Caracal is a firearm manufacturer based in the United Arab Emirates, but in recent years, the company has taken steps to bring firearm production stateside under its Caracal USA subsidiary. The CMP9K is one of the models being produced at the company’s new factory located in Lewiston, Idaho. The design originates from a submachine gun developed to replace the aging stock of Heckler & Koch MP5s in UAE military service, and this semi-automatic-only, pistol variant offers several benefits to American firearm enthusiasts.
The 9mm-chambered CMP9K is constructed using a matched aluminum receiver set, consisting of an upper and lower receiver, similar to an AR-15. Fans of the AR will recognize the control layout of the CMP9K, as it’s virtually identical to most AR-15 control layouts, with a bilateral safety and bolt-catch arrangement. The trigger group is nearly identical to conventional AR-15 trigger groups, and the pistol grip can be swapped out for any AR-pattern grip on the market.
At the top of the gun, there’s an AR-style charging handle located to the rear of the upper receiver, and just behind that, you’ll find a short section of M1913 Picatinny rail for attaching a brace or stock, should you choose to have it registered as a short-barreled rifle. A continuous section of Picatinny rail running across the top of the upper receiver makes it easy to mount optics, and a short section of handguard provides several M-Lok attachment slots on either side and bottom for other accessories. One of the best features of the CMP9K is its use of HK’s MP5 magazines, a rugged, durable design that ensures reliable performance. Two are included with the pistol.
Our flawless range experience with the Caracal CMP9K illustrated the level of work that went into the design, as the initial military-issue submachine gun passed a battery of endurance tests before being accepted into service. One feature we appreciated was the addition of a rubber buffer that softened the recoil impulse, and we also like that we could insert a full magazine on a closed bolt, which isn’t possible on the original MP5 design. The CMP9K design addresses many of the design issues found on the guns of yesteryear while also incorporating a number of highly modular features, making it a large-format pistol worth investing in. For more information, visit the Caracal USA website here.
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