6mm Musgrave

6mm Musgrave
Type Rifle
Place of origin  South Africa
Production history
Designer Ben Musgrave
Designed 1955
Manufacturer Musgrave Rifles
Specifications
Parent case .303 British
Case type Rimmed, bottleneck
Bullet diameter 0.243 (6mm)
Neck diameter 0.338 in (8.6 mm)
Shoulder diameter 0.401 in (10.2 mm)
Base diameter 0.460 in (11.7 mm)
Rim diameter 0.540 in (13.7 mm)
Rim thickness .064 in (1.6 mm)
Case length 2.222 in (56.4 mm)
Overall length 3.075 in (78.1 mm)
Case capacity 55.7 gr H2O (3.61 cm3)
Rifling twist 1-10 inches
Primer type Large rifle
Maximum pressure 49,000
Maximum CUP 45,000 CUP
Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/type Velocity Energy
80 gr (5 g) SP 3,120 ft/s (950 m/s) 1,729 ft·lbf (2,344 J)
85 gr (6 g) SP 3,084 ft/s (940 m/s) 1,795 ft·lbf (2,434 J)
90 gr (6 g) SP 2,950 ft/s (900 m/s) 1,739 ft·lbf (2,358 J)
100 gr (6 g) SP 2,805 ft/s (855 m/s) 1,747 ft·lbf (2,369 J)
Test barrel length: 24"

The 6mm Musgrave was the brain child of Ben Musgrave and introduced by Musgrave Rifles in 1955 and can be described as a classic Africa cartridge. It is based on necking down the .303 British with the original intent of it being a Springbok calibre for hunting on open plains in South Africa's Karoo, Kalahari and Namakwaland. It is also well suited for other smaller antelope where longer shots have to be taken. Although not designed for bushveld conditions, the calibre can be downloaded to drive 100 grainers at 2500 feet per second and makes a very good cartridge for Impala and Reedbuck.

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 stabilise the bullets.

PMP (Pretoria Metal Pressings) is one of the very few ammunition manufacturers of 6mm Musgrave ammunition, but a lot of South African distributors have the ammunition in stock.

Dies for handloading are available from RCBS and Lee Precision.

Most manufactures of bullets (like Hornady, Nosler, Barnes, etc.) manufacture 6mm (.243") bullets that are suitable for this chambering.

See also

References

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