M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon | |
---|---|
Type | Combination gun |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | 1952–1970s |
Used by | United States Air Force |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | Ithaca Gun Company, Springfield Armory, Inc. |
Specifications | |
Mass | 4.5 lb (2.0 kg) |
Length | 28.27 in (718 mm) overall, 15 in (380 mm) folded |
Barrel length | 14 in (360 mm) |
Cartridge | .22 Hornet .410 bore shotgun |
Barrels | 2 |
Action | break action |
Muzzle velocity | 2,740 ft/s (840 m/s) (.22 Hornet) 1,130 ft/s (340 m/s) (.410 bore) |
Maximum firing range | 109 yd (100 m) (.22 Hornet) 27 yd (25 m) (.410 bore) |
Sights | Iron |
The M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon was a specially-made .22 Hornet over .410 bore combination gun issued to United States Air Force aircrews to help forage for food in the event of a plane crash.[1] It was issued from 1952 until the early 1970s, in conjunction with the M4 Survival Rifle. Plans to replace both with the ArmaLite AR-5 (aka: MA-1) never came to fruition and in 2018 was instead replaced with the GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon in some instances.[2]