M6C Personal Defense Weapon System

The M6C Magnum Sidearm is a United Nations Space Command sidearm available in Halo 2 only.

Introduction
The M6C Magnum Sidearm, is a common UNSC sidearm and was first put into service around 2531 (based on Halo Wars concept art). It is one of the earlier models of the M6 series pistols, that was distributed to members of the UNSC Marine Corps, especially those of vehicular crews (the M6G replaced this pistol roughly around the Covenant invasion). The UNSC Marine Corps aviators are an example of this. This particular M6 weapon is featured exclusively in Halo 2. It is considered a weak weapon when compared to other M6-series weapons with reduced accuracy, a shorter effective range, and less efficacy against shielded, armored, and soft targets. This model can be dual-wielded.

Summary
The M6C is a semi-automatic, recoil-operated, magazine-fed handgun. It most likely has DA, or double-action only trigger due to the fact that there is no external hammer. It fires the M228 SAP-HP (Semi-Armor Piercing, High Penetration) rounds from a 12 round magazine. It has a considerably high rate of fire (6 rounds/sec or 360 rounds/min) with a limited maximum effective range, being able to hit a target accurately at only about 20 meters*. Its maximum range, however is probably anywhere in the 50-100 meter range (maximum range being how far the bullet can actually travel). The weapon’s accuracy alone is inferior to the other M6 models (it is about 1/5 as accurate as the M6D Pistol*), having a large shot spread at close ranges. This combined with its minimal damage against current shield systems makes it a poor weapon of choice when faced with shielded opponents, especially at distance. It is, however, more effective against flesh and hard/soft armor, being able to kill most targets in 1 shot to the head or a few shots to the body (depending on the target). Unlike it's twins, M6D and M6G, this pistol has significantly less recoil, allowing it to fire more quickly.

Technical Specifications
The M6C Magnum Sidearm is a hand held, double action only UNSC pistol capable of using heavy rounds (magnum loads). This weapon has a polymer handle, making it comfortable in the user's hands, along with a titanium alloy body, and utilizes the M228 12.7mmx40mm SAP-HP round (.50 caliber). It fires these powerful rounds from a 12 round magazine that fits flush into the magazine housing. A flush magazine fits completely inside the housing and does not protrude out of it.

The M6C is semi-automatic and fires using the short recoil principle. This means that the trigger needs to be pulled after every shot for the next round to be fired. Because it is semi-automatic, the gun will cock itself after every shot due to recoil and will continue to do so until the magazine is empty. The recoil comes from the gases of the rounds fired. The gases force the slide, located on the top of the gun, backward. The slide not only absorbs the force of the gases but it also uses the force to eject spent casings out of the ejection port and load new rounds into the chamber. It also re-cocks the gun. Of course, before the first round can be fired, the round must be chambered. This is done by first, inserting a magazine with ammunition into the grip of the weapon (where most semi-auto pistol mags are inserted today) and second by pulling the slide back completely and letting it launch forward, chambering a round on the way. There is a small, red rectangular box on the flat back of the slide that protrudes out slightly when the weapon is cocked. Once this is done, the safety, located at the back of the slide on both sides, must be switched off or the weapon will not fire. Once all the rounds have been spent, the slide catch, a rectangular lever located above the trigger, is forced upward and “catches” the slide by a little notch. To reload, the empty magazine must be removed and this is done by using the magazine release button which is located on the grip. Once the empty mag is out, a fresh one can be inserted. Once the fresh mag is inserted, the slide catch is pressed downward and the slide chambers a round (in Halo 2, this reload is cut down to a simple ejection of one mag and an insertion of another, disregarding the slide catch portion of the reload. This was probably to cut down on reload time for multiplayer). If there is still a round in the chamber when reloading, than the "Halo 2 reload" would be all that is required. The M6C is a very basic pistol when it comes to technology. It is a rather large handgun, having an overall length of 26.8cm and possesses a barrel with traditional rifling, improving accuracy by spinning the bullet. It has a flat black color and operates like most modern day pistols. It also has forward and rear sights (most likely adjustable for windage and elevation). The control lever serves as a safety (and most likely a decocking lever). If it is also a decocking lever this would most likely be done by pushing down on the lever past the safety point. This weapon does not feature any special attachments. It does, however, have a large hand guard, which helps prevent the user from dropping it and a chrome barrel which helps prevent corrosion.

Tactical Uses
The M6C Magnum is presented in-game as a semi-automatic best used against unshielded targets, fairly accurate over short distances, a relatively small magazine as compared to other human firearms. That said, as long as the operator knows how and when to utilize the M6C, it can be an effective sidearm in Multiplayer and to an even greater degree in Campaign.

In Multiplayer, if the operator is skilled in consistent head-shotting, it can be an efficient cleanup weapon against unprotected players, causing relatively little damage to active shields. It particularly shines at close range when carried with or dual-wielded alongside an M7 or a plasma-based weapon, with the M6C performing the coup de grace after the victim's shields have been stripped away by the primary weapon. This one-two system enables a proficient player to quickly and efficiently put-down large numbers of single opponents, though the tactic can quickly fail when attempted against multiple targets, unless all but one is distracted or otherwise a non-factor. Wielding a pair of M6Cs can enhance their efficacy in dealing with multiple unshielded enemies, but if the targets are not at close range, their accuracy and effectiveness quickly dwindle, and the operator will be left vulnerable and unable to return fire for a significant amount of time as both pistols are reloaded unless they can switch to another weapon, in addition to the liability of being attacked while searching for vulnerable opponents and being able to respond only with pistol fire.

The M6C is best used in Campaign in a similar manner to Multiplayer, with the difference of being altogether more effective due to the prevelance of naturally unshielded enemies like Grunts and Jackals. Drones and Flood combat forms can be dispatched in as few as 2-4 shots (Drones= 4 shots, Flood= 1-2 shots)*. The M6C is also effective against unshielded Elites and Brutes who have had their helmets knocked off, with just a single headshot required to kill either.* However, when Elites have shielding and Brutes have helmets, more shots are required to kill them (9 shots to the head of a Minor, 14 shots to the head of a Major or Honor Guard, and between 28 and 30 shots to the head of an Ultra; 3 shots to the head of a helmeted Brute).* This weapon is less effective in engaging Hunters, which require a large number of rounds to their exposed flesh to kill them.

In Halo 2 matchmaking the M6C was initially an extremely powerful weapon. When dual-wielded 2 M6C Magnums could easily kill an enemy even at range, kill the pilot of a Banshee or both the driver and gunner of a Warthog. However, once both magazines are spent the wielder is extremely vulnerable to counter-attack due to long reload times. After the 1.1 auto-update M6C Magnums became significantly weaker in matchmaking with its primary use being in SWAT gametypes.

Note:This data is based on stats from the Normal Difficulty.

Ammunition
The M6C Magnum, uses 12.7mmx40mm (.50 caliber) Semi-Armor-Piercing, High-Penetration rounds. These rounds have a jacket of copper or cupro-nickel which encloses a more frangible metal projectile that will deform shortly after penetration. When the round hits a hard object such as body armor, the jacket will temporarily help maintain the shape of the projectile so that it has a better chance of penetration. A second impact against bone or solid muscle mass inside the target's body is usually enough to complete the jacket's rupture, at which point the projectile mushrooms and franges into smaller pieces, causing a large number of wound channels and maximizing damage. These rounds are typically more effective against infantry as opposed to armor-piercing rounds due to a larger dump of KE (resulting in better knock-down) and also to the process described above, with an armor-piercing round speeding through the target's body without causing as much trauma, creating a scenario where a wounded enemy can still be an effective combatant until they bleed out.

These rounds aren't very effective against shielding systems. This is because the rounds are specifically designed to deform. When the projectile hits the energy shield system, it cannot retain shape and energy due to its deforming properties and therefore, cannot effectively penetrate the shielding.

Similar to the M6D, on the bottom of M6C magazines is a grip extender that provides the operator with a more positive control of the weapon. If you look closely when wielding it in Halo 2 you will notice two fingers are wrapped around it. (Easiest to see in (Multi-player)

Spare ammo packets, for the M6C are marked in blue, unlike the M7's spare ammo packets which are marked in red.

Influences
One possible influence on the design of the weapon is the Walther P99. Another possible influence could be the FP-45 Liberator, a weapon designed in the United States during World War II. The long handle, but short barrel is an obvious feature.

It is possible that the M6G is the UNSC Marine Corps Standard Sidearm, as the M6C seems to use older technology, and the M6D seems to use technology reserved for Spartans and other Spec-Ops units. That would mean, that the M6C is the Navy's variant of the M6 line.

Due to the numbering of the M6C, that would mean that this pistol went into production before the D and G variants, meaning the M6C was around before Halo: Combat Evolved, which uses the M6D. This supports the idea that the M6C uses older technology. Also, in Halo: Combat Evolved the M6D was issued as the crew were given those weapons for the special mission. In Halo 2 it the M6C was the standard issue, yet old, sidearm for the Navy and Marine forces defending Earth. The M6G came in during the rearmament for the request for new weapons to help defend Earth during the Second Battle of Earth.

The M6C is the only M6 pistol in the Halo Trilogy to not feature a smart scope and/or laser sight on the top of the weapon.

Character Compatibility

 * Elites
 * Spartans
 * Marines
 * Grunts
 * Jackals
 * Flood Combat Form (Human)
 * Flood Combat Form (Elite)

Note: You can give Magnums to Grunts and Jackals when you encounter the Flood on the level Sacred Icon.

Trivia

 * The Halo 2 Post Game Carnage Report Breakdown Tab on Bungie.net shows the weapon as "Magnum M6G Pistol" even though the game manual states it is the M6C model.
 * If aimed directly at a enemy's head a red dot will appear in the center of the crosshair.
 * There is a little man inscribed into the side of the barrel.
 * The M6C is a very popular pistol and some players were angry that it did not appear in Halo 3
 * The pistol is instead a dark greyish color rather than a Whitish-silver color like other variants.

Related Pages

 * M6
 * M6D Pistol
 * M6G Personal Defense Weapon System