The Musgrave name is synonymous with accurate high-quality rifles. The first Musgrave bolt action rifles rolled from the production line in 1971. Although the venerable Mauser 98 bolt action system served as the mainstay of the hunting rifle line-up, Musgrave was not loath to introduce its own designs. These included the RSA/Vrystaat, which is still sought after in precision shooting circles, followed by the M-80 and M90 series.
After a quarter century hiatus Musgrave once again took the bold step in 2023 to produce a new bolt action hunting rifle design, the Model 21.
From the idea to the drawing board, through several prototypes tested to destruction, until it began rolling off the production line, the Musgrave M21 took almost six years to perfect. The process was deliberate slow and detailed, because it is one thing to machine a rifle action, but another altogether to develop the tooling and production line to achieve best economy, volume production capability and hundred percent parts consistency and interchangeability.
This applied to the M21 design in particular, because it is a radical departure from previous Musgrave designs. Until the advent of the M21, Musgrave bolt action designs followed the dual-opposed front locking lug concept with a 90° bolt throw.
The M21 was designed as a thoroughly modern frontal-tri-lug design with 60° bolt throw. The frontal position of the lugs is better than rear lug designs, because it prevents the bolt shaft from compression under both thrust. That combats case-head separation. The low bolt throw of the tri-lug is not only highly compatible with the installation of riflescopes with large ocular lens diameters as has become the norm these days, but offer other advantages. These include better alignment with the bore axis than double-lug designs which reduces vibrations. The extra lug also offers additional surface area and much higher shearing strength to prevent the bolt from being blown backwards into the shooter’s face in the event of a catastrophic cartridge failure.
The action’s geometric features are well considered. Its footprint duplicates that of the Mauser 98. The reason for that is that most stockmakers offer finished and semi-finished stocks for the Mauser. By opting for the Mauser 98 footprint for the M21, Musgrave provides M21 owners with near total freedom in the selection of stock options and designs. It also ensures cost-effective stock manufacturing for its ongoing Mauser 98 line and for the M21.
The receiver top of the M21 is identical to the Remington M-700 Long Action. Gone are the days that Musgrave owners need to search high and low for bases, rails and rings to fit their Musgrave rifles. The Remington configuration is the most common and versatile base configuration on the market today. Not only that, more brands and styles of rings and bases are offered by commercial and custom manufacturers than any other, and all of those options are now useable on the Musgrave M21.
MUSGRAVE
M21 ACTION
The Musgrave M21 bolt has a diameter of 21,8mm and is spiral-fluted. The fluting is primarily decorative, but the flutes also reduce bolt-to-action drag and offers diversion potential for any dust, sand or foliage that may interfere with operation or reliability in a hectic situation. The bolt diameter also opens the door for chambering of cartridges with a large rim diameter such as the .416 Rigby or 460 Weatherby. The bolt face is fully enclosed for high integrity in both strength and gas sealing.
Being a push-feed design, both the extractor and the ejector plunger are recessed in the bolt face. It is a well-proven system common to most modern push-feed rifle designs.
The bolt handle is the traditional type with a round bolt knob, but has two features not found on most other bolt shaft designs. The bolt handle is an integral part of the bolt, not an add-on. It therefore is very strong. An unusual and innovative feature of the bolt is its ‘stalk-lok’ feature. This captures the bolt handle in a safe position between fully open and fully closed. The rifle cannot fire with the bolt in stalk-lok mode. The purpose of the stalk-lok feature is to enable hunters on final approach to an animal to feed a cartridge into the chamber push the bolt forward into the stalk-lok position, which leaves the bolt handle slightly lifted. This is a habit of many South African hunters, but on other rifle designs, it is risky, because the bolt can slip down into battery and discharge at an inopportune moment, or the bolt can flop open and spill the cartridge in the sand, or allow twigs et cetera to enter the action and cause a stoppage. Not on the Musgrave M21. All the hunter has to do when he is ready to take aim is to deliberately push the bolt handle from stalk-lok into the fully closed position and take his shot. It is safe, quiet and quick. and take the safety off, yet keep the rifle safe until the moment before taking aim. Musgrave added this as an extra convenience and safety feature, not a feature to replace the safety, nor to change the rules of safe firearm handling. No mechanical system or feature can ever replace common sense and discipline as decisive in gun handling.
The 2-position safety catch is in the same position on the right side of the bolt sleeve as it had been on the M-80 and M-90 Musgraves. It functions in the side-swing style and is very positive in that it locks the firing pin, rather than merely serving as a trigger block. It is safe when pulled to the rear and in battery in the forward position. A specific South African feature of the safety system is that the bolt can be opened while the safety is engaged. That means that one can unload the magazine by cycling the cartridges while the firearm is safe, as so many local hunters tend to do.
Lock time on the M21 is faster than it had been on any previous Musgrave design, but it is very positive. A great deal of consideration and experimentation had gone into the firing pin and sear assemblies, even since initial market release. Vibrations have been reduced to the bare minimum to ensure that the M21 offers way better precision potential in this regard than previous Musgrave designs.
The Musgrave M21 is a standard-length action. The magazine can be configured to accommodate cartridges from as short as the .22-250 Remington to the long .416 Rigby. The floorplate swings open in the traditional manner and is released by means of a latch inside the trigger guard bow.
The trigger on the M21 is manufactured by the well-known company Thor, east of Pretoria. It is an all-steel design, which is adjustable for take-up, weight of pull and overtravel. It is a durable and refined trigger that has proved itself on shooting ranges and in the bush for more than forty years. The metalwork needs to be removed from the stock to adjust the trigger.
Musgrave barrels have always been renowned for their precision and accuracy. The M21’s barrel are made from a special blend of chrome-moly steel. The time honoured deep-drill, polishing and pull-button method of rifling that has been used on Musgrave target barrels since the 1970’s is still used, albeit on modernized machinery.
The M21 is available in a variety of wood, laminate and synthetic stock materials. The patented Lo-Coil stock design is proportioned and dimensioned to reduce recoil and aim time. Its main features are the high butt heel that combats muzzle climb during firing and the grip shape that counters forward slipping of the hand. The following stock styles are presently on offer: PH, Tactical (chassis), Field, Varmint, Hunter, Deluxe and Exhibition.
Musgrave stocks are precision machined on a CNC machine capable of tolerances measured in fractions of a millimetre. There are not many companies that take stockmaking precision to Musgrave’s level.
The Musgrave M21 embodies precision and reliability, elevating the performance of rifles to unparalleled levels. It undoubtedly is the most advanced and refined indigenous commercial rifle design in the history of South Africa. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this South African masterpiece seamlessly combines innovation with tradition. Engineered for versatility, the M21 action accommodates various calibres, offering shooters the flexibility to adapt to diverse hunting or shooting scenarios. Its robust design ensures smooth cycling and consistent accuracy, even in the harshest conditions.
The Musgrave M21 action's reputation for durability is well-earned, with its rugged construction capable of withstanding the rigors of intensive use. Whether stalking game in the bush or competing on the range, users can trust in the M21's resilience and longevity.
But it's not just about durability; the M21 action also excels in the precision realm. Its precise machining and tight tolerances translate into exceptional accuracy and longevity, empowering shooters to achieve their full potential with every shot.
In the realm of bolt action rifles, the Musgrave M21 action stands as a testament to internationally admired South African weapon-system innovation and excellence and it embodies the perfect fusion of craftsmanship, quality and performance.