Diemaco C8

C7 rifle
The Diemaco C7A1 auto loading rifle
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	Canada
Service history
In service	1984–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	UNAMIR UNPROFOR Operation Enduring Freedom War in Afghanistan Operation Deliverance
Production history
Manufacturer	Diemaco (former) Colt Canada (current)
Produced	1982–present
Number built	200,000+
Variants	C7A1, C7A2
Specifications
Weight	3.3 kg (7.3 lb) (unloaded) 3.9 kg (8.6 lb) (with 30-round magazine)
Length	1,006 mm (39.6 in) (C7/C7A1/C7A2) (A2 stock extended) 929.8 mm (36.61 in) (C7A2) (stock collapsed)
Barrel length	508 mm (20.0 in)
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	700–900 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	900 m/s (3030 ft/s)
Effective firing range	400 m (440 yd) (effective) 600 m (660 yd) (effective in a section)
Feed system	30-round detachable STANAG magazine
Sights	Iron sights, C79 optical sight

The Colt Canada C7 rifle 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 M16A3.

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 were used as personal weapons by the United Kingdom Special Forces, Royal Military Police Close Protection Teams and other specialist users. It has been used in various combat operations by Canadian, British, Norwegian, Dutch and Danish Forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

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 and M16A3, 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 13 mm (0.5 in) 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, introduced 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.