5 Experimental Grenade Launchers You've Never Heard of 

Right, can't have dead and confused bad guys, that'd be a war crime.

My father was heavily involved in the Future Weapon project, including the G-11, the XM-8, and the OICW. Combat-skilled engineers with massive human factors credit get to play with some of the really cool shit. JFTR, he felt most of the project results were complete crap. Sniper Grenade Gat is for when you want say "Fuck You" to a very specific individual, and you want the message to be REALLY loud. China Lake is still my favorite "Fuck You" device.

I heard that the guys that were issued XM-25s loved them so much that they didn't want to give them up, to the point of them having to be physically taken out of the hands of some grenadiers. I mean imagine being given a 25mm programmable grenade launcher that you can program to fire through a window and explode in mid-air inside the building and after getting to use it and fall in love with it, it's ripped from your hands and they give you back your M203 or M320 and expect you to go along with it.

"I like to call that the Alec Baldwin test. Moving on." I damn near spit out my coffee! LMFAO!

Please do a full video on the China Lake! It would be gold. The line "the only sad part is it doesn't have a bayonet lug and you can't slam fire it." had me laughing so much.

The China Lake is one of those things that REALLY should make a comeback. Simple, rugged, effective. Should have one in every squad.

For all who are lamenting the China Lake lacking slamfire, I can ease the pain abit and give you a chance to see that dream come true in a sense. In the game Cultic, you are able to use a China Lake and, as I'm wholly convinced it's creator saw this video, you can upgrade it to have slamfire. Yes, I didn't mistype, you can make your China Lake slamfire, enjoy.

A little side note: while the dedicated self contained rifle grenade (the mortar looking type) became a thing in WW2, during the 18th century, the British had a device that was literally a cup that you stick on the end of a rifle and pop a regular hand grenade in the cup and launch it with a launching charge of powder. Grenade launching cartidges were used later for the same effect. There was also a version for firing Mills Bombs. In WW1, they also had a grenade with a rod on it to stick in the barrel and launch that way.

I can't honestly say you've ever put out a bad video. I thoroughly enjoy your videos

Every teacher everywhere should study your delivery. Wildly entertaining and informative. Keep doing them.

Might not be able to slam fire the China Lake, but getting 4 grenades off from a pump action before the first one detonates will DEFINITELY make some Insurgent Salsa.

Point of fact: The HK XM-29 (or it's predecessor) was made far before the early 2000's. I know this because I was part of the testing for it in 1992. Termed the "Sabar" (No, I didn't misspell Saber). The component on top (the CPU) looked more like a cigarette carton in size. Initially, the programmable fire of the 20mm sounded awesome, but for a few things. 1) The field manual for the programming part looked like an old DOS manual. About and inch and a half thick. Meaning, you needed to be Bill Gates to be able to use this fuckery. 2) Fully loaded, it weighed in at a whopping 28lbs. That only included a 10 rnd mag for the 5.56 and FIVE 20mm smart 'missiles'. In quotes because that's what the designers called them. 3) The project I was part of was scrapped due to the weapon tending to explode without warning. The final incident was when it blew up on a table with three techs around. All survived, but were seriously messed up from a 20mm going off at close range and tossing rifle shrapnel everywhere. Apparently, some dipshit pushed the design through for a second time. A bit more sleek this time, and apparently they worked out the IED aspect of the rifle, but still a shit show apparently.

YES PLEASE DO MORE!! You can never have enough pump action to let the enemy know that shits about to get real. ( I think that makes sense) I wish they still made the China lake for that dial up yeetus deletus

Please do more of these. They’re perfect!!!

Love it , laughed my guts out, back in the day,watched a Digger fire a grenade, held his SLR ,butted against his bicep.

Gotta give a mention to the father of the father of the Mk 19, the XM174, where we took a few 1919s and made them into fricking grenade launchers. John Moses Browning would probably not approve.

So first off: I’d love to have these extra long videos of you just spouting cool trivia (kinda like your marine one) because I’d probably listen to you tell these stories for at least an hour. Second: What’re you planning on doing next? USS Enterprise, the carrier that soloed Japan for several months? The Ohio Class Ballistic Missile subs? The SBD (Slow But Deadly) dive bomber, which sank the Japanese carriers at Midway? Seal 6? Or something special?

I'm really liking the new format. I much prefer watching in widescreen as opposed to the old vertical format. As always amazing work Nick.

I've heard a very different thing about the smart grenade launcher. That is, that it was liked by users, but turns out with the caliber of grenades used and airburst mode, it violated some treaty which made it war-crimy to use.

You left out the M-79 40mm grenade launcher (aka the blooper). I was a Marine platoon commander in Vietnam 1968-69. Every squad had one and usually carried a canvas bag with about 40 rounds. It broke open like a single barrel shotgun and fired one round at a time. I also had 1 Marine carry and M-14 instead of an M-16 for 3 reasons: it was more accurate when I needed it, it had more knock-down power when it was needed, and could be used as a rifle grenade launcher which was more deadly than the 40 mm M-79. Man, that was a long time ago, but it's still pretty vivid in the mind.

Awesome work. This format of video is pretty good. Humor and education in one. This continues to be one of my favorite channels.

Oh please do more. This video is like 5 of your normal videos packed into one and it's glorious.

your a boss for even mentioning the rifle grenade, like a man who truly loves history... you pay credit where it is due.

A Barrett 50 CAL that instead shoot grenades is one of the most amazing things I have ever heard in my entire life

It's hilarious that you mentioned Starship Troopers when describing the OICW (20mm and 5.56mm combo gun) as when they decided to split the two weapons one of the first pieces of feedback the Pentagon gave to HK about what would become the XM8 was "We want it to look more Starship Troopers." Or so says Ian McCollum in his XM8 video.

You do fantastic work. I watch more of your stuff on YT than TT. So I like the format of the full screen instead of saving it to your phone. Its great stuff you have! I enjoy your breakdown on the different squads, weapons, and platforms... and now adding your favorite lists is a good way to add more content. Keep up the great work!

The Alec Baldwin test 😂😂😂😂😂

Fun fact: the ATF explicitly says it is legal to make and use explosives on your own property with a no need for a permit or license of any kind. It is also not illegal to deploy those explosives from range. You can actually make and use a grenade launcher and clear your yard of unwanted anything. Obviously there are limits to this, mostly with shipping the components, but the damage you can produce within those limits are pretty incredible. Take another look at that stump you want to remove and excavate responsibly.

I like the longer format but honestly I take what style you put out. I’m also the type of guy who likes hour long videos one RU-vid so take what I say with a HUGE grain of salt. Just love to see your spin on what every branch has to offer, definitely made me feel better about serving!! Keep up the phenomenally hilarious and informative content!!

Definitely like the idea of ranking stuff. You gotta expand or risk running out of content material. I agree with your list by the way. Amazing how only 24 China Lake's were made, yet they show up in virtually everything, from Call of Duty games to Terminator 2. It would seem you are not alone in your favoritism of that particular piece of FaF technology.

What's funny is that the China lake is clearly the inspiration for the loch-n-load weapon in Team Fortress 2. Same form-factor, similar look, holds three grenades, fastest grenade launcher in the game

With out question, "The funniest weapons review ever" the crowd screams for more

We need more top 5’s from you because your are objectively the funniest vet on this platform! Next you should do a top 5 of your favorite handguns or shotguns.

More videos just like this brother. This channel is criminally underrated.

You know when the China Lake cocked, every seal on the squad had a big ol smile on their face

I have to agree. The China lake is probably the most American Grenade launcher ever. We took our love of shotguns and paired that with 40mm’s of love.

I could watch more of these. Glad to see China Lake on there.

Anything you report on history is wanted man. Funny and informative gets information remembered a lot easier.

Awesome video with some hilarious bits to it.. I'm usually not a war story or gun guy, I only watch Demo, Edwin, Tao and Kentucky for s&g and the strange satisfaction I get from the most random stuff being deleted by mass acceleration and the resulting transfer of energy. But in a collab between you and Matt I discovered the entertainment value in your commentary, which led me to checking out your channel and loving it. You've just got that high-quality dark and cynical military humour one can only find watching American GunTubers. 😁

Bro, my wife, children and myself all love your videos. I'm an Army veteran, my wife is a Navy brat so we love your style of comedy.

Just showed a new co worker all your videos over the span of two days! Just finished this latest episode and he’s upset you don’t have one on aircraft carriers and wanted to request one. Thanks for all you do and keep up the good work! Freedom Fractions for ever! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Yes, this new format worked! In all reality I watch every video you produce, and I enjoy every single one. They are always enjoyable and sometimes I even learn new stuff but your take on the "Unhealth care system" always has me cracking up.

Just wanted to point out two minor flaws with your explanation on rifle grenades: One, the rifle grenade was invented in World War 1 not 2 and the French Army (who absolutely loved rifle grenades and still might) were crazy enough to design a rifle grenade you could launch with a standard cartridge. Love the video and wish I'd tuned in to your channel earlier.

That sniper grenade launcher is like something out of borderlands or doom. Also I always assumed the China lake was more common because it's in like every modern setting fps game laying on the ground after you take out group of enemies

Do more of these and while you're at it PLEASE look up Medal of Honor recipient Roy P. Bemavidez. The "6 hours of hell" story ALONE is worth it

Love your stuff man! Been a fan for a long ass time, and your stuff gets better and better!

There was an experimental rifle grenade that came out in the mid 80s that allowed live rounds to be used, including AP. The crew served, belt fed, version of the XM25 firing a 25mm seemed to have some potential.

Definitely need a standalone video on the China lake pump grenade shotgun!

My nephew spent his 2nd 2 years of high school and about a year after working for a custom gun builder. One of their best customers was an ex Green barret and the stuff he ordered, wow. Now my nephew is in the military and is helping to design prototype weapons. Let's just say when they get to point where you can put them in a video, is going to be awesome!

My fave is the Milkor M32 line. I thought it was somewhat cool from T2 when Arnold used it. Seeing it employed in Afghanistan by a TAC-P TSgt solidified how gnarly it actually is. He had a bandoleer of 40mm HE rounds and went through them with a fervor I’ve only seen in Westerns.

that ammo line is gold. "thats not ours, thats the bad guys".

You have a unique way of "story telling" that the content subject isnt completely relevant. You could tell us about paint drying and make it entertaining. Great job!

6:13 - funny thing about shotguns and the mentioned grenade launchers, is that with the invention of frag-12 rounds and 40 mm shotgun shells, shotguns can double as grenade launchers and grenade launchers can double as a shotgun; albeit in heavy situational uses with it being better to use the respective platforms as they are, but its still an interesting thing about firearms that's been true since their inception. The larger the guns bore, the higher possible round diversity there can be for it.

You and Starship Troopers, like PB and chocolate, two of my favorite things. If this top 5 list makes you happy, do more. I just love your content. Keep the faith.

Love this kind of format man. Have always liked your stuff so keep doing what makes you feel good and happy about your product

Because....'Murica.....the best answer to anyone else around the world when it comes to the sheer audacity of ingenuity of our armed forces; especially when it comes to guns, ammo, and explosives....❤

Since you mentioned the rifle grenade maybe you can tell stories about military gear used for completely weird and wacky purposes, like the rifle grenade that made its way to Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber hilt in A New Hope.

Love every video you've made. Essentially double length videos like this one while keeping the same humor and tone = badass.

I realize the XM25 didn't pan out for a few reasons, but I cant help but think that it could have potentially answered the issue of dealing with targets at long range that are harassing squads. I've read that quite often in the mountainous region of Afghanistan that they would get dudes taking pot shots at them from long distance. They could find the guy, but had a hard time returning fire, and often needed to wait on a support asset to free up (like a drone or helicopter) to end it. Grenades are great because close enough is a factor with them. If one of your platoon weapon teams was equipped with them then that wouldn't have been such a big problem.

Grenade launchers -- My favorite 'To whom it may concern'

Man i need to hear your version of the 8 of august 1976 (i think) when usa and south korea almost started a war over a tree. Hope u do one video on it

The new format is good. Your mention of the future weapons project stirred up some old memories. Look into the vehicle-mounted anti-sniper system. Pretty sure at least some things about it have to be declassified by now.

*When talking about the M1 Garand Grenade Launcher* "Bet you never heard of this have ya?" *Me with vivid memories of Call of Duty: World At War with the constant cries of "Banzai" and panicked grenade launching* "Nope, never heard of it tell me more."

The China Lake is objectively correct. I've wanted one ever since Ian covered it.

Would love to see more videos like this, or just TLDR videos that could branch off into their own longer in depth videos would be cool.

The MK 47 is very much in use in Ranger Regiment. The issue is only a few people go to the class to learn, and then from there it becomes a "heard it from the guy who heard it from the guy". But its still an incredible system

Somebody said this in another video and I’m realizing how true it is… you’re the 2022 version of “Mail Call”! Love the longer deep dives, keep it up!

Love this format! It's been awesome watching the evolution of your content.

Best yet and LOVE the new shirt

Yeah man I really like the platform breakdowns and when they were serviced. The more obscure the better, like I knew the china lake was a thing. I did not know it was developed for use by the seals and that it saw combat. Cool stuff like that is what gets me!

Minor point of order, there are rifle grenades that use regular live rounds to propel them. They work on two different principles and are called "shoot through" and "bullet trap" types. They work exactly how you might expect. The shoot through type is of course weaker as the energy spent accelerating the bullet is effectively wasted but it still feels somewhat less insane than the bullet trap type.

Love the long form video, your research and content is spot on. Did I miss the M203? Your videos are great, please keep them coming.

Loved the video, man. Definitely interested in seeing more like it. I don't know why I have a hard-on for lists, but I do, and here we are.

Love this video. I think I speak for a lot of your subs if I say that this is awesome. There are a good number of subjects you could use to make a Top 5 video with. Thanks for all the effort you put in your videos 🤘

I truly enjoy all your videos this format is great ... Thank you for all the work you put into these ...

Great video, but honestly I need more videos that are of a longer length. I love the war stories you tell, as well as your extra dialogue thrown in. Informative AND hilarious.

Nic, absolutely love how you have ultrasound pics on your safe. My son inherits my freedom seed delivery devices that I lost in a boating accident upon my demise. Love your content and I am betting the Mrs. Is happy you're home from your unsub marathon (I'm still dying over that 3 and a half hour episode). Hey I have 1 of those shotguns in the safe at work. Keep up the good work and im still pushing for the MP review. Viper7 out

Love the video. keep them coming. My dad carried a M79 in Vietnam. Making it number 1 for me. With out it I would not be here.

As soon as I saw the video title, I knew in my cold-steel little grunt heart that number one HAD TO BE the China Lake system or I would send you hate-mail. Love the vid format. Love pretty much everything you send our way. Keep them coming!

The blanks used to fire the rifle grenades are not the normal blanks used in training. They are special blanks that have a LOT more gunpowder in them than a regular blank. You need that because a regular blank barely has enough gunpowder to launch a cleaning rod 10 meters (don’t ask me how I know that about the regular blanks). Way back in the mid 1980s when I was on my first assignment to the 82nd ABN we had the absolute best M-47 Dragon gunners in the entire Army because we had to go every month for either a monthly qual, a semi annual qual or an annual qual. We used the LET (Launch Effects Trainer) in the gunnery portion which used a grenade launching 7.62mm blank to simulate the noise of firing, which was actually pretty close to what it was really like (I know that because I actually fired a live one once. I hit a dumpster at about 950 meters that was my target.)

I enjoy all your videos. Love how you can educate us and make us laugh. I’d love to go drinking with you some time even though I don’t drink anymore. Being a SeaBee vet I especially loved the train robbery story. The motto Can Do is spot on for anything our twisted minds came up with. Keep up the good work 👍

That looked to be an M1917, what you called the M1 Garand, at 0:36. That was actually a pretty sweet rifle and I almost got to add one to my collection this past year! Love the content man! Keep up the good work!

It’s the information and your delivery of said information that we enjoy! You can sit down or stand up in front of whatever background you like! Thanks for the historical entertainment!

"The Alek Baldwin test" EXACTLY!

Absolutely love your history lessons! And thank you for your service!👍🏽😀❤️🇺🇸

America really saw a sci-fi movie and said "what if it shot grenades"

6:01 aint that one of those airsoft models? EDIT. yes in fact that that particular photo is of the replica made by "renegade Cow" apparently an airsoft customs maker, he based his design off photos available by the Ho Chi Min War remnants museum in Vietnam. Apparently they're in possession of one of the four remaining examples of this weapon.

I was medically discharged from boot camp before the grenade training so sad.

awesome video, please do more like this. actually just do more videos in general, your content is awesome

The “Alec Baldwin” test… I cried. Dude. Never stop. You’re awesome!!

I think you left one out! The AA-12 shotgun with the frag 12 grenades. Never fielded but definitely tested.

Keep up with making videos, I don't care how long they are , you do a fantastic job of putting them together and also a fantastic job of presenting it

Yeah, you're wrong because the first grenade launcher was the first grunt to try and throw a grenade like he was trying to stop a steal of second base. Kidding. Kinda. Good vid man.

the China Lake is the most Metal Slug weapon ever I've ever seen. Quartermaster: Shotgun or Grenade Launcher? Grunt: Can I mix and match? Quartermaster: Kinda...

Definitely liked the vid. You could literally explain anything the way you do about anything and I would watch it. The way you tell the story is F**ing hilarious

For the first one. Yes we did know it was a thing BF1 is a great game.

You talked about atomic Annie and David Crockett. How about the other nuclear names like project Katie? A w23 nuclear round for the Iowa class battleships

Keep these kinds of videos coming! Much like the rest of your content, its awesome

This is most definitely a T-shirt. "Ammunition, it's technically not ours, it's the bad guy's. We just haven't given it to them yet." F'n wonderful!!

Loved it!