M203-familiarization

Weapons Familiarization

M203 Grenade Launcher Ref: FM 23-31 STP 21-1

Description and Maintenance  Lightweight  Single-shot  Breech-loaded  Pump action (sliding barrel)  Shoulder-fired weapon  Attached to M16A1/A2 rifle

Operation and Function  Operations include:   

Loading Unloading Firing the weapon

 Uses high-low propulsion system to fire a 40-mm round

Operation and Function cont’  Loading    

Press the barrel latch and slide barrel forward Place the weapon on SAFE Inserts clean, dry, ammunition into chamber Slides the barrel rearward until it locks with an audible click

Operation and Function cont’  Unloading      



Depress the barrel latch Slide the barrel forward Cartridge case or round should automatically eject If the case is stuck, taps it with a cleaning rod Place the weapon on SAFE Look into the barrel to ensure there is no round or cartridge case in the barrel Slice barrel rearward, locking it to the breech

Operation and Function cont’  Clearing procedures 

  

Push in the release button, and pull the barrel forward Watch to see if a round extracts Place the weapon on SAFE Inspect the breech to ensure a round is not present

Components  Handguard  Quadrant sight assembly  Receiver assembly  Barrel assembly  Leaf sight assembly  Trigger guard  Safety

Components

Quadrant Sight Assembly

Leaf Sight Assembly

Ammunition  Fixed-type, low-velocity 40-mm rounds  Fires:     

High explosive Illuminating Signaling CS Training ammunition

Types of 40 MM Ammo

PYROTECHNIC SIGNAL and SPOTTING ROUNDS

RAISED LETTER DENOTES COLOR 5 DOTS ON STAR CLUSTER ONLY

STAR CLUSTER WHITE - M585 STAR PARACHUTE WHITE - M583 WHITE - M583A1 GREEN - M661 RED - M661

COLOR OF OGIVE IS COLOR OF SMOKE

SMOKE CANOPY YELLOW - M676 WHITE - M680 RED - M682

SMOKE COLOR BAND

GROUND SMOKE MARKER RED - M713 GREEN - M715 YELLOW - M716

TYPES OF 40-MM Ammo

MULTIPLE PURPOSE AND CHEMICAL ROUNDS

MULTIPURPOSE ROUND (Buckshot)

WARNING The M651 arms between 10 to 30 meters (33 to 99 ft).

CHEMICAL ROUND (Tactical CS)

WARNING When firing M576 cartridge from the M203 launcher, be sure to aim at the foot of the target. NOTE The multipurpose round contains no mechanical-type fuze. M576

M651

Technical Data M203 M203 Maximum MaximumEffective EffectiveRange Range (fire (fireteam teamsized sizedtarget) target)

350 350meters meters

Maximum MaximumEffective EffectiveRange Range (vehicle (vehicleororweapon weaponpoint pointtarget) target)

150 150meters meters

Rate Rateof offire fire

55toto77rounds/min rounds/min

Technical Data M203 Weapon: WEIGHT:

Kg

Lb

Launcher unloaded Launcher loaded Rifle & grenade launcher (loaded)

1.4 1.6 5.0

3.0 3.5 11.0

LENGTH:

cm

in

Rifle & grenade launcher Barrel only Rifling

99.0 30.5 25.4

39 12 10

Ammunition: Caliber Weight

40mm 227gr (approx)