M203
«M203 Grenade Launcher»
Grenade launcherUnited States1969In service
Single-shot 40×46 mm SR grenade launcher, mounted under M16/M4 rifles; sliding-forward barrel for loading (pump-action style). NATO standard for over 50 years.
Grenade launcher//United States
ID — M203
Designation
M203
Colt's Manufacturing Company / AAI Corporation
Caliber
40×46 mm SR
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Data trust
- Reliability
- Unverified
- Sources
- Sources pending review
Identity
- Designation
- M203
- Alias
- M203 Grenade Launcher
- Manufacturer
- Colt's Manufacturing Company / AAI Corporation
- Country
- United States
- Year
- 1969
- Category
- Grenade launcher
- Status
- In service
Ballistics
- Caliber
- 40×46 mm SR
- Muzzle velocity
- 75 m/s
- Effective range
- 150 m
- Maximum range
- 400 m
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 305 mm
- Overall length
- 380 mm
- Empty weight
- 1.36 kg
Mechanics
- Operating system
- Colpo singolo, canna scorrevole
- Bolt / action
- Pump-action break, single shot
Feed
- System
- Caricamento manuale colpo per colpo
- Standard capacity
- 1 rounds
Fire modes
SafeSemi-auto
Historical profile
Developed by AAI Corporation as a modular replacement for the break-action M79 and adopted by the US Army in 1969 during the Vietnam War.
Designed to give every infantry squad explosive firepower without dedicating a soldier exclusively to a grenade launcher.
Produced in over 50,000 units by Colt and later Knight's Armament; updated to M203A1 (short 230 mm barrel) and M203A2 (Picatinny rail). Partially replaced by the M320 from 2009.
Variants
M203M203A1 (canna 230 mm)M203A2 (Picatinny)M203PI (standalone)
Main users
United States · NATO · Israel · South Korea · Australia · oltre 40 paesi
Key components
- ●Stock — Shoulder rest.
- ●Receiver — Weapon body with internal mechanisms.
- ●Grip — Primary grip.
- ●Magazine — Cartridge feed.
- ●Barrel — Guides the projectile.
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