Canadian Small Arms Used in Afghanistan

One use for shotguns was to "spider" windshields of cars following too close to CF convoys. In some way, a 12 ga is less lethal than a 5.56.
 
Yeandle31 said:
Like this model?

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Thanks,
Kevin
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Cansof has a lot of non nsn stuff...

Mod to existing weapons. Like they did for the 870 breacher gun.
CC IUR are in use for most sf units now.
Different calibers like 300blk are also out there for the ottawa branch...

But over there it is pretty much I use what I like that is in the system somewhere. I saw a guy with an old 14" C8 with the carry handle upper A1 style. Old school guy no doubt.
 
We had a standard run of the mill 870 for... basically anything from pest control, escorting workers on camp and blasting windshield as mentionned. Our models were the 14" variant and we had one with the LEO folding stock.

I got to carry and use a C7CT on my second tour, neat little rifle but would have preferred something that packed more punch. The C3 (REM700P) was also proposed as an option for sharpshooter but nobody wanted to hump this around on patrol with the 5 rounds box magazines, the huge sniper scooe and its general weight.

Browning HP and the whole shoulder holster thing... apparently it was not OK to tell a senior officer that he was wearing his wrong. Going to KAF was always a mix of excitement and a lot of frustration whenever we went there. As soon as we were done raiding the PX we had enough of this place already.
 
DT741 said:
We had a standard run of the mill 870 for... basically anything from pest control, escorting workers on camp and blasting windshield as mentionned. Our models were the 14" variant and we had one with the LEO folding stock.

I got to carry and use a C7CT on my second tour, neat little rifle but would have preferred something that packed more punch. The C3 (REM700P) was also proposed as an option for sharpshooter but nobody wanted to hump this around on patrol with the 5 rounds box magazines, the huge sniper scooe and its general weight.

Browning HP and the whole shoulder holster thing... apparently it was not OK to tell a senior officer that he was wearing his wrong. Going to KAF was always a mix of excitement and a lot of frustration whenever we went there. As soon as we were done raiding the PX we had enough of this place already.
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Uhm. As I remember it the C3 sniper rifle in its oldest format was a heavy barrel on a Santa Barbara Mauser action. Kahles 6 power scope. The later variant detachable magazine and a 10x scope and a bipod. Never seen myself Remington 700P issued. Did they issue these for ISAF??
 
Brutus said:
Uhm. As I remember it the C3 sniper rifle in its oldest format was a heavy barrel on a Santa Barbara Mauser action. Kahles 6 power scope. The later variant detachable magazine and a 10x scope and a bipod. Never seen myself Remington 700P issued. Did they issue these for ISAF??
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I did see C3s, which as you’ve pointed out are Parker Hale Mauser rifles, used by VanDoos in 2010, 2011. Not sure I’d want to hump it along with my rifle but there were times when something like that would have come in handy. I suppose it was to make up for the fact that DND decided to get rid of the AR10 which was used up until at least ‘08.

Always talk about designated marksman but always fail to give them better gear for the role.
 
Yeandle31 said:
The C8A1 (or C8FT "Flat-Top) was made to emulate the C7A1. To my knowledge, there were a total of 5 C8 variants used during the conflict. That doesn't include CANSOFCOM's variants...which will be fun to write.

Thanks for confirming the Surefire lights used. I have pictures of their usage but I have yet to find the paperwork trail of DND's purchasing them. More work to be done!

Thanks,
Kevin
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C8A1 is an unofficial designation. They were marked C8, the same as the carry handle versions.

Same with the C7. They were still referred to, and marked as, C7 until they added collapsible buttstocks in ‘04.

As for the Surefire, like I mentioned, issued in ‘03. Could have been LPO. Not exactly sure when the Insights came along operationally. I was issued mine before going back to Afghanistan in ‘10. Lots of units did LPO. Believe PPCLI bought a bunch KAC RAS but as they had purchased them they did not remain in theatre.
 
Brutus said:
Uhm. As I remember it the C3 sniper rifle in its oldest format was a heavy barrel on a Santa Barbara Mauser action. Kahles 6 power scope. The later variant detachable magazine and a 10x scope and a bipod. Never seen myself Remington 700P issued. Did they issue these for ISAF??
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C3A1's were used routinely in Afghanistan. There were many rifles that were supposed to replace it (filling the 7.62 role) such as the AR-10(T), PGW Coyote, and there was indeed talk of the ATI-C24 which is based off the USMC M24 (Rem700P).
 
DT741 said:
. The C3 (REM700P) was also proposed as an option for sharpshooter but nobody wanted to hump this around on patrol with the 5 rounds box magazines, the huge sniper scooe and its general weight.

Browning HP and the whole shoulder holster thing... apparently it was not OK to tell a senior officer that he was wearing his wrong. Going to KAF was always a mix of excitement and a lot of frustration whenever we went there. As soon as we were done raiding the PX we had enough of this place already.
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As for going back to Oz, yeah, 24 hours max was long enough. I feel sorry for anyone who had to live there. Pizza Hut, PX, Laundry/UAB and then lounging at the board walk with a Timmies was about all you needed before it was time to get the hell out of there. Too many Sgt Majors with no direct troops kicking around every now and then you'd see one hunting the boardwalk like a predator looking for reasons to jack people up, as if to remind themselves and everyone else that their are somehow important.

Remember this one? https://pics.onsizzle.com/Facebook-c722eb.png

Leg said:
I did see C3s, which as you’ve pointed out are Parker Hale Mauser rifles, used by VanDoos in 2010, 2011. Not sure I’d want to hump it along with my rifle but there were times when something like that would have come in handy. I suppose it was to make up for the fact that DND decided to get rid of the AR10 which was used up until at least ‘08.

Always talk about designated marksman but always fail to give them better gear for the role.
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My fireteam partner and I had the C3 in 06. It was definitely a Parker Hale/Mauser. The Battalion snipers didn't want them any more because they were in love with their Timberwolves, and so they were pushing them out to the companies. I don't remember what specific optic we had, but I believe it was a fixed 8 power. Weight of the gun wasn't horrible. It was certainly heavier than it needed to be, but as we know the weight cuts down the recoil.

We didn't take it out that often, unless we were up in the mountains or doing something company level where the plan called for it. Down at street level in the city it wasn't as useful as a C7. Where the shooter carried the gun in hand or in a back pack while carrying his C7 was mission specific. Either way, when considering all of the other gear to be carried, the gun was barely noticeable.
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
This conversation doesn't include any of the SOF small arms. A colleague of mine was an augmentee to the mission in Graceland. His personal weapon was a flattop with what is now common known as a pistol length barrel, and a muzzle device. I don't think he got a can, but the front end was definitely not a conventional birdcage.
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I was tasked to do some aerial delivery with one of those fellows (not in Graceland) and I distinctly remember he had some model of vortex flash suppressor. I also remember seeing some of the AR10s that Wolverine in sold the CAF in PBSG - I forget the barrel length (20 or 24?) but I do remember the Badger handguard. Iirc, some of the trials guns actually came up for sale here years later. Perhaps you could contact Wolverine Supplies and see if they have any pictures.
 
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Cameron SS said:
Pretty sure the 870s we had in 06 were the same ones from somalia.
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I never saw an 870 in Somalia personally. The only shotgun I saw/used there was an old RCAF marked over/under that were originally used for bird control on airfields, I was given one to use while on guard duty one night in a tower when I stayed with Svc Cdo for a couple of days.

The fact that it was marked RCAF at that time tells you how old they were and the state of shotgun use in the CAF at the time. There may have been a few 870 floating around in the other Cdo's but I never saw one during the tour.
 
recce said:
I never saw an 870 in Somalia personally. The only shotgun I saw/used there was an old RCAF marked over/under that were originally used for bird control on airfields, I was given one to use while on guard duty one night in a tower when I stayed with Svc Cdo for a couple of days.

The fact that it was marked RCAF at that time tells you how old they were and the state of shotgun use in the CAF at the time. There may have been a few 870 floating around in the other Cdo's but I never saw one during the tour.
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Did the over/under look like this, by chance?

FBCFBE91-BE0F-497D-AECB-5FC80F9591F6_4_5005_c.jpg
 
recce said:
I never saw an 870 in Somalia personally. The only shotgun I saw/used there was an old RCAF marked over/under that were originally used for bird control on airfields, I was given one to use while on guard duty one night in a tower when I stayed with Svc Cdo for a couple of days.

The fact that it was marked RCAF at that time tells you how old they were and the state of shotgun use in the CAF at the time. There may have been a few 870 floating around in the other Cdo's but I never saw one during the tour.
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I was in high school for Somalia. So when I saw the shotguns we had in 06 were probably from Somalia, thats just judging the by wear and tear and outdated furniture. They could have been brand new to the previous Roto for all I know.

The ones we had were fixed full stock, 18" barrel with a 12" mag tube. how stupid is that. Either go with a 12" barrel and standard tube or 18" barrel with extended tube. Either is fine but having a long barrel and a short tube makes no sense.
 
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