I'm posting this from CFB Edmonton, where I'm currently a Corporal assigned to 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. I'm issued a C7A2, up until now I carried an A1, and they both have the same profile as that of the M16A2. Diemaco advertises it as having a cold forged barrel, which is how it's manufactured, not the profile.
The old C8 and C8A1 had the same lightweight barrel as the old Colt Model 653 / 654, but we've been issuing them more and more lately and found they won't last in a sustained firefight. The new A2s have a 16" heavy barrel instead of the old 14.5" lightweight - they're basically the old Diemaco SFW without the rails.
Our 203s do hang lower than the US version, but the reason the mounting bracket is different is that they're less likely to snag on kit. Personally I don't like the design, they're a bitch to a put on, but we don't exactly get a choice in the matter.
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