When I was a kid and the Vietnam War was rapidly expanding, the evening news stories frequently covered the new M16 military rifle. The stories revealing how the tiny 5.56mm bullets were helping to “win” the war, along with Mattel’s introduction of a full-sized M16 toy rifle with sound effects, influenced my switch in interests from cowboy cap guns to toy military arms.
Despite protests over marketing realistic war toys leading to the Mattel M16 being banished from stores, I always had a fondness for the M16/AR-15 platforms.
Why the M4 Carbine Became America’s Patrol Rifle
The seed was planted long before I owned an AR-15, and I can’t remember which one I owned first. However, I did end up carrying an M16 while on SWAT with the Union County, Ohio, Sheriff’s office.
The AR-15/M16 platform has grown and changed since its introduction in the 60s. While I’m a fan of the original, full-sized rifles, there are advantages to ARs based on the M4 carbine, such as being easier to maneuver in tight spaces and store when not in use.
The adjustable buttstocks also mean shooters of all sizes can find something that works for them. This is why M4s dominate the market for both law enforcement and civilian use. These days, full-sized A1, A2 and A3 rifles are reserved for competitive target shooting.
That is really what makes M4’s the most popular style of AR15 on the market for law enforcement and commercial users alike. While full size AR15’s are still available today, most of the full-size A1, A2, and A3 style AR-15s are reserved for competitive target shooters or people who might have used one in the military.
Why the Caracal CAR814 Stands Out
With so many M4 carbines on the market today, it takes distinguishing features (and a practical price point) to stand out. The Caracal CAR814 A2 Patrol rifle does just that.
Built in Nampa, Idaho, this rifle and its variants have several positive attributes. In addition to being manufactured right in the U.S., Caracal rifles meet the very rugged U.S. Military and NATO operating standards.
Caracal proves the rifle’s resilience in a video demonstrating the testing procedures all models must pass before being approved for sale. The rifle models are placed in a humidity chamber, immersed in sand, mud, water, salt water and dust, being fired after each exposure to ensure function.
The final test is bore obstruction. Each sample is loaded with a bullet that has been pressed into the grooves of the bore. This would usually result in a burst barrel and potential injury to the shooter and bystanders, but not with the Caracal barrel.
From all these documented tests alone, I feel confident a Caracal AR-15 would last in the field no matter the conditions, making this the perfect rifle for natural disasters or other emergencies.
Caracal CAR814 A2 Patrol Rifle Specifications
The Caracal CAR814 A2 Patrol Rifle starts with a forged 7075 hard-coat anodized upper and lower receiver set. It is available in 5.56x45mm NATO as well as .300 AAC Blackout, giving buyers a choice between the traditional patrol-rifle chambering and a heavier-caliber option.
The rifle uses a 12-inch free-float handguard with M-Lok attachment points, integrated QD sling points and a key-lock anti-cant system. The barrel is a QPQ-treated 4150 CMV unit with Caracal’s own barrel extension and chamber design, and it is paired with a mil-spec bolt carrier group using a Carpenter 158 steel bolt and properly staked gas key.
Caracal also includes several useful upgrades right from the factory. The CAR814 A2 Patrol comes with an enhanced duty trigger and trigger guard, an ambidextrous selector lever and a stakeless end plate with an integrated QD point. The rifle is backed by a limited lifetime warranty, which fits the overall impression that this is intended as a hard-use AR-15.
Technical Specs
Caliber: 5.56×45 NATO/.300 AAC Blackout
Operating system: Gas Operated/Direct Impingement
Modes of fire: Safe and Semi or optional Select Fire
Overall length: 35.8 inches (stock expanded), 32.2 inches (stock collapsed)
Barrel length: 16 inches
Barrel contour: Modified M4
Barrel material: 4150 CMV, QPQ Black Nitride
Rifling twist: 1:7
Flash hider: A2 Style – ½ inch-28 Threads
Weight w/o magazine: 6.4 pounds
Trigger type: EDT Hyperfire Sharp Shooter
Trigger pull weight: 5.5 pounds
Magazine: Polymer with Steel Feed Lips/30 or 10 round Capacity
Handguard: 2-inch Free Float with M-LOK® and QD points
Buttstock: Magpul® CTR® Carbine Stock (Milspec)
Grip: Caracal®
MSRP: $1,399
Features That Matter on a Patrol Rifle
There are a few important details I want to point out before discussing shooting and handling the Caracal CAR814 A2 Patrol 16-inch rifle. The first of which is the trigger and trigger guard.
Enhanced Trigger and Trigger Guard
Caracal uses the newer rounded-style AR-15 trigger guard, which provides more room for shooters with larger fingers or for those working in cold environments while wearing gloves. The larger trigger guard is ideal for law enforcement officers or civilians who live in, work in or travel through places where snow and cold weather are serious issues.
The trigger is an EDT Hiperfire Sharp Shooter, and it is beyond superb. Caracal lists the pull weight at 5.5 pounds, but my Wheeler Engineering trigger pull gauge registered a crisp 5 pounds, 0.6 ounces with no take-up or slack. It is probably the best and crispest AR-15 trigger system I have tested in years.
With the right optic and ammunition, that trigger makes the Caracal capable of serving as an intermediate-range perimeter rifle or compact precision rifle inside 100 yards.
Storage Grip
The Caracal pistol grip features a drop-open compartment in its base for storing small items like spare optic, laser or light batteries. It takes a small flat-blade screwdriver tip to open it. Once opened, the bottom cover swings down on a rear hinge.
It is a vast improvement over the old rubber A2 grip plugs from more than a decade ago that fit into the open space of a military AR pistol grip for the same purpose. The Caracal base is much more secure and is not easily dislodged.
Weight and Handling
The Caracal’s 6.4-pound weight is pretty standard for an M4-type carbine. By comparison, it is 1.8 pounds lighter than a full-size AR-15 rifle such as Springfield’s Mil-Spec SA-16.
That may not sound like much, but the difference matters when standing on post, moving through the woods or hiking rough country over long distances. The shorter overall length and lighter weight are part of what make M4-style carbines so practical.
Ambidextrous Safety
Ambidextrous safeties on AR-15/M16 rifles are brilliant, long overdue and becoming a more universal standard. This and other upgrades to accommodate left-handed military personnel and law enforcement officers are also overdue.
I can tell you it would have been a handy fire-control setup to have when I was the lead firearms instructor at my sheriff’s office. It would have made AR-15 qualification courses much easier, especially during portions where deputies had to switch the rifle to the left shoulder. While we only had a few left-handed deputies, everyone had to learn to work from the support side. An ambidextrous safety makes that easier on the range and in the field.
Magpul CTR Stock
The Caracal’s buttstock is a standard adjustable Magpul CTR carbine stock with multiple adjustment points and a locking lever for when shooters find the position that’s “just right.”
If you have never used one, unlocking the Magpul stock for adjustment is just as easy as locking it. Once locked, it feels as solid as a standard buttstock. It is a major improvement over the original M4 stocks, which were flimsy by comparison. Magpul is the only way to go when it comes to M4 carbine stocks.
Factory Magazine
The magazine that came with the Caracal rifle is another nice touch. The website photo shows the rifle with a translucent polymer 30-round magazine inserted in the magazine well. I am not a fan of polymer AR-15 magazines of any brand.
Fortunately, the magazine included with my sample rifle was a 30-round, made-in-USA aluminum Caracal magazine with an orange polymer follower, which makes the magazine easier to identify.
Aluminum magazines insert and drop more smoothly during rapid reloads than polymer magazines due to lower friction. Aluminum AR-15 magazines, especially straight 20-round magazines, tend to drop free more easily when the magazine release is pressed and are among the fastest reloads available.
One Upgrade I Would Like to See
One thing I would like to see Caracal include from the factory is a set of flip-up backup iron sights, such as those from XS. I do not believe that would seriously raise the MSRP.
The owner could use them for initial testing while deciding on an optic, but more importantly, they would serve as emergency sights if the optic were damaged or went down.
Range Testing the Caracal CAR814
I mounted my original Aimpoint Comp M2 Red Dot sight obtained in 2005 on the Caracal for testing the rifle. Though not ideal for a defensive rifle today, it has the easiest mounting system and always seems to be right on target regardless of the AR-15 I use. I went to my former chief’s range to test the Caracal Patrol and let him get a feel for it as well.
I loaded it with MagTech First Defense Tactical 5.56×45 55 grain Ball ammo and we backed off to 50 feet. To check the zero, we fired from an unsupported standing position at paper. We managed a six-shot group in the top corner of the target that measured 1.5 inches. Firing nine more rounds at the center of the target, I managed a six-round cluster in a 2-inch group, with two flyers opening it up to 3 ¼ inches.
After our initial shots, my former chief had to return to duty, but he felt the Caracal would make an excellent patrol rifle with all the desirable features an officer could ask for and at a reasonable price.
I stayed and backed up to 70 feet, firing a full magazine at the steel silhouette target. With the Aimpoint Comp 2, which doesn’t magnify the image but imposes a dot over similar to a pistol red dot, and the Caracal’s excellent trigger it was easy to ping off the target. There were no malfunctions, cycling was smooth, and recoil was gentle.
Final Thoughts on the Caracal CAR814
While I did not fire a large number of rounds during this test, I did not feel it was necessary. The Caracal CAR814 A2 Patrol Rifle ran smoothly, handled well and proved more than accurate enough for the type of patrol-rifle work it is designed to perform.
The rifle showed no malfunctions during testing. Cycling was smooth, recoil was gentle and there was nothing about its performance that suggested a problem would appear later. For shooters who plan to use the rifle for a specific mission, further load testing would help determine the most precise ammunition for their individual rifle.
Overall, the Caracal CAR814 A2 Patrol Rifle is very well built, nicely finished and made in the USA. It has the handling, trigger quality, practical features and durability I would want in a patrol-ready AR-15. At the listed Guns.com price of $1,350.99, it is an excellent value considering the lifetime quality of service I believe it should provide.
Sources:
Caracal: CaracalUSA.com
Hiperfire: Hiperfire.com
Magpul: Magpul.com
Magtech: MagtechAmmunition.com
