The C8 carbine is the carbine member of the C7 family and is mechanically and aesthetically very similar to the Colt Model 653.
History
The C8 was initially produced by Colt, as the Model 725, for the Canadian Armed Forces, and show first debut in 1983, the gun was originally design for vehicle crews, but it has been used by paratroopers and special forces. It was adopted by the Canadian Army in 1994. In 2005, Diemaco was bought by Colt Defence, becoming Colt Canada.[1][2]
Design
The C8 is a gas-operated, rotating bolt select fire family of carbines, which fire from a direct gas system, it is based on its American contra part the Colt Model 725. It can be configured as a carbine, assault rifle, compact carbine, and even a precision rifle, it's mostly made of steel and polymer.[1][2]
The gun features most of the internal parts of the C7, but adds a shortened forestock and barrel, in addition to the fixed stock being replaced by an adjustable 4-position buttstock. Like the C7, uses the 5.56×45mm NATO C77 a cartridge pretty similar to the standard SS109, however, a 1/7 twist had to be added so the gun doesn't present malfunctions with the Canadian cartridge, this twist makes the receiver compatible with not STANAG magazines, such as the G36 and the Steyr AUG magazines, however, this is not recommended.[1][2]
The gun baseline uses an A2 style carry handle sight, but it can be replaced with a flat-top Picatinny rail receiver, for mounting optics.[2]
Variants
- C8A1: An improved model with 14.5" barrel and C79 sights.[1]
- C8A2: C8A1 with a heavier barrel.[1]
- C8A3: C8A2 with ambidextrous compatibility.[1]
- C8SFW (Special Forces Weapon): A variant of the C8A1 that features a longer heavier barrel, that is 15.7" long.[3]
- C8CQC: A even more compact design based on the M4 carbine and its derivate CQBR. Has a shorter barrel (10.5"-11.5").[3]
- C8CT (Custom Tactical): A marksman derivate of the C8, so only semi-auto fire is provided, it has rails adaptor and a 16" barrel.[2]
- C8FTHB (Flat Top Heavy Barrel): A C8A2 with a flat top and Picatinny rail receiver. Replace by the C8A3.
- C8IUR(Integrated Upper Receiver): Civilian variant that has a RAS quad-rail handguard.[4]
- L119A1: British designation of the C8SFW, with added rails.
- M/10 Carbine: Danish designation with a Norgon LLC Ambi-Catch™.[5]
Derivates
Colt Canada MMR
A derivate with M-LOK compatibility.[6]
Diemaco PDW
A proposed yet rejected prototype of a C8, the gun was designed so it was even more compact than the C8.[1]
Gallery
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=608
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 http://www.military-today.com/firearms/c8.htm
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://weaponsystems.net/system/251-%3E%3EDiemaco%20C8
- ↑ https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/02/17/review-colt-canada-iur-c8-integrated-upper-receiver/
- ↑ http://02a574b.netsolhost.com/Home_files/Page421.htm
- ↑ https://www.coltcanada.com/mrr.html