37 mm flare or "1.5 inch"

caliber In guns, particularly firearms, caliber (or calibre; sometimes abbreviated as "cal") is the specified nominal internal diameter of the gun barrel bore – regardless of how or where the bore is measured and whether the finished bore matc ...

is the specification for a common launching system for non-lethal and less-lethal ammunition. Such launchers are also often known as "gas guns" due to their original use by police for launching tear gas projectiles. 37 mm systems are typically smoothbore as rifling is unnecessary or even detrimental to the performance of the usual projectiles. 37 mm rounds can be fired from a variety of devices, including standalone launchers, and

M203 The M203 is a single-shot 40 mm under-barrel grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same rounds as the older stand-alone M79 break-action grenade launcher, which utilizes the high-low propulsion system to keep recoil forces ...

-style launchers mounted on rifles using clamping systems or rail mounting systems.

United States legality

In the United States, 37 mm launchers are exempted from the

National Firearms Act of 1934 The National Firearms Act (NFA), 73rd Congress, Sess. 2, ch. 757, was enacted on June 26, 1934, and currently codified and amended as . The law is an Act of Congress in the United States that, in general, imposes an excise tax on the manufactur ...

so long as no anti-personnel rounds are in the user's possession. Only non-anti-personnel rounds may be possessed or used. Such rounds include: *

flare A flare, also sometimes called a fusée, fusee, or bengala in some Latin-speaking countries, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a bright light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for distress signaling, illumination, ...

s * smoke rounds, to include irritating "smoke" such as CS or OC agents * noise effect ("bird bomb") rounds Where anti-personnel rounds are to be fired from a 37 mm launcher, the launcher must be registered with the

BATFE The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), commonly referred to as the ATF, is a domestic law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice. Its responsibilities include the investigation and prevent ...

as a

destructive device In the United States, a destructive device is a type of firearm or explosive device regulated by the National Firearms Act of 1934, revised by the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and Gun Control Act of 1968. Examples of destruct ...

. Possession of a destructive device is also restricted or banned by some local and state laws. The specific wording of the BATFE rule is:

ATF Ruling 95-3:
37/38 mm gas/flare guns possessed with cartridges containing wood pellets, rubber pellets or balls, or bean bags are classified as destructive devices for purposes of the Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44, and the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53.

Rounds that are considered anti-personnel include: Less-lethal rounds: * rounds loaded with rubber pellets * rounds loaded with plastic or wooden batons * "bean bag" rounds consisting of a cloth bag filled with lead pellets Lethal rounds: *

buckshot A shotgun shell, shotshell or simply shell is a type of rimmed, cylindrical (straight-walled) cartridges used specifically in shotguns, and is typically loaded with numerous small, pellet-like spherical sub-projectiles called shot, fired thro ...

flechette A flechette ( ) is a pointed steel projectile with a vaned tail for stable flight. The name comes from French , "little arrow" or "dart", and sometimes retains the acute accent in English: fléchette. They have been used as ballistic weapons sinc ...

rounds Such rounds are not considered destructive devices, but are not readily available to non-government purchasers. A round containing an explosive payload of over would itself be classified as a destructive device, requiring BATFE registration. A personally constructed (D.I.Y) 37mm launcher may be made at home (see

list of 3D printed weapons and parts This is a list of notable 3D printed weapons and parts. The table below lists noteworthy 3D printed weapons (mainly firearms) and parts of weapons as well as items with a defense-related background. It includes 3D printed weapons and parts created ...

homemade firearm A privately made firearm (''also referred to as a ghost gun, homemade firearm, or eighty-percenter)'' is a firearm that is produced by a private individual rather than a corporate or government entity. The term is used mostly in the United State ...

for more information), and does not need to be registered as a firearm or a destructive device, as is the case for factory-made launcher devices. Likewise, you cannot possess or use 37mm anti-personnel ammunition or you will have to register the launcher platform as a destructive device per BATFE ruling.

External links

Video of various 37mm flares

exotic-firearms.com

Exotic Ammo 37mm

Ordnance Group 37mm

References

{{Reflist Ammunition Flare guns Large-caliber cartridges

United States legality

See also

External links

References