The M6D Personal Defense Weapon System^[1], or simply M6D Pistol^[2] or M6D,^[3] is a United Nations Space Command firearm and one of the variants of Misriah Armory's M6 handgun series.^[4]

Overview

Design

M6D Schematic view

The M6D is a recoil-operated, magazine-fed handgun,^[2] chambered in 12.7x40mm ammunition, typically employed with semi-armor-piercing, high-explosive (SAPHE) rounds of that chambering, and feeding from 12-round detachable box magazines.^[5]^[4] It has also been known to be chambered in the .450 Magnum load.^[6] The weapon is somewhat unusual for a handgun in that it is capable of both semi-automatic and automatic firing.^[7]^[2] The M6D is one of the M6 series’ upscaled variants,^[4] being larger than non-upscaled M6s by roughly 117%.^[8] The M6D in particular is an officer’s model, and in this capacity was employed by Captain Jacob Keyes on the UNSC Pillar of Autumn.^[9]^[4] Like other officer’s model M6s, the weapon is fitted with smart-linked KFA-2 optic for utilization by those employing a heads-up display.^[4]^[10] M6Ds are produced with a distinctive hard chrome finish.^[4]

Depictions

An M6D as it appears in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary

There are two primary depictions of the M6D in Halo media. The first is the original style from Halo: Combat Evolved which was latter added to Halo 5: Guardians, and the latter is a repurposed Halo 3 M6G model with the markings on the weapon changed to M6D in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. The first depiction of the M6D is relatively distinctive among the M6 family, most notable for the brown hue of the grip, which features small bumps across its surface. The length of the magazine, which integrates a prominent grip extension, makes the weapon appear comparatively very large.^[11] The latter depiction features a black, smooth grip, a shorter magazine, and is polished to a higher sheen. In all respects save for the "M6D" marking on the slide, it resembles the M6G.^[12] In both depictions of the weapon, various kanji characters can be observed in different locations on its body.^[5]^[12]

Functionality

As with most human weapons, when the trigger at the top of the grip is depressed, the weapon is discharged. The energy of the expanding propellant gasses 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,^[11] at which point the slide will lock back,^[13] 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.^[11] To prevent accidental firing, the weapon has a safety mechanism which can be engaged.^[14]

The targeting view of a KFA-2 optic on an M6D

To utilize the weapon's KFA-2 optic, the user must be equipped with headwear or eyewear capable of displaying a HUD.^[10] When activated, the weapon projects the view of the scope at x2 magnification on the user's visor with a circular targeting reticle.^[11]^[5]

Performance

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 assault rifle when firing SAPHE ammunition.^[15] Likewise, a proficient shooter can also use the M6D to engage targets from a surprising distance when making use of the mounted 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.^[3]

As with many non-specialized human firearms, this weapon can be somewhat inefficient against targets equipped with personal energy shielding, requiring in one instance the expenditure of a full magazine to incapacitate an elite minor.^[14] However, headshots with the weapon can be very effective,^[3] making careful shot placement of high importance when engaging Covenant forces.^[2] 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.^[16]

Usage

The M6D saw a significant amount of service throughout the Covenant War.

Gameplay

Advantages

The M6D PDWS is one of the UNSC's most trusted combat pistols. It is very accurate (equal to many battle rifles and designated marksman rifles without the size), allowing for successful engagement at any range below 122.7 meters. In addition, unlike many pistols which suffer from a small ammunition reserve, the M6D has an extended magazine with 12 rounds, more than enough to put down practically any target the user might face.

Disadvantages

Although the pistol can hit a target at long ranges, it cannot hit, let alone kill an enemy at a distance greater than 122.7 meters. The reload is also surprisingly long, and the melee attack leaves the user exposed as they flip the pistol back into firing position.

Trivia

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 rifle that handles like a rifle, a pistol that handles like a pistol, and an SMG that handles like an SMG."^[17]
The M6D has Japanese kanji (the character "Seven") written on it. In Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, this has been changed to Korean hangul which still stands for "Seven".
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".^{[verification needed]}
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.
During early phases of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary's development, the upgraded graphics layer for the M6D was that of the Halo: Reach iteration of the M6G, serving as a placeholder until an appropriate graphics skin was created. In the final game, this was changed to the Halo 3 iteration of the M6G.
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.^[18] The M6D is a playlist-related feature and isn't available in the Reach custom games.
Early in the development of Halo: Combat Evolved, the pistol that would become the M6D was known as the 60 Magnum Mega Class M4a.^[19] This is a reference to the .44 Magnum Mega Class, the standard UEG pistol from the Marathon series.
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.