Canadian C1/C1A1 Rifle - .22 Conversion Kits

Yeandle31

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Hello all,

I'm seeking information on Canadian C1/C1A1 Rifle .22" conversion kits. Were any made by C.A.L?

For those former service members/cadets out there, did you ever use them?

Any extra documents and/or photos would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevin
 
FN C1A1 .22 kit

Hi Kevin. If I remember correctly they came in a wood transit case with 2 magazines. Colour was a Long Branch
blue. Couldn't have been phosphated as that would cause too much bore resistence. I have never shot one but I did
own a repaired barrel with integral chamber once. Never could find a spring loaded bolt mechanism lying around at the
shows so I sold it. Never saw a magazine ever. It is possible they were made in Germany. JOHN
 
I used them a bunch as a young Army Cadet on the Corps Shooting Team. The inch-pattern sub-calibre conversion kits were manufactured by Heckler & Koch. As previously noted, they came in a nicely fitted, rectangular wooden transit chest. Inside the chest wes the Barrel Insert (inserted from the Chamber), the Bolt Assembly, and 2 Inch-Pattern Magazines with internally-fitted .22 LR magazines. The Barrel Insert had a Chamber end which correctly oriented the Insert within the rife. The Bolt Assembly replaced the complete Breech-Block Carrier Assembly and the magazines operated just as they would with a full-calibre rifle. The Transit Chests that we had were painted OD Green with stencilled black markings.
 
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I had one yrs ago I picked up from a great dealer that has passed on, John T. gunshow goers in the west will know .
It was in the box, one mag, It worked, but had trouble in my L1 as I think the bore was a bit rough. A C1A1 was fine.
I have seen 3 in the last 40-50 yrs.
 
We had them at our cadet corps. really the only time I remember shooting them was at a yearly match held at the fort york armories. We shot along militia units and other cadets. Militia shot multi position, cadets all prone at those little yellow paper fig 11. It was a fun shoot and I remember them being reliable and accurate enough.
 
I had one yrs ago I picked up from a great dealer that has passed on, John T. gunshow goers in the west will know .
It was in the box, one mag, It worked, but had trouble in my L1 as I think the bore was a bit rough. A C1A1 was fine.
I have seen 3 in the last 40-50 yrs.
I miss Jon - visiting Craven will never be the same...and i should have bought and sold/traded more stuff with him ;-)
 
A few years ago a member on CGN sold several of the .22 kits. I saved the pics from his ad. Have never owned or used one.



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And, the pic from Milsurps (Diopter's link)

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We had them at our cadet corps. really the only time I remember shooting them was at a yearly match held at the fort york armories. We shot along militia units and other cadets. Militia shot multi position, cadets all prone at those little yellow paper fig 11. It was a fun shoot and I remember them being reliable and accurate enough.

Fort York in downtown Toronto? Was the range indoor? Was it only opened for cadets?
 
Fort York in downtown Toronto? Was the range indoor? Was it only opened for cadets?

No not just cadets, all units used it. We shot the C1A1 with the sub cal down there as well as the SW 22 revolvers. The range was also used for other training.
 
as I understand it, these were installed semi permanently in the rifles. the liner tended to swell a bit with use and make removal difficult so guns were left converted. I have seen one installed in a C1(A1?) at a gun show once. it had both mags and was missing the regular breech parts
 
That NSN was assigned in late 1972.
I have one kit myself, and have owned a few over the years. Original components were HK marked. Replacement barrels that were marked differently but cannot recall if those were Cdn made.
I tried the kit in an Ishapore FN, and it would not go down the bore.
 
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Those are in slightly better condition than the one I got from Wolverine a few years ago.

I've posted pictures of mine before but can add more here tonight if you wish when I get home.

Neat kit - built by HK as others have mentioned.

A quick check of the NSN shows that it is a discontinued item listed as "1B" for disposal - and there is exactly ONE left in the Canadian Forces Supply System - it's with a unit on the West Coast that I suspect holds it as a museum item.

NS
 
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These were issued with a water absorbing paper tube in the barrel which was supposed to be removed before firing.
A former Diemaco employee told me that they had many C1s sent for repair that had been fired with the paper in the bore bulging the .22" tube in the barrel and jamming it in place.
 
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