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Posted: 5/5/2023 11:05:06 AM EDT
I am pretty sure it was this thread that made me go watch some videos and check out Caracal's site. When I saw they offered LE/mil pricing it really piqued my interest. I'm watching Small Arms Solutions video, and I had been interested in the Brownell's BRN-4 kit. The video really got me interested with the adjustable gas block and removal of the piston and op rod through the gas block a la LMT.
So I emailed them about a month ago. Crickets. I figured, well another company with a good idea tried to break into the market and didn't take. Looked around, no Caracal product anywhere. That's that. I was half into building an LMT 14.5" piston gun, so I didn't cry any tears over it. Two days ago I got an email from Nic at Caracal. Hey I'm Nic and I just took over answering the emails for this account, sorry about the long delay getting back to you blah blah. Damn it, I had just put Caracal out of my mind. The LE/mil price was an incentive and I thought about it overnight and yesterday I ordered the 14.5" complete upper direct through Caracal. I have owned multiple PWS, an AK, and a CZ Bren 2. I currently own a LWRC 6.8 16" and a LMT 14.5" piston that the bcg is in the mail and was the last piece I needed to finish it. This Caracal will complete my gas piston trinity. I'm taking it to my gunsmith to have the QD mount for my suppressor pinned and welded. I should be ready to take this Caracal out sometime in July, and I'll post some pics and my thoughts on it. Should be getting my new LMT out to the range next Saturday and I am super stoked to shoot that for the first time. |
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[#1]
cool, looking forward to the pics.
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[#2]
Received the upper yesterday. It's off to the gunsmith for my QD mount to be pinned and welded. Here are my initial thoughts:
Pros anodizing on upper and handguard looks good QPQ barrel is nice to have I just put together an LMT upper the night before, and this is lighter fits the PWS lower I'm using well and the anodizing is shade correct (pro for me) Cons machine marks on bcg, very Eastern European AK quality machining charging handle is very gumball machine, but it was getting replaced with a Radian anyway handguard not standard mlok hex. I had anticipated this and have a straight Arisaka scout mount pics when it's back from the pin and weld. I'm putting nothing but a microprism and a weapon light on this to try to keep the finished weight down. at my LE/mil price, this is a heckuva upper and a very cheap way to scratch my 416 itch. Still enthused and looking forward to seeing how it runs suppressed. |
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[#3]
I picked up a Caracal 816 a few years ago, and I was very impressed with it. Very underrated rifle IMO.
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"It seems that even Allah's promise of paradise loses a bit of it's luster when there's a dude reigning death on your buddies from 600 meters out." - John_Wayne777 on Battle for Al Najaf 04/04/04
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[#4]
got my pin and weld back today, taking it out to shoot tomorrow and will post a pic and my thoughts suppressed/unsuppressed.
It's lighter than my LMT, so I already like that about it. It feels very handy on a sling. |
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[#6]
Great range report......I can't tell you how much I love mine...its my go to rifle....
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[#7]
I am completely new to the suppressed game and I found out very fast how quickly fouling stops a suppressed DI gun. I am looking at a sionics suppressed port upper and various ways to reduce gas on ny current (overgassed) uppers. Whether that is a BRT EZ tune or Riflespeed. However, I started looking at piston guns. PWS has been on my radar for awhile. I starting seeing adam arms on all the guntubers within the past couple weeks. I have never heard of this brand. Basically, is a piston gun worth the weight/proprietary parts to keep a suppressor host running cleaner? People keep telling me to just get a tuned DI, but I can still see that it's going to get dirty quickly. Thanks for any advice for a suppressor noobie. Also, your piston collection is nice.
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[#8]
In my opinion the Caracal and the LWRC aren't heavier enough to warrant bitching about. Now the LMT and 416, they are noticeably heavy.....but it's not a deal breaker, they're just built like tanks and I doubt you could break one.
I'd use the Caracal or the LWRC without hesitation if I had to have it on a sling for long periods. I can't overstate what a great rifle the Caracal is. If you're eligible for the LE/mil discount it's a no brainer. Way more gun than a comparable Spikes or BCM IMO. |
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[#9]
Thanks bud! I was,looking at Adam Arms, but I think I'm going to go this direction.
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[#10]
How are the lowers marked? Curious if they say Nampa ID,. Caldwell ID, Boise, ID or something different.
I'd love a Nampa marked gun. |
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[#11]
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[#12]
Originally Posted By DrRockso: https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230119/776c428443252361d91b07883cbe9cb6.jpg View Quote Thanks, already have a Boise marked piston gun :) |
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[#13]
Has anyone with an 816 tried any aftermarket charging handles?
I’ve tried a FCD and a G in my 816 upper, and neither will close completely. The just barely fit in the channel in the upper, but bind to the point of not moving after an inch or so. |
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[#14]
works fine with a Radian
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[#15]
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[quote]Originally Posted By nvcdl:
The PSA rails are ok but nothing special - I've used cheap wish.com rails like this that seem just as good[/quote] |
[#16]
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[#17]
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[quote]Originally Posted By nvcdl:
The PSA rails are ok but nothing special - I've used cheap wish.com rails like this that seem just as good[/quote] |
[#18]
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[#19]
it's straight and does not angle to follow the shape of the handguard, so it doesn't contact the non-standard angle on the Caracal handguard. Bought it for a Bren 2 and glad I kept it because it's just the thing on the Caracal.
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[Last Edit: rpoL98]
[#20]
Originally Posted By DrRockso: it's straight and does not angle to follow the shape of the handguard, so it doesn't contact the non-standard angle on the Caracal handguard. Bought it for a Bren 2 and glad I kept it because it's just the thing on the Caracal. View Quote AFAIK, the M-LOK standard only governs the slot, not the angle or width of the handguard sides which will vary depending on handguard mfr decision on HG diameter, and whether to have 7-side M-LOK or just 3-side M-LOK, and whatever styling touches they wish to impart to make theirs different from everybody's elses. |
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[#21]
mlok is mlok
the standard angled mlok light mount is meant for the standard ar handguard and its associated angles, and will have problems with 416-like or non-AR mlok handguards with their different angles et voila, the arisaka straight mount to the rescue |
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[#22]
Originally Posted By DrRockso: mlok is mlok the standard angled mlok light mount is meant for the standard ar handguard and its associated angles, and will have problems with 416-like or non-AR mlok handguards with their different angles et voila, the arisaka straight mount to the rescue View Quote Are you saying that the width or height is greater than the ~1.5” width handguards that are common (but not standardized) on ARs due to the max barrel nut diameter without requiring timing of 1,3/8”? I’m familiar with the spectrum of Arisaka mounts, its the handguard bit that I’m trying to understand. If its a bit larger than the common skinny AR rail, I’d find that to be a positive. |
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[quote]Originally Posted By nvcdl:
The PSA rails are ok but nothing special - I've used cheap wish.com rails like this that seem just as good[/quote] |
[#23]
the angle from 3 and 9 o'clock to the pic rail is not the same as a standard octagonal mlok ar handguard because that distance is longer on a 416-like gun to accommodate the piston system
so if you put the standard angled mlok light mount that is meant for a standard octagonal mlok handguard on a 416-like, the angle is too severe and the mount will not clear the handguard |
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[Last Edit: DrRockso]
[#24]
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[#25]
Originally Posted By DrRockso: the angle from 3 and 9 o'clock to the pic rail is not the same as a standard octagonal mlok ar handguard because that distance is longer on a 416-like gun to accommodate the piston system so if you put the standard angled mlok light mount that is meant for a standard octagonal mlok handguard on a 416-like, the angle is too severe and the mount will not clear the handguard View Quote Oh, that makes sense. Thanks, I just wasn’t visualizing it right. |
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[quote]Originally Posted By nvcdl:
The PSA rails are ok but nothing special - I've used cheap wish.com rails like this that seem just as good[/quote] |
[#26]
Originally Posted By DrRockso: In my opinion the Caracal and the LWRC aren't heavier enough to warrant bitching about. Now the LMT and 416, they are noticeably heavy.....but it's not a deal breaker, they're just built like tanks and I doubt you could break one. I'd use the Caracal or the LWRC without hesitation if I had to have it on a sling for long periods. I can't overstate what a great rifle the Caracal is. If you're eligible for the LE/mil discount it's a no brainer. Way more gun than a comparable Spikes or BCM IMO. View Quote The LMT R20 RAHE doesn't feel heavy at all. MR556A1 ... that girl needs to start eating salads. |
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[#27]
Originally Posted By DrRockso: https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230119/776c428443252361d91b07883cbe9cb6.jpg View Quote Looks like your upper / lower are two-tone or non-color matched too. I'm 100% not in the "fit and finish" crowd, but have been disappointed with the CAR816A2s I've seen. They all have pretty dissimilar upper and lower anodizing. At their price point more effort should be exerted in this regard. |
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[#29]
Originally Posted By DrRockso: that pic was just for reference of their lower my 816 sits on a PWS lower https://i.imgur.com/2o7CxII.jpg View Quote Copy that. |
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