History of Nuprol
Nuprol are a UK based company that produce a large range of airsoft rifles, pistols, ancillaries, BBs and gas. Nuprol are a well known brand across the UK due to their quality products at affordable prices for airsofters. Nuprol continue to design, develop and release new weapons and ancillaries keeping up with the existing market at pace.
For more info - visit the Nuprol website.
Why the Nuprol N79-S?
In two episodes of SEAL Team, the M79 Grenade Launcher (Sawn) was featured, attached to 2B9 PERRYs' 1st Line Gear. Whilst not drawn in either episode this was potentially a lost opportunity for Bravo to utilise something bigger than the standard 5.56 rounds from their HK416 rifles. The M79 could be seen as a game changer by units with an increased explosive delivery via a 40mm HE explosive shell up to approx 365m from the firer. Several HD images of the SEAL Team episodes were found for the M79 and holster. A blog covering the holster - Review - S&S Precision Grenade Launcher Holster provides an in-depth review of the holster. Several more lower quality images were also obtained to shed light on this one time weapon system appearance. Research of the M79 specifically for airsoft returned two manufacturers who produced a replica of the M79;
The subject of the blog, the N79-S is Nuprols airsoft version of the M79 grenade launcher sawn. The M79 was first utilised in the Vietnam war by American forces. The M79 grenade launcher was designed to be a replacement for the traditional carried mortar. The M79 was then superseded by the M203 grenade launcher that mounts below the barrel of an M4 rifle. Despite this update in weaponry, the M79 is still occasionally used in the field, principally by U.S. Special Forces.
With an M79 in hand you can look cool, but can you look as cool as Navy SEAL LCDR. CRENSHAW back in 2012 whilst deployed in Afghanistan?
Product details
Herein lies the product description from the website;
The Nuprol N79 (product code named as NP79) Airsoft grenade launcher is a single-shot, break-action grenade launcher that fires a 40mm Moscart grenade shell (edit - can also fire a TAG round).
There are two versions available; the 'short / sawn off' (N79-S) version of the M79 (also know as the 'Pirate Gun') and a longer version found here (N79-L).
The shorter barrel and stock of the N79-S has had the folding ladder-style front sight removed to help with close quarters contact or any other situations. The N79-S is built soundly and features heavy-duty construction with a full metal barrel / body with real wood hand-grip.
This airsoft gun is a highly accurate replica, with branding the same as the real thing on the bottom of the launcher. It also preserves many features seen on the real weapon, for example, the Trigger guard can be rotated to the left or to the right side by pushing the detent on the front, allowing users with thick gloves to access the trigger.
Key Features
Break Action 40mm Grenade Launcher
Powered by Airsoft 40mm MOSCART Grenade Shells (edit - likely means can fire!)
Durable Heavyweight Design
Ambidextrous Thumb Paddle for releasing the Barrel (edit - mod required)
Folding Trigger Guard
Trigger Lock Safety
Specifications
Length: 350mm Weight: 1.06 kg Magazine Capacity: 1x 72 to 120round shell Muzzle Velocity: ~220 fps Powered by: Gas System: Gas Major Colour: Black Fire Mode Safe / Single
Branded with: 'LAUNCHER GRENADE M79' '1212C' 'T R W' 'US' on the weapon.
Packaging Exterior
The N79-S arrives in a simplistic card box measuring 43 x 10 x 20.2 cm (L x H x W) and weighing 1.515kg. There is a large adhesive sticker on the top of the box showing images of both the N79 Long (N79-L) and N79 Short (N79-S) as well as the Nuprol name and logo. On the right hand end of the box is a barcode sticker detailing the product. The rest of the box is void of any markings or details on the exterior.
Packaging Interior
The box interior is simplistic in that is only includes the N79-S, operators manual and packaging foam.
N79-S
The N79-S fits into the packaging foam that is cut into shape at each end. Underneath the N79-S is a thin layer of foam as well as another inside the lid to protect the item from moving during transit. The packaging in a word is simple but it does the job.
Operators manual
The A4 sized operators manual sits on top of the top layer of foam. The front and rear of it show photos of the N79 Long and N79 Short. The interior of the manual is again simple with the left hand page showing how to load / unload the N79 and the right hand side of the manual is various instructions and care details in multiple languages.
N79-S Externals
The N79-S body is cast from high grade metal and the stock uses real wood to create a visually appealing weapon. On the outside it is incredibly simply constructed. The below two images break down the key components and parts for ease, all of which are covered in this blog. The first image shows the overall major sections of the N79-S whilst the second image highlights more specific parts.
The wooden fore end assembly and stock are lightly varnished. Markings have been stamped into the metal receivers rather than engraved.
N79-S Measurements
Height 12.3cm (top of sights to bottom of trigger guard)
Width 6.8cm (across front sight which is widest part)
Length 33.5cm
The N79-S weighs a total of 1.085kg
In comparison, a real steel M79 Long weighed 2.7kg unloaded. There are no official weights for a sawn, although it'd likely be nearly half the weight of a Long due to stock and barrel being cut down, which means that it'd weigh approx 1.35kg. This puts the N-79S in at approx 200g lighter.
The N79-S is a simple weapon and the images below highlight the few parts of the exterior that are noteworthy. On top of the barrel as seen in the first, second, fourth and fifth images is a raised rail, this is the rear sight assembly and is can be re-designed as an attachment point (through modification) of a miniature red dot sight / RMR. The third and sixth images are a close up of the adjustable trigger guard.
The below images cover in more detail some further parts of the N79-S. The first and second images below show the barrel locking latch lever and the safety currently in the Fire position. The safety is activated by sliding the safety thumb tab either forwards to show the F which means the weapon is live or pulled back firmly to show the S denoting the weapon is SAFE. Pushing or pulling the safety thumb tab firmly will cause it to lock into place with an audible click. This is the only part of the N79-S that doesn't feel particularly sturdy, so be aware when using it. The third image shows the barrel hinge mechanism (simplistically a 4.2 cm pin) in the bottom left of the image, that holds both the barrel and the receiver together. At the fore end assembly are the sights comprised of two metal parts constructing a ring which is held together as seen in the fourth image by a 14 mm grub screw. The underside of the N79-S features the ambidextrous trigger guard and weapons markings. The sixth image shows the QD sling attachment point on the rear of the stock.
The underside of the N79-S bears the markings which are stamped on rather than engraved into the metal. These markings as detailed below relate to their real steel counterpart, the M79.
The markings as shown in the above image and below are;
LAUNCHER GRENADE M79 1212C T R W US
This can be broken down into 4 distinct parts;
LAUNCHER GRENADE M79 - this denotes the weapon system
1 2 1 2 C - this is the model variant number
T R W - Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge (one of the manufacturers of the M79)
U S - United States (country of manufacture)
Barrel and firing mechanism
The N79-S utilises a very simplistic firing mechanism. Worthy of mentioning is the safety thumb tab. The safety is activated by sliding the safety thumb tab either forwards to show the F which means the weapon is live or pulled backed firmly to show the S denoting the weapon is SAFE. Pushing or pulling the safety thumb tab firmly will cause it to lock into place with an audible click. This is the only part of the N79-S that doesn't feel particularly sturdy, so be aware when using it.
Firstly the barrel can be opened by pushing the barrel locking latch to the right hand side as seen in the second and third images. As seen within the pictures to the right hand side is the letter P (unknown relevance) and below that a small 4mm pin. Removing this pin would enable the barrel locking latch to be opened either to the left or right. In the third image in the centre of the V channel, can be seen a small round metal nub. This can be compressed and is done so by the rear sight assembly rail. This rail is shown to the left hand side of the fourth image which is mounted on top of the barrel. When the nub is compressed the barrel locking latch can close and lock into place.
The interior of the barrel is not rifled but houses minimal imitation depth grooves running approx 3/4 of the barrels length from front to rear. At the rear / operator end of the barrel is a small screw on the bottom. This is the screw that fixes the barrel and Shell Ejection Mechanism (SEM) together. At the top of the rear of the barrel is a small hole that does not contain any fixings. The sixth image shows the firing pin when not activated / Safe sitting slightly recessed within the rear plate. The seventh image shows the firing pin protruding and activated / engaged when the trigger is pulled.
Shell Ejection Mechanism (SEM)
The Shell Ejection Mechanism (SEM) is designed to aid the operator. Once a shell is inserted and either fired or removed for later use, it makes the operators removal of the shell easier. The SEM simply is a metal rod with a 'foot' on the end sitting on a small compressed spring that runs underneath the barrel. When looking directly at the SEM from behind as seen in the fourth image, the end of the SEM is slightly curved to fit with the notch cut out of the barrel. When a shell is loaded the SEM is slightly compressed and sits underneath the lip of the inserted shell. As the barrel is closed the curved SEM foot as seen in the fifth image, hits the rear plate and the foot slowly compresses the SEM as shown in the sixth and seventh images. When the barrel is opened the SEM spring is decompressed pushing outwards under the shell lip providing purchase onto the shell for the operator to remove and dispose of / save for later use. A simple mechanism to enable the operator to quickly and easily remove the shell.
Loading the N79-S
To load the N-79S, firstly ensure that the safety is engaged. Push the barrel locking latch to the right to break the barrel and open the barrel fully. Insert the MOSCART or TAG SHELL into the barrel ensuring that it seats correctly within the barrel. Shut the barrel and ensure that the barrel locking latch is moved back to the standard forward facing position. Disengage the safety and fire.
In the below example I have used a Green Gas TAG Innovation Launcher 'Shell Evo' (SHLGG) to load into the N79-S following the above steps. The shell is 12.4cm in length and when inserted into the N79-S barrel of 18.5cm the shell is shorter than the barrel and therefore does not protrude. Once inserted the shell does have approx 1-2mm of movement left and right at the front and is not tightly seated. This does not affect performance when firing the TAG round.
In the below example I have used a Nuprol 40mm MOSCART shell to load into the N79-S following the above steps. The shell is 8.2cm in length and when inserted into the N79-S barrel of 18.5cm the shell is hugely shorter than the barrel and therefore does not protrude. Once inserted the shell does not have any movement left and right.
One point to note in regards to the MOSCART is that when the shell was loaded, it did not seat correctly on the curved part of the SEM initially. If a shell is loaded quickly or at a slight angle the shell will enter the barrel with the lip behind the SEM foot, and if not checked when closing the barrel, the SEM foot will not be seated correctly causing the barrel to not be able to close.
Once the shell has been fired, ensure the safety is on, push the barrel locking latch to the right to break the barrel and open the barrel fully. The SEM will push the shell back toward you allowing you to grip the end of the shell for ease of removal.
Trigger guard adjustment
The trigger guard can be rotated into 3 positions; standard (vertical), left or right. The purpose of this is to enable the trigger guard to be accessible for users who may be wearing thick gloves.
To adjust the position, in front of the trigger guard running parallel to the bar is a metal screw cylinder, the 'trigger guard adjustment screw'. Unscrew counter clockwise when viewing it from the front of the N79-S. Be aware that when unscrewing the cylinder, underneath it there is a small compressed spring that holds this cylinder and pin in place as seen in the second image. Once the cylinder and spring are removed, the pin that is in place (accessible from the inside of the trigger guard) can be pushed through as seen in the fifth image. This pin has a square section that is designed to fit into 1 of three positions through the trigger guard and into the cylinder clearly seen in the sixth image. Advice is to not remove the pin completely, simply pull it far enough out that the trigger guard can be rotated either to the left or right and then push the pin back in. Once in the favoured position, press the spring over the end of the pin and then press the cylinder into place and screw tightly. Do not overtighten this cylinder otherwise you'll damage the threads.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Maintenance of the N79-S is essential as is for any weapon system. Fortunately the maintenance for this is simple due to minimal moving parts.
Fingerprints and lubricants can be removed using a soft cotton cloth
Exterior can be wiped using water based cleaner such as; ammonia or soap and water
Soft brush used to remove dust / large debris from exterior and barrel
Allow parts to air dry naturally.
If debris enters the barrel use a cloth and soft brush to remove the particles.
Firing range
The N79-S is due to be taken to the range to provide an accurate review of the firing capabilities of the N79-S and what it can achieve with both a standard 40mm MOSCART and a TAG HE round. Watch this space for a full report and video.
Thoughts and opinion
The N79-S was an addition to my 1st Line Gear to represent 2B9 PERRYs' loadout. The N79-S does have a number of practical applications; deploying smoke at a distance, enabling HE to be launched at targets again at a distance and also the wow / fear factor when deployed on the field. Whilst not used in the SEAL Team episodes it could have been used as a game changer on multiple occasions when the team were under fire, cornered or needing to take out a technical at distance.
Nuprol have produced a highly detailed replica of the original M79 at an affordable price using quality materials that do ensure that the N79-S stands out and feels the part. It's simplistic firing mechanism and few moving parts again should increase reliability as there is less to go wrong and less for users to worry about. In hand this feels like a robust item, it has weight, quality materials have been used and it is as close to the real M79 as it'll likely ever be.
Compared to other available grenade launchers the price, construct and feel led me to the N79-S, along with the fact that it also appeared in SEAL Team. Once the range is open I'll be test firing it with a number of shells so watch this space!
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Final Note
I am not paid for my blogs by the manufacturers or companies that I purchase my items from. I am not offered freebies to promote a product. These blogs are purely written from my own experience in truth to help advise and inform others who may wish to purchase the items or understand more about them. If I am sent a freebie to review this will be stated at the beginning to make you aware.