quick question on m203

[deagle]

sorry if this is coming from a civilian, but is the m203 identical in configuration for m16 and m4 ? the barrel/handguard is longer for the m16 than the m4, so is the m203 a different edition made for the extra length ? i've seen grenadiers from pics of USMC and US Army, but it just got into my head. Does anyone have any pictures of a m16/m203 side by side with a m4/m203 for comparisioN ? thanks for informing.

[Lt. James Anderson]

As far as I know they are the same. It's the same rifle ... it's just that one has shorter barrel than the other.

[Chulo]

Different variants
There are numerous variants of the M203 manufactured in the U.S., and throughout the world, for various applications. These vary chiefly in the length of the barrel, attachment type, and quick detach (QD) capability.
The standard M203 is intended for permanent (armorer level) attachment to the M16A1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle), M16A2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle) and M16A3 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle) rifles, and utilizes a 12" rifled barrel. These can also be attached to M4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine) and M4A1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine#M4A1) carbines, using a different front attachment point forward of the front sight block, but the SOPMOD kit uses M203A1 grenade launchers.
The American M203A1 is intended for use with the M4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine) and M4A1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine) Carbine. The barrel is shortened to 9", and principally the M203A1 QD is able to quickly detach from the rifle, and be replaced by a Knight's Armament Company M4 RAS lower handguard. An advantage of using a 40 mm grenade launcher on an assault rifle equipped with MIL-STD 1913 Rails is the attachment of various range-finding optics.
The Canadian M203A1 by Diemaco (now Colt Canada) was a similar design with a different mounting system that did not require mounting points of the same profile as the M16A1 rifle's[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M203_grenade_launcher#cite_note-M203-3). The weapon's 9" barrel slides forward further than the standard American models to allow longer rounds to be loaded[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M203_grenade_launcher#cite_note-M203-3). This model is identifiable by the increased distance between the grenade launcher's barrel axis and the rifle's[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M203_grenade_launcher#cite_note-M203-3). This weapon may no longer be in production.
The M203A2 is intended for use with the M16A4 MWS (Modular weapon system). Using standard 12" barrels, the grenade launcher is intended for use in concert with the Knight's Armament Company M5 RAS. Again, an advantage of this system is the attachment of range-finding optics makes precision targeting easier.
The M203 PI system is used for attachment of the M203 to other rifles, including but not limited to the Steyr AUG (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steyr_AUG), H&K G3 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_G3) and other rifles, and even the MP5 submachine gun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP5). Most of these other companies have since devised 40 mm grenade launchers custom integrated with the weapon.
The M203 and M203A1 are currently manufactured by Airtronic USA (http://www.airtronic.net/), Inc. of Elk Grove Village, Illinois (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois) for the U.S. Department of Defense under contract numbers W52H09-06-D-0200 and W52H09-06-D-0225. Each contract is for up to 12,000 units. Each unit is shipped with hand guard, leaf sight and quadrant range sight. The contracts unit prices vary from $840 to $1,050 each. The production rate is 1,500 units per month. The M203A1 was revised to use a standard 12 inch barrel due to accuracy requirements. The M203 PI is manufactured for both U.S. Department of Defense and for commercial sales (to Law Enforcement agencies both in the USA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA) and abroad, and for foreign military sales) by RM-Equipment Inc. (http://www.rm-equipment.com/) of Miami (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami), Florida (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida).

[Gunge]

im pretty sure there is a short barrel mod for m4 type

[killbot3000]

the barrel/handguard is longer for the m16 than the m4, so is the m203 a different edition made for the extra length ?

short answer, that's what the "step" in the barrel in front of the sight ramp is for, it's for mounting the 203. it's the same o.d. as the original m16/m16a1 "pencil barrel" profile because the standard 203 mount was made for the skinny barrel.

[deagle]

thanks for the insight everyone. i was curious at first because the m203 fits so snug (again, from a civilian POV, not sure if any grenadiers can report on comfort or ease of use) on either m16 and m4, that i wasn't sure if there were any differences on m203 compatibility with each, if it was literally interchangeable w/o any work.

i did a re-search with slightly different terms and got this pic (can someone embed ? i'm a tech noob also, but i admit it).

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.longmountain.com/inventory/LMT203.jpg/image_preview&imgrefurl=http://www.longmountain.com/inventory/LMT203.jpg/view&h=400&w=400&sz=33&hl=en&start=17&um=1&usg=__zLqxpmlxe6IU6vxUDHq4bmez4sU=&tbnid=fRoY7ZQ1JlbWlM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dm203%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG

[digrar]

Posts deleted, don't hotlink pics.

[SpartanWarrior198]

The M203A2 is intended for use with the M16A4 MWS (Modular weapon system). Using standard 12" barrels, the grenade launcher is intended for use in concert with the Knight's Armament Company M5 RAS. Again, an advantage of this system is the attachment of range-finding optics makes precision targeting easier.
How different is the mounting system when compared to the 203A1's RIS QD mount?

The M203A1 was revised to use a standard 12 inch barrel due to accuracy requirements.
Despite trying numerous times, I've never found anything whatsoever about 12-inch barreled M203A1s outside of the Wikipedia article, which doesn't give any kind of source to prove it.
Is there any truth to this claim?

[javelin_PL]

I have another noob question about M203 :) I'm wondering about the inside of the barrel. I have M203 replica on my airsoft gun and It's painted black inside. On all of the pics I can find - real M203 is also black inside. Shouldn't it be polished like normal rifle barrel? I mean - after shooting few rounds all the paint or "gun blue" (I don't know propper english name of it) should wear off. So? Could anyone tell me, how the real M203 barrel looks inside? Is it some kind of magic, that the paint holds still even when you shoot? Or it's just shadow inside the barrel on the pictures?

Sorry for my poor English!

[LineDoggie]

I have another noob question about M203 :) I'm wondering about the inside of the barrel. I have M203 replica on my airsoft gun and It's painted black inside. On all of the pics I can find - real M203 is also black inside. Shouldn't it be polished like normal rifle barrel? I mean - after shooting few rounds all the paint or "gun blue" (I don't know propper english name of it) should wear off. So? Could anyone tell me, how the real M203 barrel looks inside? Is it some kind of magic, that the paint holds still even when you shoot? Or it's just shadow inside the barrel on the pictures?

Sorry for my poor English!

Nope, the M203 Barrel isnt Chromed on the inside, its Anodized Black like the outside

[javelin_PL]

Ok, but doesn't that wear off after firing xx of grenades? I know, that anodized surfaces are very strong, but that much?

[LineDoggie]

Ok, but doesn't that wear off after firing xx of grenades? I know, that anodized surfaces are very strong, but that much?

The edges of the lands might wear over time, but remember the driving bands are aluminum of a lower grade than the Barrel.

[javelin_PL]

Ok, now I know everything :) Thank you!