Colt Canada C7 rifle The Colt Canada C7 is a Canadian assault rifle , manufactured by Colt Canada ( formerly Diemaco prior to 2005 ) , a variant of the Armalite AR - 15 , and having similar design and function to the Colt M16A2 . The C7 and its variants have been adopted as the standard issue rifle by the militaries of Canada , Norway ( Special forces only ) , Denmark and the Netherlands . Following trials , C8 variants became - and remain - the personal weapon of choice of United Kingdom Special Forces , Royal Military Police Close Protection Teams and other specialist users . It has been used in various combat operations by Canadian , UK , Dutch and Danish Forces in Afghanistan and Iraq . C7 . The development of the C7 paralleled that of the M16A2 by Colt . A Canadian Forces Liaison Officer worked with the United States Marine Corps in the M16A1 Product Improvement Program and relayed information to Canada ' s Rifle Replacement Program Office . The C7 is much like earlier M16A1E1s , rather than final product M16A2s . The earliest C7s were manufactured by Colt for Canadian Forces as the Colt Model 715 . The C7 series of firearms is driven by the same direct impingement gas system as the M16 series . Like the M16A1 , the C7 has both semi - automatic and fully automatic fire modes . The C7 also features the structural strengthening , improved handguards , and longer stock developed for the M16A2 . Diemaco changed the trapdoor in the buttstock to make for easier access , and a spacer is available to adjust stock length . The most noticeable external difference between American M16A2s and Diemaco C7s is the retention of the A1 style rear sights . Not so apparent is Diemaco ' s use of hammer - forged barrels as the Canadians originally wished to use a heavy barrel profile instead of the M16A2 profile . Also , Diemaco has developed a different mounting system from Colt for the M203 grenade launcher for the C7 rifle family . C7A1 . The C7A1 ( Diemaco C7FT ) replaces the iron sight / carrying handle used on the C7 with a modified Weaver rail for mounting optics . Canadian development of rails preceded American standardization of the MIL - STD - 1913 " Picatinny rail " , so the " Canadian Rail " or " Diemaco Rail " differs slightly . There are 14 slots instead of 13 and each slot is narrower . The height of the rail is also lower , allowing the use of normal - height front sight post whereas a Picatinny rail requires the use of a higher F - marked front sight post . During development , the original rails were vacuum - bonded to the top of a bare receiver . For production , the rail and receiver were made out of a single forging . The mount can use traditional iron sights or the ELCAN C79 Optical Sight 3 . 4× power optical sight , both of which can be adjusted for individual eye relief . The optical sight was designed for the C9 light machine gun and includes horizontal and vertical mil - bars used for range determination and deflection , and a tritium glow - in - the - dark aiming post rather than the traditional crosshair s . The 3 . 4× is powerful enough to properly see targets at the maximum accurate range of , though like most magnified optical sights it is prone to criticism for creating tunnel vision in close quarters situations . While the wide aperture helps to speed target acquisition , Canadian soldiers generally forgo the C79 sight in favour of non - magnified optical sights or backup iron sights when engaged or training in close quarters battle . The front sight was changed from the square post to a round post in diameter . C7A2 . With Canadian involvement in Afghanistan , Diemaco and the Canadian Forces have developed improvements to the C7A1 to better suit the operational situations at hand . The result , the C7A2 , has a four - point telescoping stock unit similar to that of the C8 carbine and a 3 - rail TRI - AD I mount on the front sight triangle . The selector lever , magazine release , and charging handle latch are ambidextrous . Also , the C7A2 is issued with green colour furniture as standard . These weapons are often seen with a similar plethora of accessories as their American counterparts given the overall commonalities of the system and the rail mounts . The C7A2 is also issued with the C79A2 ELCAN optical gunsight with 3 . 4× magnification but with a uniform green rubber armored coating , but some soldiers who are issued it have either been issued or have purchased sights like the EOTech holographic weapons sight and the Trijicon ACOG . Within an eight man section , six soldiers will normally carry a C7A2 , the section commander and second in command , two grenadiers and two riflemen , with only the machine gunners carrying a C9A2 LMG . The C7A2 is considered a " mid - life " upgrade for the C7 family . The addition of the TRI - AD rail mount has made it easier for soldiers to attach accessories such as laser designators and tac lights . C8 . The C8 range are carbine variants of the C7 family , and is mechanically and aesthetically very similar to the Colt 653 . Colt made the initial C8s for Canadian Forces as the Colt Model 725 . The C8 has a A1 profile barrel like the Colt Model 653 M16A1 carbine , but with a 1 in rifling twist appropriate for the 5 . 56×45mm NATO C77 cartridge . The C8 incorporates the design improvements featured on C7 rifles . C8A1 . The improved C8A1 ( Diemaco C8FT ) is essentially the same as the C7A1 , just in carbine form ; the carbine having a 38 cm barrel versus the 53 cm barrel typically seen on the C7 . The overall layout of the weapon remains essentially unchanged except for the upper receiver and the general inclusion of the C79 sight . C8A1s have also been more commonly seen with the detachable carry handle with A1 sights developed by Diemaco for both the C7FT and the C8FT . C8SFW . The Special Forces Weapon ( SFW ) features a longer , barrel of a heavier profile than the C8 / A1 . It is designed to provide a fire support capability in carbine form . The profile of the barrel is not uniform , bulging out at the end , whereas M4 barrels step down . The front sight base is strengthened for mounting of the Heckler & Koch AG - C / EGLM grenade launcher . The British military acquired a number of SFWs , primarily for their special forces , under the designation " L119A1 " . This version of the C8 is also in service with the Norwegian MJK and HJK . Because of the barrel profile , a Diemaco - specific mount is required for the fitment of an M203 grenade launcher . C8FTHB . Concerns that Princess Patricia ' s Canadian Light Infantry had with the C8 led to the creation of the C8FTHB . The C8FTHB ( Flat Top Heavy Barrel ) features numerous improvements over the C8 , including a heavy profile hammer - forged barrel and Elcan C79 Optical Sight . Other C8 variants . Three additional C8 variants exist . The C8CQB is similar to the Mark 18 Mod 0 CQBR , having a barrel and a Vortex Flash Hider made by Smith Enterprise Inc . The smaller Personal Defense Weapon ( PDW ) has an overall length of with stock fully retracted . It has a barrel and the receiver extension has been shortened by . A further upgrade upon the C8FTHB is currently being slowly integrated . The new version will be designated the C8A3 . The C8A3 will combine the C8FTHB with the upgrades found on the C7A2 . These improvements include green furniture , ambidextrous fire selector , magazine catch , and an extended ambidextrous charging handle . In 2011 , the Royal Canadian Mounted Police adopted the C8 with ancillary components as their patrol carbine . These rifles have been modified to a semi automatic only mode of operation . Diemaco LSW . Colt and Diemaco also paired up to develop a squad automatic weapon variant of the series . The Diemaco Light Support Weapon ( LSW ) features a heavy barrel suitable for sustained fire . The LSW can only be fired on fully automatic . The LSW has a boxy square handguard with a carrying handle and a vertical foregrip that can be used as a monopod . The LSW was made with no bayonet lug until recently because of the original bipod . A new bipod attaches to the same barrel yoke as the carrying handle and front grip , so current LSWs are made with a bayonet lug . Unlike many M16 variants , it fires from an open bolt , allowing the removal of the forward assist . The LSW used by the Royal Danish Army fires from a closed bolt and also has a semi automatic firing mode . The Diemaco LSW was originally a license produced variant of the Colt 750 , but both Colt and Diemaco have upgraded their respective weapons to include features like a detachable carry handle and other features separately . Other Diemaco variants . C7CT and C8CT Designated Marksman variants . Diemaco ' s C7 / C8 family is completed with two designated marksman variants , the C7CT and C8CT , with CT meaning Custom Tactical . These accurized C7 / C8 variants are designed to provide accurate engagement up to , while providing system commonality to other fielded weapons . They have two - stage match triggers and weighted stocks to counterbalance the heavy or free - floating barrel surrounded by a tubular forestock . A removable bipod , rails for designators , sling , etc . attach to that forestock . A special , distinctive pistol grip is fitted and the C7 - style buttstock can be adjusted with shims . Sound suppressors are usually fitted . The rifle is designed as a sniper spotter weapon or a police containment weapon . The CT series weapons meet or exceed all applicable military standards including : reliability in all environmental and operational conditions , accuracy , lethality , maintainability in field conditions and safety . Custom tactical features : C10 small bore training version . Diemaco makes a training version of the C7 named the C10 . It fires . 22 Long Rifle ammunition , but is only capable of semiautomatic fire . The stock and lower receiver are one piece . IUR – Integrated Upper Receiver . In 2008 or 2009 , Colt Canada introduced a completely new designed upper receiver with integrated rail attachment system . The front handguard is in this system permanently attached to the upper receiver . The whole system is probably forged from one piece , and is sometimes called a monolithic rail . This system allows for a completely free floating barrel . Another unique feature is that the system can be adapted for different barrel lengths by screwing on an extension . The system was introduced as an upgrade in the Dutch army with the C7 and C8 in 2009 and currently is introduced with the Danish Army . In service . Denmark . Denmark bought the first batch of C7A1 in 1995 and C8A2 in 1996 , designating them the " M / 95 " and " M / 96 carbine " . In 2004 the LSW , named " LSV M / 04 " was added to the arsenal . These are to replace the German made M / 75 ( H & K G3 ) , which has been the main infantry weapon since 1975 . The C7A1 is issued to standard infantry units of the Royal Danish Army . The C8A2 is issued to units where the physically longer C7A1 can be obstructive to that units primary work , such as logisticians , tankers and special units . Jægerkorpset and Frømandskorpset ( Special forces ) use the C8SFW with a barrel and extra front rails . The now defunct Patruljedelingen , a draftee LRRP - unit , also used the C8SFW . The LSW used to be issued to " support gunners " in infantry squads . However , it is planned that the Royal Danish Army will only use 7 . 62mm belt - fed machine guns for the support role . Most of the LSWs are intended to be transferred to the Danish Home Guard . The Army almost exclusively use the C7A1 and C8A2 with the Elcan C79 optical sight , while the Danish Home Guard use the C8A2 with the Swedish produced Aimpoint . The main feature of the Aimpoint is the " both eyes open " sighting . This is the preferred sighting method at shorter ranges . The C7A1 was first issued to field units of Logcoy / Danbn / Dancon of the Danish International Brigade , in October – November 1995 shortly before the transition from UNPROFOR to IFOR in Bosnia . In 2010 the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization ordered am improved version of the M / 96 and M / 95 from Colt Canada under the Danish name M / 10 , which Colt Canada designated the " C8 IUR " . It features a floating barrel , fully ambidextrous controls , flip up iron sights , a collapsible buttstock with more positions , and the Integrated Upper Receiver ( IUR ) . Originally the M / 95 and M / 96 were issued with plastic 30 - round magazines . They are however not being used for front line duty anymore and are replaced by metal magazines . The plastic tends to crack and when it breaks completely , all rounds can be ejected into the air . They can also have problems reliably feeding the weapon when loaded with more than 28 rounds . This experience is directly at odds with that of the UK , where the original metal magazines have been replaced by Magpul polymer magazines with a significant improvement in magazine reliability and reduced stoppages ( indeed the UK now issues this magazine as standard for the L85A2 " SA80 " rifle and has purchased more than 1 million of them ) . Afghan National Army . In 2007 and 2008 , Canada donated 2 , 500 surplus C7 rifles to the Afghan National Army . In 2011 , the ANA gave back the C7s since the Afghan security forces chose the American M16 instead . Canadian Forces officials said the Canadian rifles would be shipped to Canada for disposal . The Netherlands . The most commonly used version in the Dutch Military is the C7 . The Luchtmobiele Brigade ( Airmobile Brigade ) , consisting of 11 Infantry Battalion Garderegiment Grenadiers en Jagers , 12 Infantry Battalion Regiment Van Heutsz and 13 Infantry Battalion Regiment Stoottroepen Prins Bernhard uses the C7A1 , and the C8A1 ( Diemaco C8FT ) is mainly used by the Korps Commandotroepen , the paratroopers of the Luchtmobiele Brigade ( one company per battalion ) , the Korps Mariniers and most of the recon units of the various combat units , including the Forward Air Controllers and the reconnaissance units of the cavalry and the artillery . Many of the Dutch Army ' s C7s have had an overhaul : the rifle ' s black furniture has now been replaced by dark earth furniture . New parts include a new retracting stock , the Diemaco IUR with RIS rails for mounting flashlights and laser systems , and a vertical foregrip with built - in bipod ; the thermold plastic magazines have now become brown in color . The ELCAN sighting system has also disappeared in favour of the Swedish made Aimpoint CompM4 red dot sight . Sweden . The Diemaco C8 SFW ( Special Forces Weapon ) is used by the SOG and has been seen with Aimpoint sights and various attachments . United Kingdom . The UK first selected the Diemaco C8 in the mid 1990 ' s as the Special Forces Individual Weapon . This selection was later reconfirmed in the mid 2000 ' s , by which time Diemaco had become Colt Canada . The weapon is so well - liked , reliable and successful that the planned competition to seek a replacement of the C8 from 2014 has been deferred in favour of continuing with the C8 . Use of the C8 has expanded to include , among others , the original SAS and SBS , Special Forces Support Group , thd Pathfinder Platoon , Fleet Protection Group RM , RMP Close Protection and MOD Police . There are about 2 , 500 in service . A number of barrel lengths are available for different users and most weapons are now fitted with Knights Armaments Rail Adapter System handguards and Picatinny rail flat - top upper receivers . Most users fit Trijicon ACOG x4 sights with CQB reflex attachment , but other sights are used . Various laser , light , downgrip and other attachments are used . Surefire vortex - type flash hiders are generally fitted , and suppressors are available . The standard Canadian bayonet is issued , but rarely used . Coloured furniture is becoming commonplace . As mentioned above , the UK very much prefers polymer magazines to metal on grounds of weight and reliability and has now standardised on these for all C8 and operational SA80 users , with well over a million magazines purchased . Many weapons are fitted with the L17A1 underslung 40mm grenade launcher ( UGL ) , the UK designation for the Heckler & Koch AG36 . Detachable shoulder stocks are available for stand - alone use of the UGL .