History:
The M203 was the only part of the army’s flechette rifle project to go into production. The M203 has been in service since 1969 and was introduced to U.S. military forces during the early 1970s. It replaced the older M79 grenade launcher. And other conceptually similar Colt XM148 design. However, while the M79 was a separate weapon entirely, the M203 was designed as a rifle attachment in order to increase the efficiency at which a soldier could alternate between bullet fire and HE grenade fire.
It is sometimes thought that the M203 was a poor replacement for the M79, as while the M79 was quick to reload and more or less accurate under adverse conditions, such as in the Vietnam War, the M203 was more difficult and awkward to operate, and could be sent off-target more easily by variables such as a gust of wind.
A new grenade launcher in development, the XM320, will likely replace the 203 in United States service eventually. The XM320 is lighter than the M203, and has other benefits such as an unobstructed side-loading breech.
The 40 mm grenades used in the M203 (40 x 46 mm) are not the same as in the Mk 19 grenade launcher (40 x 53 mm), which are fired at a higher velocity.
history provided by:wikipedia
Spec’s:
- Weight: 3lb(1.36kg)unloaded
- Length: 15in(380mm)
- Barrel Length: 12in(305mm)
- Cartridge: 40×46mm grenade
- Caliber: 40mm
- Action: Single
- Rate Of Fire: 5 to 7 a min(depends on gunner)
- Muzzle Velocity:250 ft/s
- Max Range:400 meters
- Sights:Quadrant sight or ladder(leaf) sight on rifle
Review:
The M-203 is amazing I have always carried this weapon on deployments! There is no better feeling then being able to reach out and touch something at distance with explosive rounds! The M-203 is a pump action meaning you have to release the barrel, slide it forward and bring it back to closed locked position to cock the weapon. Breach loaded meaning “Receiving the charge at the breech instead of at the muzzle.” Single shot think that pretty self explanatory only loads one round at a time. 40mm grenade launcher, There are many typed of rounds for the M-203 ranging from HEDP (High Explosive Dual Purpose) to Flairs and Riot round. for training we use power round that a filled with orange power they don’t explode instead they just burst and spill a cloud of orange mist the round are pretty fragile and sometimes burst before leaving the barrel and you wind up looking like a cheeto at the end of the training day. The weapons has less of a kick then a shotgun but still has some bite too it. The action of loading and firing the weapon is as simple as can be. Just load and shoot. the sights are little tricky is you left handed because the Quadrant sight is only on the left of the weapon so you’re better off using the leaf sight if you’re a lefty. depending on the round you are using the “kill zone” can be big or small but 5 meter is a good buffer to say your pretty much dead if it hit around the target. all and all I have put about 100’s of training round down range , and fired about 4 ish live round while deployed and I love this weapon system.
Types of Rounds:
- High Explosive (HE) — M381, M386, M406, M441
- High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) — M433
- Airburst — M397, M397A1
- No. 4 buckshot — M576
- Star parachute (flare) — M583A1
- Star cluster (flare) — M585 (white), M661 (green), M662 (red)
- CS gas — M651,
- Smoke Canopy — M676 (yellow), M680 (white), M682 (red)
- Ground Marker (smoke) — M713 (red), M714 (white), M715 (green), M716 (yellow)
- Practice — M781, M918 (target practice)
- Infra-red illumination — M992
- Non lethal (crowd control)
- Sponge Grenade (crowd control)
- 40 mm Canister Round
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