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OP
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Looking at double rifles and was wondering if anyone here has any experience with the merkel 141 rifles in 9.3x74r. Seems to be a lightweight well built rifle but would like to hear from someone with hands on experience with one. Would be used on African plains game hunt. Thanks
Last edited by MRxHILLBILLY; 12/31/12.
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Campfire Ranger
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Yes. They're excellent and usually very well regulated.
Hunt with Class and Classics
Religion: A founder of The Church of Spray and Pray
Acquit v. t. To render a judgment in a murder case in San Francisco... EQUAL, adj. As bad as something else. Ambrose Bierce “The Devil's Dictionary”
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A friend has a model 140 in this cartridge and it's a good rifle. As luv2safari posted, they are well regulated, and well finished. Your biggest concern may be deciding on ejectors or not.
Whatever you said...everyone knows you are a lying jerk. That's a bold assertion. Point out where you think I lied. Well?
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An absolute beauty. Only ever had one hunter hunt with it and he was as happy as a hog in slop with it. He took 3 animals with it and all three fell to the shot of which the biggest one was a zebra.
I am partial to ejectors. Deciding on a scope will take some time.
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Campfire Outfitter
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A nice thing about the 9.3 x 74 is that the makers like Merkel tend to use two sizes of frames. The 9.3 is on the smaller frame and therefore weighs less and costs less. The next step, usually a .450-400, costs a lot more and weighs a couple of pounds more.
Don't blame me. I voted for Trump.
Democrats would burn this country to the ground, if they could rule over the ashes.
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I've not had the Merkel, but have handled a few. Fit and finish is typical M stuff, real nice. I have had a couple other 9.3 doubles. It's a wonderful combination, the 9.3x74 in a double. It gives you a light, handy double that can be used to 200- 250 yards, and still have the stuff for close work. You can scope them or carry them bare. I would be sure the one I got was regulated with 286 grain loads. One of the little secrets of those 9.3 small frames are that they are light and a joy to carry. The dirty part of that secret is that they often have a bit of extra drop and combined with the light weight, recoil can be a bit spritely. It's not knock you down stuff, but it's not a twenty guage lite load either. A good pad can really make a difference. I lean toward ejectors, but that's a personal choice. I suspect you will absolutely love the Merkel. Bfly
Last edited by Blackfly1; 01/07/13.
Be nice and work hard, you never have enough time or friends.
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The 141 in 9.3 is a very nice handling rifle. It points instinctively and the 9.3 does not have punishing recoil.
Scopes on a double rifle are like Marilyn Monroe with a mustache. It detracts from a thing of beauty in a criminal way.
"The Democrat Party looks like Titanic survivors. Partying and celebrating one moment, and huddled in lifeboats freezing the next". Hatari 2017
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." Han Solo
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"The Democrat Party looks like Titanic survivors. Partying and celebrating one moment, and huddled in lifeboats freezing the next". Hatari 2017
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." Han Solo
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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With doubles, I prefer this philosophy: That said, Merkels are solid tough rifles but I have to add I've seen more (three) instances of doubling with Merkels than with any other make. Also a plastic buttcap? Really, on a 9K rifle??? Spend a little more and get what is in my opinion a great rifle for the money; Verney-Carron. jorge
A good principle to guide me through life: “This is all I have come to expect, standard lackluster performance. Trust nothing, believe no one and realize it will only get worse…”
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That's a Big Bore. More recoil to deal with. Something to think about when you mount it and stick it up in your face.
"The Democrat Party looks like Titanic survivors. Partying and celebrating one moment, and huddled in lifeboats freezing the next". Hatari 2017
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." Han Solo
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Hatari, Jorge is a Swabbie!! He has provided a pic of someone wid their waterwings on backwards
Be afraid,be VERY VERY afraid ad triarios redisse My Buddy eh76 speaks authentic Frontier Gibberish!
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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That's a Big Bore. More recoil to deal with. Something to think about when you mount it and stick it up in your face. Was this meant to be a rhetorical question???
A good principle to guide me through life: “This is all I have come to expect, standard lackluster performance. Trust nothing, believe no one and realize it will only get worse…”
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Something I knew you could relate to,
Now back to the OP
"The Democrat Party looks like Titanic survivors. Partying and celebrating one moment, and huddled in lifeboats freezing the next". Hatari 2017
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." Han Solo
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I have a model 140 in 500NE. My friend's model 140 in 9.3x74 is the same frame size. Maybe the 141 has different frame sizes between the two?
There was also a comment made regarding doubling - my 500NE will do this if I fire the left barrel first (rear trigger) and use 570gn loads. It doesn't do this with 440gn loads - obviously recoil related. It doesn't double ever if I fire the right barrel (front trigger) first. The manual says to fire the right barrel for regulation reasons (doesn't mention doubling).
interesting to note that there is an interceptor inside the action to prevent the LH action tripping under the recoil of firing thr RH.
Whatever you said...everyone knows you are a lying jerk. That's a bold assertion. Point out where you think I lied. Well?
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Bet that thing was talking to you when it doubled... You may have been talking to it, too... DF
Last edited by Dirtfarmer; 01/07/13.
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I was lucky and discovered the problem when I was firing single shots from each barrel alternately. The RH action was uncocking (it has cocking indicators) when I fired the LH. Actually before I checked this I noticed that both ejectors would operate when I opened the action after just firing the LH, then I started checking the cocking indicator before I opened the action.
Also luckily I'd been firing RH barrel first whenever I had both barrels loaded.
I've managed to be quite careful and have always pulled the front trigger first, but I guess I might mess-up one day and pull the rear trigger first (not likely, but possible) - I've been meaning to get around and have it looked at.
I've heard of this also happening with the Merkel in 470NE.
Last edited by mauserand9mm; 01/08/13.
Whatever you said...everyone knows you are a lying jerk. That's a bold assertion. Point out where you think I lied. Well?
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Joined: Jun 2003
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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I have a model 140 in 500NE. My friend's model 140 in 9.3x74 is the same frame size. Maybe the 141 has different frame sizes between the two?
There was also a comment made regarding doubling - my 500NE will do this if I fire the left barrel first (rear trigger) and use 570gn loads. It doesn't do this with 440gn loads - obviously recoil related. It doesn't double ever if I fire the right barrel (front trigger) first. The manual says to fire the right barrel for regulation reasons (doesn't mention doubling).
interesting to note that there is an interceptor inside the action to prevent the LH action tripping under the recoil of firing thr RH. That is poor regulation and trigger adjustment of Merkel's part. There is no reason for having to limit yourself to a specicic firing order of barrels. One of the touted advantages of a double is the ability to load a soft in one and a solid in the other and use them as the situation might dictate. My Verney-Carron regulates regardless of barrel fired first and it will not double if the left barrel is fired first.
A good principle to guide me through life: “This is all I have come to expect, standard lackluster performance. Trust nothing, believe no one and realize it will only get worse…”
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Campfire Outfitter
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Neat guns. I'm still trying to sell this 470NE Merkel for a friend..... I'd love to shoot it but it but my friend wants to sell it unfired. (chicken!)
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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I'm sorry, but that engraving looks like it was done at a fifth grade art class. That elephant!!!!
A good principle to guide me through life: “This is all I have come to expect, standard lackluster performance. Trust nothing, believe no one and realize it will only get worse…”
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I'm sorry, but that engraving looks like it was done at a fifth grade art class. That elephant!!!! He looks like Snuffleupagus from Sesame Street.
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