Colt Canada C7 and C8

Colt Canada C7 and C8
Colt Canada C7 and C8
	A Colt Canada C7A1 with bayonet attached
Type	C7 – Assault rifle; C8 – Carbine;
Place of origin	Canada
Service history
In service	1984–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Rwandan Civil War; Yugoslav Wars; Somali Civil War; Sierra Leone Civil War; War in Afghanistan; Iraq War; Syrian civil war; War in Iraq (2013–2017); Russian invasion of Ukraine;
Production history
Manufacturer	Diemaco (1982–2005); Colt Canada (2005–present);
Produced	1982–present
No. built	250,000+
Specifications
Mass	3.3 kg (7.3 lb) (C7, unloaded); 2.68 kg (5.9 lb) (C8, unloaded);
Length	1,006 mm (39.6 in) (C7/C7A1/C7A2 stock extended); 929.8 mm (36.61 in) (C7A2 stock collapsed);
Barrel length	508 mm (20.0 in)
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	700–950 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	945 m/s (3,100 ft/s) (C7); 870 m/s (2,900 ft/s) (C8);
Effective firing range	400 m (440 yd) (iron sights); 550 m (600 yd) (magnifying optical sight);
Maximum firing range	3,000 m (3,280 yd) (C7); 2,350 m (2,570 yd) (C8);
Feed system	STANAG magazine
Sights	Iron sights; C79 optical sight;

The Colt Canada C7 and C8 are a Canadian family of service rifles, manufactured by Colt Canada (formerly Diemaco), having similar design and function to the Colt M16A3.

The C7 and its variants have been adopted as the standard-issue rifle by the militaries of Canada,^[2] Norway (special forces only), Denmark and the Netherlands. Following trials, C8 variants are general-issue firearms for the United Kingdom's Special Forces. The C8A1 is also the standard firearm of the Royal Netherlands Air Force and other specialist users within the Dutch and British militaries. It has been utilized in various combat deployments by Canadian, British, Norwegian, Dutch, and Danish forces in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Mali.

^ Fowler, Will (10 Apr 2010). Certain Death in Sierra Leone: The SAS and Operation Barras 2000. Raid 10. Osprey Publishing. pp. 24–25. ISBN 9781846038501.
^ Government of Canada, National Defence (2013-03-08). "C7A2 Automatic Rifle - Canadian Army". www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-02-16.

[1] Fowler, Will (10 Apr 2010). Certain Death in Sierra Leone: The SAS and Operation Barras 2000. Raid 10. Osprey Publishing. pp. 24–25. ISBN 9781846038501.

[2] Government of Canada, National Defence (2013-03-08). "C7A2 Automatic Rifle - Canadian Army". www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-02-16.

[1]

[2]

Colt Canada C7 and C8
A Colt Canada C7A1 with bayonet attached
Type	C7 – Assault rifle C8 – Carbine
Place of origin	Canada
Service history
In service	1984–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Rwandan Civil War Yugoslav Wars Somali Civil War Sierra Leone Civil War^[1] War in Afghanistan Iraq War Syrian civil war War in Iraq (2013–2017) Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Manufacturer	Diemaco (1982–2005) Colt Canada (2005–present)
Produced	1982–present
No. built	250,000+
Specifications
Mass	3.3 kg (7.3 lb) (C7, unloaded) 2.68 kg (5.9 lb) (C8, unloaded)
Length	1,006 mm (39.6 in) (C7/C7A1/C7A2 stock extended) 929.8 mm (36.61 in) (C7A2 stock collapsed)
Barrel length	508 mm (20.0 in)

Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	700–950 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	945 m/s (3,100 ft/s) (C7) 870 m/s (2,900 ft/s) (C8)
Effective firing range	400 m (440 yd) (iron sights) 550 m (600 yd) (magnifying optical sight)
Maximum firing range	3,000 m (3,280 yd) (C7) 2,350 m (2,570 yd) (C8)
Feed system	STANAG magazine
Sights	Iron sights C79 optical sight