M4 Survival Rifle
Encyclopedia
The M4 Survival Rifle was developed during World War II
as part of the survival gear stored under the seat of military aircraft, to give downed aircrew a survival weapon for foraging wild game for food.
and the 4 shot detachable box magazine of the Savage Stevens M23D .22 Hornet sporting rifle. The M4 weighs approximately four pounds and with barrel detached and telescoping stock
closed makes a ~14 inch overall package.
Due to the possible use of the M4 by downed aircrew as a combat weapon, military issue ammunition in .22 Hornet is loaded with full metal jacket bullet
s to comply with the Hague Convention
barring use of expanding bullets in warfare.
In the 1950s, the M4 was supplanted by the M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon
and the M4 was phased out as the aircraft containing M4 as part of their survival package were decommissioned. The Armalite AR-5 (MA-1) was approved as a replacement for the M4 but no significant quantities of the AR5 were procured, as there were sufficient numbers of M4 and M6 in inventory to meet USAF
needs.
The National Park Service was issued some of these surplus M-4s for park rangers in the 1960s.
. Legally the M4 is a Short-barreled rifle (SBR), requiring entry in the NFA Registry and payment of a $200 excise tax on transfer of registration to a civilian owner.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as part of the survival gear stored under the seat of military aircraft, to give downed aircrew a survival weapon for foraging wild game for food.
History
The M4 was developed from the Harrington & Richardson bolt-action M265 sporting rifle, adapted to a sheet metal frame with telescoping wire butt stock, a 14-inch detachable barrel chambered for .22 Hornet.22 Hornet
The .22 Hornet is a low-end vermin, small-game and predator centerfire rifle cartridge. It is considerably more powerful than the .22 WMR and the .17 HMR, achieving higher velocity with a bullet twice the weight. The Hornet also differs very significantly from these in that it is not a rimfire...
and the 4 shot detachable box magazine of the Savage Stevens M23D .22 Hornet sporting rifle. The M4 weighs approximately four pounds and with barrel detached and telescoping stock
Telescoping stock
A telescoping stock is a stock on a firearm that telescopes or folds in on itself in order to become more compact. Telescoping stocks are useful for storing a rifle or weapon in a space that it would not normally fit in. The user can either fold in the stock to make the weapon easier to handle, or...
closed makes a ~14 inch overall package.
Due to the possible use of the M4 by downed aircrew as a combat weapon, military issue ammunition in .22 Hornet is loaded with full metal jacket bullet
Full metal jacket bullet
A full metal jacket is a bullet consisting of a soft core encased in a shell of harder metal, such as gilding metal, cupronickel or less commonly a steel alloy. This shell can extend around all of the bullet, or often just the front and sides with the rear left as exposed lead...
s to comply with the Hague Convention
Hague Convention
The Hague Convention may refer to:* Hague Conventions , among the first formal statements of the laws of war and war crimes in international law...
barring use of expanding bullets in warfare.
In the 1950s, the M4 was supplanted by the M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon
M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon
The M6 Air Crew Survival Weapon was a specially made firearm issued to the United States Air Force aircraft crews to help forage for food in the event of a plane crash....
and the M4 was phased out as the aircraft containing M4 as part of their survival package were decommissioned. The Armalite AR-5 (MA-1) was approved as a replacement for the M4 but no significant quantities of the AR5 were procured, as there were sufficient numbers of M4 and M6 in inventory to meet USAF
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
needs.
The National Park Service was issued some of these surplus M-4s for park rangers in the 1960s.
Legality
When Air Force aircraft were decommissioned in the 1950s, their M4 rifles were initially sold on the surplus gun market, but were recalled when it was realized that the barrels were shorter than the legal limit of 16 inches mandated by the 1934 National Firearms ActNational Firearms Act
The National Firearms Act , 73rd Congress, Sess. 2, ch. 757, , enacted on June 26, 1934, currently codified as amended as , is an Act of Congress that, in general, imposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those firearms. The...
. Legally the M4 is a Short-barreled rifle (SBR), requiring entry in the NFA Registry and payment of a $200 excise tax on transfer of registration to a civilian owner.
External Links
- "Survival Rifle" Comes Apart To Make Small, Light Package 1951 Popular Science article with rare photos