Editing M6D magnum

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{{Quote|I don't keep it loaded, son. You'll have to find ammo as you go.|[[Jacob Keyes]] after giving his M6D to [[John-117]].}}

The '''M6D Personal Defense Weapon System''',<ref>''[[The Art of Halo]]'', Page 99</ref> commonly referred to as the '''M6D Pistol'''<ref name="CEM">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Manual#Human Weapons|Halo: Combat Evolved Manual, Page 17, "M6 Pistol"]]''</ref> or '''M6D''',{{Ref/Reuse|Flood1}} is a [[United Nations Space Command]] firearm and one of the variants of [[Misriah Armory]]'s [[M6 series|M6]] handgun series.<ref name="ENC321">''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)|Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe (2011 Edition)]]'', Page 321</ref>

[[File:Pistol.png|thumb|left|150px|M6D Schematic view]]

The M6D is a recoil-operated, magazine-fed handgun,{{Ref/Reuse|CEM}} chambered in [[12.7x40mm]] ammunition, typically employed with [[12.7x40mm#M225 SAP-HE|semi-armor-piercing, high-explosive (SAPHE) rounds]] of that chambering, and feeding from 12-round detachable box magazines.<ref name="HCE">[[Halo: Combat Evolved]], Gameplay</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|ENC321}} It has also been known to be chambered in the .450 Magnum load.<ref name="TFoR20">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', Chapter 20</ref> The weapon is somewhat unusual for a handgun in that it is capable of both semi-automatic and automatic firing.<ref name="hammerstorm">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halo-5-guardians/updates/Hammer-Storm '''Halo Waypoint: Hammer Storm''': ''HALO: CE PISTOL'']</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|CEM}} The M6D is one of the M6 series' upscaled variants,{{Ref/Reuse|ENC321}} being larger than non-upscaled M6s by roughly 117%.<ref name="BnetODST">''[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx Bungie.net Halo 3: ODST Field Guide, Ordnance, "Auto Mag"]''</ref> The M6D is also an officer's model, and in this capacity was employed by Captain [[Jacob Keyes]] on the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}.<ref name=HCElvl1>''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', [[Pillar of Autumn (Level)|"Pillar of Autumn" campaign level]]</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|ENC321}} Like other officer's model M6s, the weapon is fitted with smart-linked [[KFA-2 x2|KFA-2 optic]] for utilization by those employing a [[heads-up display]].{{Ref/Reuse|ENC321}}<ref name="EVG">''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', "Magnum"</ref>

[[File:M6D Open.png|thumb|An empty M6D with its slide locked back.]]

As with most human weapons, the M6D is discharged when a trigger positioned at the top of the grip is depressed by the index finger. The energy of the expanding propellant gasses from the cartridge causes the slide to reciprocate into the open position, expelling the spent casing of the round just fired. The weapon's recoil mechanism then moves the slide back into place, stripping a fresh round from the magazine and chambering it to make the weapon ready to fire once again. This process occurs with almost imperceptible speed and can be repeated with successive trigger-pulls until the weapon is emptied,{{Ref/Reuse|H5GWarzone}} at which point the slide will lock back,<ref name="SilentStorm3">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', Chapter 3</ref> awaiting the insertion of another magazine. When a fresh magazine is inserted, the slide will then travel forward, stripping the first round from the magazine and chambering it. If the weapon is reloaded before it is completely empty, this process will not occur as the cycle of the slide is uninterrupted. When the weapon is employed in its fully-automatic fire-mode, the trigger does not need to be repeatedly pulled for continuous firing.<ref name="H5GWarzone">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', [[Warzone]] gameplay</ref> To prevent accidental firing, the weapon has a safety mechanism which is manually engaged when the firearm is not in active use.{{Ref/Reuse|Flood2}}

To utilize the weapon's [[KFA-2 x2|KFA-2 optic]], the user must be equipped with headwear or eyewear capable of displaying a [[HUD]].{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} When activated, the weapon projects the view from the scope at x2 magnification on the user's visor with a circular targeting reticle.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GWarzone}}{{Ref/Reuse|HCE}}

[[File:HCEA-Concept-PoA-Chief-Profile.jpg|thumb|[[John-117]] making use of [[Jacob Keyes]]' M6D on the ''[[Pillar of Autumn]]''.]]

The performance of the M6D has been repeatedly indicated to rely heavily on proficiency of its user. [[John-117]] believed that, in the hands of someone who knew how to operate it, the M6D possessed a great deal of stopping power and was one of the [[UNSC]]'s most effective infantry weapons, being almost as effective as an [[MA5 series|assault rifle]] when firing SAPHE ammunition.<ref name="SilentStorm15">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', Chapter 15</ref> Likewise, a proficient shooter can also use the M6D to engage targets from a surprising distance when making use of the mounted [[KFA-2 x2|KFA-2 optic]]. Its aptitude in this application is so great that, circumstantially, it is preferable to pick off lightly-protected semi-distant enemy targets with this weapon than an assault rifle.<ref name="Flood1">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', Chapter 3</ref>

As with many non-specialized human firearms, this weapon can be somewhat inefficient against targets equipped with [[Energy shielding|personal energy shielding]], requiring in one instance the expenditure of a full magazine to incapacitate an [[elite minor]].<ref name="Flood2">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', Chapter 2</ref> However, headshots with the weapon can be very effective,{{Ref/Reuse|Flood1}} making careful shot placement of high importance when engaging [[Covenant]] forces.{{Ref/Reuse|CEM}} They are, of course, not very effective at engaging Covenant vehicles, with rounds fired from the weapon simply ricocheting off the exterior of targets such as the Umbra light transport.<ref name="Oblivion13">''[[Halo: Oblivion]]'', Chapter 13</ref>

===History===

The M6D saw a significant amount of service throughout the [[Covenant War]]. It was used by [[SPARTAN-II]] operatives throughout [[Operation: SILENT STORM]] and the subsequent [[Skirmish over Netherop|mission to Netherop]] in [[2526]].{{Ref/Reuse|SilentStorm15}}{{Ref/Reuse|Oblivion13}} Spartans continued to use the weapon, this time chambered in .450 Magnum ammo, during the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]].{{Ref/Reuse|TFoR20}} Most notable, however, is its usage during the [[Battle of Installation 04]]. Throughout the engagement, it was employed heavily by [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC marines]] and [[UNSC Navy|Navy personnel]].{{Ref/Reuse|HCE}} Captain [[Jacob Keyes]] notably offered his M6D to [[John-117]] to use to evacuate [[Cortana]] from the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, which he then went on to utilize on the surface of the ring.{{Ref/Reuse|Flood2}}

==''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'' Depiction==

In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', the M6D is represented by a repurposed ''[[Halo 3]]'' [[M6G magnum]] model, with markings on the weapon changed to reflect that it is an M6D. It features a black, smooth grip, a shorter magazine, and is polished to a higher sheen than the more prominent depiction from ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' and ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''. In all respects save for the "M6D" marking on the slide, it resembles the M6G.<ref name="CEA">[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]], Gameplay</ref>

{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of M6D Magnum Pistol|gameplay=yes}}

*One of the comments on the weapon changes in ''Halo 2'' revolved around the fact that in ''Halo 1'', "the assault rifle handled like an SMG and the pistol handled like a rifle." In ''Halo 2'', the altered weapon loadout featured "a [[Battle rifle|rifle]] that handles like a rifle, a [[M6C magnum|pistol]] that handles like a pistol, and an [[SMG]] that handles like an SMG."<ref>'''The Art of Halo''', ''page 103''</ref>

*One shot to the exposed orange flesh of a [[Hunter]] will result in a kill, no matter what difficulty setting. This is due to the flesh being flagged as "head".{{Verify_source}}

*In the ''Halo 2'' multiplayer map ''[[Tombstone]]'', there is an M6D Pistol crate that's behind the right side of the fence that is stretched over the water trench in the middle of the map. You must zoom in to see it properly.

*The M6D is featured in the ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'' multiplayer and, by extension, the Anniversary playlists of ''Halo: Reach''. Due to development constraints it retains the ''Halo: Reach'' M6G appearance and sounds, but other characteristics of the weapon replicate the M6D.<ref>'''[[BTS]]: [[BTS: Anniversary Multiplayer|Anniversary Multiplayer]]'''</ref> The M6D is a playlist-related feature and isn't available in the ''Reach'' custom games.

*When the player melees with the magnum in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]],'' a grunting sound is made.

*The mission Truth and Reconciliation is the only mission in Halo CE where the M6D is not present.

*The M6D was featured in Bungie's 30th anniversary as the exotic sidearm Forerunner in ''Destiny 2'' obtained by reaching Brave I in Dares of Eternity. The Catalyst upgrade for the gun allows Guardians to throw a frag grenade after achieving a kill with the Forerunner, and when obtaining it, multiversal agent Xûr implies that he retreived the sidearm and its upgrade from the ''Pillar of Autumn''.