Colt Canada's C25 rifle makes its European debut

Canada has picked the C25 as the next step beyond the C7/C8 rifles its forces have carried for more than 35 years, and Colt Canada has now shown it outside North America for the first time. Its answer to better body armor is not a new caliber but a more accurate soldier.

The short version

Colt Canada, part of the Colt CZ Group, unveiled the C25 to UK and European audiences at the DVD 2026 defense vehicle show at UTAC Millbrook, England, on September 16 and 17. The rifle came out of Canada's Canadian Modular Assault Rifle project and has been selected by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.

The company says Level IV body armor is becoming common and 5.56mm alone cannot be relied on to defeat it. With no settled choice of a next-generation intermediate cartridge, Colt Canada designed the C25 to help soldiers hit the smaller exposed areas armor leaves, under fatigue and stress. It stays in 5.56x45mm NATO with a 13.7-inch chrome-lined, free-floating, cold hammer forged barrel and a full-length top rail.

Key points

• Trigger: A two-stage trigger for a more consistent break under stress.
• Accuracy: Barrel geometry the company says disturbs the bullet less, for better practical accuracy.
• Muzzle: Gas redirection at the muzzle to cut sound pressure at the shooter's position, flash and felt recoil.
• Optic: A Colt 1-6x low-power variable optic to extend engagement range.
• In service already: Colt Canada says about 3,000 of its weapon systems serve with the British Army, including special forces, with fleets in the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark.

Bottom line

The C25 is a military rifle, but its premise matters to anyone following small-arms trends: Canada chose precision and shooter ergonomics over a caliber change. Expect Colt Canada to pitch it to the same European forces already using its C7/C8 family.

Source: Soldier Systems Daily.