Diemaco C7

The Diemaco C7 is a type of the M16 rifle, which was made by Diemaco/Colt Canada. This manufacturing unit is a subsidiary of Colt Firearms. The Canadian Forces, Hærens Jegerkommando (Norway), Military of Denmark (all branches) and the Royal Netherlands Army use it. The Royal Netherlands Army uses the Diemaco C7 as its chief infantry weapon. After a few trials, its variants are also favored by the British SAS. This rifle along with the C7A1 flattop scoped rifle and C8 carbine is used by Canadian Forces and has been in service since 1984.

Similar to the M16A2, the Diemaco C7 is a direct gas operated weapon. It also has full-auto and single-shot modes as a replacement for the original three-round burst and single-shot modes of the M16A2. Other dissimilarities are the two-position aperture rear sight that only has two settings. The barrel is chrome-lined and compatible with SS109 (5.56mm NATO) ammunition. The C7 and C8 can be used with black polymer 30 rounds box magazines. However, they also work with other M16-compatible magazines.

The idea of a Diemaco C7 came about when a Canadian Forces Liaison officer, who worked with the marines in the M16A1 Product Improvement Program, conveyed its details to the Canada's Rifle Replacement Program Office. The initial Diemaco C7s were manufactured for Canadian Forces as the Colt Model 715. Similar to previous M16s, you can fire in either single shot or automatic mode, as a substitute of the burst function used in the M16A2. The Diemaco C7 features a sturdier structure, improved handguards and a longer stock than that used by the M16A2. A notable difference between the American M16A2s and Diemaco C7s is the release of the A1 style rear sights.

Initially the Canadians requested the use of a heavy barrel profile instead of the M16A2 profile, but Colt did not permit these changes.

The C7A1 also known as the C7FT or Flattop is a Diemaco C7 rifle, which has carrying handle with iron sights removed. In this rifle, the picatinny-weaver mount is fixed on top of the receiver. This variant is issued to the Canadian troops with X3.4 Elcan optical sight. The Diemaco C7 can be outfitted with Diemaco-made version of the M203 40mm under barrel grenade launcher

In recent times, keeping in mind Canadian involvement in Afghanistan, Diemaco and the Canadian Army are working together to bring about improvements to the C7A1. This change is required to suit the present operational situations better. As such, the C7A2 with a telescoping stock unit has been introduced. This assault rifle is similar to the Diemaco C8 carbine in this aspect and has a 3-rail TRI-AD I mount on the front sight triangle. A great feature in the Diemaco C7A2 is that the selector lever, magazine release, and charging handle latch are ambidextrous. Though rifle-length in Diemaco C7A2s is established, some may have 16" barrels. This places such rifles in between the C7A2s and C8 carbines.

The Diemaco C7A1 uses a modified Weaver rail for mounting optics. Canadian soldiers are considered to avoid the C79 sight in favor of non-magnified optical sights. They may also choose backup iron sights when training in close quarters. The Diemaco's C7/C8 rifles have other variants. This includes the sharpshooter variants, the C7CT and C8CT. CT implies Custom Tactical. Diemaco also has a training version of the C7 known as the C10. It fires .22 Long Rifles, but is only capable of semiautomatic fire. The Diemaco C10 stock and lower receiver are one piece.