Type Bolt action rifle In service 2016 Designer SAKO | Place of origin Finland Used by Canada Manufacturer Colt Canada | |
The Colt C-19 is a license-built, Finnish-designed Tikka T3 CTR bolt action rifle modified for the Canadian Rangers. The C-19 replaces the longer and heavier Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifles in service since 1947.
Contents
The rifles are mainly used for self-defense against large North American carnivors like 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. Further the rifles are expected to operate in in temperatures ranging from −51 to 39 °C (−60 to 102 °F) with moderate to high humidity and be resistant to corrosion from long-term exposure to salt laden air and water.
According to SAKO, production commenced in mid-2016, and the full complement are expected to be delivered by the end of 2018.
Design details
The C-19 has the following modifications from the original Tikka T3 CTR:
The receiver top has a picatinny rail for mounting accessories like aiming elements or optics. The Free-floating, hammer-forged threaded barrel and other critical componetes are made of stainless steel. The buttstock is manufactured from plywood laminates. Such engineered woods are stronger and resist warping better than the conventional one-piece patterns, do not require lengthy maturing, and are cheaper. Further the buttstock can be lengthend by adding spacers. The Colt C-19 is equipped with iron sights that consist of a rear sight element mounted on the rear receiver containing a rotary drum protected by sturdy "ears" and a semi-hooded front post. The rear sight is mechanically adjustable for elevation, and features six apertures calibrated for 100–600 m (109–656 yd) in 100 m (109 yd) increments.
The selection of a rifle chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO and .308 Winchester simplifies the Canadian Armed Forces’ supply chain. The C-19 is capable of chambering not only in-service 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition such as the Ball C21 cartridge, but also commercially-available .308 Winchester ammunition.
The C-19 rifle is be supplied with a soft transport case, Pelican hard transport case, cleaning kit, sling, and trigger lock.
Tikka T3x Arctic civilian version
In 2017 Tikka introduced the Tikka T3x Arctic model in their regular commercial line, which is the civilian version of the Colt C-19. Tikka T3x Arctic rifles lack the crest of the Canadian Rangers depicted on the stocks of C-19 service rifles.