I'm doing some research on Survival Combo firearms and have a few questions.

I just wondered how many owned one of the Springfield/CZ M6 combo 'survival" firearms and use them as a BOB or Camp firearm?
These were made in .22lr/.410; .22 Hornet/.410, which is yours? What ammo load do you have for yours?


Back when the original M 6's were used as survival firearms for pilots, does anyone know what the ammo load was? How many .22 Hornet and .410 rounds were provided? I understand the .410 shells were alum. cased and had #6 shot in them, while the .22 Hornet rounds were soft point.

I don't have a M6 but I have a savage .22lr over .410 I keep it in my truck with 50 rnd's of .22, 10 no.4 buckshot, 10 00 buckshot , and 5 slugs all in a plastic box. I use the .22 for small game and the .410 for larger animals.

i do own a cz m-6 survival rifle in the issued caliber of .22 hornet and .410 gauge..i use it every once and again when i go camping with people that do'nt know me very well..it's one of the less threating weapons that i own...pictures and info of the weapon and ammo can be found in the book (U.S. COMBAT AIRCREW SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT) WW2 TO PRESENT A REFERENCE GUIDE FOR COLLECTORS..BY Michael Breuninger.......a great book for any question on U.S. survival kit...vince g. 11b inf..

TY, Barnes and Noble just ordered the book for me. I've searched for info on the M 6 as used by the AF, but found little.

Mine is 22LR/410


It shoot Federal 22 ok and some Winchester #6 (Wally World)

I wanted to squirrel hunt with it this year, but time got away.

It is fun.

The whole Springfield M6 product line has been discontinued. That includes the combinations of blue or stainless, 22/410 or 22Hor/410, longgun or handgun. They have quickly jumped into the collector class. Many are selling for over $500. If Springfield does not return to production, they may reach $1000.

They were a great product but had some chamber problems. Chamber bulges along with extraction of fired rounds caused many warranty returns. When in production, they sold well at $250.

The .410 barrel would take 3" magnum - 000 buck, slugs or any of the factory shot shells. The 22 or 22H barrel took any production amunition. Extraction was the only issue.

Springfield had a scope rail, a soft short case, a soft long case and a short plastic floating case.

I almost bought one in 2003. I even went through the "process" to buy it here in California but decided to use the deposit to buy a Glock 17. I forfeited about $50 in restock / re-register fees.
I am glad I got the G17 but I have ALWAYS regretted not getting the M-6. I had it for $239....
It would have been a .22lr/.410 because of the price, value and surplus of .22lr.

The service issue version was made by Ithaca and differed only in a shorter barrel length. Somewhere online is a complete military user's manual. It was designed for the USAF primarily for arctic flights vs the USSR. For this the light wieght and caliber sufficient for rabbits,ptarmigan and other small game encountered north was perfect. It was this military experience with the .22 Hornet that gave more impetus to 5.56 development. Survival school in Alaska actually had a trap shooting session with the little rifle. The .22Hornet in any commercial load is at best average in accuracy in this rifle. The primary problem lies in using small rifle primers which are far to violent to initiate a good burn rate. Handloading with pistol primers dramatically increases accuracy. There is a wildcat called the 'K Hornet' with the tapered case straightened out. You can gain some velocity, but better yet simply maintain or even slightly reduce loads for lower chamber pressures. Standard loads can still be used and the cases fireformed.

I don't have an M6 but I have seen a few around. My preference is the Savage Model 24C and is a .22LR over 20 gauge. I hunted alot as a teenager with a double barrel .410 and learned its limitations well. That is why I chose to go with a 20 gauge. I have a sling on it that holds 9 shotgun shells and a 5 shot shell holder on the stock. The stock holds 2 shotgun shells and 10 .22LR internally. Also around the fore stock I have a Sidekick pouch with about 100 rounds of .22 ammo. The shotgun ammo is a combination of Slugs, 4 Buck, 2 shot, 4 shot and 7 1/2 shot. I take this with me when ever I head to the hills, which is frequently. I have a second bag of ammo if I choose to carry it with about 400 rounds of .22 and 50 assorted rounds of 20 gauge.

"...Somewhere online is a complete military user's manual..."

This might be it. For some reason my computer won't let me see the photos, but it sounds like it might be close...