USCCA – by SCOTT W. WAGNER It seemed only fitting for my Independence Day column to talk about an accessory for your AR-15 (or any rifle with a Picatinny Rail forend) that is capable of shooting “aerial bomb” and comet rounds. That accessory is the 37mm launcher, specifically the “underbarrel” UBL37 made from the firm of Bates and Dittus.
37mm launchers—which are not in their standard guise considered firearms, but more on that later—have been finding some popularity among civilians over the last ten years or so. The first people to latch onto the concept were owners of oceangoing yachts. These signaling devices can be taken into international waters by ship owners (since they aren’t firearms) and used as defense against pirates maneuvering toward their ships in small, open powerboats. While pirates never seem to worry about gun laws in international waters, boat owners do.
The B&D UBL37 is the most versatile launcher of the B&D line. Featuring the intimidating appearance of a 40mm military M203 grenade launcher, the single shot UBL37 handles any available 6-inch 37mm round including smoke, flare, aerial burst, and law enforcement only impact, teargas, baton, or stingball rounds. Note the law enforcement only rounds. While the UBL37 is civilian legal because it is not a firearm according to ATF, it can be used with the smoke, flare, and aerial burst (fireworks) rounds unless locally prohibited. However, if you are a civilian and own the UBL37 AND are in possession of those LE only rounds, you have magically changed your once legal launcher into an ATF classified “destructive device” and face federal penalties for doing so. There is also an available 26.5mm adaptor that allows the firing of the brilliantly bright Czech maritime signaling flares, as well as a 12-gauge adaptor for 12-gauge blank rounds. DO NOT fire standard 12-gauge rounds in the adaptor. It is illegal and dangerous.
The UBL37 has a 9-inch barrel and fits perfectly under the barrel of an M4 carbine using the B&D rail adaptor that clamps onto the top rail of the launcher and the bottom rail of an M4 forend. The mounting system attaches the UBL37 to any Picatinny-railed forend and any AR barrel configuration—no part of the UBL37 touches the gun barrel. When attached to an M4 carbine, the 30-round AR magazine serves as the “pistol grip” and helps give support to the trigger finger.
I’ve carried the UBL37 on my entry carbine, loaded with a beanbag round. Unlike the M203, the UBL37 does not cock on loading. There is a sliding drawbar on the right side of the UBL37 along with a manual safety. This feature allows you to safely store the UBL37 with a loaded round and gives the UBL a lot of versatility. What adds to that versatility is that there is an adaptor kit available that allows you to use the UBL37 in a “stand alone” mode, by mounting an M4 adjustable stock and pistol grip kit to the launcher.
While the UBL37 is just plain fun, it certainly adds a level of intimidation to the business end of your M4. In survival situations, the ability to launch smoke, distraction rounds, or signaling flares from your carbine may come in handy. If you have a large piece of property where you might encounter a variety of threats, it could make a useful addition to your defensive system. MSRP: $329.
Available from The Ordnance Group:
Web: www.ordnancegroup.com
Phone: 914-592-7227
https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/bates-dittus-ubl-launcher-useful-fun-defensive-rifle-option/