Penn Arms SL6
Penn Arms · Shotgun · In Production
Also known as: Penn Arms SL-6, SL6 37mm Launcher
Overview
The Penn Arms SL6 is an American six-shot 37mm less-lethal launcher built around a spring-advance rotary cylinder and a double-action trigger. Manufactured by Penn Arms, a division of Combined Systems, it fires 37mm and 40mm munitions such as direct-impact baton rounds, chemical-irritant projectiles, smoke and flare cartridges for riot control and crowd management. The rotating six-round drum lets an operator deliver rapid, repeatable volleys without reloading between shots, giving police and correctional teams a multi-shot alternative to single-shot break-action launchers. Early SL6 launchers used a rifled barrel, which classes them as destructive devices under U.S. law.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4200 g (148.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 838 mm (32.99") |
| Folded Length | 572 mm (22.52") |
| Barrel Length | 229 mm (9.02") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 75 m/s (246 fps) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Aluminum Alloy |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- 37mm Less-Lethal · primary — also known as 37mm baton, 37x83mm, 37mm impact munition, 37mm flare
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Six Round Rotary Cylinder, Spring Advance Drum, Double Action Trigger, Collapsible Stock, Pistol Grip, Interchangeable Cylinder
Service history
Operators
- United States law enforcement
Production
Marketed primarily to law enforcement, corrections and military police for less-lethal crowd control.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Notes
The SL6 and its L637/L640 successors share a spring-loaded drum and double-action trigger group broadly comparable to the Street Sweeper/Striker family of drum-fed shotguns. Cylinders are offered in 5-inch and 6-inch lengths, and both 37mm and 40mm chamberings exist.
Background
Because the original SL6 was fitted with a rifled barrel, U.S. law treats it as a destructive device rather than an ordinary long gun, despite firing only less-lethal 37mm munitions.