Issue 05 Preview – Caracal F Stickman Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More Find out more about how we test products. The Cat Comes Out To Play What is a Caracal? It’s a desert cat. What is a Caracal F? It’s a 9mm 18-round semi-automatic polymer-framed pistol that is striker-fired. Why do you care? Simple — because it works, and we beat the hell out of one just to make sure it did. Wilhelm Bubits invented the Caracal F. Does that name ring a distant bell for you? It did for us. He is a former Austrian customs inspector, who also taught at the Austrian Customs Academy. However, it was his working with Glock and his eventual design of the Steyr M series pistols that makes him stand out to us. There is certainly more than a hint of resemblance between the Caracal F and the Steyr, with the Caracal F looking like the slightly hotter younger sibling. In 2003, Mr. Bubits took his skills as a small-arms designer to the United Arab Emirates, where he worked with a team to design, develop, and manufacture the weapon now known as the Caracal F. Manufacturing started in the United Arab Emirates and expanded to Suhl, Germany, in 2011. The Caracal pistol entered military service in 2007, when 25,000 9mm Caracal F models were ordered for use in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Jordan. We were able to lay our hands on two different Caracal F pistols. The first one is ours and has a traditional sighting system. We did some trading for this one, so we had no qualms at all about using and abusing this blaster. The second Caracal F belongs to Darrion Holiwell of Praetor Defense. We’ve known him for about a decade, and he has broken or worn out more pistols than most guys we know put together. He has a heavy shooting regimen that grinds some weapons down. His brand-new pistol already had more than 2,500 rounds through it when the idea of the article came up. His pistol is the Quick Sights version. We’ll talk more about the different sights later, but the easiest way to tell the difference here is that his is black and ours met up with Captain Krylon in the middle of the night. For the rest of this Article, subscribe digitally here: RECOIL 5 Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
