Rangers member using the old rifle. Photo courtesy of Canadian Forces Joint Imagery Center
The process of distributing new rifles to members of the Canadian Rangers is expected to be complete next year at this time.
The new bolt action .308 rifles, which are based on a design from Europe, have been extensively tested and are now being manufactured.
Fourth Ranger Patrol Group Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Russ Meades, says current members of the Rangers will be given the opportunity to keep the old .303 British Lee Enfield rifles which have been in use for decades.
“The rule will be that in order to receive one of the new rifles, the Ranger will either be gifted the old rifle, the .303, in the appropriate manner or they will hand it back,” he said. “Once either of those has occurred, then they will receive the new rifles.”
Meades says the Canadian military designation for the new rifle is the C-19.
It is a militarized version of the Tikka T3 Compact Tactical.
Modifications include a medium heavy tapered barrel and it is chambered in the .308 Winchester calibre rather than the 7.62mm NATO round.
Meades says the Rangers will only be issued soft point ammunition for hunting purposes and for large predator control and defence, which means it is not a rifle designed to engage human targets, so it is not subject to the Geneva Conventions and therefore hard point ammunition is not required.
The C-19 is also stainless steel, it has a 10 round, double stack magazine, iron sights and also a rail which will allow the mounting of a telescopic sight.
4CRPG did the trials on the rifle last year on the west coast.