M203 40mm Grenade Launcher
M203 40mm Grenade Launcher
Caliber: 40mm (40x46)
Overall length: 380 mm
Weight: 1.36 kg unloaded
Effective range: up to 150 meters point target, up to 350 meters area target
The M203 grenade launcher has been developed between 1967 and 1968 by the AAI
Corporation of USA on the contract from US Army. this contract has been issued on the
basis of the experience, gained by the US armed forces in Vietnam with the M79 40mm
grenade launcher (which was successful design but required an additional personal
defense weapon to be carried by grenadier) and unsuccessful XM148/CG4 40mm
underbarrel grenade launcher, developed in midsixties by Colt in attempt to cure
deficiencies of the M79. The new underbarrel grenade launcher was intended to be used
with all available 40mm ammunition, and to be attached to the existing infantry rifle then
in service, the M16A1.In the late 1968 the AAI design has been type classified as
XM203, and in early 1970 first M203 units went to Vietnam for field evaluation. After
successful tests US Army ordered large quantities of M203, and since AAI had no
resources fore mass production, the manufacturing contract has been issued to Colt.
latter on, more or less exact copies of M203 were produced in Egypt, South Korea and
Bulgaria (as UBGLM1, with mount suitable for Kalashnikov AKM and AK74 type rifles).
During the 1990s, M203 went into several modifications, such as shorterbarreled
M203A2 (with 9 inch barrel, as opposed to standard 12 inch barrel), intended for shorter
M4 carbines used by US SOCOM, as well as versions with MILSTD 1913 (Picatinny rail)
compatible mounts. M203 launchers are still being used by US armed forces, and by
many other armies, including those of Australia, Israel, South Korea, Philippines, Turkey
and some others.
The M203 is a singleshot, breechloading weapon with rifled barrel. The loading is
achieved by sliding the aluminum barrel forward, then inserting the round of ammunition
into the breech and sliding the loaded barrel back into the battery. The barrel is held in
battery by the manually controlled lock, which is disengaged by depressing the barrel
catch lever at the left side of the launcher, above the middle of the barrel. The loaded
cartridge is held at the breech face by the extractor claws, and remains stationary when
barrel is opened forward. Once the barrel clears the fired case or unfired round, it is free
to fall down from the breech face, so the next round can me loaded if necessary. The
selfcocking firing unit with its own trigger is located at the rear of the M203 receiver, also
made from aluminum alloy. The manual safety in the form of the swinging flap is located
inside the trigger guard, just ahead of the trigger. The rear part of the barrel is covered
with polymer handgrip. The standard M203 easily installs on the M16A1 or M16A2 type
rifle, and installation requires about 5 minutes of work and a standard screwdriver for
clamping screws. If necessary, M203 can be mounted on a separate shoulderstock /
pistol grip assemblies (available from several companies, such as Colt or Knight's
Armament) to be used as a standalone weapon. Standard sights for M203 are of ladder
type, and graduated from 50 to 250 meters in 50m increments. The optional quadrant
sight can be installed on the left side of the M16A1/A2 carrying handle, and it allows
aiming at the ranges of up to 400 meters