Does anyone make a repro M-8 grenade launcher for the M-1 carbine that is not $220?

[Jefe]

I like shooting the fake rifle grenades.

The only M-8 grenade launchers that I can find are $600 or so for a real one or a reproduction one for around $200.

I see that there are original M-7s @ about $75 or less. Also reproduction M-76's for the M-14 that are very reasonable.

Anyone know if there are any "reasonably" priced M-8s around? "reasonable" being defined as $50 or less.

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[jimb16]

They don't exist! Real ones are rare and so are expensive. Repros are also scarce since very few have been made and those have pretty much been bought up by reenactors. I doubt that you'll find any better deals out there.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

I paid $200 for an original in the mid 80's. Have a pamphlet describing nomenclature. Ruth used some of my Carbine Club newsletter info in his War Baby Come Home book.

You won't find them at a low cost.

[Jefe]

oh, well. Thank you for the feedback/ info.

[Tom in N.J.]

Attachment 75808With machine time and tooling coasts what they are today the $200.00 cost quoted above for a reproduction launcher is well within reason.

[Jefe]

Tom, full agreement if I had one or a couple made by a competent machine shop, but I'm comparing w/ KeepShooting.com and their $34.95 M-76 for the M-14/M1A rifle probably made by Wayne Machinery in Free China.

I've used their repro M-76 and it functions w/ no issues.

Just received an email back from KeepShooting saying that they are going to take a look on having made the M-8 w/ a price point similar to their M-76's.

We'll see

[Jefe]

Update: I broke down and bought a late model M-8 repro from Ravenna Armory for $175 plus shipping (shipping about $11.50 to me). Excellent copy/repro- fully functional- very well made- heavy duty machined- deep Parkerized. This is Not a cheapo made item. Took less then a week to arrive.

Found Joe Swansons Motion Picture blanks makes standard (Not M-6 grenade launching cartridges) 30 cal carbine blanks. Made from Federal 223 brass crimped on end- perfectly sized- well made. One hundred were $60 plus $20 shipping to me. Ordered Sun night. Arrived Saturday.

Using Services of Supply fake rifle grenade (on their website, they specifically say that these fake rifle grenades are to be used w/ standard re-enactor blanks), the Joe Swanson blanks sent the fake AP grenade about 60m @ 45degrees, fired from shoulder. Very little recoil. No damage to Carbine.

btw- the Services of Supply fake rifle grenades are very sturdy/ rubber/ aluminum. Will last a long time. Only issue that I have had w/ them is that I kept tearing off rubber ring at bottom because I was shooting almost direct fire on hard ground and them skidding along the ground tore up the ring. When fired at more or less 45degrees this is not an issue. They sell extra rubber rings and gorilla glue does work well.

More then I originally wanted to spend, but I do like watching the fake rifle grenade flying down range.

[Tom in N.J.]

Jefe,.. Do not shoot these from your carbine!...


Attachment 76548

[Jefe]

Tom, roger that. I imagine that launching the 60mm mortar shell modified to shoot as a rifle grenade w/ a blank would probably not go far enough to get me out of the blast radius, ha!

Speaking of this mod- I've never seen one in person. Be interested to know how the guys that designed this got around the mortar round spinning enough times to arm it? Or, not an issue w/ the 60mm mortar? (my only experience is w/ the 81mm and 4.2").

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

I've shot off a green and a red flare 20+ years ago over the beach. It was pretty cool, but did shake a bit. I paid $40 each for them at the time. Now they are running almost double that.