Canadian Small Arms – Rifles
– A Visual Guide
Canadian Forces Automatic Rifles
Diemaco C7A2 Rifle
A 'mid-life' upgrade for the C7 family with Elcan C79A2 optical sight, a Triad mount for laser designator
and tac lights, and telescoping butt stock. Replacing C7A1s.
CF designation: Rifle, Automatic,
5.56mm, C7A2, Calibre: 5.56x45mm NATO (or .223" Remington), Origins: Updated C7/C7A1,
Diemaco Inc, Kitchener (now Colt Canada).
C7 and C7A1 Rifles[1]
The Diemaco version of the Colt AR-15A1/A2 automatic rifle. The first 'iron sight' C7 rifle entered service
in 1984, followed in 1990 by the flat top C7A1 with an Elcan C79 3.4x magnified optical
sight.
CF designation: Rifle, Automatic, 5.56mm, C7 [... C7A1] , Calibre: 5.56x45mm NATO,
Origins: Diemaco Inc, Kitchener (parallel development to US Colt M16A2/AR-15A2).
[1] There was a third original Diemaco AR-15 type weapon, the Rifle, .22-calibre, C10. DND then cancelled this
semi-automatic training rifle in .22" Long Rifle (5.6×16mmR ).
C8FTHB Carbine [2]
The C8FTHB ( for 'Flat Top, Heavy Barrel') is a C8/C8A1 upgrade roughly equivalent to the C7A2 'mid-life'
albeit on a more modest scale. The C8FTHB, as the designation implies, uses a 'flat top' C8A1-style upper
receiver (with its built-in Weaver rail mount for sights) and the heavier, heat-dissipating 40cm
barrel.
CF designation: No confirmed 'C' designation (C8FTHB is a marketing name), Calibre: 5.56x45mm
NATO, Origins: Diemaco (now Colt Canada), simplified Diemaco C8SFW. The rarely-mentioned C8A3 can be considered the production version of the
C8FTHB.
[2] This C8 update is variously referred to as the C8FTHB, C8A1HB, C8SFW or C8A2.
C8 & C8A1 Carbines
The C8 and C8A1 are short versions of C7 / C7A1 rifles. C8s have iron sights, C8A1s have opticals. Both
carbines have telescoping buttstocks and 38 cm barrels – vs 53cm for C7s. The new C8FTHB is a C8/C8A1
update program.
CF designation: Carbine, Automatic, 5.56mm, C8 [C8A1] , Calibre: 5.56x45mm NATO,
Origins: Diemaco Inc, Kitchener (Colt Model 725, equivalent to US M16A2 carbine).
Canadian Forces Bolt-Action Rifle [2]
See: New Canadian Ranger Rifle (and NCRR P&A) for plans to replace Lee Enfields
Lee Enfield No4 MkI*
A WWII-vintage bolt-action rifle, the .303" Lee Enfield is used by Canadian Rangers. The No4 MkI*
has a 10-rd magazine. The C No7 MkI is a single-shot .22" for training.
CF designation: Rifle, .303
Calibre, Lee Enfield, No 4 MkI*, Calibre: 7.7x56mm R (.303" British), Origins: Long Branch Arsenal,
Toronto (devel. from RSAF Enfield's SMLE).
CF designation: Rifle, .22 Calibre, Lee Enfield,
No7 MkI, Calibre: 5.6×16mmR (0.22 Long Rifle), Origins: Canadian Arsenals Limited (formerly Long
Branch Arsenal), Toronto.
[2] There are other CF bolt-action rifles, such as the Diemaco C11 (a 5.56mm Anschütz Model 6522) and the
Diemaco C12A1 (a 7.62mm RPA Quadlock). Both are target rifles. There are also a host of Anschütz model
competion rifles.
A true oddity is the folding stock SAR Rifle in .30-06" calibre, a modified Ruger Model M77 for use by SAR
techs.
See: Snipers Rifles for dedicated Canadian Forces Sniper Rifles
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