Musgrave Presidents Model
Musgrave Manufacturers & Distributors · Rifle · Discontinued · 1970
Also known as: Musgrave Mk II, Musgrave President
Overview
The Musgrave Presidents Model (Mk II) is a South African centre-fire bolt-action hunting rifle, one of three initial sporting models Musgrave put into production from 29 May 1970 alongside the Veld Model and the Vrystaat Model (Mk I). Built on the Mauser-pattern RSA action with its controlled-round-feed claw extractor, it pairs a hammer-forged barrel with a walnut sporter stock and an internal box magazine, and was chambered for popular medium- and large-bore hunting cartridges such as the .30-06 Springfield. Manufactured at the Musgrave works in Bloemfontein, it was among the rifles that established the marque's reputation in the African hunting fields.
Specifications
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 880 m/s (2887 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3764 J (2776 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 300 m (328 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .30-06 Springfield · primary — also known as .30-06, 7.62x63mm
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Internal Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Controlled Round Feed, Claw Extractor, Rsa Mauser Action, Sporter Stock, Hinged Floorplate
Service history
Operators
- South African civilian hunters
Production
Production years: 1970-1990s
Produced at the Musgrave factory in Bloemfontein; Musgrave was acquired by ARMSCOR in 1971 and later folded into Denel before the original operation ceased in 1996.
Origin
Country of origin: South Africa
Notes
The Presidents Model was designated Mk II in the initial hunting-rifle line; its RSA action derived from the single-shot Musgrave RSA target action (often marked 'Lyttelton RSA') built up as a repeater. Individual rifles were offered in a range of popular hunting chamberings; barrel length, weight and exact dimensions vary between examples and are not consistently documented.
Background
Musgrave was founded in 1950 by Ben Musgrave and his sons in Bloemfontein, and the Presidents Model took its place among the firm's first sporting rifles built on the same RSA action that swept records at South Africa's 1971 national target championships.