A while back we began a discussion about SAWs as a support weapon for your neighborhood Team during Scenario X. The SAW is a specialized tool and it should only be considered down the line after you’ve met several other important needs. Things like a concealed carry pistol, a PDW (SMG type Pistol), a rifle, food/medical supplies, and night vision.
Support Weapons are low on the list because all the others are so much more vital to your basic needs. Support Weapons include SAWs, precision rifles, and a grenade launcher. If I were to assign an order of need, it would probably be a precision rifle first, then a SAW, and only then a grenade launcher.
The Role of the Launcher
So let’s start by defining exactly what a Grenade Launcher is for the purposes of Scenario X. You can start and stop with a 37mm Flare Gun. 37mm’s aren’t actually guns. They aren’t guns because they arent intended to fire anti personnel rounds (even though they can–more on that to follow), and you can have them sent directly to your door. The 37mm Launchers vary in quality and sell for about $400 to $3000.
As a Flare launcher, they can shoot flares, smoke grenades, and bird bombs. They can also fire Pepper rounds to discourage animals. Shooting or possessing anything like bean bag or buck shot or adapters that allow use of modern cartridges like 12ga or multiple 22s is considered intent to manufacture a destructive device.
So can you benefit from just a 37mm launcher and the legal fireworks rounds? Absolutely. Will you be better off with the option to use the Anti Personnel rounds? Absolutely.
Once you enter the DD realm, you have access to beehive rounds that fire 15+ 22LR rounds at one time; cannon shells that fire three 410 shells at once, buck shot rounds that fire 10 or as many as 20 “BBs”, or flechetts (Think 20+ tiny Arrow shaped nails).
You can also use adapters that allow actual 12ga shells (a NON DD’d launcher can fire 12ga marine flares but NOT actual 12ga ammo). 37mm Launchers that are NOT DDd can fire bird bombs, (think airsoft-level flash bangs); their DD’d brothers can fire much more serious Flash and Concussion rounds.
Upgrading to 40mm
You can stay with 37mm launchers either as just flare guns or as a Destructive Device. Or you can opt to go the full 40mm DD. Both 37mm and 40mm choices have pros and cons.
First, 40mm guns are ALL Destructive Devices. They tend to be built for war; but are still mostly built with aluminum barrels and receivers. They can use aluminum because the rounds they fire are defined as low pressure (or sometimes Lo/Hi pressure). 40mm guns will have rifled barrels (37mms are all smooth bore), and 40mm rounds generally have a longer range than 37mms.
Most 40mm owners satisfy themselves with Chalk rounds. Sometimes these are called “Cheeto” rounds because when they hit there’s a cloud of orange chalk to mark where they hit. The military uses them as cheaper training rounds that can be fired on any range. They have the same trajectory as the HEDP (High Explosive Dual Purpose) round. I’ll admit they are fun. One note the military chalk rounds have a zinc pusher behind the hollow chalk filled plastic “bullet”.
Yes they are training rounds and yes they are plastic BUT they are dangerous. I’ve seen a chalk round shoot through the exterior wall of a home and continue through the interior wall. DON’T even think of “chalking” your buddy.
Now for the negatives. 40mm ammo is hard to come by for civilians. Most manufacturers wont sell to civilians. When you can find 40mm ammo, expect to pay $50 to $75+ per round AND it wont be anything that EXPLODES. Give up the idea of anything that explodes; but thats not something that has to be an issue. Dropping CS/CN on an attacker will definitely change their disposition. Conversely 37mm ammo runs about $10 to $25 a round, and much cheaper for the fireworks stuff. 37mm ammo can be loaded / reloaded easier and cheaper than anything 40mm. 40mm rounds are all smokeless rounds. For the most part 37mm rounds are powered by Black Powder, although there are some smokeless options. As with any reloading use caution and be sure of your components.
Making the Choice
After some serious discussion about the pros and cons of a 40mm vs 37mm, I elected to go the 37mm route. Now with that said, let me explain the difference. The 37’s are officially US Coast Guard approved flare Launchers. While that may be the case, I would venture to guess the most 37mm launchers are used as a fun fireworks launcher. They “can” fire more than just fireworks. They also can fire smoke rounds and 12ga Coast Guard type flares; but once specific “anti personnel” rounds are used the launcher becomes a weapon and specifically a Destructive Device. You can do that, but know that it’s the same NFA process as assembling an SBR.
Flash Bang rounds launch a projectile that explodes in a loud blast and flash. They are designed as wildlife protection. There are numerous options in this class, some offer added concussion, others a trail of sparks, and some crackle instead of a single boom.
Next there are pepper rounds. The pepper is usually something like cayenne or habanero. Some rounds launch a fog of pepper directly from the muzzle and others a projectile that pops down range, releasing the pepper, as well as rounds that fire pepper balls (think paintballs with pepper instead of paint). The flash bangs and pepper are not anti personnel, so long as they are not intended to be fired directly at a two legged attacker. They may be fired over head or at the attacker’s feet.
INTENDED is the operative word. These are animal control rounds and I suspect IF someone was truly attacked then ANY defense is better than NO defense. Much like someone can open carry a filet knife while fishing but not so much while shopping for groceries. There are also adapters that allow you to shoot 12ga FLARES and 26.5mm military surplus Flares and smoke rounds
Purchasing a Launcher
40mm guns start around $2000 and can exceed $8000. On the plus side they are all military grade guns. Options are largely limited to the M203 and M79. The M79 is like your grand dad’s break open shotgun that was made in a mutant nuke shop. It has a wood or sometimes plastic stock and a 14″ barrel (although some can be found chopped down to a pistol grip with a stubby barrel). The M79 has perhaps the best sight; but most experienced users can “eyeball” all but the most precise shot.
M203’s were originally mounted under M16s and had a much cruder (but usable) leaf sight and a very precise tangent sight mounted on the carry handle. I carried a M203- it was a love/hate relationship.
In training it was like carrying that big bag of dog food up from the basement. You were glad you had it but you wish one of the kids were home to get it. In combat, it was a game changer. Think of having artillery at YOUR disposal.
I remember one of those motivational posters in the day room of my unit. It was a soldier with a M203 and a NCO standing next to hime. The caption was “See those guys over there… F@@K Them”.
I have yet to see an actual M320 for sale. The M320 replaced the M203. It’s pistol size (OK mutant nuke pistol) with a collapsible stock.
For $500 or less you can buy a 37mm launcher, which ranges from $400 over $3000. They are similar to the M203 or M79 with some differences for the lower price point. You may even find former police 37mm guns in that price range. Use caution with the police trade-ins as most 37mm rounds are powered by black powder and may show some rust.
One of the most popular designs is the Spikes Tactical Havoc. It’s a M203 type, and can be mounted under a rifle barrel OR with a stock as a standalone design. The original Spikes model had a sliding barrel like the actual M203. Newer models have the barrel slide forward for about an inch then turn to the left side. The side open version allows for easier loading of longer shells. This is especially useful for longer smoke rounds. There are other quality launchers available.
In the $500 price range all the launchers require some sort of extra step to cock them. Some have a hammer and some a lever that must be pulled back.
For $600 there is a 37mm launcher made in Korea for military and police use. It’s a break open design and has a double action trigger. By all accounts it appears to be a good option. It’s currently imported through Sin City Tactical. They also import a 6 shot revolving version that is “pump action” and sells for $1500
Best of the Best
If you are looking for the best, B&T (yes them) makes the GL06. It’s a break open design with a pistol grip and a folding stock. It can be fired with the stock open or folded. There’s no hammer to cock because it has a double action trigger. The barrel is eleven inches and the release is in front of the trigger guard, so it’s quick to activate. The GL06 has a full length top mounted rail that just screams for a red dot.
Now for the bite, the B&T GL06 runs about $1500. Yep that’s pricey; but for your money you get the option to add a 40mm barrel if you want to have both. The 40mm barrels run about $800- that’s more money but its the only one that you can swop between barrels.
Get Both?
First I opted for 37mm over 40mm (for now). I toyed with an “actual” (sorta) M203 from LMT. It IS a real M203 but it’s in 37mm and cannot accept the 40mm barrel. For LMT quality you get a price tag of $2900 and then you need to add a standalone stock for another $800 or mount it on your AR15 with a special M203 handguard and barrel latch.
It was a hard decision NOT to pick the LMT M203; BUT the B&T GL06 just seems like a better and cheaper option. Cheaper by at least $1000 and maybe as much as $2000 if I wanted a standalone set up–which I did. I absolutely think I made the RIGHT choice (buuuut the old soldier in me still wanted a M203)…..So I added a Spikes Tactical Havoc with a 12″ SLIDE (not side) open barrel.
The original M203 (before the M4 rifle) had 12″ barrels. Once the M4 became the standard infantry rifle, M203’s were shortened to 9″ barrels. I mounted my Spikes Havoc on a Spikes Kaos standalone “stock”. The Kaos is set up for a M16/M4 buffer tube and all the stock options. They also make a version with a folding stock. I decided NOT to use a stock and just used a pistol grip and plug for the buffer tube hole. The setup is very similar to the early LMT 40mm M203s. It’s actually holsterable, although not exactly concealable.
My B&T GL06 runs a Holosun red dot with a 30 MOA circle reticle, which seems perfect for “grenades”. I run my Spikes “pistol’ launcher without any sight. Both have extra round “match savers.” The B&T has a single extra round holder mounted on the left side rail and the Spikes has a double round holder mounted on the top rail. The “match savers” are available from Hurricane-Butterfly and can be had with a QD mount for picatinny rail OR with a barrel clamp for launchers without rails. They can be used for 37 and 40mm rounds.
To carry ammo, there are surplus grenade pouches as well as grenade vests, and special belts/bandoleers. They all have pros and cons. Ultimately you should decide HOW you are going to use your launcher in your Scenario X plans.
Wrapping Up
After all that why should you include one? Well nothing says “Go Away” like a concussion round followed by a couple pepper rounds. At nightImagine a truck load of looters getting a similar treatment as a warning to pick another place when backed up by your SAW and rifle team. No, you won’t have high explosives to leave empty boots on the ground; but an enemy fighting a few doses of pepper and flash bangs (and maybe more if you go the DD route), is suddenly a less effective enemy. If that’s not enough there’s always the 4th of July and New Years…
As always chose wisely as your results may save your asssssskme later.
