Engineering:6mm Musgrave

From HandWiki
Short description: South African rifle cartridge
6mm Musgrave
TypeRifle
Place of originSouth Africa
Production history
DesignerBen Musgrave Jnr[1]
Designed1955
ManufacturerMusgrave
Specifications
Parent case.303 British
Case typeRimmed, bottleneck
Bullet diameter0.243 in (6mm)
Neck diameter0.271 in (6.9mm)
Shoulder diameter0.4008 in (10.2mm)
Base diameter0.4598 in (11.68mm)
Rim diameter0.5378 in (13.7mm)
Rim thickness.0642 in (16.3mm)
Case length2.2083 in (56.1mm) / (trim length = 2.183 in (55.5mm))
Overall length2.8606 (mm)
Case capacity49.9 gr H2O (3.23 cm3)
Rifling twist1-10 inches
Primer typeLarge rifle
Maximum pressure46,500
Maximum CUP45,000 CUP
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/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 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