US Grenade launchers

[Rhpd201]

Another launcher I have and my only non US launcher, is a Japanese type 100 grenade launcher. This launcher is unusual in that it uses the gases tapped off live round to fire the grenade unlike most launchers that use a blank type cartridge, Ray

Okay, displaying my ignorance here. The Japanese design seems to make the most sense (not having to use a blank). I wonder why that wasn't the standard? My only experience is with a launcher I bought for my No1 Mk3. The kids and I launch tennis balls with it and have a blast. Seeing all of these gives me the itch to start down that line as well......nuts

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[rayg]

Here's an old posts, here on on another forum on my experience in making grenade cartridges and launching tennis balls from the LE. Ray

Need help in making grenade launching cartridges?

How to make Grenade Launching cartridges? [Archive] - Military Surplus Collectors Forums

[emmagee1917]

Okay, displaying my ignorance here. The Japanese design seems to make the most sense (not having to use a blank). I wonder why that wasn't the standard?

Because sometimes in life the launcher may get damaged or other things happen and the bullet does not align with the hole and instead causes the grenade to go off at the muzzle. May also be a range difference or accuracy difference , that I do not know . The US WW1 VB cups used a bullet round , and they dropped it for the blank type.
Chris

[rayg]

Because sometimes in life the launcher may get damaged or other things happen and the bullet does not align with the hole and instead causes the grenade to go off at the muzzle. May also be a range difference or accuracy difference , that I do not know . The US WW1 VB cups used a bullet round , and they dropped it for the blank type.
Chris

My opinion is that the possibly of mis-alignment was probably not a major problem with this launcher unless some one has more information on this happing as it was used until the end of the war. I think for the muzzle tube not to align with the muzzle with the launcher it would have had to be very badly damaged or bent to where it probably couldn't be mounted on the rifle. The bayonet muzzle ring aligns the muzzle with the bullet tube and secures the launcher pretty well. Also the bullet tube dia. it self is enough over size to allow for some mis-alignment and I would think the worst case would be the shaving of the bullet a bit.
I think the major reason the launchers did away with firing by live rds was the impracticality and the danger of firing a live rd into the air when a blank rd. would serve the same purpose.
Anyway, no expert on these launchers, just my thoughts, Ray

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