C8
Canadian 370 mm short-barrel carbine derived from the C7 (Diemaco's M4 equivalent); telescoping stock, produced from 1986 by Colt Canada and widely used by NATO special forces (UKSF, KSK, Dutch Korps Mariniers).
C8
Community
Data trust
- Reliability
- Unverified
- Sources
- Sources pending review
Identity
- Designation
- C8
- Alias
- Colt Canada C8 / C8A1 / C8A2 / C8 SFW / C8 IUR
- Manufacturer
- Colt Canada (Diemaco)
- Country
- Canada
- Year
- 1986
- Category
- Carbine
- Status
- In service
Ballistics
- Caliber
- 5.56×45 mm NATO
- Muzzle velocity
- 880 m/s
- Rate of fire
- ~800 rpm
- Effective range
- 400 m
- Maximum range
- 600 m
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 370 mm
- Overall length
- 760 / 840 mm
- Empty weight
- 2.7 kg
Mechanics
- Operating system
- Presa di gas diretta (DI)
- Bolt / action
- Otturatore rotante (AR-15)
Feed
- System
- Caricatore amovibile STANAG
- Standard capacity
- 30 rounds
Fire modes
Historical profile
Developed alongside the C7 for vehicle crews, paratroopers and special forces; 370 mm hammer-forged barrel more robust than the standard Colt M4.
The C8 SFW (Special Forces Weapon, 1994) introduced a 400 mm heavy barrel able to sustain prolonged automatic fire; adopted by UKSF as L119A1 and by Dutch Korps Commandotroepen.
The C8 IUR (Integrated Upper Receiver, 2010) features a monolithic rail and adjustable gas; the British L119A2 is its current evolution, in service with SAS, SBS and SRR.
Variants
Main users
Canada · Regno Unito (UKSF) · Paesi Bassi · Germany (KSK) · Norway · Danimarca
Key components
- ●Stock — Shoulder rest.
- ●Receiver — Weapon body with internal mechanisms.
- ●Grip — Primary grip.
- ●Magazine — Cartridge feed.
- ●Barrel — Guides the projectile.
