King Arms M79 Grenade Launcher Replica - Real Wood

The M79, also known as the "Bloop tube", "Thumper", and "Can Cannon", was first issued to US Army units in 1961, replacing rifle grenades used with the M1 Garand in previous conflicts. The M79 became one of the most iconic weapons of the Vietnam war, being issued to both US and Australian forces, who referred to it as the "Wombat Gun", a reference to the size of the massive 40x46mm low-velocity grenade cartridge.

The M79 continues in service to this day with the US Navy SEALs, who prefer the M79 over the more modern M203 for its longer effective range, and have even shortened the barrel and sawn off the stocks of some of their examples, making them practically a grenade launching hand cannon! The M79 was also seen in Terminator 2: Judgement Day and was the perfect weapon to keep the police suppressed while the T800, John and Sarah Connor made their escape from Cyberdyne systems.

While the Airsoft version doesn't fire high explosive shells, it does fire 40mm MOSCART grenades, making it a phenomenal tool for saturating the enemy position to cover an advance. These shells are available in several capacities, lengths and with various different projectiles, including the famous 40Mike Airsoft grenade. This launcher chambers a single grenade, and is a break action design, making it easy to reload quickly for either left or right handed users.

All of the controls on the M79 are accessible from either side, which must be a mistake given the era of its conception. One only needs to take a look at rifles designed around this time to know that there were no left-handed people back then, but obviously the M79 designers rightly thought otherwise!

The barrel release catch is located on the top of the launcher and can be actuated using the thumb to break the action open. To open the action, the catch needs to be rotated by 45 degrees to the right and can be locked in the open position by rotating the catch by 90 degrees. This catch is spring-loaded, and when the action is closed it will automatically lock unless the catch is in the "locked open" position. The catch has grip assisting texture on its surface to make it easier to use in wet weather, such as that of the deep jungles of Vietnam.

The trigger guard of the M79 has the ability to be folded to either side of the weapon, allowing for its use with thick gloves which would otherwise restrict access to the trigger. The trigger guard can be folded by pressing and holding the button on the front of the guard and rotating the guard into the desired position. We suggest being careful with this function in-game, as a drop will almost definitely cause the launcher to fire. That is, unless you have the trigger lock safety on. This safety can be found on the top of the stock tang, just to the rear of the barrel release catch. Pulling it rearward will lock the trigger, and pushing it forward will make the launcher dangerous to the enemy once again.

The M79 comes equipped with grenade launcher ladder sights, just like the real thing. These sights are of limited use for Airsoft, though once you get your eye in they could be used to effectively lob BBs or other projectiles over cover. The sight includes two rear notches; a fixed notch on the sight base which is used for close range targets, and an adjustable notch on the flip-up "ladder" itself. The ladder sight can be flipped up by pressing the catch on the left side of the sight base, and can be adjusted for elevation by loosening the small gun metal grey thumb screw on the left side, raised to the position you want, and set in place by tightening the thumb screw back down.

The stock and handguard of the M79 are constructed from real wood with an authentic stain applied. Steel sling points are present on the bottom of the handguard and stock, allowing the M79 to be easily carried as a secondary weapon. These sling points are very tightly fitted and do not rattle in the slightest bit, which is a pleasant surprise. There is little more annoying than a secondary weapon which rattles and makes a lot of noise when carried, and thankfully this isn't an issue for the M79, making it a great tool for stalking the jungles, or woodlands of an Airsoft skirmish site.

The M79's butt plate is a hefty chunk of rubber bolted to the rock-solid wooden butt stock, is very comfortable to shoulder and provides a positive grip with or without body armour. This part appropriately replicates the real butt pad, which was very thick in order to reduce felt recoil and shoulder fatigue. This launcher may not have the recoil of the real deal, but the butt plate is nonetheless a great feature and helps prevent the launcher from slipping off your shoulder in wet weather.

If you are a Vietnam War enthusiast, a Navy SEAL fan, or you just love a seriously menacing old school launcher, the M79 from King Arms would be a useful tool in your arsenal. As much as a launcher is an asset on the skirmish field, the historical relevance of the M79 would also make it a great item to display with other equipment from the era, and would look awesome on the wall of a man cave when it isn't out "blooping" the enemy team!

Features

• Full metal construction
• Real wood stock and handguard
• 40mm MOSCART grenade launcher - Shell not included
• Flip up grenade launcher ladder sights
• Mock rifling inside the barrel
• Steel sling points at the front and rear
• Folding trigger guard - Great for gloved use
• The perfect launcher for a Vietnam War re-enactor
• Ambidextrous controls - Coincidence, surely?
• Very recognisable design - As seen in Terminator 2: Judgement Day

Package Includes

• King Arms M79 Grenade Launcher Replica - Real Wood