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These photos provided to Defence Watch by the Canadian Army show members of the Terra Nova Patrol, 5th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group conducting live-fire range training with the new C-19 rifle in Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador on May 6th. The C-19s will be distributed to the Canadian Rangers over the next year and a half.

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The .308 calibre C19 replaces the Lee-Enfield .303 rifle which the Canadian Rangers have used since 1947. The C19 is lighter, shorter and more precise, according to the Canadian Forces.

The new C19 rifles are an improved version of the FTC Tikka T3 developed by SAKO (Finland), and manufactured under license by Colt Canada. They are more robust, and operate more reliably at temperatures well below freezing, an essential feature to ensure the smooth operation of Canadian Rangers in the Arctic, according to the Canadian Forces.

Colt will produce 6,820 of the new rifles. “The Canadian Ranger Rifle production deliveries from Colt Canada commenced in March 2018 and will continue until they are completed in late 2019,” Department of National Defence spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande told Defence Watch.

Photos by Cpl Lisa Fenton, Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa)