Caracal C
As Stefi said in her previous post we’re limited on the number of defensive firearms we own. So you might think I’ve not had much range time with other semi-automatics. Well I have. I’ve had a lot of range time with the Astra A-80, Beretta Px4 storm SD, Beretta Px4 storm, Beretta Px4 storm compact, Beretta Px4 storm subcompact, Beretta 90two, Beretta 98 FS, Beretta 8045 Cougar, Beretta 8045 Mini Cougar, Beretta 9000 F40, Beretta 3032 Tomcat, Beretta 21 A Bobcat, Bersa Thunder 9 Pro HC, Glock 17, Tanfoglio witness 1911, Taurus PT92, and Zastava CZ 999 Scorpion, and I’ve had limited time with some other semi-autos as well.
The latest, the Caracal C (Quick Sight) – a gift from my beautiful wife — has to be one of the finest semi-automatics I’ve fired. Which is a bit of a surprise because Caracal are a recently established United Arab Emirates arms manufacturer with their production in Abu Dhabi, but distributed by Tanfoglio.
The Caracal semi automatic were designed Willy Bubits, a former weapon designer for Glock, Walther and Slayer, so he knows what he’s about. The Caracal pistols have been adopted by the U.A.E. police force but as far as I’m aware not by anybody decent but they have passed all the NATO and the German military and police test. They were also tested by shooters from the Italian NOCS, GIS, 17º Stormo Incursori, Col Moschin and the Corpo della Gendarmeria dello Stato della Città del Vaticano at the Futura Club last October, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they start getting picked up by western special forces and police tactical units soon because they really are that good.
The Caracal C is selling for €590 ($770) and the Caracal C Quick Sight for €620 ($810). It comes in 9×19 NATO, 9x21mm IMI, .357 SIG, and .40 S&W — mine’s the 9x21mm IMI caliber, which has a 13 round capacity — and weighs 750 g (26.4oz), has a total length of 186 mm (7.3″) and barrel length of 90 mm (3.5″). It’s a Double Action and has an ambidextrous magazine catch and great ergonomics. It very accurate, virtually no recoil and ultra reliable. The Caracal C is the compact version and easily small enough for concealed carry. It’s an excellent defensive gun.
Nice pistol. I read several American handgun magazines fairly regularly, and maybe I missed it but this is the first I’ve heard of this weapon. I’ll have to check it out.
Thanks for the heads up.
Interesting. I hadn’t heard about it either. I haven’t heard of some of your other firearms. It must be a pain in the ass to keep having to sell your firearms to get another one.
@ Ian
It is. If you want to change you’re guns over you have to let the Old Bill know within 48 hours, which means that you’ve got to get rid of a gun before you get a new one, or you can do what I do: get them registered in someone else’s name.
How do you think the Taurus PT92 stacks up against the M92?
Ian –
The PT92 and 92 FS perform the same. It’s the same gun and Taurus don’t have the same quality control and customer service Bereta have, so out of the two, I would go for the Beretta. As it goes I the 90Two is a good option if you don’t like the size of the 92FS but if ithe M92 has been your issue sidearm, you’re probably comfortable with the size and you’ve probably fired a lot of rounds with it, which will give you an edge in combat.
Why do you keep on buying new guns? Was there something wrong with the old guns or are you just a big kid who has to have the latest toy? I bet you didn’t get rid of your old guns, you probably keep a few WMDs for “home defense” too.
@ Jen
Change the record, you’re boring.
@ Tex. Don’t you have enough guns in your household and what happened to buying American? lol
@ Rob
The record’s stuck, the record’s stuck, the record’s stuck…toth to Monty Python.
Oh Jen…
Why are you so against us having the right to carry a firearm for self protection?
Okay, I’ve never heard of Astra, Bersa, Tanfoglio or Zastava are they all European firearms? The Caracal is a good price.
@ Heather
Tanfoglio is Italian and Zastava is Serbian. Don’t know about the others.
@ Amica
Astra-Unceta y Cia SA was a Spanish company it went out of business Astra Arms SA is a Swiss-Italian firm that just uses the name set up in 2008. They make 1911 pistols. The Astra A-80 was designed in 1982, when semi automatics started improving in reliability. Bersa are an Argentinian firm set up in the 50s by three Italians who used to work for Beretta. The Bersa Thunder 9 was made 1994 and is used by the Argentinian police and armed forces. I wouldn’t swap anything I’ve got now for either of them but they’re both pretty decent guns.
@ Heather
I’ve bought the Tanfoglio Force Sport 9x21mm, Tanfoglio P21 L .45ACP and Tanfoglio Limited Pro 10mm AUTO. All three are DA semi-automatic pistols but they’re classified as sports firearms in the Catalogo Nazionale Armi. I’m picking them up tomorrow. I used to have Tanfoglio Witness 1911 but my uncle nicked that off me.
Astra, Bursa and Tanfoglio are all foreign makers or distributors of guns, many of which are available in the US. The Astra and Bursa line of semi-autos are pretty good guns and are very affordable.
@ Jen
A man can have too many women but never enough knives or guns.
I will buy foreign if the product is excellent. I drive German and Japanese made cars, because historically American cars have sucked. If American cars were made like S&W or Colt guns, then I’d be driving them.
Why do you read a gun knife sword blog when you are pretty much anti-everything?
Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes.
Rob, Stefi and Amica – do you all live in the same house together? Because you people seemed to be armed to the teeth. All manner of knives, machetes, pistols, revolvers, and guard dogs. What’s going on? Did the Ndrangheta put out a contract on you, or something like that??
cheers,
P
@ p
Yes we all live in the same house. My family has its enemies, but I believe everyone should be armed. I bought a semi auto for my secretary as a birthday present. But a lot of our weapons collection is sporting. We all enjoy shooting. I also own 6 live bladed swords, as well as several foils, sabres, Épées and wasters.
Stefi
Of course – I was just joking about the Ndrangheta. Hopefully you don’t have them against you. I have assumed that the three of you are connected with the profession of bodyguard training, and providing specialized items for private security (e.g. guard dogs).
cheers,
P
@ P
Yep, we don’t just sell trained dogs, we train handlers as well. I’m running a tactical training course this week using dogs for my brother’s security consultancy. Mine and Stefi’s sports company runs tactical firearms courses in several countries, and my uncle’s a gunrunner, so was my grandad.
Steffi, have you heard of the Arsenal Strike One pistol? I just read about its debut at the 2013 SHOT show. It’s a collaboration between Italian and Russian manufacturers. I was wondering if it’s more prolific in Europe and if there’s any data on it yet.
I’ve heard of it but I’ve never fired it. From what I’ve heard it’s supposed to be an idiot proof firearm. I don’t like the look of it but I might be able to get hold of one to review. But I won’t review any firearm unless I’ve shot over 500 rounds through it.
Thank you rob! It’s rather ugly and bulky, but it looks like it has the potential to be a good pistol for competition, and if the price is good, it could be an alternative to an STI 2011. It would really come down to accuracy. Even if it’s durable and reliable, it would have to be an improvement on other polymer pistols.