The LWL–Olin Shotshell Adaptor for the M79 Grenade Launcher

Abstract

This article examines the little-known LWL–Olin M79 Shotshell Adaptor for the M79 light grenade launcher, which originates with the U.S. Army’s Limited Warfare Laboratory and was produced by Winchester under a contract between the LWL and Olin Corporation. Developed in the context of jungle warfare and close-range combat encounters during the Vietnam War, the M79 Shotshell Adaptor was one of several anti-personnel developments trialled with the M79. Ultimately, it was not adopted by the U.S. military and only a limited number of prototype models were fabricated. This article draws on a review of primary and secondary source material, as well as the author’s inspection of an extant example of the adaptor, today held in the collection of the Cody Firearms Museum.