| Colt Canada C19 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Bolt action rifle |
| Place of origin | Canada |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2018 |
| Used by | Canada |
| Production history | |
| Designer | SAKO |
| Manufacturer | Colt Canada |
| Unit cost | CA$2,500 |
| Produced | 2016–2018 |
| No. built | 6,500 (2016) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 4.0 kg (8.8 lb) |
| Length | 102.0 cm (40.2 in) |
| Barrel length | 51.0 cm (20.1 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO .308 Winchester |
| Action | Bolt action; two locking lug T3 |
| Rate of fire | 30 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 790 m/s (2,600 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 100–600 m (109–656 yd) sight adjustments |
| Maximum firing range | 600 m (656 yd)[1] |
| Feed system | 10-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Rear: rotating diopter drum; front: hooded post quick acquisition iron sights[2][3] |
The Colt Canada C19 is a licence-built, Finnish-designed Tikka T3 CTR bolt-action rifle modified for the Canadian Rangers. The C19 replaced the longer and heavier Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk.1 rifles which entered service in 1947.
After testing different submissions from rifle manufacturers, the C19 was selected as the winner of a Canadian military procurement program requesting a new bolt-action rifle with iron sights and a detachable 10-round box magazine and other requirements.[4] The procurement program stipulated the rifles had to be produced by a Canadian manufacturer and could not be totally identical to commercial rifles. According to SAKO, production commenced in mid-2016, with rifle trials into 2017 and the full complement are expected to be delivered by the end of 2019.[needs update]
The rifles are mainly used for self-defence against large North American carnivores, including polar bears, and for personal survival as regional surveillance missions are often conducted for extended periods in remote areas, requiring the Rangers to hunt for food.