M6H magnum

The M6H Personal Defense Weapon System (M6H PDWS) is a handgun in service with the UNSC. It is part of Misriah Armory's widespread M6 series. The M6H was infrequently in service as early as 2526 and was made the standard-issue sidearm of all UNSC personnel in 2555.

Specifications
The M6H is a semi-automatic, recoil-operated, magazine-fed handgun. It is an up-sized model (17% larger than standard versions) with a smart-linked KFA-2 x2 scope and an electroless nickel finish. It fires the M6 series' standard 12.7×40mm ammunition. The M6H is effective at reasonably long distances as well as its preferred close-to-medium-range.

M6H2 Personal Defense Weapon
The M6H2 variant had entered service by at least 2557 and was issued to all branches of the UNSC. It has a serial number of "00MA0100062473" and sports a black polymer finish. Like the base M6H, the M6H2 is semi-automatic, recoil-operated and magazine-fed, but has an increased 12-round magazine capacity. The variant also boasts increased accuracy and is most effective with precision aiming. It features a smoother slide design and a Projection sight (in place of the venerable KFA-2 x2) to support smart scope functionality. In 2557, this weapon had a Ruptive skin approved by the UNSC Ordnance Commission.

M6H2 Variants

 * Whispered Truth: A cut-down M6H2 magnum without a smart scope system, under-barrel flashlight, or forward trigger guard. It also has a custom slide and can mount a suppressor. This variant sports a 18-round magazine. Unlike other pistols Whispered Truth fires in three-round bursts. The slide reads "Semper Vigilans" (Always Vigilant), the motto of the Office of Naval Intelligence.
 * Gunfighter Magnum: Lightweight competition pistol carried by Spartan operators who prefer a no-frills backup firearm. Quick draw Magnum with fast-reload magazines. Iron sights only, no Smart-Link module is attached.
 * Tactical Magnum: Whisper-quiet tactical pistol loaded with armor-piercing rounds, tailored for Spartan force reconnaissance missions. Match grade Magnum with integral baffle-free suppressor and 2× full-VISR Smart-Link.
 * Buck's Magnum: A Magnum with the Gunfighter body, Whispered Truth finish, and a front iron sight that is seen on the Projection Sight, appearing to have been attached separately.

M6H2 attachments

 * Extended Magazine: Increases both ready and reserve ammunition capacity by 50%.

Changes from the M6G PDWS in Halo: Reach

 * Less damage, requires 6 shots to kill rather than 5.
 * Higher overall accuracy, with less bloom, and less spread deviation upon first shot.

Changes from M6H in Halo 4 to M6H2 in Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta

 * Increased damage, requiring 4 shots to deplete shields followed by 1 headshot or 3 body shots.
 * Higher accuracy, featuring less maximum bloom and a smaller reticle.
 * Increased magazine size to 12 rounds.
 * More reserve ammunition.
 * Faster draw times, reloads, and pickup speeds.
 * Features more recoil.
 * Can be smart scoped rather than utilizing smart-linked scope zoom.
 * Projection sight reticle differs from weapon's base reticle, being much smaller.

Changes from Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta to Halo 5: Guardians

 * Drastically lowered rate of fire.
 * Features no bloom, and full, 100% accuracy with every shot.
 * Features no recoil.
 * Projection sight reticle changed to be a closed in version of the weapon's base reticle.
 * Zoom decreased from 2× to 1.75× due to use of projection sight for smart scope.

Halo: Spartan Assault and Halo: Spartan Strike

 * Weapon carries a maximum of 40 rounds.
 * Has a limited range of fire.
 * Can kill Promethean Crawlers and Grunt Minors in a single shot.
 * While not available in regular gameplay for the level Battle for the Moon, the player is prompted to use Sarah Palmer's magnum to perform an execution on Merg Vol after defeating him in combat, something that is absent from all gameplay elsewhere.

Trivia

 * In Halo 5: Guardians, Spartans now wield the handgun with a more realistic "thumbs forward" combat grip, as opposed to the classic "teacup" grip seen in Halo 2 through Halo 4.

Normal gallery
 File:H4FUD-M6H-CAMS-FiringRange.jpg|A CAMS Cadet practices marksmanship with an M6H on the CAMS Firing Range. File:Innie - truce.png|An Insurrectionist holds aloft an M6H pistol in surrender. File:H4-Concept-M6HMagnumPistol.jpg|Concept art of the M6H. Note that it closely resembles the M6G from Halo: Reach. File:H4-Concept-M6HMagnumPistol-Final.jpg|Concept art of the final build of the M6H magnum pistol. File:H4-M6HMagnumPistol.png|The M6H in Halo 4. File:H4-M6HMagnumPistol-SideRender.png|An in-game side view of the M6H in Halo 4. File:M6H Magnum.png|HUD icon of the M6H in Halo 4. File:H4-M6HMagnumPistol-Infobox.jpg|Halo 4 infobox. File:H4-MP-M6HMagnumPistol-Scope.jpg|A view through the M6H magnum's scope. File:Magnumhud.jpeg|A render of the magnum scope. File:H4-Specialization-Rogue.png|A Spartan-IV wielding an M6H. File:H4-MasterChief-M6H-Campaign.jpg|John-117 wielding an M6H against Covenant forces. File:Magnum1.jpg|A Spartan chambering a round in her M6H on Complex. File:H4-Exile-2.jpg|The M6H being wielded in a Capture the Flag game on Exile. File:H4-CmdrPalmer-DoublePistols.jpg|Commander Sarah Palmer wielding a pair of M6H sidearms. File:Nightfall - Disregarding Safety.jpg|Michael Horrigan with an M6H in Halo: Nightfall. File:HtT-JohnaimingatLocke.png|John-117 aiming an M6H at Jameson Locke in The Cost. File:H5GB-M6H2HUD.png|First-person view of the M6H2 in the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta on Truth. File:Halo 5 - Smart Scope Pistol.png|Smart scope with the M6H2 in the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta on Crossfire. File:H5G-M6H2model.jpg|Models of the M6H2 for Halo 5: Guardians. File:H5G-Unloaded Magnum.png|An unloaded M6H2 with its smart link module detached. Note the gas piston and bolt head. File:H5G-M6H2vsM6D.png|An M6H2 in comparison to an M6D in Halo 5: Guardians. File:H5G-M6H2friendship.png|Holly Tanaka handing an M6H2 to Olympia Vale during the Battle of Kamchatka. File:H5G-NotaM6H2.png|Buck aiming a Whispered Truth colored Gunfighter M6H2. File:H5G-M6H2HUD-Campaign.png|First-person view of the M6H2 by Frederic-104 in the Halo 5: Guardians campaign. File:H5G-M6H2zoom-Campaign.png|Smart scope with the M6H2 by Fred-104 in the Halo 5: Guardians campaign. File:H5G-Fred&M6H2.png|Fred-104 in an idle stance while wielding his M6H2 on Genesis. File:H5G-Atlas&M6H2.jpg|An Atlas-clad Spartan-IV using an M6H2 on Riptide. File:H5G-M6H2HUD.png|First-person view of the M6H2 on Fathom in Halo 5: Guardians. File:H5G-M6H2zoom.png|Smart scope with the M6H2 in Halo 5: Guardians. File:H5G-M6H2SS.png|The M6H2 using smart scope. Note the correct thumbs-forward grip. File:H5G M6H2 Operation.png|A Spartan-IV wielding a dry M6H2, exposing the weapon's operation. File:H5 Flagnum skin.png|Flagnum Skin as seen when holding a Flag. File:HO-M6H.png|The M6H in Halo Online. File:HO-M6H1.jpg|First-person view of the M6H on Riverworld. File:HO-M6C.png|An early version of an "R" type M6H in Halo Online. 

List of appearances

 * Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
 * Halo 4
 * Spartan Ops
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo: Initiation
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo: Nightfall
 * Hunt the Truth
 * All Hail
 * The Cost
 * Halo: Spartan Strike
 * Halo 5: Guardians
 * Halo: Tales from Slipspace
 * Knight Takes Bishop
 * Halo: Recruit
 * Halo: Bad Blood
 * Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual
 * Halo: Shadows of Reach
 * Halo: Point of Light
 * Halo: Divine Wind