigger!

Takedown on this is easier then the Glock. There's more meat on the tabs which protride on either side. While the manual indicates the same procedure as the Glock, actually, it's even simpler. no need to retract and hold the slide. Just assure it's cleared, then drop the trigger. Use the tip of your trigger finger on one side, and the tip of your off-hand thumb on the other other. Bear down slightly on both at once, and the slide assembly darn near flys off of the frame

Pure lead will fill even standard rifling with lead.

Looks like a pretty solid gun though.

I tried to get this to limp-wrist twice, withing the realm of safety. At the end of my first 100rds, I put in 10rds of 90gr Cor-Bon. I figured perhaps the bullet-weight would be too light. I held it as lightly as I could with my thumb and forefinger in my weak hand and let it recoil upwards only taking care to prevent it slipping from my hand. No dice. ON the 2nd outing last night, my buddy had some powder-puff loads done-up for Tues night Steel. They still cycled every time with the same drill, they just wouldn't move the slide far enough to lock-open on empty.

You'll note the healthy amount of extractor engagement on the rim! I bet even the factory's proofing loads got pulled right out and ejected.

The thing only has 28parts, less than a Glock! The finish is something called PlasOx. Another poster here has already noted scratches on his, and I now have the first couple on mine. I've not tried anything to rub them off. If we're lucky, it's akin to scratching a Glock. IN other words, no harm done.

I can load all 18 w/o a loader, which I'm loathe to do the last few on a Glock. The slide release is a triangular piece which irritates the thumb in normal use. If I use my thumbnail, it's much better. Most folks today slingshot, but that's something I've never warmed to.

Excellent and detailed review. The Caracal is in fact a very nice-shooting pistol.

Great review.

Thanks for the review... That was actually quite informative and I like how you gave a no BS assessment. Other than the hearsay from the RO's, that was top notch. (I still believe it, but I hate when reviews say, "oh this guy said that, this guy said this.")

So is the quick sight an option on the C only?

No, the QS is a few bucks extra on either one. I didn't get the chance to fondle either, as they were already sold. I am fairly certain I would've stuck with this one, in any case.

Cool. Thanks for the review. Hadnt really paid any Attention to this gun but it looks interesting after doing some ore reading on it. May have to check it out.

takes proprietary mags?

Yes, no other mags fit. All steel, apparently coated the same as the slide. There's an S-loop at the bottom of the spring that projects through the floorplate to lock it in place. So, there's no inner plate as is typical with most. Just four parts.

Several have noted the little flange of steel which projects forward at the locking recess. I really don't see this being a concern, as it's so small. I suppose it could be damaged in some extreme handling, like perhaps grinding it down into the gravel. But, the front end of the plate should prevent that sort of contact. The mag release is ambi, with a dedicated spring for each side.