Nosler Model 21 Review: The Carbon Chassis Hunter

Nosler can be described as a company that lives in two different eras at once. It is a company that lives in two eras simultaneously. Both sides of the equation are equally valuable as a company that fails to grow will eventually wither. Nosler’s M48 rifle has been a success, with a unique push-feed design that has been very accurate. They then launched the M21. The Nosler Model 21 Carbon Chassis Hunter is a modified EVO action that was created in collaboration with the Mack Brothers in South Dakota. It features a receiver that was designed by Nosler. Massaro Media Group. The push-feed design features dual-locking locking lugs and a beefy extractor that has a plunger-ejector. It’s a sleek design that comes right out of the box. The Nosler M21, which is also known as the speedy.27 Nosler, was my opportunity to test it on a deer hunt in Hawaii. After using it for five days, I took three does and one buck and proved that it was both reliable and accurate. It was a great hunting rifle with a smooth trigger, well-fitting stock, and a smooth action. Jeff Sipe, senior marketing manager at Nosler Rifle division, told me that they had converted the M21 action to a chassis platform. The number of opportunities to shoot competitively has increased exponentially over the past decade. Despite the shortages in ammunition and reloading parts, people are shooting more and more. A chassis rifle, which uses a barreled action and is mounted on a chassis with an aluminum bedding block, makes a great choice for competitive shooting. It was surprising to me which chassis they chose to cradle the Model 21 in and the barrel Nosler added to the package. The trigger guard is integrated into the magazine release, making it easy to use even with gloves. Massaro Media Group. Nosler installed their M21 in the sleek MDT HNT26 carbon fiber chassis. They also mated it with a Proof Research carbon fiber barrel to create a versatile chassis that is both lightweight and ergonomic. My test rifle was chambered with 6.5 Creedmoor, which is not known for its vicious recoil. However, Nosler has added a Proof Research carbon-fiber barrel to the action. This makes it a highly versatile chassis system that’s both ergonomic and lightweight. The dual-lug bolt face features a heavy-duty M16-style extractor at the 11 o’clock position and the plunger-ejector at 3 o’clock. The attractive, spiral-fluted chrome moly bolt body is nitride coated and the bolt handle has a threaded design for customization and easy change. The bolt’s shroud is an octagonal shape and houses a chrome indicator. The entire bolt can be field-strippable without tools. My test rifle’s trigger was consistent at 3 pounds, 3ozs with little creep or overtravel. The bolt release is on the opposite side. A two-position rocker safety can be found at the rear right of receiver in a forward to firing configuration. The bolt configuration allows for a scope to mount low without interference. However, the M21 has a 90-degree bolt throw. Talking StockThe MDT-HNT26 carbon-fiber chassis system is only 26 ounces. It’s ideal for backcountry hunters as well as shooters who want to move their gun into various positions for competition shooting. The tripod-mounted rest will hold the forend perfectly, while the square vented forend can be used in the offhand or with a set of traditional shooting sticks. It fits my right hand perfectly, thanks to its protruding pistol grip. The protruding pistol grip narrows at the top to allow my thumb to give a positive hold. The swell also allows the pad of the index finger to rest naturally on the trigger. Massaro Media Group. The buttstock of HNT26 is very unique. It can be adjusted for comb height and overall length. Additionally, it can fold 180 degrees to make it easy to transport into the backcountry. The toe is square and fits well on a back bag. The foam is used to reduce noise (I am often surprised at how loud some stocks can be when hunting), and dissipate recoil. The MDT HTN26’s back is folded down to reduce the rifle’s overall length by 45 1/4 inches. The trigger guard integrates the magazine release into the trigger guard. It will not catch on clothing and brushes, allowing you to dump your magazine at the worst possible time (ask me how do I know that). The forend and butt are equipped with sling swivel screws. The MDT HNT26 has a pull length of 12 1/2 inches. However, four 1/4-inch spacers can be used to extend the pull by an additional inch. The foam “cheekpiece” provides a rougher surface for the shooter and can be adjusted for height. You can loosen the two screws on the right side, place the comb where you feel most comfortable, and then lock it down with the screws. Good job, MDT. And good choice by Nosler. The barrel is made from thin steel and wrapped in rigid carbon fiber. This makes it lighter than full-steel barrels, but still retains the same rigidity as a target barrel. Carbon-fiber barrels are also well-known for their ability to efficiently dissipate heat. This makes sense for rifles intended for competitive use. My test rifle’s Proof barrel measured just over an inch in size, with a diameter of just under an inch. It also featured Nosler’s proprietary muzzle brake. The Leupold VX6 HD 4-24x52mm scope was a good match for the M21 Carbon Chassis Hunter. It could be mounted low enough to allow for good cheek welds on the stock, and offers plenty of flexibility for competition shooting and hunting. Massaro Media Group. The barrel was clean and free of any iron sights. The M21 Carbon Chassis Hunter was designed to be used with a riflescope. The brake is threaded to double as an adapter for suppressors for those who prefer quieter things. Unfortunately, this is not the case in the People’s Republic of New York. You might think that a rifle with carbon chassis would be heavy. However, the Proof barrel keeps the Carbon Chassis Hunter light. Add Leupold and a set 34mm rings to the mix and the rifle weighs in at 8 pounds, 5 ounces. The rifle is balanced and can be carried comfortably. The Creedmoor has replaced the.30-06 Springfield,.30-8 Springfield and.30-8 Winchester as the most common rifles for testing. It’s light, easy to carry, has plenty of ammunition for deer, sheep, and pronghorn, and is a great target cartridge. I pulled out a good selection of hunting and target ammunition, and took the Carbon Chassis Hunter to range. The big Leupold VX6HD allowed me to hold the rifle accurately and confidently. This glass allows shooters to dial in sharp, clear images, even with eyes half-century-old. I had no problems with feeding or extracting any ammunition during the test firing. Let me be clear: The Carbon Chassis Hunter shoots well. Nosler’s Trophy Grade 140gr AccuBond load printed tight groups. All ammunition tested performed well at the range. Massaro Media Group. Photo of Hornady’s Precision Hunter ammunition. I used the 143-grain ELD Match bullet. I also used Nosler’s 140gr AccuBond bullet. I then evaluated the size of the groups, with the rifle preferring the 140gr slugs. The Norma stuff produced the largest groups, with five shots averaging exactly one MOA. The Nosler AccuBond load gave the tightest groupings, with five shots hanging in a cluster measuring 0.65MOA at 100 yards. The bottom line is that I would not hesitate to take any of these loads hunting or to range, regardless of whether they were loaded in the Carbon Chassis Hunter. I have spent decades searching for classic rifles, or at least those that are chambered in nostalgic cartridges. I am the nerd who gets crazy excited about the.300 H&H Magnum and.318 Westley Ricks, but my 14-year-old self fell in love with the futuristic-looking rifle. Although the rifle has a unique appearance, the carbon-fiber construction makes it stand out. However, I found the best thing about the lightweight rifle was its ability to be customized quickly and easily. To make it more comfortable, I increased the length of the pull by three spacers. The cheekpiece was also slightly raised to align the scope. Photo: Massaro Media Group. Massaro Media Group. Photo by Massaro Media Group. To see how quickly and easily I can customize the rifle, I took a few minutes with the Allen wrenches to get the rifle set up so that my wife could be comfortable behind the trigger. I also shortened the length and raised the cheekpiece to make it more suitable for my female frame. Well, no. Maybe I should say “not yet”. But I might be changing my mind. The rifle’s “tactical” appearance is not a problem, but it does run like any other bolt-action rifle. Although the polymer stocks are similar to the traditional walnut stocks, there is an obvious advantage in weight, rigidity, and customization when it involves a chassis design such as the MDT HNT26. The stock is combined with Nosler’s M21 Action and a Proof Research Barrel, and you have a winning combination. MSRP is $5.295 for short and $5.395 for long actions. Storm Tactical’s impressive target pack includes 62 printable targets for rifle and handgun range usage. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. This is a great option for long-range shooting. Enter your email address below.