Some basic C8 questions / C8 build thread (BUILD COMPLETED & PICS)

All of these have the heavy 16" barrel:

C8SFW: KAC RAS front grip (Used by Denmark and UK SAS, SBS, not CANADA)

C8FTHB: This is what most of the CF has right now. Standard old CAR grips with heatshields and uses the TRIAD rails to add accessories. Sling-loop on the left side of the lower-receiver's backplate. Black grips, flat-top receiver, no rubber pad on the old 4-position stock. We don't have that A1-style detachable carrying handle in the CF, we either put an Elcan C79/C79A2 (green), an Eotech or a BUIS on it. I have a picture of a C8FTHB with an Eotech and the new folding vertical grip that I had to install on every damn C7A2 and some C8FTHBs in the batallion on it, I'll post it later when I get home.

C8A3: Most recent version, this will be the new CF carbine (we already started receiving them, replacing C8FTHBs). Same as an FTHB except it has green grips, comes with an Elcan C79A2 and basically comes with some of the features that the C7A2 got over the C7A1: ambidextrous fire-selector and magazine release, the longer and ambidextrous charging-handle latch (that gets caught on your gear and bends or breaks the charging-handle), the rubber pad on the stock...

C8FTHBA3: These were normal FTHBs that were converted into C8A3s before the C8A3 came to light, so they simply stamped "A3" next to "FTHB" instead of using new receivers like the newly-manufactured C8A3. 400 of these were made before they just started freshly stamping C8A3 on the receivers.
 
Some in Canada have SFW's...

The C8A1 was issued in Afghan, there where not enough C8FTHB's (whatever) to go around.
When we deployed we had C7A2's and several of us where issued C8FTHB uppers in Canada and more in theatre, as well as the C8A1's (as complete guns, and the temp loan card said C8A1).

Most where not issue with EO's (and probably only half of the C8FTHB's did). So folks had to put on their C79A2.

I beleive the C8A1's where considered TPE (Theatre Provided Equipment), and likley where replaced completely with C8FTHB/C8A3's when enough came on line (or funding was provided).

With CANSOFCOM transitioning to the UIR based guns - an ideal world would see their SFW's (or at least uppers) transition down to the regular army.
 
Just picked up this little bad boy, so one part is ticked off the list... Colt Fibrelite and some other bits off an Sp1 carbine...

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Congratulations. Lots of those floating around in the old parts drawers. Don't know why, I love 'em. Lightest and shortest stock out there. I'll be on the hunt for more when I get some spare cash.

The C8A1 easily predates the C8FTHB so definitely not a stop gap, do believe they were theatre specific though. We received them halfway through Roto 0 in 2003. We'd been begging the CoC for C8's as only Recce and Armoured had them issued at the time. Oddly, we'd see truckers and MP's driving around Camp Julien with C8's, guess they needed them more than we did. We deployed with the C7A1, didn't receive the A2s in our unit until 2004. Can't remember when finally got C8FTHB, maybe '05? Originally got two per section but these have been continually realocated for overseas. Don't know where they all went but my company only seems to issue them to OC, CSM and others who think they need them more than the troops.

Weird that these C8A1's seem to have dissapeared yet the old C8 is still in theatre. You'd think they'd retire the C8 before the C8A1. I know our medic would have preffered to mount his Acog on a flatop instead of the carry handle. You wouldn't believe the amount of flack this guy got from his CoC back in KAF. Tried to tell him it turned it into an offensive weapon because he put a scope on it.

ETA: Too bad you didn't get the handguards as well. Most aftermarket skinny handguards have 7 holes instead of the 6 hole type used by Colt and Diemaco.
 
KevinB said:
I beleive the C8A1's where considered TPE (Theatre Provided Equipment), and likley where replaced completely with C8FTHB/C8A3's when enough came on line (or funding was provided).
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I believe so as well,, I think there was less than 200 of the flattop skinny barreled ones.

Edited: ,,, only 150 acquired for OP ATHENA as a UOR. Only change was the flattop receiver, everything else including barrel was same as the C8. Came with a EO Tech site. Not brought on service, and was called the "C8 Flattop 5.56", generally referred to as the C8A1.
 
Yeah, I'd have liked the 6 hols HG's, but alas he didn't have them available... :(

I have a set of 7 hole HG's in my parts drawer I can use until I find the right set if needs be.
 
Another question for the C8 gurus...

The original C7 (not the A1) had a square sight post and the C7A1 got the round post.

What did original C8's have? They came out after the C7 and I'm not sure if they had the old square post or the newer round post?

Would those still in the system have been upgraded to the round post in the event they were made with a square post?

Anyone know?
 
Actually the round post is the old version. The square came in with the M16A2. The C8's had square ones like the C7's but were switched out for round ones.

I was told at the time this was because many found the square post too thick. Having used both I prefer the old round post. I still have a couple of spares of each kicking around somewhere.
 
Are you sure it went like that? The C7A1 I used was round and the C7's I saw were square. The A2's I've seen around were round as well...?

Or do you mean to say that the original Colt M16's had round sights and Canada went back to the round sight with the A1 and later because tropes didn;t like the M16A2 square sight used on the original C7?
 
The C7, C7A1 and old C8s all had square ones. Mid way through the C7A1 we switched to round.

The old style round post "used on the M16 and M16A1" were never used by the CF
 
greentips said:
The round one is taller than the American M16 - to compensate for the taller receiver height on C7.
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The square C7 sights are taller than the US parts as well - in fact they are the same height as the aftermarket sights sold for guys with M4's who have the non-F front sight base.

I have a few of the older square C7 sights and the difference is obvious - about 1/16" difference in height to a USGI post.

What I am hearing here and via pm is that about late 1989 the round sights were provided to unit armorers en-masse and all the old square sights were supposed to have been upgraded on all issued-out weapons at that time, so any rifles still in the system with the square sight "got missed". Present old-pattern C7 and C8 rifles still in inventory are supposed to have the round post as an upgrade.
 
Dsiwy said:
The C7, C7A1 and old C8s all had square ones. Mid way through the C7A1 we switched to round.

The old style round post "used on the M16 and M16A1" were never used by the CF
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It was the mid 90's when I saw them switched, and got a spare. Gunplumberr was our tech at the time, he may remember this.
 
Well I made a little progress :) Picked up a 14.5" DPMS chrome lined M4 profile bbl from Wolverine. It's 1:9, not 1:7, but oh well.

A little while on the lathe tonight using measurements off a real CF bbl and this is what I've got...

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Looks good Claven2. Are you going to reprofile under the handguards as well? It may just be my eyes but that looks a lot thicker than government profile, closer to .750" or so.
 
fenceline said:
The Colt Canada rifles issued domestically to police are termed C8A2. 14.5 hammerforged barrels. With detachable carry handle sight or ARMS 40L-C rear BUIS. And that little triad. Barrel is gov't profile.
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Only one model for LE is C8A2. It has a HEAVY 14.5 barrel. Same as the Dutch or the C8A3 profile under the handguard. The ARMS is just an accessory. CC also sells Aimpoint, EOTech, Elcan, ETC as an OEM supplier.
 
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