CAR 814 A2
- Category
- Rifle
- Barrel
- 406 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.90 kg
- Introduced
- 2019
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Caracal CAR 814 A2 is a direct impingement gas-operated semi-automatic rifle built on the AR-15 platform, manufactured by Caracal International LLC. Unlike the piston-driven CAR 816, the CAR 814 uses a traditional direct impingement system, offering a lighter and more familiar platform for civilian and law enforcement users. Available in multiple barrel lengths (16", 14.5", 11.5", and 7.5") and chambered in both 5.56x45mm NATO and .300 AAC Blackout, the CAR 814 features an M-LOK free-floating handguard, ambidextrous controls, and STANAG magazine compatibility.
The CAR 814 represents Caracal's entry into the direct impingement market, complementing their piston-driven CAR 816. While the 816 was designed primarily for military use in harsh desert conditions, the 814 targets the civilian and law enforcement market where the lighter weight and familiarity of the DI system are advantageous.
The CAR 814 A2 Patrol is the civilian semi-automatic variant available in the United States through Caracal USA. Features an EDT Sharp Shooter trigger with 5.5 lb pull weight. Available with 10-round magazines for restricted states. The 'A2' designation indicates the second-generation civilian model.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Caracal International LLC
- Category
- Rifle
- Country
- United Arab Emirates
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2019
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 406 mm
- Overall length
- 909 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.90 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated direct impingement
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Trigger pull
- 24.0 N
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum alloy
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Hard anodized
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 922 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1700 J
- Effective range
- 400 m
- Maximum range
- 3600 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Direct impingement gas system
M lok handguard
Picatinny rail top
Ambidextrous controls
Mil spec trigger
Free floating barrel
Collapsible stock
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 84 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 2.90 kg | 3.08 kg | Lighter than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 77 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 909 mm | 900 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 98 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 406 mm | 406 mm | Shorter than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 98 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the CAR 814 A2
How much does the CAR 814 A2 weigh?
The CAR 814 A2 weighs 2.90 kg (6.40 lb) empty.
What caliber is the CAR 814 A2?
The CAR 814 A2 is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the CAR 814 A2 hold?
The CAR 814 A2 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the CAR 814 A2?
The CAR 814 A2 is 909 mm (35.8 in) long overall, with a 406 mm (16.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the CAR 814 A2?
The CAR 814 A2 is made by Caracal International LLC (United Arab Emirates).
When was the CAR 814 A2 introduced?
The CAR 814 A2 was introduced in 2019.
How does the CAR 814 A2 operate?
The CAR 814 A2 uses a gas operated direct impingement action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
82%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/caracal-car-814' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "caracal-car-814", "name": "CAR 814 A2", "manufacturer": { "id": "caracal", "name": "Caracal International LLC", "countryCode": "AE", "foundedYear": 2006, "website": "https://www.caracal.ae", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:43", "version": "e964e1444e27ed5ed66a0a57da9429679f3da3bb42f063c0c5b775eafe4a944a" }, "category": { "id": "rifle", "name": "Rifle", "description": "Long-barreled firearms designed for accurate shooting" }, "country_of_origin": "AE", "year_introduced": 2019, "barrel_length_mm": 406, "weight_empty_g": 2903, "action_type": "gas_operated_direct_impingement"}