Canada Picks Accuracy Over Power With New C25 Rifle

Canada just adopted its next service rifle, and instead of chasing the US Army's new 6.8x51mm round, Colt Canada stuck with 5.56 and bet on accuracy instead of raw power. Matthew Moss at The Firearm Blog got hands-on time with the new C25 at a Copenhagen range day, and the approach is worth a look even if you'll never carry one.

Key points

• Different answer to body armor: Rather than follow the US NGSW program's push for bigger rounds, Canada and DRDC chose to keep 5.56mm and instead train soldiers to aim at less-protected areas like the head, neck, and legs.
• Built from a proven base: The C25 evolves Colt Canada's C8A4 Modular Rail Rifle, keeping the direct impingement system but adding a monolithic upper, MLOK handguard, and fully ambidextrous controls.
• Specs: Length runs 32 to 35.2 inches depending on stock position, with the rifle weighing 7.61 lbs unloaded, bare optic, but fitted with the MFMD muzzle device.
• New gear package: A two-stage trigger, a 1-6x LPVO, and the Millbrook Strategic Sciences Multi-Function Muzzle Device are all meant to tighten up hit probability under stress.
• Doctrine shift required: Moss notes that Colt Canada's Tim Moore stressed this only works if training catches up, meaning more range time for troops learning the new aiming points.

Quick take

This is a reminder that "more powerful cartridge" isn't the only answer to modern body armor, and that ergonomics, optics, and trigger quality can matter as much as case dimensions. Worth watching how this plays out for Canadian forces.

Read the full story: Matthew Moss