Anybody seen the new Canadian Ranger rifles?

A Stainless Tikka T3, in 308, with sights and 10 round detachable magazeine. In a laminate stock.

6-7000 rifles ( Edit: 10.200 rifles )


http://www.netnewsledger.com/2015/06/23/canadian-rangers-have-new-rifle/


In my mind, they should get the C79 optical sights or an ACOG?

Looks like a good choice.

I just wish that we had a high quality made in Canada option.

All the best.

GRF

Northman;
Top of the morning to you sir, thanks for posting up the link, I was actually talking about this at work recently and was wondering where they were at.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with Colt being in a bit of a financial pickle won't it?

As well, it would make more sense to me if they'd sell the existing Long Branch made Ranger rifles off to help fund the replacements, but I'm not holding my breath on that for sure.

Finally, if they'd make a version of this for "civilian" sale they'd likely do well too and that would/could help fund the thing - again no breath holding on my part for anyone in Ottawa to think that far ahead.

Thanks again for posting the link, it's going to be interesting to watch it all unfold for sure.

All the best to you this summer sir.

Dwayne

Mediocre rifle, made in a foreign country and with a receiver design not conducive to quick top loading of single rounds.

The PF is NOT as bombproof in bad weather as CRF and the piece is not even close to a Lee-Enfield in rugged utility.

I have heard that these will cost us $12,000 each and this is a bloody joke, if correct.

I do not understand why they did not choose the Ruger Scout for this purpose......

SNAP;
Good morning to you sir, hopefully you're keeping cool enough lately and this finds you all well.

I would have thought that the Ruger Scout was a front runner here too - when I read the initial specs it seemed to make them all handily.

One wonders if Ruger just wasn't interested in having it built in Canada and that was the primary sticking point?

While the T3 is a decent enough rifle, for Ranger/Arctic use I'll be surprised if it stands up as well as an SMLE variant.

Anyway sir, it'll be interesting albeit most likely frustrating to watch this unfold no doubt.

All the best to you folks this summer SNAP.

Dwayne

It's unlikely any rifle would be as good for the Rangers as the Lee Enfield have been. I hope the Tikka is a good choice

The SMLE No. 4 is one fine bolt rifle. I wonder what parts they had a hard time finding.

Very interesting that they will be making a Sako/Tikka rifle in Canada. Looks like that is a company that isn't stuck in their ways unlike others are. I hope that the Rangers will be allowed to keep their old Lee Enfields after they are retired.

While I have no doubt the Tikka's will be accurate, I too think Ruger or even a Howa based rifle would be better and more robust.

Hmmmm, I wonder if Dwayne's point about Ruger and making these here in Canada, is correct?

IMHO, a somewhat improved version of the Ruger Scout would be ideal for this purpose and I am now really curious as to the reasons for this choice.

If Colt Canada intend building a rifle in Canada, I don't know why they simply don't select an action they like, modify the design as needed, and build away..

For instance, they could start with the old Howa Golden Bear action, change the integral rail design to something akin to an picatinny, modify the bolt to CRF and pick a simple and robust trigger group..if they really wanted the icing on the cake, a tang safety would be the way to go.

The Howa Gold Bear was itself a copy of an early Sako action and if spec'd in an appropriate quality stainless steel, it would probably be even more robust than the Lee Enfields its replacing..

Peter;
Good afternoon to you my cyber friend, I hope your Sunday has been going well - ours is looking to be toasty again as it's already 25° and heading for 39°......again.......

Anyway sir, from what I've been able to read about the process they were looking for a current production rifle but as mentioned wanted to be able to manufacture it here in Canada.

In some ways I can see that as a plus and in some ways a limiting factor, but anyway that was one of the procurement specs put forward.

Perhaps because Tikka is under the Beretta corporate umbrella they had a bit of a leg up as it's certainly not their first rodeo gaining large government contracts to supply armament.

If nothing else sir, its intriguing to watch some of these tidbits unfold for those of us who have more than a passing interest in firearms.

It's good to talk to you once again sir and I wish you folks all the best this summer.

Dwayne

Hi Dwayne,

Good to hear from you my friend!

With regards the T3 action, is the fact that it has a semi enclosed ejection port rather than the more usual style open receiver seen as an advantage or disadvantage in snow and ice conditions?

Regards,

Peter

Peter;
Sorry I'm late in answering your query sir, I've been slogging through a similar thread on a Canuck gun board.

Linky might/might not work here...

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1253525-Colt-Canada-Rifle-Here-it-is-%E2%80%93-the-new-Sako-rifle-for-the-Canadian-Rangers

Sometimes a non-member can read threads on gunnutz and sometimes not so I'm not sure.

Anyway there's more information there by folks who seem to be much more directly involved with the procurement process and the Rangers themselves. Again interesting tidbits for folks like ourselves.

I'd say that a more closed action would actually be a good thing Peter. My good wife's 788 worked well in some less than optimum hunts back in Saskatchewan for sure and it's sorta semi-closed like a T3.

She shot her first whitetail buck when the mercury indicated a balmy -38° or so if I recall - no windchill in that either Peter and oh my was it ever windy too...

A big thing one needs to watch with any metal gear in those cold conditions is that it sweats profusely when taken indoors. I did some damage to at least one rifle barrel by shooting it at sub zero temps, bringing it inside and neglecting to swab the bore.

When we hunted moose in really cold conditions I don't think we brought the rifles inside all week for that very reason. My late father shot a Model 100 semi-auto in .308 and in the extreme cold it really didn't want to function that well either - not that it was super reliable in warm weather Peter.

Anyway sir, that's just my thoughts on the matter and I'm certain that you could find a few dozen Canuck rifle loonys who'd disagree vehemently.

All the best to you folks again Peter.

Dwayne