A rifle for the next decade, the new Model 21 earned its top spot in Ballistic’s Best Bolt-Action Hunter for 2022 by offering a feature-rich production firearm that has the feel and performance of a custom build. Featuring premium components throughout and weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces, the 6.5 Creedmoor Model 21 rifle brings exceptional precision and packable reliability to any hunt.
“I felt like the gun outshot me,” the former Ranger sniper said. “The stock and action are very well matched, with a clean and classy look.”
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Blueprinted from birth on advanced wire EDM equipment, the Model 21 action was thoughtfully designed to deliver exceptional performance in a user-friendly platform with several built-in custom features. Among these features is a spiral-fluted, one-piece, Nitride coated bolt made of 4340 chrome moly steel. In addition to a sleek aesthetic, and nearly effortless functioning, the fluted design provides a reduction in weight and helps to channel debris, preventing the bolt from jamming in environments where dirt is an issue. In line with the M21 action’s practical design philosophy, the bolt’s upgraded M16-style extractor and fire control group feature tool-less takedown. The bolt handle is threaded 5/16-24 TPI for change-out to many popular bolt handle configurations.
When hunters think of a strong, dependable yet lightweight stock, the #1 material they think of is carbon fiber, and the M21’s McMillan stock is synonymous with accuracy, reliability and strength. Included for strength are aluminum pillars and a 1-inch recoil pad that is set at a standard 13.5-inch LOP. It gets painted in an all-weather epoxy style paint.
The Model 21 features a TriggerTech Field model trigger that is externally user adjustable from 2.5 to 5.5 pounds. Designed to operate in the harshest environments imaginable, TriggerTech triggers utilize Frictionless Release Technology.
This rifle’s MSRP of $2,795 was the most expensive of the 10. Although the Model 21’s accuracy came in below a couple of other rifles, it posted 1.162-inch average. Its smallest five-shot group measured 0.905-inch, which qualifies it as “sub-MOA” for five shots. To find targets, the M21 wore a GPO Spectra 4X 4-16×50 optic.
