M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon

M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon
Original USAF M6 Survival Rifle/Shotgun
TypeCombination gun
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1952–1970s
Used byUnited States Air Force
Production history
ManufacturerIthaca Gun Company, Springfield Armory, Inc.
Specifications
Mass4.5 lb (2.0 kg)
Length28.27 in (718 mm) overall, 15 in (380 mm) folded
Barrel length14 in (360 mm)

Cartridge.22 Hornet
.410 bore shotgun
Barrels2
Actionbreak action
Muzzle velocity2,740 ft/s (840 m/s) (.22 Hornet)
1,130 ft/s (340 m/s) (.410 bore)
Maximum firing range109 yd (100 m) (.22 Hornet)
27 yd (25 m) (.410 bore)
SightsIron

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]

  1. ^ https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/09/23/original-m6-aircrew-survival-rifle/ The Original M6 Aircrew Survival Rifle
  2. ^ "The Air Force is arming pilots with this longer-range, stand-off rifle to use if they're ever shot down". 28 June 2018. Retrieved 2020-09-14.