Aimpoint has released the 2MOA version of its Micro T-1. While this has nothing to do with pistols, it was apparently the single most important product launch in the history of the universe because now thousands of customers will be able to claim they own the exact same optic through which Osama Bin Laden was last seen alive.
More out of obligation than interest, I stopped at the Caracal booth to see their pistol. For those unfamiliar, the Caracal is a family of striker fired handguns built in the United Arab Emirates. With a ridiculously low bore axis the gun almost looks like a polymer framed HK P7. The trigger on all of the show guns I tried was, for lack of a better word, perfect. It had a completely smooth consistent pull that rolled right through the break. It’s honestly the best trigger I’ve ever felt on a striker gun. However, setting aside any questions about reliability and durability about a gun made in the U.A.E., the sight options for the Caracal are horrendous. The rear sight is actually part of the slide’s internal mechanism and cannot be separated from it. In other words, no aftermarket sights will ever be available. They also offer a ridiculous option called “Quick Sights” … just google it. Because somewhere in the world, someone thought it would be a good idea to reduce sight radius drastically. YJCMTSU…
I finally got to handle one of the CMR-201 Rail Master lasers from Crimson Trace. It’s small, lightweight, and easier to use than I expected. Nonetheless, I still prefer the automatic activation (and holster compatibility) of the traditional Lasergrips like the LG-850 I’ve been running on the G17 test gun for the past few weeks. The -201 is a great option for guns that don’t have Lasergrips available, however, or for shooters who don’t want to invest in a proprietary laser that will only work with one model gun.
Julie Golob released her great new book Shoot: Your Guide to Shooting and Competition. The book signing drew huge crowds and the publisher actually sold out of their SHOT Show supply after just a little more than two days. While I’ve known about the book before Julie started writing it, and while I’m admittedly a JulieG fanboy, I’ll honestly tell you that the quality of this book will amaze you. There are countless detailed photographs — many of which were taken by firearms photograph legend Yamil R. Sued — and the book is printed on heavy stock paper making it suitable for the rigors of the firing range. Look for a more in-depth review soon.
Ruger has a new product that will be very interesting to a number of pistol-training.com readers: the new SR22 pistol. While you might think it’s a mini .22 version of Ruger’s own SR9-series of pistol, it’s not. As we were handling it at the show, it was actually SLG who first noted that it’s more like a mini .22 version of the HK P30! Like most baby .22’s it doesn’t have identical controls but they’re close enough to make the SR22 a decent training option or, for parents, a great gun to get a child who wants to shoot a gun “just like Daddy’s” (or Mommy’s). And the latest iteration of the venerable 22/45 gets even closer to mimicking a 1911 with improved grip design.
Smith & Wesson announced the Model 586 revolver, a recreation of the venerable .357 Magnum revolvers that were a hallmark of law enforcement marksmen for decades. These square butt L-frame revolvers will be available with either a 4″ or 6″ barrel. Smith also introduced a new clothing line. Perhaps most importantly, Smith & Wesson made a very generous $50,000 donation to Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA). HAVA is an industry-led organization that helps disabled veterans enjoy a wide range of shooting activities from hunting to competition.
Streamlight has an interesting new flashlight available, the ProTac HL. It’s about the size of a Surefire 6P but produces 600 lumens of light with a 1¼ hour run time. It’s also programmable and has a strobe function. The strobe requires you to double tap the tailcap in a manner I found a little hard to do 100% of the time standing on the show floor, so it’s not something I’d want to rely on under stress, but perhaps with practice it would work better. I bent the ear of one of Streamlight’s executives for half an hour about the need to have a one touch strobe feature. He said it’s something they considered and may become part of their offerings in the future.
I just recently got the ProTac 2L flashlight and I thought it’s 180 lumens was bright, 600 is amazing.
By the way, there is a trick to the settings that isn’t entirely clear in the instructions. When you’re trying to double/triple click to get to strobe or low power, you must only do so part way (a soft press), not far enough for the audible click.
For example, to get strobe you need to soft press once, then quickly press again but follow through till it clicks to keep it on (two presses total). Low power would require two soft presses and then the third ending with the click to set it.
Hope that helps, I’m very happy with mine once I figured it out.
My copy of “Shoot” arrived a few days ago. While I haven’t had the chance to read it yet, flipping through it, those were my impressions as well. Fantastic production values! I look forwards to reading it. From the flip through, contents list, etc. it looks like a good introduction to competitive shooting for the novice.
J.Ja
Trijicon already makes night sights for the Caracal. Sights are model specific anyway, those for the Caracal just look unusual. I don’t see any problem with that.
why why don’t more companies make one touch strobe handheld lights? this just infuriates me.
The 4Sevens Quark Tactical can be programmed for 1-touch strobe.
“The trigger on all of the show guns I tried was, for lack of a better word, perfect.”
And yet the Caracal’s slide stop couldn’t be less perfect for me if the engineers had deliberately been told to craft one that will tear me up and malf the gun, to boot.
Interesting to hear about the Caracal’s trigger. I have yet to see one in the wild. Have you tried the trigger on the Walther PPQ? I absolutely love it…
Shame about the Caracal mistakes. That gun looked promising once. :c
Marc: “Trijicon already makes night sights for the Caracal.”
Can you point me to them on Trij’s website? A search there for “Caracal” turned up nothing except a hunting report. Can you point toward a place online that sells them? Given that it’s not just a sight but an entire critical assembly in the slide, I’m curious as to how much it costs and whether they’re simply modifying Caracal-made parts (inserting a tritium tube into the Caracal part) or they’re actually manufacturing the entire piece themselves from whole cloth.
peter — “The 4Sevens Quark Tactical can be programmed for 1-touch strobe.”
I carry one every day!
There’s an old post over here with a pic of some Trijicon sights on it.
http://www.m4carbine.net/showpost.php?p=812513&postcount=16
I was most impressed with S&W’s generous donation to HAVA.
One of my shooting buddies, and former students/former instructors is deeply involved with that organization and their programs. Watching firsthand what they provide to our returning heroes, who are often so badly injured that they could not participate in hunting and shooting activities without tremendous amounts of help, is very rewarding and fulfilling.
I eagerly await the arrival of Julie G’s book, and getting some insider insight into competition shooting.
A nice new S&W wheel gun and it looks like it still has the integral lock. Those bozos are never gonna learn.
Todd,
I spent about an hour meeting with Wilhelm Bubits and another of the Caracal engineers on Day 4. Short version – I’m going to try and get a T&E model and do a 2,000-round challenge, maybe even run it in some matches.
My understanding is that the factory sights are drilled for Trijicon vials – you’d still have to send the slide to Tooltech to have the night sights installed. Having examined the stripped slide, it would be a 20-minute setup and 5 minutes of mill time to cut it for a Novak or Heinie rear…
I agree that the Quik-Sights are silly, but they’re far from worthless. Playing with the Caracal during media day, I was having no trouble hitting a 50-yard steel USPSA target from the press out. I’m not planning on giving up my Warrens or anything, but they work well enough.
On another subject, did you notice that you can use the loaded chamber indicator almost like a Gadget?
Todd-
Out of curiousity, is the Caracal as slim as it looks in the photos?
Until last week I had a Caracal F (from the first batch imported in France).
I agree that the trigger is very good compared to a stock Glock Trigger (the design of the firing pin safety might help). Heck, even compared to a “polished” Glock trigger.
I nonetheless sold the gun because of two things:
– I wasn’t too fond of the grip (it somehow pushed too much on the palm of my hand). Grip shape is close to the Streyr M9 also designed by W. Bubbits
– I didn’t like the original sights and changing them is far from trivial … I’m an average shooter but in spite of the very good trigger I always fared worse with the Caracal than with my G17 (- connector and some light polishing or bearing surfaces)
As we have a pretty drastic limit on the number of “restricted firearms” we can own in France I eventually sold my Caracal.
Had they stuck to traditional dovetail sights, the Caracal would have been a nice design overall, with its barrel sitting very low.
John C,
“A nice new S&W wheel gun and it looks like it still has the integral lock. Those bozos are never gonna learn.”
Their accountants would beg to differ with you.