Nosler has long been known for its dedication to precision ammunition, but the brand also makes some pretty incredible rifles. This week, the brand released the M21 Carbon, a limited-edition rifle crafted for hunters, adventurers, and collectors who value more than just functionality.
With only 100 units to be made, the M21 Carbon rifle marries advanced engineering with a beautifully artistic nod. It is sure to sell out quickly, and it really is a one-in-a-lifetime rifle.
If this all sounds like a biased love story to some new gun, it could be. I’ve been hunting with a prototype for over a year now, and it may be one of the best guns I’ve ever owned.
What I’m saying is: you want one.
Limited-Edition Nosler M21 Carbon Rifle
The M21 Carbon will be available in two calibers, with only 50 of each being made. The .308 “Shorty” ($3,650) weighs a slim 5.93 pounds with a 16-inch carbon fiber barrel. This model maintains an ideal balance even when fitted with a suppressor.
The 28 Nosler ($3,750) variant has a 24-inch carbon fiber barrel and weighs 7.05 pounds. It’s engineered for precise long-range shots.
Both versions of the Model 21 Carbon have an ultralight carbon stock and a TriggerTech Diamond Gold Edition trigger.
The bolt is made from 4340 Chrome Molybdenum billet, with spiral fluting that looks sick and performs smoothly.
Testing the M21 Carbon
This rifle has been in my hand for most of the past year. My prototype version varies slightly from the new release, from stock pattern to caliber, but aside from that, I had the great pleasure of hunting with this gun across the U.S. I simply cannot sing its praises enough.
From hunting whitetail in the deserts of Texas to elk in the mountains of Montana and just about everything in between, the M21 Carbon has become the go-to gun in our household. It offers reliability that I’ve yet to find in any other rifle I’ve hunted with.
My gun happens to be a 270 Win (because I desperately wanted a 270). We have a few rifles in that caliber at our disposal, but when there are coyotes in the field or some other quick-need rifle grab, the words said more often than not in my home have become, “Grab the 270,” and that always means the Model 21 Carbon.
The New Test Gun
It’s even become my test gun for new ammunition. That consistency carried over regardless of what round I was sending through it.
I’m on the road writing this article as we speak. The M21 Carbon is at the end of my bed in my hotel room on the way to another hunt. I sighted it in the last minute with another new bullet about to be released, and the ease of hammering tacks out to unbelievable ranges (for a .270) is borderline silly. I know that I can head to the range with new ammo and be dialed in no time.
As my grandpa used to say, this gun is a straight-up straight shooter.
Is It Worth the Price?
Listen, If I had it in my budget, I’d buy the M21 Carbon in the .308 Shorty and the 28 Nosler. Not only is this a rifle that will be desirable because it’s a limited edition, but it’s also a rifle that just gets the job done consistently, every single time.
To quote a text from a true “gun guy” who took my rifle to the range for the day: “Your gun blows me away.”
And just to toss one more picture into this article to get the point across …