This page describes the most commonly used 40mm low-velocity rounds for the M203 and M79 grenade launchers.
If fired into snow or mud, 40mm rounds may not hit hard enough to detonate. An undetonated round may explode when stepped on or driven over. During training in snow or mud, avoid this hazard by firing only TP rounds.
40mm grenade launcher ammunition.
Model |
Type |
Length |
Weight |
Arming Range |
Effective Bursting Area |
M406 |
HE |
3.08 in (78.2 mm) |
0.50 lb (0.23 kg) |
46 - 89 ft (14 - 27 m) |
Casualty radius: 427 ft (130 m) Kill radius: 16 ft (5 m) |
M433 |
HEDP |
4.06 in (103.1 mm) |
0.51 lb (0.23 kg) |
46 - 89 ft (14 - 27 m) |
Casualty radius: 427 ft (130 m) Kill radius: 16 ft (5 m) |
M576 |
Buckshot |
2.65 in (67.3 mm) |
0.25 lb (0.11 kg) |
N/A |
|
M583, M583A1 |
White Star Parachute |
5.27 in (133.9 mm) |
0.23 lb (0.10 kg) |
N/A |
90,000 candlepower. 656 ft (200 meters) in diameter for 40 seconds |
M585 |
White Star Cluster |
5.27 in (133.9 mm) |
0.23 lb (0.10 kg) |
N/A |
Burn time: 7 seconds |
M651 |
CS |
4.57 in (116.1 mm) |
0.63 lb (0.29 kg) |
33 - 98 ft (10 - 30 m) |
144 yd² (120 m²) |
M661 |
Green Star Parachute |
5.272 in (133.9 mm) |
0.49 lb (0.22 kg) |
N/A |
8,000 candlepower. 656 ft (200 meters) in diameter for 40 seconds |
M662 |
Red Star Parachute |
5.272 in (133.9 mm) |
0.49 lb (0.22 kg) |
N/A |
20,000 candlepower. 656 ft (200 meters) in diameter for 40 seconds |
M713, M715, M716 |
Ground Marker |
3.91 in (99.3 mm) |
0.49 lb (0.22 kg) |
50 - 150 ft (15 - 45 m) |
Smoke burn time: 17 seconds minimum |
M781 |
Practice |
4.05 in (102.9 mm) |
0.45 lb (0.20 kg) |
46 - 89 ft (14 - 27 m) |
Danger radius: 66 ft (20 m) |
M1006 |
Sponge Grenade |
3.95 in (100.3 mm) |
0.15 lb (0.068 kg) |
N/A |
N/A |
M1029 |
Crowd Dispersal |
4.8 in (121.9 mm) |
0.45 lb (0.202 kg) |
N/A |
N/A |
Cartridge, 40mm, HE, M406
The high explosive round has an olive drab aluminum skirt with a steel projectile attached, gold markings, and a yellow ogive (head of the round).
Cartridge, 40mm, HEDP, M433
The HEDP grenade has a small shaped charge that penetrates better than the HE round. It also has a thin wire wrapping that bursts into a dense fragmentation pattern, creating casualties out to 5 meters. Because they explode on contact, HEDP rounds achieve the same penetration regardless of range.
Upon impact, the detonator triggers the spit-back shaped charge and produces a jet blast that detonates the high explosive bursting charge. Detonation of the bursting charge forms an armor-piercing jet of molten metal and fragmentation of the projectile body.
The high explosive dual purpose round can penetrate 2 inches (50 mm) of armorplate, 12 inches (300 mm) of pine logs, 16 inches (400 mm) of concrete blocks, or 20 inches (500 mm) of sandbags at ranges up to 1,312 feet (400 m).
If projected into an interior room, the 40mm HEDP can penetrate all interior partition-type walls. It splinters plywood and plaster walls, making a hole large enough to fire a rifle through. It is better to have HEDP rounds pass into a room and explode on a far wall, even though much of the round's energy is wasted penetrating the back wall. The fragmentation produced in the room causes more casualties than the high-explosive jet formed by the shaped charge.
The fragments from the HEDP round do not reliably penetrate interior walls. They are also stopped by office furniture, sandbags, helmets, and protective vests (flak jackets).
This round has an olive drab aluminum skirt with a steel cup attached, white markings, and a gold ogive.
This item is Code A, approved for service use. This is a training standard item used in both training and combat.
Type Classification Date: 1971. Unit cost: $30 (Fiscal Year 2005).
Cartridge, 40mm, Multiple Projectile (Buckshot), M576
Though it is a multipurpose round, it is most effective in thick vegetated areas or for room clearing. Inside it has at least 20 pellets, which travel at 882 feet per second (269 mps). Be sure to aim buckshot rounds at the foot of the target. The round has no mechanical-type fuse.
This round is dark to light green in color with white markings.
Cartridge, 40mm, White Star Parachute, M583, M583A1Cartridge, 40mm, Green Star Parachute, M661Cartridge, 40mm, Red Star Parachute, M662
The star parachute round is used for illumination and signals and is lighter and more accurate than comparable handheld signal rounds. The parachute attached to the round deploys upon ejection to lower the candle at 7 feet per second (2 mps). The candle burns for about 40 seconds.
The round is white impact or bar alloy aluminum with black markings. A raised letter on the top of the round denotes the color of the parachute flare.
This item is Code A, approved for service use. This is a training standard item used in both training and combat.
Type Classification Date: 1985. M583 Unit cost: $39 (Fiscal Year 2005).
Cartridge, 40mm, White Star Cluster, M585
The round is used for illumination or signals. It is lighter and more accurate than comparable handheld signal rounds. The individual stars burn for about 7 seconds during free fall.
This round is white impact or bar aluminum alloy with black markings. The attached plastic ogive has five raised dots for night identification.
Unit cost: $48 (Fiscal Year 2005).
Cartridge, 40mm, Tactical, CS, M651
Though it is a multipurpose round, it is most effective for riot control and in military operations on urbanized terrain (MOUT). This chemical round is used to drive the enemy from bunkers or enclosed positions in built-up areas. It produces a white cloud of CS gas on impact.
The round is filled with about 2 ounces (57 g) of CS pyrotechnic mix containing approximately 0.75 ounces (21 g) of CS. Maximum accuracy is obtained at ranges up to 219 yards (200 m). Area targets may be engaged up to 437 yards (400 m). This projectile can penetrate window glass or up to 3/4 inch-thick pine at 200 meters and still release CS. Following impact, a cloud of CS is emitted for approximately 25 seconds. Area coverage: approximately 144 square yards (120 square meters). Two cartridges effectively placed will incapacitate 95% of unmasked personnel in an enclosure of 15 by 30 by 20 feet within 60 seconds after functioning.
This round is gray aluminum with a green casing and black markings.
Cartridge, 40mm, Red Smoke Ground Marker, M713Cartridge, 40mm, Green Smoke Ground Marker, M715Cartridge, 40mm, Yellow Smoke Ground Marker, M716
The round is not for screening. It is used for aerial identification and for marking the location of soldiers on the ground. If a fuze fails to function on impact, the output mixture provided in the front end of the delay casing backs up the impact feature.
This round is light green impact aluminum with black markings. The color of the ogive indicates the color of the smoke.
The round consist of a cartridge case, a projectile with pyrotechnic smoke payload, and a pyrotechnic impact fuze.
- The cartridge case is a dual-chambered aluminum container housing a brass propellant cup. The propellant cup is held in the case by a crimped base plug which provides a pressure-type waterproof seal.
- The projectile utilizes a one-piece, aluminum body-ogive and a steel base. The payload consists of a pyrotechnic smoke mixture pressed into the body ogive with a cylindrical cavity in the center.
- The fuze is cemented to the base of the projectile and protrudes into cylindrical cavity of the smoke mixture.
The muzzle velocity is expected to be approximately 254 fps (77 mps) and the maximum range is 437 yards (400 m).
Operation:
- Upon firing, the primer ignites the propellant charge. In addition to launching the projectile, propellant gases ignite the first fire mixture of the fuze in base of the projectile. The first fire mixture ignites a high temperature transfer mixture contained in the steel cup. The transfer mixture burns during the first 15 meters of projectile flight.
- When the projectile is between 15 and 45 meters from the launcher muzzle, heat transfer through the steel cup ignites the delay mixture.
- Upon impact, the delay casing breaks and the burning portion flies forward out of the fuze support, contacting and igniting the pyrotechnic smoke mixture.
- Ignition of the smoke mixture causes a buildup of pressure that dislodges the fuze support at the aft end of the projectile, thus allowing smoke to be emitted at the aft end of the projectile.
- Projectile impact prior to the minimum arming distance (15 meters) results in a dud. Between 15 and 45 meters from the launcher muzzle, the fuze may or may not function upon impact.
- In the event that the fuze fails to function upon impact, the output mixture provided in the front end of the delay casing acts as a backup to the impact feature. When the flame reaches this point (8 to 10 seconds after launch), the output mixture flashes and ignites the smoke mixture.
Cartridge, 40mm, Practice, M781
The M781 practice cartridge replaced the M407 practice cartridge. The M781 is a low-cost, unfuzed, fixed-round of practice ammunition ready for use as issued. The cartridge case is made of plastic material and the projectile is also plastic with an aluminum-rotating band. The ogive is made of a frangible plastic material and contains a colored dye in granular form, the consistency of talcum powder, which is used to generate a signature. The propulsion system consists of a standard .38 caliber blank.
This round is blue zinc or aluminum with white markings. It produces a yellow or orange signature on impact.
This item is Code A, approved for service use. This is a training unique item; not used in combat.
Type Classification Date: 1978. Unit cost: $5 (Fiscal Year 2005).
Cartridge, 40mm, Non-Lethal, M1006
"Sponge Grenade". This round is most effective against individually selected targets (point round). Do not skip fire this round! Round becomes unpredictable upon striking the ground.
Projectile: Bullet-shaped foam rubber with a hard plastic back, weighing 0.06 pounds (0.0285 kg).
Muzzle Velocity: 265 feet per second (81 mps).
Engagement Range: 33 - 164 ft (10 - 50 m). Fatal injuries are possible at employment distances of less than 10 meters. Beyond 50 meters, the kinetic energy dissipates to the point where the round becomes ineffective.
Materiel Released April 2000. Unit cost: $23 (2003).
Cartridge, 40mm, Crowd Dispersal, M1029
This direct fire, low-hazard, non-shrapnel-producing, multiple ball projectile provides friendly forces the capability to conduct crowd control. The CDC uses nonlethal, blunt trauma to stop, confuse, disorient, and/or temporarily incapacitate personnel and increase standoff distance between friendly forces and the hostile crowd.
Primarily designed as an area effect munition, the CDC can be used on individuals.
Projectiles: 48 .48 caliber rubber balls weighing 0.046 ounces (1.3 g) each.
Muzzle Velocity: 450 feet per second (137 mps).
Effective Range: 33 - 98 ft (10 - 30 m). Fatal injuries are possible at employment distances of less than 10 m. Beyond 30 meters the kinetic energy dissipates until the rubber balls become ineffective.
Type Classification Date: May 2001. Unit cost: $22 (2003).