Posted on 08/06/2018 5:17:14 AM PDT by w1n1
“...The original M6 was issued to U.S. Air Force aircrew from the late 1950s until the early 1970s. …” [from the initially posted article]
The “M6 Scout” made by Springfield Armory Inc did not replicate the USAF M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon exactly, due to regulatory constraints. Barrels had to be at least 16 inches long to obtain agency approval under the National Firearms Act. A trigger guard had to be added - cumbersome affair to shield that huge squeeze trigger installed on the original, built for arctic mittens. Modifications reduced the handiness and increased the weight; with the trigger guard in place, it could not be folded into nearly such a small package, greatly interfering with its utility for survival use aboard civil aircraft - bush pilots and the like.
Ironically, the modifications to permit civilian sale improved shootability over the original military piece. As an Air Force survival instructor in the early 1970s, I trained students on the issue M6. With its 14-inch barrels, it presented very unpleasant muzzle blast with the 22 Hornet and 410 rounds; recoil with the shotshells was surprisingly stout, thanks to the arm’s very light weight and skeleton stock equipped with a very narrow butt plate.
Not really an arm one would take afield in a civilian sporting setting, unless nothing else was available.
“...Savage Arms Model 24C-DL Combination Gun...” [from the original post]
Savage’s combination gun has been around for some time: first introduced in the 1930s as the Stevens 22/410, it became the Savage 24 in 1950. Numerous modifications have been made, and a long list of variants in a great number of chamberings bearing a bewildering string of model-designation letter suffixes are out there.
The market may not have been huge, but it attracted a devoted following, as it was useful for light game in unpredictable field situations. Early barrel selector mechanisms were somewhat fragile and did not wear well, especially after decades of field use. Hammer springs sometimes weakened over time, contributing to ignition failures, especially on the shotgun barrel, which was afflicted with poorer geometry in relation to the hammer pivot axis. This was largely cleared up when the barrel selector was moved to the hammer face with the 24E.
Early models were somewhat underbuilt and suffer loss of sights in only moderate abuse afield; otherwise, construction was strong, rendering the gun equal to the centerfire rounds and larger shotshells introduced later. Handling has never been ideal, because optimal barrel placement/length, stock geometry, and sighting systems for optimal performance differ so greatly between shotguns and rifles. The gun could not be built heavily enough to disperse recoil adequately, without making it unpleasant to tote. Modern sighting systems involving optics are difficult to mount.
Production ceased in 2006.
The only other unusual firearm I have is a Charter Arms AR-7 survival rifle that breaks down into three pieces to be assembled into working .22 plinker. The components all fit into the stock, and with the stock cap on, it floats, I tried it.
More like poverty.
That is what I was told. I suspect there is another issue. It may also be somehow related to the fact that the domestic products are single shot barrels. Do you remember some years back that there was that American company that had developed and was intending to offer a semiauto .223 over semiauto 12? They couldn't get it licensed because it was semi-auto. Some of the models of IZH that were higher in demand are actions other than single shot also like revolving shotguns and repeating bolt over semiauto. I suspect then that on top of whatever foolishness the state department is attempting that there are also poorly understood ATF hoops that aren't being cleared that would be necessary to bring those weapons here.
Im looking for some pictures of a beautiful funfling I had found some years back. Its a 22 between two 9mm rifle over 2 12s. Looks great and would probably be fun to shoot, from a stand anyway. I sure wouldn’t want to carry that behemoth through several miles of woods.
I’d really like to find a Savage 30-30 over 12 gauge. Saw one years ago, it had a nice walnut stock instead of the plain hardwood of the .22/.410 versions.
If I see one, I’ll let you know. The closest I’ve seen is a .22 Hornet over 20 gauge.
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