In Today’s Photo we’re looking at the various flashes the M/86 recoil-less rifle produces as it’s being fired by Swedish soldiers.

The weapon is exported under the name AT4 (eighty-four), which also can be read as the caliber “84 mm” or “Anti-Tank”, which is one of many uses.

According to Wikipedia, an AT4 CS (AT4 Confined Spaces) was priced at around $2,700 in 2007.

The same source says that the US Army has bought more than 650,000 pcs of the AT4, probably at a much lower unit cost.

The AT4 is an 84-mm unguided, portable, single-shot recoilless smoothbore weapon built in Sweden by Saab Bofors Dynamics. It is one of the most common light anti-tank weapons in the world. (Source)

Some of the quotes from Swedish Soldiers:

– It is an experience to shoot the M/86. The first time you weren’t prepared for the bang, but now it is not a problem anymore.

There’s no recoil – but you can feel it in your body

The M/86 or AT4 launcher is discarded after a single use. For training, there are various versions available.

In other news, SAAB Group recently received a three-year contract order from the U.S. Army to deliver M3E1s.

Behind this name hides the more well-known Carl-Gustaf 84-mm recoilless M4 rifle. Read more about it here.

All photos by Petter Persson / Försvarsmakten / Swedish Armed Forces. Link to Livgardet on Facebook.

Have you ever shot a recoilless rifle like this, or similar? Please share your experience, how was it?