New Canadian Ranger Rifle - Colt-made Sako bolt .308

Status
Not open for further replies.
200Apples

200Apples

Mojave Lever Crew
Joined
Jul 6, 2013
Messages
1,457
Location
Los Angeles
.
Surely this has been posted elsewhere here on THR. Please move or delete this accordingly.

Replacement Selected For Canadian Rangers’ Lee-Enfield Rifles

ranger-rifle-sized1-660x495.jpg

The search for a new rifle fit for the Canadian Rangers has ended, and the replacement is surprising. Colt Canada was selected in late 2014 to provide rifles to replace the Rangers’ venerable No. 4 Lee-Enfields, which many assumed meant the next rifle would be a .223/5.56mm caliber AR-15 derivative, from the company’s lineup. Not so! While the new rifle will be made by Colt Canada, it has been derived from the Sako T3 CTR, and will be chambered in .308 Winchester...
Click to expand...

More here
 
.308 would be a much better choice then the .223 for the north woods for sure.

At least they got that part right.

It remains to be seen with the rest of the package.
Can't tell much from the picture except it looks like open sights + rail, and box mags.

Rc
 
Asked Colt today if any chance I could get one for a write-up.
Not actually in production yet.
No idea if it'll be available down here in the US at this point.
Does look interesting, huh?
Denis
 
Canadian Rangers are not meant to be front line troops, not even close. They haven't used the Lee Enfield for so long without a reason. They need a rifle that is reliable in the bitter cold, and hits hard enough and is accurate enough to stop a big dangerous creature if needed as well as to forage for food. They don't need an AR-15, firepower is not the main requirement, but it's good to see this new rifle shares the 10 round capacity of the old Lee Enfields.

Looks like a great rifle, set up almost ideally for the Rangers. The stock color is... interesting... I think I'd have to see one up close before judging it.

All in all, this rifle looks like a solid choice. :)
 
Nice, basically a stainless CTR with irons, 2-stage trigger and 3-position safety. I think I would have opted for the lighter but still rigid Tikka polymer stock over the heavier laminated version they seem to have chosen, but all of the other tweaks seem very well advised.
 
I suggested to Colt's marketing guy that, if the company survives, it should try that rifle out in the US.
It has appeal, it has utility, & Colt needs to broaden their product line.

Dunno if it'll go anywhere, but I tried. :)
Denis
 
If it wasn't too outrageously priced and it turns out to be a good rifle, I'd be interested.
 
Isn't the T3 a Tikka, which is owned by Sako?

The Colt bolt action rifles currently sold in the US are made by Cooper, and are very nice. Priced around $2400.
 
I assumed that because this was a government arms purchase, the Canadian government required that whichever rifle was selected, be produced in Canada. That would account for them taking the circuitous route of having Tikka (Beretta) license a, for the most part, existing design to Colt Canada for production in country. As such, I wouldn't expect Tikka to license Colt Canada to produce and import to the U.S. what is basically a Tikka T3 CTR with irons, laminate stock and a few other tweaks.
 
Last edited:
Since Colt US partnered with Cooper on the high-end "Colt" 2012 & Colt's partnered in the past with the Colt Sako rifles, there's no particular reason to believe this Canadian Colt rifle project could not be developed for the US market.

There is precedent. :)
Denis
 
In both of those cases Colt lent their name to another manufactures product for commercial sales. In this case Colt is manufacturing what is basically another company's design, most likely so that the rifle could be domestically produced to meet a Government requirement. Not quite the same. I guess it's possible that Beretta could strike a deal to have Colt's name stamped on some special edition CTRs sold here, but I still don't think Colt would be actually producing them like they will be in Canada. And I don't really see what the benefit would be for Beretta, they already have mature distribution networks here that could supply a similar product, with the actual manufacturers name stamped on the barrel to boot.
 
This looks for the making of a GREAT scout rifle, I'm not sure about the weight as is but if it's too heavy, a lightweight composite stock would be in order. Add some scope rings forward of the receiver, a scout scope, a Ching sling, and you'd be in business!! :D

I hope Colt releases this to the U.S. market... if it's under $1000 and gets good reviews, I might buy one!
 
GT,
My point is that such a rifle package COULD be offered in the US for sale through Colt.
Contracted with SakoTikka & sold under Colt branding.
Or possibly produced by Colt Canada & exported for US sales, if the licensing & capacity were worked out.
Denis
 
"...for the north woods..." No trees where our Native lads keep the CF from getting lost. Highly unlikely to ever have an optical sight either.
"...They don't need an AR-15..." Rangers were trained on C1A1's. Semi-auto's were not wanted due to the conditions North of 60. Certainly didn't want a varmint rifle for hunting caribou. Ranger get to use the rifle for hunting.
Highly unlikely any of the 125 test rifles will be released for anybody to review. The CF and our government does not and has not surplused any firearms for eons. Roughly 500,000 BNIB C1A1's were chopped years ago. Along with thousands of perfectly serviceably No. 4 and No. 7 Lee-Enfields, Sterling SMGs and BNIB Inglis BHP's.
 
Can't tell much from the picture except it looks like open sights + rail, and box mags.
Click to expand...
It's a Tikka T3 CTR.

Isn't the T3 a Tikka, which is owned by Sako?
Click to expand...
Sako is the parent Finnish company for Tikka, ultimately both being owned by Beretta.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
New Tikka "Canadian Ranger Model"
Replies
12
Views
3K
DPris
D
Panzerschwein
  • Locked
Tikka Arctic
2 3 4
Replies
79
Views
27K
W.R.Buchanan
W.R.Buchanan
A
  • Locked
sako old vs. new?
Replies
1
Views
689
AustDave
A
M
  • Locked
Tikka t3x rifle questions: bottom metal, lite vs superlite
Replies
10
Views
5K
Martin248
M
H
  • Locked
X-Bolt superior to Sako 85 Hunter
Replies
1
Views
2K
bpl
B
Back
Top