A couple of weeks ago, John Linebaugh of Linebaugh Custom Sixguns had he annual seminar here in Cody. Folks come from all over for the three day gathering.

While the main theme of the seminar is of course big bore handguns, big bore rifles are also welcome. I brought the Merkel out to give those who may otherwise never have a chance to shoot a double in .470NE the opportunity. Several took me up on the offer as one might guess.

Here are some photos of some of the shooters.

The first set of photos are Lee Jurris of Super Vel and Automag fame. Lee is now up in his 80's but that didn't stop him from touching a couple off. He is of course an interesting character and one to hold pleasant conversation with.


Lee getting ready


Letting one go

This next young fellow was the youngest to shoot this go 'round at the age of I believe 15. He was apprehensive at first but let her go anyway.


Set to go


Touched off


That one rode up a little and got some cheek


Not one to let a bit of stock beat him up, he went for another go

This last set is of a fellow from here in the neighborhood. I didn't know it at the time, but I don't believe he had ever shot a large bore rifle before, and certainly not a double rifle.

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On the mark

The poor feller managed to touch both barrels off at pretty much the same time. As can be seen, he no longer has a hold on the rifle. Fortunately, there was someone behind him and to the right who caught the old guy with his left hand and as luck would have it, caught the rifle with his right.

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Up in the air

This year saw a pretty good turn out and it seemed most had a good time. Even the old guy above, up until the doubling part anyway.

Well, except for me also. I pulled a wormy stunt and let the stock of my .416 Taylor slip and the scope caught me in the nose. That left a mark.

Great pics, nothing quite like shooting a big bore!

Very nice, I have a buddy that has a 375 and 500 NE in Merkel doubles. I have to say of all the big bores I have shot that 500NE Merkel was a pleasure to shoot from a balance, control and comfort standpoint.

I helped a good bud get ready for Africa, helped him reload for his Merkel .500 NE. I got to shoot it. It wasn't as bad as I expected, just a big push, not a mean slap like a Wby., etc.

I put two rounds about 2" apart at 25 yds., recovered from the first and hammered the target with the second, boom, boom.

Sorta impressed with that gun. I believe I could do some damage with that thing...

DF

My recoil tolerance is somewhere between a .470 Nitro, and a .577 Nitro.

My #1 in .475 Turnbull weighs 9 lbs 2 oz with scope, and I have benched it with no problems, with 500's loaded at 1975 fps.

The .577? I have fired one, once. If an elephant was charging me, and the .577 was laying in front of me, I'd have to think about it...

I guess everyone can't be a gunner500...

DF

Grip it tightly, with your weight on your front foot, butt snug to the shoulder. When it recoils, it rocks you back on your rear foot. Not bad if done right. I've had both 577 and 600 NE double rifles, as well as 600 OK and 700 AHR bolt rifles. As Dirtfarmer said, they're much easier to handle than the fast-recoiling Weatherby rounds.

PS: Gunner500 now had my 577 Verney Carron double.

Just a 'diller gun for gunner...

Them Okie 'dillers are real killers, getting bigger every year...

DF

Great photos. I still hold my Merkel 470 to be MUCH more comfortable to shoot than my CZ 458 Lott.

Typical Merkel, notorious for doubling...

It was a privilege to shoot Gunner's VC .577. But despite holding on for dear life, it still made my teeth hurt on the first shot. Of course, I'm also about a foot shorter than Gunner, FWIW.

Paladin was also kind enough to let me shoot the .470 mentioned above, and it was quite tolerable, offhand. It's always a pleasure shooting a fine double...at least when it doesn't give you a concussion.

I've shot my .475 Turnbull Ruger #1 off the bench with 500 gr Woodleigh SP's, and stiff charges of Varget. With scope it's a little over 9 lbs. I'm still working up loads, but I think I can eventually get it up to 2100 fps, which is well into Woodleigh's recommended range.

Easy there big fella. All the photos and commentary, and that's all you can say? You're going to blame the rifle?

If you'll recall, you are indeed correct about this rifle. This is the only time this rifle has doubled since I received it back from Merkel. It has since had several hundred rounds thought it, shot by folks from 13 year old girls to 80+ year old men without incident. I would guess that is more rounds than your typical double rifle will see in its lifetime these days. All without incident until a novice comes in.

This is also the first time it almost hit the ground. The man completely lost the rifle. The rifle was horizontal when the chap behind him caught it. Nothing to do with the rifle. It was partly the shooter, and my fault for not qualifying this fellow prior to letting him shoot.

If it were the fault of the rifle I will say so but in this case it wasn't.

I never had a Merkel double with me, but had heard that rumor about them.

To me, they seem like solid, good guns for the price, especially compared with some.

DF

DF,

The first time I heard Jorge mention Merkel's doubling was several years ago. I (we) ended up counting 8 or 10 I believe that doubled.

Mine was among them. It happened enough that I ended up sending mine back to Merkel. They changed the hammers and sears and when I asked why he simply said, "They were the old style". I bought my rifle used, unfired. It was about 5 years old at the time. Merkel never said anything about money or warranty, and that was OK in my book.

As I said, there have been enough rounds sent downrange since, that I know the rifle does not double on its own.

I agree with the quality and price. I've shot mine to 200m and others to 350 yards, so there's no issue with accuracy either. They're not just 50 yard rifles, which is another popular misconception.

David

Good info, Paladin.

If I ever end up with a Merkel, I'll inquire as to "old" vs. "new" style hammers and sears. If old, I'll get them swapped out.

Thanks,

DF

Sorry man, didn't remember your issue with it. I have been tracking this for sometime now, and I'm up to 14 documented doublings with Merkels, and a few even with bent triggers

jorge,

What about the report of "old" vs. "new" sears and hammers?

If there is a retrofit of better sears/hammers, a trip back may be a good idea. Other than that, they seem to me to be pretty good double guns.

Not to be confused with "other than that, Ms. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?"

DF

DF: I have not been able to discern between old and new, just raw numbers and one gent at DSC (I wish I could remember his name) that participated in a Big Bore gunshoot and the Merkel rep quietly folded up his wares after a couple of them doubled.

One would hope Merkel would/could solve that issue, as it's a good, solid gun at a reasonable price, comparatively speaking.

DF

I've had 4 Merkel DRs, and never had one double. To me, they're one of the better deals in a solid, no-nonsense double rifle.

No worries Jorge. Heck, I can't remember what I did yesterday half the time. Every trigger on every firearm I own has a bent trigger. I find bent triggers fit my finger much better and are more aesthetically appealing than straight ones.

Of the 14 documented, are any of those suspect, as in shooter error, or second or third hand? In other words, do you know how many from actual Merkel owners?

Also, of the 14 documented, do you know how many are still living with the doubling issue, or have they all been resolved?

I know I was counting as well for a while, but at the time I didn't think to ask where the information came from and don't remember how many instances were from actual owners.

I know mine was one, that's the only one I know of from an actual owner.


I haven't heard anything in the past year or so. I would find it rather odd that a firearms maker would not bother to rectify any deficiency once it came to light.

Can anyone tell me of one firearms manufacturer that hasn't had problems at one time or another? Some have been in business for well over a hundred years so you would think they would have a handle on production, but it still happens.

Paldin: All the ones I mentioned were from folks who assured it was not a trigger strumming issue. All the affected rifles were fixed by Merkel promptly (the ones I heard of anyway, including three Merkel owners at my range here in Jax), and maybe Merkel has addressed the issue.
The last I heard of one was a couple of months ago (?)over on AR. Lastly, ALL manufacturers have at one time or another, had issues, no question about it, but they've covered many maladies. With the Merkel, the doubling issue has been a pretty constant complaint since I've been into doubles anyway, and had it not been for the fact I really liked the Verney, I would have wound up with a Merkel anyway. J

Thank you Jorge.

I didn't figure you for one that didn't have his ducks in a row, I just haven't kept up.

I'm going to be very disappointed if Merkel hasn't fixed the issue after all this time. Maybe some are like mine, older, unfired guns that are finally being used.

David

Nice to see one in action! I looked at them at the NRA show in Nashville and the .500NE tugged at me real hard. I've got one of their 28ga doubles and it's a real peach.