CF doctrine re: weapons light, flashlights

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Mr. Bjorn

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Hello Esteemed gunfolk,

Apologies if this is not the right forum, since it's not really optics related, but I don't know where would be more appropriate to ask this.

Does anyone know what the Canadian Forces doctrine on weapons lights/flashlights is? I don't ever recall seeing illumination on a C7 or C8 in any pictures. Are lights on weapons basically not used because (a) lights are on soldier's heads and/or (b) if you need illumination, you use an NVG or something?
 
The XM3 has been in circulation for a few years. Has an IR filter for use with NVGS. As for doctrine I personally haven't seen one but I'm sure it exists. Some use of weapons mounted flash light is covered in gunfighter/ CQB but it isnt very in depth I have been out for 4 yrs so mabey some on more current can add some more current info.
 
I figured I'd ask because it's easy to be a tactard and hang all kinds of silly crap off my rifle... but people who live and die by their weapons are probably the voices that should be listened to regarding what works and what is just a waste of time.
 
I personal like having the weapon light strictly due to: it's better to have and not need than to need and not have. Now a days you can get something compact and bright for reasonable price
 
Mr. Bjorn said:
I figured I'd ask because it's easy to be a tactard and hang all kinds of silly crap off my rifle... but people who live and die by their weapons are probably the voices that should be listened to regarding what works and what is just a waste of time.
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OP,
There is no right or wrong regarding weapon lights. You are not a "tactard" for your choice. Unless you are building clone military rifles, mounting lights/lasers etc. depend on what you intend to do with your rifle.
I had a light mounted on my AR but when I got into TAC rifle matches, the regulars pursuaded me to remove it as the light interfered with some shooting positions especially the slot type barricades. When I did, the rifle felt a lot more balanced and instinctive. I now keep the light in the safe. There will be a night shoot coming this fall and that's when I will bring it out again!
 
As an Air Force turd(Yay! Spec Pay! :) ) on the outside of the Army, looking in, I would say that instead of doctrine, what the CF had was simply a reaction to the situation in which, due to the really rapid pace of changed conditions moving from the post Cold War era to the sandbox and active fighting in many differing circumstances, they didn't so much make doctrine as simply try to find options that worked for various circumstances and try to round up as good kit as they could, when needed.

If you dig around here a few years back, you can find a great number of posts from guys that were active over in A'stan, discussing the issue of getting a new RSM or Warrant Officer that would come into theater and decide arbitrarily that any non-issued or non-standard kit was not to be used (doctrine, ya know), while others were much more about getting things done as well as could, and didn't attempt to make folks fight with Korean War technology limits.

The green machine can be pretty hidebound, but during that affair and current times, it seems to me that the pace of change was and is huge, with the very limited number of guys rotating, immediately disseminating their lessons learned to the guys they trained when they got back home, as well as there having been more than a fair few of the leadership that was working hard and pending a great deal of money trying to find the right tools to use to be able to get the job done.

Short answer, I don't think there is so much doctrine, as there is acceptance that at times, having the option to have a light on your weapon, is pretty handy. Maybe I'm off-base, but that seems more what I saw.

Cheers
Trev
 
Jerry Champagne said:
The XM3 has been in circulation for a few years. Has an IR filter for use with NVGS. As for doctrine I personally haven't seen one but I'm sure it exists. Some use of weapons mounted flash light is covered in gunfighter/ CQB but it isnt very in depth I have been out for 4 yrs so mabey some on more current can add some more current info.
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the XM3 came standard with the C8A3 with an EoTech sight and foregrip(IARD(MP), CQB(combat arms) loadout). Most troops take off the items they don't use and put them in their locker or the CQ refused to issue out anything but the sight.
 
RedApe said:
the XM3 came standard with the C8A3 with an EoTech sight and foregrip(IARD(MP), CQB(combat arms) loadout). Most troops take off the items they don't use and put them in their locker or the CQ refused to issue out anything but the sight.
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Intresting. When the first came to 1RCR I was in the Q and a giant box of them came in about 250 units. But I'm sure things have changed since my days
 
Jerry Champagne said:
Intresting. When the first came to 1RCR I was in the Q and a giant box of them came in about 250 units. But I'm sure things have changed since my days
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The Field MPs received the A3s to replace the FTHB and the Garrison MPs replaced their C7s with the A3

starting in 08-09 ish, we were getting the A3s with the rifle, sight, light, foregrip in the same box. It was suppose to be issued to one soldier at the same time. The sight and light both also came with the manufacturers case for them. an opaque plastic box for the light and i think black hard plastic for the sight.
 
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