So I have seen a few real time operators posting pics of cut-down M79s... A practice that was done by SOG Teams
way back to the Vietnam days.  Today the gun is called the "pirate gun" - chop the barrel and cut the stock down to
a pistol grip.  

My question is that the M79 is hailed as the best 40mm blooper and has a great reputation BUT compared to the
modern M203, say the rail model with a LMT stand alone grip, is it really that much better?  Could it really just be
what is still inventoried and just available at the time of need?

tag

Tag as well.

I haven't had any field time with an M79 although I've seen them in the wild. I haven't heard of any technical reasons M79 would be better than an M203 and IMO it is inventory driven.

Leaning towards a technical answer: during the recent 18/22 adapter group buy on Grog's forum there was a post that the adapter was not recommend for use with 18x .22 LR on an M203 but was for an M79. It was recommended that buyers use 18x .22 shorts or 10x .22 LR for an M203. Which makes me believe there is some chamber pressure issue, or mount strength issue in the mix.

Is an M79 a steel barrel or aluminum? I imagine the chamber is thicker than that of an m203 as well but didn't pay attention when I fondled one. It could be due to the relative strength of an m203's mounting surfaces verses the design of an m79.

DeGroat could probably elaborate on this if you want to research it since they made the adapters.

To me, the standalone launcher is fascinating.....I had always thought the German WWII design was a great breakthrough and had merit.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/00023801vj_7-tfb.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-698-0038-25A,_Russland,_Waffenvorf%C3%BChrung.jpg

http://leuchtpistole.free.fr/ImagePLFsitu/grossd10.jpg

From there we see the M79 and field developments from there...

http://photos.imageevent.com/ricklarson/40mmphotos/websize/LRRP%20M79.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/sMSzGoj.jpg

Then we have the standalone M203...KAC made famous their excellent stock platform....

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/aznriptide859/Airsoft/KAC%20M203%20Standalone%20Launcher/kacsastocka.jpg

We see a revisit of the M79 cut down by special operations in the sand box....

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/94/3f/5b/943f5ba2345be5d932ae3f8b27e26dd3.jpg

I just find all this really neat and as a owner of a railed LMT version of the M203 and the past owner of a few of the non railed models, I want to see where we can go from here....I guess the HK M320 and FN EGLM are the next generation pieces?

Standalone are easier to shoot more accurately than coaxial guns

98% of your time may be spent actually moving to or from somewhere.  Hanging a grenade launcher from your carbine or rifle can often be akin to asking someone to graft a foot to your fantasy Supermodel's ass.  It wrecks balance and gets in the way.

Of course when you NEED to be launching grenades you want it bad.

The compromise a buccaneer blooper gives you is a handy launcher that is not TOO long, heavy, or bulky for the times when you NEED a dedicated grenade launcher.

 I disagree.  Where I come from (Infantry then EOD) Those that have shot the different weapons systems, the M-79 is not hailed as the best man portable grenade launcher.

     What is: THE EFFECTIVE GRENADIER.  The person putting rounds on target, no matter what the WEAPON.


LOADING & RELOADING.  The M79 is FAR easier to load and reload than the M-203.  Plus you can use the longer rounds (OAL) in the M-79 than the M-203.


Q: If you are going to CHOP down a grenade launcher (that is in the inventory: so pretty much M-203 & M-79) which one is going to be LIGHTER and MORE EFFECTIVE?  A: M-79



This weapon has a specific use, and it isn't firing out to 450m for an area target.


 For those that can get it and have used it the HK-69 GL is a pretty sweet weapon.



 BUT, it goes back to mission.  MISSION drives the GEAR.  The right gear HELPS accomplish the MISSION, but TRAINING with WHAT YOU HAVE is PARAMOUNT.


 if you want to sit around and mentally masturbate as to which GL is DER BEST-EST-ER, please go right ahead.

~Will

I guess the drive of this thread was to ask about technology and as the M79 can stay current in regard to new products that have come about in the last 40 years.  

You make a really good point about the longer rounds and the availability of the operator to simply place the round in the chamber without too much difficulty.  The M203 has a bit of learning curve in that a round must be seated a certain way or it will simply drop out of the chamber.  

I have read that a few foreign forces are looking at the LMT M203 standalone pistol grip piece.  Is the M79 still being made or is it inventoried pieces that are being utilized (existing older stocks)?

I also read that a new M203 was developed to allow the longer round to be used.

The modern FN and H&K models do have advantages of being side loading and they have used modern thinking in design on the standalone patterns.  


some good info here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M79_grenade_launcher

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M203_grenade_launcher

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M320_Grenade_Launcher_Module

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_HK69A1

That is drop dead sexy and could end up costing me some money.

The M79 straight up gives me wood. I want one, badly.

Only have 203 time though, and played with a 320. The 320 seems legit as a stand alone option.