Thumper (weapon)

The M79 Grenade Launcher, nicknamed the Thumper, is a shoulder-fired, single-shot grenade launcher featured in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

In-game
The Thumper is a decent alternative to the M203 launcher for players who do not wish to take up their gun's attachment slot with the M203, or by players who aren't using an assault rifle that has at least the Marksman 1 challenge but still want a grenade launcher. When hip firing, the iron sights are brought up for the shot, much like the RPG-7. Even while aiming down the sights, there is a noticeable delay between pressing the fire button and when the shell is actually launched. This delay makes firing accurately while on the move nearly impossible. Unlike the M203, this weapon is supplied with its own iron sights which can help accuracy at longer ranges, but obstruct view in medium range shots. Like usual, grenades that impact a solid object before they reach a certain distance from the user will not explode, however they will still inflict blunt force trauma, able to kill an enemy in one shot, even at full health.

Although Scavenger and Danger Close are both extremely effective with the Thumper, some people consider Sleight of Hand Pro if they are using it as a "run n' gun" class.

Tactics

 * A useful tactic to use is to fire the Thumper's grenades at the enemy spawn at the beginning of a round or match. Though the player will mostly gain no kills from this and most of them by luck, it is sometimes possible to wipe out a full Search and Destroy team or multiple enemies. Karachi and Afghan are well fitted for this purpose.
 * When attacking a bomb site in Demolition a quick shot at the area around the bomb from the Thumper can take out an enemy or two around the bomb.
 * The Thumper's grenade shells can bounce off surfaces and can hit an enemy, thus killing them. Using this tactic if an enemy is too close for an explosive impact is useful.
 * It is wise to take the Thumper on a general assault class featuring a highly versatile Primary Weapon like a SCAR-H or an ACR when Secondary Weapons are often less useful due to the multi-functionality of some of the Assault Rifles. By taking an independent grenade launcher instead of an underslung one, you can take another attachment instead, like FMJ or Silencer, to better increase the functionality and versatility of the class. Although there is a high tendency to 'mortar', much to the anger of the opposing team (and sometimes your own), it is much wiser and tactically sound to be conservative with how you use your two grenades, unless Scavenger is taken. Simply mortaring or blasting a perfectly visible target with a Thumper is a waste of ammo, where the target could easily have been taken out with your Primary Weapon. For maximum effectiveness, use it against concealed enemies in rooms or confined areas to make the most of the splash damage and the possibility of taking out multiple opponents.
 * When playing maps like Favela fire onto roofs where people may be hiding and "smoke 'em out". If it doesn't kill them it will distract them or hurt them and you may get an assist.
 * Another tactic is to use an LMG and make it a heavy/support class to cover all your team in Domination or your flag in Capture the Flag.
 * Some players use the Thumper and an assault rifle with a grenade launcher attachment to gain large amounts of kills. Danger Close makes this set up especially powerful, though you should expect to be called a "Noob Tuber" by your opponents.
 * In Special Ops and Museum, this weapon can be used to kill Juggernauts quickly with a well-placed headshot.
 * Many players use the Thumper along with the M203 Grenade Launcher and Scavenger to gain a maximum of 4 grenades and the ability to resupply.
 * The Thumper is a good choice for 3rd person game modes, being extremely accurate.
 * In Hardcore mode, it is recommended to put Danger Close in an LMG, assault rifle, or sniper class when planning to use the Thumper as most weapons in those classes will kill in 1-2 shots.

Trivia

 * Just like with other grenade launchers in Modern Warfare 2, if the grenade lands too close, it won't explode.
 * On close examination with another player holding the M79, they seem to be holding it as if it had a pistol grip.
 * It is possible to find the Thumper in the mission The Hornet's Nest in a shop named Sorbetes. It's below the counter, and comes with more ammunition on higher difficulties.
 * From a third person perspective the Thumper's sights are always folded down.
 * The Thumper can be seen being used by Makarov in the airport in No Russian.
 * It is possible to get a headshot with the Thumper.
 * A headshot with the Thumper against a Juggernaut in Spec Ops will be an instant kill if it explodes, but it will do little damage if the Juggernaut is too close for it to go off. This is an essential for completing the mission 'High Explosive' on higher difficulties.
 * While the Model 1887 is much more popular, the Thumper (albeit with the iron sights folded down) itself makes an appearance in the movies Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
 * It is impossible to reload cancel with this weapon. It will restart the reload over again if tried.
 * Hidden in the games codes is the ability to have Akimbo on the Thumper. Since it was never finished, the reloading animation is coded the same as that on the normal Thumper.
 * The Thumper is the only weapon that has a visible sling. When switching weapons it is visible.
 * Interestingly, both Ghost and Makarov both use the Thumper if you look very carefully.
 * In reality the Thumper's sights would start at the bottom as "10ft, 20ft, 30ft" etc. The small slide would be lined up with the estimate of the distance of the enemy and fired. This would be repeated if it missed until it hit.
 * If you hold down the ADS button while reloading with Sleight of Hand Pro with this weapon, there will be almost no time spent going from the hipfire mode to ADS mode. This can be useful if you know where exactly where the enemy is and where they would go.
 * In the Favela exhibit in the museum level, if you shoot the Thumper at Soap's left foot, he will spiral through the floor.
 * In Special Ops mode the player does not have to ADS to fire the Thumper.
 * If the player tries to fire this from the hip it will go into automatically go into ADS and fire, rather than just fire. This also occurs with the RPG-7, and the AT4.
 * On The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday, after exiting the Sub and killing the soldier, there may be a Navy Seal soldier that has the name Thumper, but dissapears after the first breach.

Video
A Thumper Montage