Canadian Forces Small Arms Program - updates

A buddy of mine passed these on to me, so I guess I'll have to build a few new clones....damn, lol!

The image of the pistol is still shows the Browning Hi-Power, but the description says it will be a striker fire pistol.  My buddy, who's the head gun plumber at my unit thinks it might be the Glock G19x or maybe the Sig M17.  

I don't know anything about the Ranger Rifle to be honest and don't have a lot of personal interest in it.

It looks like the C3A1 and C14 Timberwolf will be replaced with something new, though the image still shows the T-Wolf.  Cadex recently developed their CDX-MX Kraken, and going by the history Cadex has with the CF, plus the C15 mid-life upgrade with the Cadex chassis, I wouldn't be surprised if that's what it ends up being.

As mentioned before, our Macmillan Tac-50/C15s received an upgrade with the Cadex Chassis.  

Last on this page is the C20 from what appears to be Colt Canada.  I haven't done much research on this rifle to be honest.  I know we had Armalites in 7.62 at one point in time, but that's about it.  From what I know about the C20 is it's a Colt Canada MRR in 7.62, looks like it's cerakoted in FDE, Hogue grip, what looks like the LMT DMR stock, S&B 3-18 sitting in Cadedx Unitized scope rings, no BUIS.  For clone builders, well, the rifle will probably be restricted in Canada so it will limit the number of people who will want to build their own clone, considering non-restricted options such as the Stag 10 and Troy 102.  That being said, it will probably be easier to clone than the US M110, lol!

The MRR and CMAR looks to be replacing the current C7 and C8s.  The MRR's been out for a while and I'm not going get into it.  

A couple of images of the MRR being tested popped up in the Ottawa Citizen article about the CF testing the new CADPAT:

There are no optics apart from iron sighs in these pics, but according to the chart, it looks like an Aimpoint on there, but the description says variable scope.  This suggests to me something like the Elcan Spectre DR, not a fixed red dot plus magnifier.  

Full-time Suppression?  Does that mean we're getting cans even for the regular rank and file? 

Anyway, word around the campfire is we might start seeing these new rifles, even at the Reserve level, within the next 3 years.  

I usually take this sort of information with a grain of salt, and believe it when it actually appears at the unit, but just in case, I might start collecting some Magpul furniture in FDE, lol!

Rainy day at the Range

Last minute, a couple of pals wanted to go to the range to let off some steam.  Andrew wanted to try out his brand new PGW Timberwolf in 338, and Don wanted to try his new Sig 1922-22.  

I made it a cheap day at the range and brought my Mark II in .22lr, something I seldom shoot.  In fact, it's probably been years since I had this thing out.  

The T-Wolf is probably way more fun to shoot, but a lot more expensive, lol!

Don making fireballs with his KAC.

I threw in my new CMMG .22lr adapter into my CANSOFCOM clone and because it was .22lr, I was able to shoot it with the fake airsoft can on it without worrying about it going kaboom on me.  For the record, it's a fake airsoft can which does nothing to reduce the noise.  

With the .22lr adapter in there though, it definitely made for a cheap day at the range.

We were only plinking at the 50m range but it was still fun.  

I brought along a small gong with me and just plinked at it all day.  Managed to pull of a shot with my left hand while holding the camera with my right, lol!

Don on the T-wolf

Also spent some time at the steel range with the Glock 19x.

Also had a chance to try out the new belt and holster.

It took some time to get used to, but I took it nice and slow.

I probably only have about 1,000 rounds through this thing so far, but I'm pretty happy with it.

.22lr sure is filthy ammo.

EoTech EXPS3-0 Holographic Weapon Sight-TAN

Once again, I have demonstrated how irresponsible I am when it comes to finances.  I sold my Beretta 92FS recently because it mostly sat in my safe.  I also planned on taking those funds to pay down some debt, however the money was in my account for no more than a few weeks before I went off and got something because it was on sale.

The Eotech EXPS3-0 in tan.  Why did I need this?  I really didn't.  I had been tossing the idea around that I would take my Elcan SpectreDR off my Mk18 clone and throw it on my ACR and getting an Eotech with magnifier for the Mk18.  I had some issues with ACRs, Optics and mounting options, but those issues have been resolved.

Anyway, the clone correct Eotech would have been this model for the Mk18, however because my ACR issues had been resolved, the Elcan was no longer needed elsewhere and could stay happily on the Mk18.  Actually, I was also looking for an excuse to swap out the Elcan to the ACR because I wasn't really happy with the shitty eye-relief of the Elcan.  

The Elcan is a great optic, the glass is crystal clear, it's robust, and the controls are great.  There are three downsides though - it's expensive, it's heavy, and it has shitty eye-relief.  Money-wise, I got a good deal on mine.  As for the weight, I just have to grow stronger.  The eye relief though....well, I could probably dump the KAC back-up iron sights on my Mk18 clone and move the Elcan further back on the rail, but then it wouldn't really be clone correct with missing BUIS (even though the Elcan has BUIS built in).  I could also shoot the rifle with the stock collapsed more, but it doesn't feel right to shoot with such a short length of pull.

Anyway, I ended up grabbing this thing on a whim.  It was on sale, and I guess the seed had been planted so seeing it so cheap just pushed me over the edge so here it is.

The optic came in a lockable hard case plastic box with paper wrap.  This might be overkill, because apart from getting it from the manufacturer to the retailer to me, I doubt it will spend much time in this case.  Schmidt and Bender sends their glass in bubble-wrap and a cardboard box with no issues.

It looks like Eotech has been doing this for a while now as their older G33 magnifier also came like this.  The Aimpoints (and even my Elcan) came in a cardboard box.

Current Eotech hard cases.

Slightly older Eotech cases.

Inside the hard case, the optic comes in custom-cut foam, and included are the instruction manuals and a sticker.

I think the sticker design is relatively new as my magnifier did not come with the sticker of the current logo.

Come to think of it, I've only recently noticed this logo on Eotech products.  I like the new features of the EXPS over the XPS models.  Having the brightness controls on the side make it easier to access, especially if you have a magnifier right behind it.  The new QD lever is also a welcome feature.  Having to fasten your optic with an hex-key or flat-heat screw driver is so 1990s.

Elevation and windage is still on the right, as is the battery cap.  This sight included the CR123 battery installed.  I honestly don't recall if other manufactures include the battery installed and ready to rock and roll.

I pulled out my XPS2-0 to compare to the EXPS3-0.  I should have an XPS3-0 (or an EXPS2-0) for a proper comparison, but this will have to do.  For those that are confused by all the numbers and letters, the EXPS model is slightly bigger, heavier and taller because of the build in riser

/QD mount.  The taller mount also results in a 1/3 co-witness with iron sights versus the absolute co-witness with the XPS models.  The EXPS model also has the brightness and NV controls on the side, rather than the rear.  Apparently the EXPS model is waterproof down to 33ft versus the 10ft of the XPS model.

My monster Elcan, but honestly, it takes up about as much space as an optic plus magnifier, and might weigh about the same.  Cost-wise, the Elcan may come in just a bit more than buying the Eotech EXPS3-0 plus G33 magnifier.

I'm not sure which set-up I like better, will have to test out both and see.  I built this rifle as a clone and not as a SHTF rifle, I have plenty of other rifles to choose from in that scenario.  I would say that there are probably equal number of Mk Block II rifles with Elcans as there are with Eotehcs, but that's just based on images I see on the web.  I have no idea what the real numbers are in the US military.  

In terms of function and performance, I'm going to have to give the edge to the Eotech combo.  With the Elcan set up, I am plagued with eye-relief issues and also, because it sits lower (absolute co-witness), half of the sight picture is obscured by the PEQ.  With the Eotech set-up, there is no eye-relief issues (until I use the magnifier) and because the optic is taller, it clears the IR illuminator.  

Again, I could dump the fake PEQ, the KAC BUIS, move the Elcan back, but then it wouldn't look like any of the Mk18s as issued.  With the Eotech set-up, it would resolve a lot of the issues, but I'm torn because the Elcan looks so much cooler, and let's be honest, looking cool matters, lol!

In all seriousness thought, if I keep the Eotech setup, I'll throw the spacer on the G33 magnifier.