Garand Rifle Grenades

F

fingers284

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
Location
Alberta Cowboy Ranges
I was reading a US training manual the other night on Garands and they have a section on "how to fire the rifle grenade" but not much other info was offere other than that the 'effective range" was 300 yrds. it got me wondering how heavy those grenades were and what was the "launching velocity" of the things. Any millsurp Garand guys have a reference to that?
 
One version was the standard hand grenade with a hollow tail assembly that fitted over the spigot. The lever was caught in a loop to hold it in place after the pin was removed. On launching, the loop detached, freeing the lever. A special blank cartridge was used, and the launcher had a peg which held the gas release valve open in the gas cylinder.
There was also a small shaped charge AT grenade, as well as flares.
 
fingers284 said:
I was reading a US training manual the other night on Garands and they have a section on "how to fire the rifle grenade" but not much other info was offere other than that the 'effective range" was 300 yrds. it got me wondering how heavy those grenades were and what was the "launching velocity" of the things. Any millsurp Garand guys have a reference to that?
Click to expand...

Launching velocity of the M3 GRENADE CARTRIDGE (NOT BLANK) is 180 ft/sec at 5.5 feet from muzzle/projected grenade. The M9A1 Anti Tank Rifle Grenade weighs 1.23 pounds. It is under the 10,000 joules limit if that's what you wanted to know...
 
Last edited:
fingers284, PM me with your email address and I will send you a pdf file of the U. S. Army's field manual that will answers all your question about launching rifle grenade from the US Rifle, Caliber .30 M1.

DO NOT use normal "Sound and Flash" Blanks for Grenade Launching of any type (either Real grenades/Inert Dummies or other Substitutes.)

The Proper Grenade Launching Cartridge uses a medium to slow burning Powder, usually similar to the original Ball Load, to get the proper pressure Curve and Propulsive effect. Remember the pressure impulse has to Fill the empty Bore, and propel the "grenade" with just sufficient "Push" not to shatter or detonate it prematurely, nor Bulge the Barrel.("HI-pressure-Lo-Pressure Effect" used in all "bomb throwing" devices, such as Mortars, Shotgun-type GLs (M79, M203 etc.), and rifle grenades.)

Fast Pistol type (or Shotgun) Powders are used for "Maneuver" Blanks for the Flash and sound, and are loaded to operate the Auto mechanism sufficiently for "Functional" Use. Hence they are High pressure (or specifically "High Port Pressure") to replicate the Gas pressures in Ball rounds, with a pressure curve that maintains the Port pressure at around 10,000 to 15,000 PSI for correct Gas/Recoil System operation. I won't go into the physics of the WW I "Bullet Trap" Grenade launching system, only to say it was a variation of the "Hi-P-Lo-P" system, allowing the use of Ball ammo to launch the grenade.

So, again, don't mess with normal "salute and maneuvered" blanks if you want to launch something, whether it is a tennis ball or a proper rifle grenade, or even a "Line Thrower" weight. Use the correct cartridge for the job, and be safe.

Regards,
Doc AV
AV Ballistics Film Ordnance Services.
Brisbane Australia.
 
wow thanks guys , Joe, I will have to re-read my literature, it sure doesnt sound like a 1.3 lb grenade should have anywhere's close to a 300 yrd range at 180 fps. A baseball launched off a bat at 122 mph is pretty much the same but drops like a rock at 350-400 ft not yards.

Pm sent Wizard , thanks in advance.
 
Hi Fingers
180 ft/sec for the M3 Cartridge information was taken from U.S. Army Technical Manual TM-0001-27 Army Ammunition Data Sheets, Small Caliber Ammunition. The Wizard has some very good info if you contact him.
I can tell you from personal experience that these rifle grenades will easily travel 300 yds
 
Good Day,
I've been a collector of mostly the post war MECAR ENERGA style rifle grenades and strongly echo Doc AV 's caution on which cartridges are correct for use with RG set ups. There are two decent videos on the subject. Each has certain areas that historically and technically fuzzy but provide a good overview and actual firing both with inert and live grenade examples.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=161JT0WRVf4&t=888s
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r24UxXb3enI

Regards,
Mike
 
tiriaq said:
One version was the standard hand grenade with a hollow tail assembly that fitted over the spigot. The lever was caught in a loop to hold it in place after the pin was removed. On launching, the loop detached, freeing the lever. A special blank cartridge was used, and the launcher had a peg which held the gas release valve open in the gas cylinder.
There was also a small shaped charge AT grenade, as well as flares.
Click to expand...

This was the same system that was used with the C1/A1's. The C33 ballistite cartridge was used to launch it and was not a regular blank round as The Wizard pointed out WRT the M1.
 
fingers284 said:
I was reading a US training manual the other night on Garands and they have a section on "how to fire the rifle grenade" but not much other info was offere other than that the 'effective range" was 300 yrds. it got me wondering how heavy those grenades were and what was the "launching velocity" of the things. Any millsurp Garand guys have a reference to that?
Click to expand...

Those grenades weigh well over a pound at about 180 fps, easy enough to do the math on the recoil force, not what one would launch from a weapon that your life depends on without serious though.

Grizz
 
The M29 Practice Grenade was the U. S. Army's training grenade for the M28 Rifle Grenade which was the U.S. Army's version of the Energa anti-tank rifle grenade. The M29 weighted 1.5 pounds (0.68 kg for those of you north of the 49th) per TM 43-0001-29.

And to add more on to the pile. According to the military specification for Cartridge, Grenade, Rifle, Caliber .30, M3 MIL-C- 746 dated 10 October 1968 as spelled out in paragraph 3.2 Velocity: when the cartridge has been conditioned to between 68 degree F and 72 degree F (20.00 degree C to 22.22 degree C) and measured at 5.5 ft (1.68 m) the velocity of a 1.56 lb +/- .01 lb (0.71 kg +/- .005 kg) rifle grenade shall be 153 ft/sec +/- 5 ft/sec (46.63 m/sec +/- 1.52 m/sec). TMI!
 
Last edited:
I cannot comment on other countries' grenade cartridges but as for the U. S. military during the period from World War 2 until the adoption of the 7.62 mm NATO as standard there were only three grenade cartridges. Cartridge, Grenade, Rifle, Caliber .30, M3; Cartridge, Grenade, Carbine, Caliber .30. M6 and Cartridge, Grenade, Auxiliary, M7. The M3 and M6 cartridges has no special marking on them and were identified by the "rose crimp" mouth. The M7 was identified by its unique shape. The M7 could be used in conjunction with either the M3 or M6. The M3 and M6 were for use with any and all of the ordnance being launched from the rifle or carbine.
 
buzzmagoo said:
The M7 cartridge is like a booster to used in conjunction with the standard launching cartridge. Just looked it up . Something new for me to track down .
Click to expand...

You stick the M7 with the case mouth pointed towards the breech into the end of the launcher. The gases from the grenade cartridge ignites the charge in the M7 boosting the range. I have never tried a M7 as they are very rare and I don't want to open the sealed pack I have in my collection.
 
The Wizard said:
You stick the M7 with the case mouth pointed towards the breech into the end of the launcher. The gases from the grenade cartridge ignites the charge in the M7 boosting the range. I have never tried a M7 as they are very rare and I don't want to open the sealed pack I have in my collection.
Click to expand...

One source I looked up refers to it as "Vitamin Pill" . :redface: Looks like it has a rim and a hole in the bottom to conduct the powder flame. :confused:

https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?t=246574

Grizz
 
I have seen the Garand rifle grenade exactly twice in a lifetime of movie watching.

Band of Brothers, he fired a quick shot 100 yards into a window, Not realistic.

Blood on the Sand.(Or something like that) Bad guys used the rifles like mortars to launch grenades. Looked real,
 
Ganderite said:
I have seen the Garand rifle grenade exactly twice in a lifetime of movie watching.

Band of Brothers, he fired a quick shot 100 yards into a window, Not realistic.

Blood on the Sand.(Or something like that) Bad guys used the rifles like mortars to launch grenades. Looked real,
Click to expand...

Two other movies showing rifle grenades being launched from the M1 rifle: "Them!" (1954) and "Retreat, Hell!" (1952).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom