In fact, I see more potential to this technology in stand-alone configuration. Stand-alone 3GL seems to be a nice little compact thing. But more than any promotional video or statement, the words that drew my attention the most were the following (in description on http://www.metalstorm.com/):

“Converts quickly to stand alone weapon including dual barrel option for mission specific needs.”

Dual barrel option… Wow… Think Sage Ordnance Systems Deuce (Over/Under Dual 40mm grenade launcher), but with six shots total (2x 3GL = 6GL). Sadly, it seems there are no pictures available of this configuration.

So far, I haven’t done the math on weight and stuff, but it seems to me like it could be more compact than any revolver-based six-shot grenade launcher. Plus, really intimidating look with two barrels plus the theoretical ability to fire two grenades at the same time, for extra punch…

However, I would take it a step further – I envision a Metal-Storm based stand-alone grenade launcher in M202 FLASH-style configuration… Four barrels in 2×2 setup. Now, since the very platform has changend and increased in size, it could certainly be able to accomodate more grenades per barrel. As far as technology goes, it seems like some of Metal-Storm 40mm designs are capable of having up to 6 40mm rounds stored in each barrel… While that might be taking it too far for a man-portable weapon, 5 or even mere 4 rounds per barrel would make this weapon 16-shot grenade launcher…

Maybe I am thinking about it more in the “That would be so cool” way, but I can’t help but think that it might have an application or two (one of them being carpet grenading).

Although probably not exactly suited for modern urban combat… But hey, if you are supposed to carry standalone grenade launcher, make it as much size-weight-firepower efficient as possible.

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I had read that this weapon has already been fielded for testing to some units in Afganistan, and has been used to good effect (no confirmed kills likely due to longer ranges that it is used at, but enemies have abandoned emplacements when weapon is used very quickly.) Basically, I heard the project is pretty much going strong and looks pretty good so far.

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Well the minimum base diameter of a 40mm grenade would have to be at least 40mm, so a 6 shot 40mm grenade launcher magazine box would have to be at least 240mm long, and probably well over 250mm (what with the spring and top-loading part), which is about .8-1 foot.

The weight of each 40mm grenade is about .5 pounds, so the magazine would have to be about 3 pounds+, if not 3.5-4 lb.

The magazine would also have a minimum width and length of about 4 inches long and 1.5 inches wide, and probably far larger.

Modern drum magazines have problems loading even 100 round 5.56mm rounds, which is about 2.7lb, so loading 3lb would either require a spring that was too hard to hand load or, unreliable. Either, it would probably wear out quickly.

The magazine would not fit into any conceivable available ammo pocket or pouch and would be more difficult to carry around than the bandoleers that our current soldier’s wear. The box magazine would also be relatively unreliable, heavy, and and increase the weapon system using the clips weight drastically, a semi-automatic firing system being vastly heavier than a revolving system.

While possible, a 20 pound weapon system using 4 pound magazines that 4.5 x 2 x 12 inches would be ridiculous. Not to mention that it would jam all the time, be unreliable, and even in use, be hard to use.

It’s probably better that the milkor is revolving, instead of semi-auto, so that it can actually be used easily be human beings.

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As far as barrel length is concerned, it really won’t change much. The round is stored deep inside the weapon, basically where the firing system would ordinarily be, and so the extra length of the breech doesn’t really effect muzzle velocity or length of rifling, making the ballistics varied somewhat, but basically unaffected.

Metal Storm showed one of it’s styled of weapon once firing three 9mm bullets right in a row, and they basically all the target in the exact same place at like 25 yards away (even though the first bullet had like 0 barrel length O_o). Supposedly, the firing system takes care of a lot of inherent problem you would normally find, and judging on how the NAVY supposedly bought a crapload of these in 2010, I wouldn’t doubt that it’s fully operational and has the kinks worked out.

Problems I see is weight, bulk and ergonomics. The thing is a little bulky and, from the pictures, doesn’t seem to fit very well on the gun. Again, ergonomics is a kink that can be worked out (it can very easily be fit to the gun.

What I really want is some A-grade specs on the device itself, just flat out weight and length, and then hopefully height, width etc.

What the weapon proposes to do is amazing, that is give soldiers a 3 shot semi-automatic grenade launcher weapon attachment, allowing a solver to do, essentially, what the M1 garand did to bolt action rifles; allow follow up shots.

I can imagine three of these things allowing a single soldier to wipe out an entire squad of enemy units in just a few seconds, or less. Mixed with some semi-auto spray anyone caught out in the open is practically toast.

Again though, I’m not sure how effective it will be if it’s too long, too heavy, and too weird feeling, I.E. the ergonomics are just plain off. Specs would be amazing if anyone has them or knows where to find them.

Also, I’m not sure how well one of these would fit on a M-4 Carbine, which is what the Army seems to be adopting and what the Navy (Navy Seals?) generally tends use a lot with infantry, but I can see it as is getting a lot of use by marines.

From the looks of it, that thing has got to be around 20 inches long, and unless they can get it down to around 14.5 inches, I don’t see it having much use in the Army or the Navy as a “Future Weapon”. Who knows though, maybe they made the barrel really long just because they could (on the M16, for instance) and maybe it’ll work well with smaller weapons, we’ll see.

Whatever the case, it is definitely a big stepping stone, and a hope for the things to come.

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I think metalstorm has finally found it’s first practical application towards small arms technology. I was impressed that they have worked the system as separate fixed rounds instead of “pre-loaded” barrels. Compared to conventional under-barrel 40mm grenade launchers the metalstorm unit has obvious advantages.

As for the criticism that the velocity would vary from the first to the last grenade fired in a loading…

Even the old M-79 grenade launcher only had a muzzle velocity of 250 fps. It doesn’t take much barrel to achieve that much velocity, witness the ultra-stubby Soviet GP-30 40mm GL. The difference between the metalstorm first round and the last round’s velocity is probably lost in the noise of the random differences in individual cartridge loadings. In other words, no practical measurable difference.

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Can’t understand there’s any comment about South korean K-11 rifle.

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