| 6mm Musgrave | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Rifle | |||||||||||||||||||
| Place of origin | South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Designer | Ben Musgrave Jnr[1] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Designed | 1955 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Musgrave | |||||||||||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent case | .303 British | |||||||||||||||||||
| Case type | Rimmed, bottleneck | |||||||||||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | 0.243 in (6mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Neck diameter | 0.271 in (6.9mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Shoulder diameter | 0.4008 in (10.2mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Base diameter | 0.4598 in (11.68mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rim diameter | 0.5378 in (13.7mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rim thickness | .0642 in (16.3mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Case length | 2.2083 in (56.1mm) / (trim length = 2.183 in (55.5mm)) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Overall length | 2.8606 (mm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Case capacity | 49.9 gr H2O (3.23 cm3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rifling twist | 1-10 inches | |||||||||||||||||||
| Primer type | Large rifle | |||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure | 46,500 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum CUP | 45,000 CUP | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Test barrel length: 24" | ||||||||||||||||||||
The 6mm Musgrave was a rifle cartridge invented by Ben Musgrave and introduced by Musgrave in 1969[2][3]
The cartridge's design is based on necking down the .303 British, with the original intent of it being a Springbok caliber for hunting on open plains in South Africa's Karoo, Kalahari and Namakwaland. It also served as a modern cartridge suitable for converting many old Lee-Enfields with worn out .303 barrels.[1]
Like the .243 Winchester it has a fast rifle twist of 1-10 inches, however if 105 grain bullets are used it is recommended that a 1-9 or even faster twist is used to stabilize the bullets.
Very few manufacturers specifically create 6mm Musgrave rounds, with PMP (Pretoria Metal Pressings) method. However, a lot of South African distributors have the ammunition in stock.
Most bullet manufacturers offer 6mm (.243") bullets that are suitable for use with rifles chambered in 6mm Musgrave.
See also
References
- 1 2 Robertson, Karen, ed. (Spring 2004). "Ben Musgrave" (PDF). NRA Journal. National Rifle Association. LXXXIII (1): 53. ISSN 0028-0070. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ↑ "6mm MUSGRAVE | Cartridgecollector.net". www.cartridgecollector.net. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
- ↑ "R A Dynamic - Guns and Ammunition Distributor - 243- 6mm Musgrave". www.radynamic.co.za. Retrieved 2020-07-27.