37mm Shells - Review

M

mini_cal

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Location
Newmarket, ON
Recently I was looking for components to make my own 37mm rounds for my Havoc launcher. Stumbled across these and decided to try them out.

Of course, they are shipped from the US, but it made it through customs no problem. These are reloadable shells that have their own chamber for powder. I blurred out the website that is engraved/stamped on the shells, just because I don't like posting other vendor websites on CGN if they're not sponsors :)

Here's what they look like:
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In the launcher:
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Down the barrel:
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Since I have the smaller Havoc launcher, there's a little bit of the shell that sticks out at the end, nothing too unbearable though. Just means my launcher will stay clean :)
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I also purchased some 37mm projectiles. I will be using these as "dummy" rounds, inert ones to just launch. They actually screw open for a payload (smoke mixture) and the finned projectile is ready for a fuse. These are made of a tough plastic that is CNC machined versus molded.
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And of course, here is the shell broken down to its components.
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Left to right:
- Tube
- Chamber
- Plug
- Copper burst plate to be put between the Chamber and Plug



I will be hopefully making a video review later, need to pick up some powder and primers first. Also on bed rest due to a head injury from yesterday haha. Stay tuned.

Edit: Oh right... I don't have any firearms that I can mount my launcher on that aren't restricted... and I have yet to get my LTATT from my CFO, so I guess more waiting.
 
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I've always been curious about these? What's the legalese on these and where can you shoot them? What kind of rounds can you use. I think it's obvious the HE shells are out of the question but can you launch anything that goes bang? For example can you use them as a bear banger or flash-bang type round or flare's? This would make any AR look ultra-mall cop! Does it just mount on your lower rail? Either way pretty bad ass mini-cal I'm a lot jealous.
 
Akronym said:
I've always been curious about these? What's the legalese on these and where can you shoot them? What kind of rounds can you use. I think it's obvious the HE shells are out of the question but can you launch anything that goes bang? For example can you use them as a bear banger or flash-bang type round or flare's? This would make any AR look ultra-mall cop! Does it just mount on your lower rail? Either way pretty bad ass mini-cal I'm a lot jealous.
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So I've been told, not confirmed, we can have smoke, flares and tear gas too apparently... just stay away from anything that goes bang. I think it's just bad news to shoot anything that will expand very quickly :) i.e an explosion.

You can check with your club for smoke rounds if they'll let you shoot them, I don't see a problem with dummy rounds. Also as long as the projectile remains under a certain muzzle velocity you should be fine... According to customs this is a "Signaling/Lifesaving Device" because they're usually for flares.

Yes this mounts on the lower rail very securely:
img20130305134829.jpg
 
The legality for smoke is not 100% clear cut. If you go through the CC you may find the section dealing with noxious substances, etc.
It's a bit ambiguous.

Tear gas, ie. CN CS, OC, anything "incompasitating" is illegal.

A projectile/bullet: plastic, wood, metal, powder, flare, etc, not launched over 500fps is OK.
 
My 9" Launcher is in the mail, and i just ordered these reloadable shells.. I expect a lot of fun and nothing less :)

Mini-cal: could you please take a pic of two set screws that secure the device on the bottom rail..?

:stirthepot2: Oh.. and how is the trigger pull on these launchers.. :) :) :stirthepot2:
 
What would the legality be of making multiple projectiles, ex. buckshot with a wad behind it, instead of one projectile?

koldt said:
The legality for smoke is not 100% clear cut. If you go through the CC you may find the section dealing with noxious substances, etc.
It's a bit ambiguous.

Tear gas, ie. CN CS, OC, anything "incompasitating" is illegal.

A projectile/bullet: plastic, wood, metal, powder, flare, etc, not launched over 500fps is OK.
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Kevin M. said:
What would the legality be of making multiple projectiles, ex. buckshot with a wad behind it, instead of one projectile?
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You once again revert back to the 500fps rule. What you are doing then, if using commercial SG rounds, is making it into a firearm. If the launcher/ammo will be guaranteed (via the CFC) to be a NON restricted firearm, then there is no problem. However, should you shoot ammo over the 500fps mark, and the CFC now says it is a restricted firearm, it then reverts to the same issues with any restricted, ie. is it registered, are you shooting in an area approved, etc etc. I believe there is no FRT # for any of the 37mm launchers. I don't have a disc, so if anyone out there has one, and can supply some light/further info, please let us know.

If you are wanting simply to make a multiple projectile round, and you are keeping it under the 500fps, and have some experience, let us know how it turns out.

Besides, I think you may end up dealing with pressure issues with the launcher if you wander into the area of using non-manufacturer recommended ammunition. Those 37mm launchers, from my reading, are really to be only used with black powder, instead of smokeless. So using other than recommended ammo, could present a safety issue. I have read on a few launcher sites where guys do make smokeless loads without having any problems. But I don't have any personal experience, and therefore would seek greater advise as to ammo selection.

Again, I am not that converse with 37mm, non military grade launchers. They look fun.
 
mini_cal said:
Of course, they are shipped from the US, but it made it through customs no problem. These are reloadable shells that have their own chamber for powder. I blurred out the website that is engraved/stamped on the shells, just because I don't like posting other vendor websites on CGN if they're not sponsors
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Is there any sponsor on here that sells these shells? If so, please advise. Or as per your method, as there probably isn't any sponsor who does import and sell these (as you probably would have purchased these from them) let us know who the maker is, so others may participate. Please and thanks.
 
koldt said:
Is there any sponsor on here that sells these shells? If so, please advise. Or as per your method, as there probably isn't any sponsor who does import and sell these (as you probably would have purchased these from them) let us know who the maker is, so others may participate. Please and thanks.
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There is no sponsor that carries these, as the people who make them are the only ones that sell them. The maker is Reloadable Shells. I won't provide a hyperlink but I'm sure you can handle googling.

Dmitri said:
My 9" Launcher is in the mail, and i just ordered these reloadable shells.. I expect a lot of fun and nothing less :)

Mini-cal: could you please take a pic of two set screws that secure the device on the bottom rail..?

:stirthepot2: Oh.. and how is the trigger pull on these launchers.. :) :) :stirthepot2:
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I can't get a good picture, it's simply two screws under the launcher's rail that you screw up to secure it onto your firearms rail. It's not a squeeze type of securing system, rather two screws just hold it in place in the gaps of a picatinny rail. Slides on, then you fasten the screws.

As for the trigger, it's nice for what it is. Not a precision trigger or anything haha.
 
I went through a period of intense want, for one of these, but repeatedly talked myself out of it for the following reasons:

1: The guns I really wanted to mount one to are restricted, and my range probably wouldn't be impressed with one.

2: The only thing that looked cool to shoot out of one, was 12 ga. bear bangers, using an adaptor, and again, my range would not be impressed.

3: They are not 40mm. That means they are not ever going to be used to fight off the zombie hordes, even if the Canadian military is handing out 40mm rounds to do so. There goes that fantasy.

4: Too much money for a toy I can't use, that isn't a historical military artifact.

5: I felt it would push me over the line between enthusiast, and mall ninja prepper wannabe. I've seen the signs, and they frighten me.

Having said all that, I'm vaguely jealous.
 
5440fight said:
I went through a period of intense want, for one of these, but repeatedly talked myself out of it for the following reasons:

1: The guns I really wanted to mount one to are restricted, and my range probably wouldn't be impressed with one.

2: The only thing that looked cool to shoot out of one, was 12 ga. bear bangers, using an adaptor, and again, my range would not be impressed.

3: They are not 40mm. That means they are not ever going to be used to fight off the zombie hordes, even if the Canadian military is handing out 40mm rounds to do so. There goes that fantasy.

4: Too much money for a toy I can't use, that isn't a historical military artifact.

5: I felt it would push me over the line between enthusiast, and mall ninja prepper wannabe. I've seen the signs, and they frighten me.

Having said all that, I'm vaguely jealous.
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Never really understood it. Just because a 37mm round is slightly smaller, why can't it be adapted for... "other uses"? I mean the projectiles are hollow and have the potential to carry a payload of some kind ;) Not saying I'm going to do anything crazy or encourage anyone on trying.
 
mini_cal said:
Never really understood it. Just because a 37mm round is slightly smaller, why can't it be adapted for... "other uses"? I mean the projectiles are hollow and have the potential to carry a payload of some kind ;) Not saying I'm going to do anything crazy or encourage anyone on trying.
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The launchers themselves are not designed to handle the loads required to propel an explosive type shell, or any fast shell for that matter. Also, they are not rifled and would be highly inaccurate.
 
Armedsask said:
The launchers themselves are not designed to handle the loads required to propel an explosive type shell, or any fast shell for that matter. Also, they are not rifled and would be highly inaccurate.
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Yep. On top of that, creating a round that explodes when it gets there, not when it's launched, or smacks a branch 10 ft away, isn't all that easy, if you don't have a munitions factory. I don't have a munitions factory. yet.
 
Armedsask said:
The launchers themselves are not designed to handle the loads required to propel an explosive type shell, or any fast shell for that matter. Also, they are not rifled and would be highly inaccurate.
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Do NOT experiment or use any type of exploding shell in any launcher. In Canada it is illegal, even with the military grade equipment. It is highly dangerous to try such stuff in these 37mm launchers.

Utilizing proper, factory approved loads/ammo/projectiles is easily done, fun, and safe. And legal.

This is an old photograph, but still appropriate. This is the result of "experimenting" with non-approved loads in a 37mm launcher.

37mmexplode.jpg
 
I absolutely agree with Koldt. Even if you are a criminal, making an explosive projectile is recipe for fatal failure. Super complex stuff, nothing like making a chalk round. So, in conclusion, if you must have an opperational grenade launcher, that you can share rounds with NATO forces, it must be 40mm. 37 mm is for posers, law enforcement (lot's of non-lethal rounds out there), and people with too much money.
 
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