FORCETALLY
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At a glance
Measured figures
LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Length · "Maximum"
Single source914 mm (36.0 in) ("Maximum")[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Length
Configuration
| Specification | LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System | M79 grenade launcher |
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| Type | Assault rifle Battle rifle[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Type | Grenade launcher[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Place of origin | United States[source] |
| In service | 2015 - present[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · In service | 1961–present[source] |
Length
73.1 cm (28.78 in)[source]
L129A2 exact named variant; not a sibling record · Barrel length
Single sourceStgw 25 exact named variant; not a sibling record · Barrel length
Single sourceStgw 25K exact named variant; not a sibling record · Barrel length
Single source18 in (457 mm)[source]L129A2 exact named variant; not a sibling record
16 in (406 mm)[source]Stgw 25 exact named variant; not a sibling record
12 in (305 mm)[source]Stgw 25K exact named variant; not a sibling record
Barrel length
Single source35.56 cm (14 in)[source]
Muzzle velocity
Single source76 m/s (247 ft/s)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Designer | Lewis Machine & Tool Company[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Designer | Springfield Armory[source] |
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| Manufacturer | Lewis Machine & Tool Company[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Manufacturer | Springfield Armory , Action Manufacturing Company , Kanarr Corporation , and Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge[source] |
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| Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO 7.62×51mm NATO 6.5mm Creedmoor[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Cartridge The MARS-L (light) assault rifle variants are chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO intermediate cartridge , and the MARS-H (heavy) battle rifle and designated marksman rifle variants for the 7.62×51mm NATO , 6.5 mm Creedmoor or similar fully powered cartridges .[source]Design · explicit MARS-L/MARS-H cartridge scope MARS-H based designated marksman variant, chambered in 6.5 mm Creedmoor .[source]L129A2 · explicit MARS-L/MARS-H cartridge scope Swiss MARS-H-based designated marksman rifle chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO.[source]7.62mm Zf Stgw 20 · explicit MARS-L/MARS-H cartridge scope LMT's MRGG-A is a member of its Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System-Heavy (MARS-H) family, which are commonly described as AR-10-style rifles, but is chambered to fire the 6.5mm Creedmoor round.[source]MK24 Mid-Range Gas Gun-Assault · explicit MARS-L/MARS-H cartridge scope | 40×46mm grenade[source] |
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| Action | Gas-operated , rotating bolt (internal piston, not direct impingement ) or Short-stroke piston[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Action | Break-action[source] |
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| Feed system | 5.56×45mm NATO : 30-round detachable box magazine 7.62×51mm NATO 20-round detachable box magazine[source]LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System · Feed system | Breech-loaded[source] |
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| Used by | — | See Users[source] |
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| Wars | — | Vietnam War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Communist insurgency in Thailand Dominican Civil War Communist Insurgency War The Troubles Operation Marajoara Lebanese Civil War South African Border War Sino-Vietnamese War Salvadoran Civil War Falklands War Bougainville conflict War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Iraq War Gulf War Desert Storm Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency 2008–2011 Cambodia–Thailand border crisis 2010 Burma border clashes Syrian Civil War Battle of Marawi Myanmar Civil War[source] |
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| Designed | — | 1953–1960[source] |
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| Produced | — | 1961–1971 (U.S.)[source] |
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| No. built | — | 350,000 (U.S. only)[source] |
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| Rate of fire | — | Depends on the speed of the operator[source] |
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| Sights | — | Blade and leaf type[source] |
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| Role | — | single-shot , shoulder-fired, break-action grenade launcher[source] |
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| Source measurement | — | The M79 grenade launcher is a single-shot , shoulder-fired, break-action grenade launcher that fires a 40×46mm grenade , which uses what the US Army calls the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low, and first appeared during the Vietnam War . Its distinctive report has earned it colorful nicknames such as "Thumper," "Thump-Gun," "Bloop Tube," "Big Ed," "Elephant Gun," and "Blooper" among American soldiers as well as "Can Cannon" in reference to the grenade size; Australian units referred to it as the "Wombat Gun", while British soldiers adopted the "Elephant Gun" moniker. The M79 can fire a wide variety of 40 mm rounds including explosive, anti-personnel , smoke , buckshot , flechette (pointed steel projectiles with a vaned tail for stable flight), and illumination. While largely replaced by the M203 , the M79 has remained in service in many units worldwide in niche roles.[source]M79 grenade launcher · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The M79 was a result of the US Army 's Project Niblick , an attempt to increase firepower for the infantryman by having an explosive projectile more accurate with further range than rifle grenades , but more portable than a mortar . Project Niblick created the 40 x 46 mm grenade, but was unable to create a satisfactory launcher for it that could fire more than a single shot. One of the launchers at Springfield Armory was the three-shot "harmonica" T148 (not to be confused with the later, underbarrel XM148 ), which did see some limited production and fielding in Vietnam, but problems with the three-round magazine prevented widespread acceptance. The other design was a single-shot break-open, shoulder-fired weapon, the S-3. This was refined into the S-5, which resembled an oversized single-barrel shotgun. Unable to solve the problems with the multi-shot T148 launcher, the Army adopted the S-5 as the XM79. With a new sight, the XM79 was officially adopted as the M79 on December 15, 1960.[source]M79 grenade launcher · History; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage However, its single-shot nature was a serious drawback. Reloading after every shot meant a slow rate of fire and an inability to keep up a constant volume of fire during a firefight. This led the Navy to develop the China Lake Grenade Launcher , which was produced for deployed SEAL Teams. For close-in situations, the minimum arming range (the round travels 30 meters to arm itself) and the blast radius meant a grenadier had to use his .45 ACP (11.43 mm) M1911 pistol, or fire and hope that the grenade acted as a giant slow bullet. Special grenades for close-in fighting were created to compensate, though a soldier was not always able to load one in the heat of battle. Moreover, the size and weight of both the M79 and its ammunition meant that a grenadier armed with this weapon could not also carry a rifle, having only a sidearm to use in a firefight after expending his rounds. Some grenadiers did choose to carry a slung M16 rifle in lieu of a sidearm.[source]M79 grenade launcher · History; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Some US Navy SEALs and Army Special Forces in Iraq were seen using the M79 due to its greater accuracy and range compared to the M203 (350 meters effective versus 150 meters effective). The M79 saw notable limited use during Operation Iraqi Freedom , such as for clearing IEDs . The grenade launcher also sees continued use as a mission-specific tool with Special warfare combatant-craft crewmen .[source]M79 grenade launcher · History; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Visually, the M79 grenade launcher resembles a large bore, break-action, sawed-off shotgun , and is simple in design, having only five major parts: a receiver group, a fore-end assembly, a barrel group, a sight assembly, and a stock. The fore-end assembly beds the barrel to the receiver. The stock is made out of wood or fiberglass. A rubber pad affixed to the buttstock absorbs some recoil. The front sight is a fixed blade. The rear sight on the M79 is a folding ladder–style leaf sight. When folded, the leaf sight acts as a fixed sight at close range. A grenadier may simply point and shoot with high accuracy. When unfolded, the leaf sight can be adjusted for ranges from 75 to 375 meters, in 25-meter increments. Additionally, Appendix A of the U.S. Army field manual for the M203 includes instructions on attaching the M16 rifle grenade sight to the M79's stock and marking the sling for indirect fire at elevations greater than 40°.[source]M79 grenade launcher · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The M406 40 mm HE (high explosive) grenades fired from the M79 travel at a muzzle velocity of 75 meters per second. The M406 contained enough explosive to produce over 300 fragments that travel at 1,524 meters per second within a lethal radius of 5 meters. This round incorporated a spin-activation safety feature which prevents the grenade from arming while still within range of the shooter; it armed itself after traveling a distance of about 14–27 meters. The round would not arm at point blank ranges and it usually did not have enough kinetic energy to kill, although it sometimes penetrated the abdomen or caused large hematomas.[source]M79 grenade launcher · Ammunition / Explosive; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage |
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| Country of origin | — | United States[source]Inventory Origin column; table 8, row 38, cell 3; revision 1377789308; retrieved 2026-10-01 |
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