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Caracal CAR 816 A2 14.5-Inch SBR Review: A Short Stroke Piston AR Worth Considering?

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The Caracal CAR 816 is a short stroke piston AR-15 that delivers reliability, solid accuracy, and excellent suppressor compatibility. After 250 rounds of testing with multiple suppressors, this 14.5-inch SBR proved to be a well-built rifle that simply works. Is it worth choosing over a traditional direct impingement AR? Here’s what we discovered during our hands-on testing.

Shot Show 2026 Recap and What It Means for Gears of Guns

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SHOT Show 2026 may not have been the biggest year for new firearms, but it was a massive year for suppressors. In this recap, Gears of Guns breaks down the good, the bad, and the ugly from the show, highlights standout firearms like the TAO50 and new Tommy Gun variants, and explores major suppressor releases shaping the industry. We also share where Gears of Guns is headed in 2026 and what readers can expect next.