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SGT Cameron Channell, 82nd Airborne Division, fires a 40mm training round from an M320 Grenade Launcher, at the range, Fort Bragg, NC, 1 July 2009. M320 40mm Grenade Launcher Characteristics See the page on 40mm Grenade Cartridges for more information. Examples include the High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) 40mm rounds and an array of less-than-lethal munitions, including CN/CS/OC tear gas rounds, smoke, non-lethal projectiles, signal (eg Star Parachute) and practice rounds (blue upper case). The M320 fires a range of low velocity 40mm cartridges, the same cartridges used with M79 and M203 grenade launchers. The M320 uses advanced composite materials, lightweight with improved durability.Time needed to attach the M320 to a rifle or carbine has been reduced to less than five minutes.The M320 is more versatile, with its ability to mount on a host rifle/carbine or be fired as a standalone weapon.The new pistol grip design eliminates the need to use the magazine as a hand grip.The M320 is more accurate at night than day, thanks to a laser rangefinder and infrared laser pointer fielded with each M320 to improve first-round hit probability.After a misfire, the operator can just pull the trigger a second time. The M320 is safer, due to its double-action trigger and ambidextrous safety.The M320 barrel opens to the side, allowing for an unrestricted breech, enabling faster loading and the firing of all standard US 40mm low-velocity ammunition as well as longer-than standard ammunition such as non-lethal rounds. The new sights provide targeting capability during day and night conditions out to the maximum effective range. The M320 integral day/night sighting system is located on the side of the launcher, a position that reduces interference with rifle and carbine sights, makes attaching the launcher a single operation, and eliminates the need to re-zero after reattaching to a weapon. Improvements in the sights on the M320 40mm Grenade Launcher are significant as the remedy to the shortcomings of the sights on the M203. Like the M203, the M320 attaches under the barrel of the rifle or carbine, but the M320 can also convert to a stand-alone weapon, resembling a modern M79 Grenade Launcher.
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Based on the requirements, a 2005 contract with Heckler & Koch for an existing GLM, and further development, the M320/M320A1 Grenade Launcher Module (GLM) for the M16 rifles and M4 Carbines was fielded in 2009. While the M203 was a successful grenade launcher, in use since 1969, it had drawbacks and limitations. In 1966 the PM-Individual Weapons, Picatinny, NJ, received requirements for an improved version of the Vietnam-era M203 Grenade Launcher. Under the supervision of SSGT Joseph Foti, PFC Jessica Cooke, 82nd Airborne Division, fires a 40mm training round from an M320 Grenade Launcher, at the range, Fort Bragg, NC, 1 July 2009.