The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: Edmond on October 04, 2010, 02:41:01 PM
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to the green forests of France.
Just received my new toys, large quantity of ammo to be delivered within days. Keep tuned for the results of the test.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/EdsCaracalF-1.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/EdsCaracalC-1.jpg)
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Looking forward to the reports!
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I've thought about trying to track one of those down. I'm looking forward to the report too
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Will be good to see some first hand reports on this line.
The link below the pictures gave me a Not Found.
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Very nice Edmond! Hope that means Waffen Werks shipment is coming in soon too. Looking forward to the range report.
Addict
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Been some posts, regarding these pistols, lots of hype but no pound for pound test drive. In any mag that I have read, and I keep up pretty well,...
Either way, look forward to your report.
FWIW, I have yet to see one at any gun shop, or gun show.
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Edmond,
You still shooting the .50 BMG? Bill T.
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Edmond,
You still shooting the .50 BMG? Bill T.
Hi Bill. Nope! I am becoming reasonable. ;D
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I had a lot of fun defeating the rate of digital cameras shooting in burst between 3.7 and 5.2 pictures per second while staying in the A zone of an IPSC target @12 meters.
You never forget some things once you learned them.
I did have some serious reliabilty problems with a F and a C, Failure to feed, Failure to fire, erratic ejection and slide stop was locking before magazines were empty. 18 incidents with the 155 first rounds using NATO ammo, FN mfg then I switched to Sellier & Bellot, CBC (MagTech) and MFS commercial ammo and I had less problem.
I identified the causes, I will take 3 more F pistols to the range tomorrow, I have a competition during the weekend. I'll take the risk using one of them for Vitesse Militaire event ( Service pistol CISM Rapid Fire )
I'll make a more complete report later.
Enjoy some pictures.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/IMG_5136.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/IMG_5137.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/IMG_5138.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/IMG_5139.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/IMG_5140.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/IMG_5146-Halfsecond.jpg)
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I did not finish last, sure I did not finish first but I had fun during the competition.
These pistols have a lot of potential but some things have to be ironed out.
I like them, just not love at first sight ;-)
Sights are one of those things that are not up to the accuracy of the barrel,
these pistols deserve better than that when using them for more than defensive use at short distance..
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/IMG_5354.jpg)
Some people make fun of me when she is shooting with such tactical protective equipment (Bollé goggles resisting to high speed grenade fragments)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Shooting/SMGColt635.jpg)
just because I do not want to see my loved ones with damaged eyes or hearing.
Thanks to my Rodenstock specialty tempered glasses.
It cost an arm but it worths the cost when using a milling machine or having spent case coming straight to the eye like today.
I should have stopped firing when I received the second case in a row on the forehead.
I knew the ejection was quite erratic but that one had a less erratic ejection than the others.
I think the serie I received may be one of the first batches.
it bears Merkel USA, Trussville, Alabama engraved inside.
My overall opinion is good about them and so is the feeling of those who used them today, I got some orders.
but with such a price tag here, it is better not to give a chance to the competition to tarnish the reputation of a product.
They did that already before these pistols reached our shores.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/IMG_5364.jpg)
First magazine (18 rounds), 9mm NATO ammo, FN Mfg, Rapid Fire, 25 m, isoceles stance. Caracal F , SN BM 300.
Yes, I know! There's one miss on top right.That was the only one of the day, one too much.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/First18roundseverBM300.jpg)
I shot a lot today, I have a sore thumb from presssing the slide release (Ok, slide stop)
The C has seen now 500 rounds through it and I had only 2 failures for the last 100 rounds (locked slide when not empty and unlocked slide with empty mag)
I finished with 147 grains ammo and had no problem.
For the 3 F pistols, I did use Wilson Combat Ultimate lube as well and I had"only" 6 failures through 750 rounds, none for the last 80 rounds through each of them except erratic ejection that finally broke my glasses after hitting twice my forehead and much more my white shirt ( Note to self, when you are not shooting your favorite 10mm that has a tuned ejector, do not wear anything white)
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Cool pictures. I've got to try that. Glad you're having fun testing/breaking-in those guns.
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More than a nice time. I am working the bugs out on mines, I had a talk with someone working there today. Looks like my posts ignited a reaction, they agree totally on the rear sight. for the other points, Insh'Allah. ;-)
Click on the thumbnails
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5071.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5071.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5070.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5070.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5064.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5064.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5057.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5057.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5056.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5056.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5050.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5050.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5049.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5049.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5043.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5043.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5042.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5042.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5036.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5036.jpg)
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(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5035.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5035.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5029.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5029.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5022.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5022.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5021.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5021.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5015.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5015.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5014.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5014.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_5007.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_5007.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_4994.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_4994.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_4993.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_4993.jpg)
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(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_4987.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_4987.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_4986.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_4986.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_4980.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_4980.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_4979.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_4979.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_4973.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_4973.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_4972.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_4972.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_4965.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_4965.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_4955.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_4955.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/th_IMG_4954.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/?action=view¤t=IMG_4954.jpg)
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I finely tuned the extractor by ramping the lower inside face in order for the case head to slide smoothly in place and I modified the angle of the ejector face (I wish I had more material to start with), the modified pistol now runs like a swiss clock.
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(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z69/Quickload/Caracal/IMG_6166-1024.jpg)
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I have done more testing with a F and Geco, Sellier & Bellot and reloaded ammunition, 115, 124 and 147 grains.
The trigger is way better than it was right out of the box. I only had one failure to lock slide with empty magazine.
I still have the cases hitting me in the head 5 times for 300 rounds fired.
The shooter next booth told me it was flying just above my head, I tried to have him take pictures but I prefered to let him try the Caracal than my EOS.
Once more verified, an expert's camera does not make a skilled photographer especially indoors.
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Edmond,
Didn't they use to ahve a tunnel type site on one of the compact models?
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Edmond,
Didn't they use to ahve a tunnel type site on one of the compact models?
Not only the compact, AFAIK.
Matter of choice when ordering.
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Are their rear tunnel an integrated part of the slide or front blade and the rear tunnel is one part mounted in the front dovetail notch?
If the later is true, it would be nice to have one to try on other guns.