Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

M7 grenade launcher sequence

Spartacus
M7 grenade launcher in the M1 garand.
once the grenade is in the adapter, wooden block on the adapter (where the grenade lever fits) is removed. and then the pin is pulled and the weapon fired?
if that's correct, how long is the delay to ignition on the pineapple?
were the adapter and grenades carried pre assembled?
the instructions (period correct) state
"when using the m7 auxiliary grenade cartridge, the rifle will NOT be fired from the shoulder"
and
"the m7 auxiliary cartridge will be used with the carbine only in emergency situations whe increased range is necessary"
sounds like there were other means of launching the grenade. (??)
but, then it says
"NEVER USE M2 BALL WHEN FIRING GRENADES."
anyone have any experience with this?
I'm wanting to launch some class 3 pyrotechnics with a modified adapter.
thanks
tom
0

Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • mark christian
    It sounds like you are using the M1 Grenade projection Adaptor, which is used to launch fragmentation and other grenades while using the M7 grenade Launcher. Depending on the version, the adaptor has three or four claws to retain the grenade (lets say it's the old Mk2 Pineapple Fragmentation Grenade) which is is snapped into the adaptor. There is a long claw on the adaptor that has an arming clip that retains the "spoon" on the grenade and as you load the grenade you slip the spoon into this clip. Once it is secure you place the adaptor on the rifle and then pull the pin on the grenade (cross your fingers for luck that you installed it correctly). You fire it as with any rifle grenade and the force of firing slides the arming clip rearward which causes a thin strip of metal to break, frees the grenade spoon and arms the grenade. You have four the five seconds before the grenade detonates and by that time the thing should be about 150-200 meters away from you. These toys were NEVER preloaded ahead of time, you loaded them as needed. I have never fired a live grenade from one of these things, only smoke and practice grenades. The auxiliary cartridge, often called the "vitamin pill", was designed to add a boost in range, but this was primarily intended for use with anti tank grenades rather than for firing anti personnel grenades. The M8 Grenade Launcher was developed for use with the M1 Carbine but the light weight rifle really was not up to the task and you could more or less count on breaking the stock after firing more than a handful of grenades. Using the "vitamin pill" to launch a grenade with a carbine would ensure a broken stock with the first shot. Some foreign grenade launchers have a built in bullet trap which allows the use of Ball Ammo in an emergency situation. None of the US launchers have this feature so the warning against using Ball ammo is emphasized for safety purposes.
    0
  • Spartacus
    thanks mark, appreciate the info and correct terminology.
    i have the standard issue adapter with the claws, its marked mod 3-69 1945.
    and the barrel mount which is marked fop m1 rifle. i'm told the mount is missing the spring, but i can't figure out where it would go.
    and i'm still confused about the cartridge. i contacted the guy you recommended but he said "non available"
    so, how are you launching mortars and smoke grenades?
    i have period correct primed brass, but no clue how to load it.
    any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
    0
  • mark christian
    You can use normal blank cartridges to launch these things (keep in mind there is often a lot of black powder in those blanks), but of course you won't get the same kind of range you will with the M3 Rifle Grenade Cartridge. I am sure that it would be possible to develop a hand load that would duplicate the M3 characteristics, but this type of reloading is well out side my area of expertise.
    0
  • Spartacus
    thanks! off to the internet to find some blanks.
    i'll look for smoke grenades for it as well.
    weathers getting nice, can't wait to try this out!
    tom
    0
  • 11b6r
    As long as you ae looking around the internet, there is this really neat website that has auctions for all kinds of gun stuff. It's called Gunbroker.com. [:p]

    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=218754135
    0
  • Spartacus
    thanks, i just placed a bid.
    weird how you can search for stuff w/o joy one day, and the next day it falls in you're lap.[:)]
    tom
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity