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The Canadian Rangers have asked for a few minor changes to the new C-19 Ranger rifle they expect to acquire in the near future. Currently the Rangers use the Lee Enfield rifle.

Prototypes of the new rifles were delivered and tested by the Rangers.

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Production will begin soon, the Canadian military hopes.

The rifle is based on the SAKO T3 CTR (Compact Tactical Rifle). It is .308 calibre.

The C-19 rifle was fired 8,000 times in testing without significant failures, according to the Canadian Army.

One hundred and twenty-five rifles were tested, Jennifer Garrett, director general land equipment program management, told Defence Watch in an interview earlier this year.

“During our definition phase we did three user trials,” she explained. “We were able to assess what modifications were to be made and that was based on feedback from the user community. Overwhelming the weapon had high user acceptance so very minor modifications to the rifle were identified.”

One modification was the colour of the stock. It will be a reddish hue, to signify the Ranger colour, she said.

“The iron sights design is being tweaked to improve the picture you see in the one hundred to two hundred metre range,” Garrett explained. “The third thing is a slight shortening of the overall length of pull.”

Colt Canada is hoping to have a production contract signed by the end of this month.

The military hopes to issue the rifles to the Rangers starting in mid-2017. Final deliveries would be in early 2019.

A little more than 6,800 rifles will be purchased.