Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa The .470 NE Merkel 140 AE African Safari double rifle

Can anyone give me the real world experience on this rifle, rather than the usual, "it's a beautiful rifle.", "Nicely finished", etc.

For instance, I have 'heard' that there is some question as to how long the lockup will remain tight, compared to a Kreighoff, and that African PHs refuse to carry one because of reliability concerns.

Have no idea myself, so am asking here. Thanks,
Ted

I can't add anything to your post other than I know of a Merkel 470 that is available. Maybe you were in contact with my friend last year?? If you want any info. on it or more pics, let me know. (unfired)

Merkel are one of the finer double rifles available and have been out of my price range for too long. The only reason I would buy something else is because the other rifle is cheaper and I do not have additional cash for it. Have been wondering if I should swop a hunt for a double.

However, hunted with a German hunter using a Merkel 500 / 416. After the hunt we were both impressed with it in terms of quick to the shoulder, quick time in picking up the sights and the knock down ability.

How long it will stay locked up is going to be determined solely by how it is treated and how many times it's going to be fired. A 470 is typically not your competition bench shooting caliber and shooting more than 10 rounds a day getting to know it may happen the first couple times you shoot it, then you'll start shooting 6 a day until you feel comfortable with it. Then it goes on an annual African hunt (hopefully) with it firing maybe 20 rounds a year. With the kind of love and treatment it receives from the owner it should last close to a lifetime for your grandchildren to use.

Come play with mine some time, Ted. I imagine those fears are unfounded and, as Pieter says, it's not like you'll shoot it like a 22-250 in a hot gopher patch.

Fellow up here has one, and I have shot it a few times at the range. Another fellow says he would only buy a Kreighoff because ......

Ted

I have owned 2 Merkels, One a 470 which I took an elephant with. I bought both new and don't know of a single flaw either one had. Both shot to point of aim with factory ammo and easily duplicated factory targets which were better than excellent. would buy one in a new York minute if I was in the market for a double. Have also owned a Cogswell & Harrison, a couple of Valmet's a Chapuis, and Otto Geyger and a Winchester 101 and a Heym 88B. The Merkel's were easily the equals of all of them.

Nothing beats an Otto Geyger for fine detail and finish.

Still, Merkels do shoot right.

I know of a Merkel in .470 that when test fired (front trigger-right barrel first) doubled. The shooter, a glutton for punishment, then tried again, this time pulling the rear trigger (left barrel) first. Guess what? It doubled again, at which point the shooter prudently decided to discontinue further testing.

I am very, very happy with my Krieghoff, which has served me well on multiple DG safaris. The Heym (which, by the way, has intercepting sears) is also quite impressive.

The gentleman at Purdey's in London recommended a Westley Richards box lock as a working gun. Very pricey, indeed! I'd rather keep my Krieghoff and spend the money on a full bag safari.

I have the same model Merkel in 500NE. Regulation is excellent (1 1/2") and I'm lucky enough to have a load for 450gn, 570gn and 600gn projectiles that have the same regulation. It has the articluated front trigger - my friend has a Sabatti 470NE without the articulated trigger and it will normally cut his finger when he fires the LH barrel (rear trigger).

Mine will double if I fire the LH barrel (rear trigger) - it hasn't actually happened but I've noticed it when firing single shots from each barrel alternately. This version of the Merkel has an interrupter on the rear trigger mechanism only, but I don't think that's the problem (or rather the lack of the interrupter on the front trigger). I think the articulated trigger can result in the doubling - it I cock the rifle, push the front trigger forward and then let it snap back under the articulation spring pressure, it will fire. Under recoil the rifle will push the front trigger against the trigger finger when the rear trigger is fired, and it must snap back under spring pressure and trip that sear too.

I've heard of the Merkel 470 doing this too but not doubling when firing the RH barrel first. Winchestermodel70's post is the first time I've heard this happen - maybe someone has fiddled with this particular rifle?

The Merkel manual does say to fire the RH barrel first for purposes of regulation and doesn't mention the risk of doubling. The newer model Merkels have an interrupter on both action locks.

I've a 140-2 470 that I've been enjoying for a few years now. Have only put around 60 rounds through it, but it has been quite comfortable to shoot (providing proper technique). I haven't had any other make of double, so I can't compare, but fit and finish has been great. Have always fired front trigger first, and have never experienced it doubling.

I've got 300+ rounds through my Krieghoff .470 and it's never doubled. I fire the left barrel (rear trigger) first as it falls more readily to hand and I believe many instances of doubling are due to the shooter's finger slipping off the front trigger in recoil and hitting the rear trigger unintentionally.

Yes, I know that conventional wisdom is to pull the front trigger (right barrel) first, which is why rear trigger pulls are a bit heavier in double rifles, in order to prevent doubling. However, my rifle regulates well firing the left barrel first and since this procedure works for me, I'm going to continue it.

BTW, I've seen and handled Sabatti doubles and a friend has one. IMO, they are junk. If you don't mind extremely heavy trigger pulls and a 5" spread @ 50 yards, then buy one. It seems they regulate their rifles by using a Dremel tool to grind the muzzle crowns to change the point of impact. Ouch!

Doubling was another criticisms that I heard, and apparently there is some experience here in that regard. Wonder if perhaps that might be as much operator induced, as mechanical transgression?

Ted

Merkels are notorious for doubling, espcially if/when the left barrel is touched off first. I personally know of nine Merkels that doubled. That and for what you pay for one it comes with a friggin PLASTIC grip cap...

Yeah, I'd heard this also, but never saw it until a guy at the range I used to frequent decided to pull the back trigger first. It doubled on him, it wasn't to ferocious, he was shooting cast bullets and it was chambered 375H&H. I could have bought it cheap that day.

... it works well for the intended purpose - large DGR DR. At least, my 500NE 3" regulated easily with several bullets and powders, it fits me very well (quick to the shoulder and on target), it is accurate, has stayed tight through about 200 full power and 3-400 practice loads (as you would expect of a quality DR), and is reliable every time. Only change I've made is to add a LimbSaver pad that increased the LOP to place the open sights dead-on for my shooting style. Helped with recoil as well for a faster f/u shot.

You'll hear that the safety mechanism is hard to use, but that hasn't been my experience. It keeps the rifle completely on safe (de-cocked) with 2 chambered rounds and is very quick to activate for the shot. Just needs practice like everything else.

Wouldn't hesitate to buy another Krieghoff if I were on the market and if they made one in 450NE 3 1/4". BTW an ejector option is now available which would make it just about perfect IMHO.

I should have qualified my response. My Merkel 500NE double only doubles with the 570gn loads - my lighter recoil 450gn jacketed and 430gn cast loads don't make it double.

Double rifles should NEVER double regardless of load or trigger pulled and Merkels are notorious for doubling.

Well that's a bummer. Especially since I just bought one today. I guess I'll have to run it through the wringer once I get it and make it happen if it's going to.

I shot a .470 Heym enough to get to really like the .470 NE round. The Heym fit me well enough, until I picked up a Merkel which fit me much better, and is why I bought a Merkel.

I certainly hope I didn't buy a two barrel single shot.

Paladin, you'll be just fine....great rifles. I've had 4 or 5 DRs by Merkel, and have never has a double.

I agree that this would be ideal, but I'm happy to always fire RH barrel first. I had my rifle for about 8 months (usually fire between 10 to 20 rounds through it once a month) and never knew it would double, because I always fired the right barrel first. Most of my shooting is done with the loading of both barrels. I only discovered the doubling issue during practice one day when I was loading single shots.

So for me, the "potential" to double is not an issue - the finish, balance and regulation make up for the firing "limitation". I do have to warn others who fire my rifle, that the RH barrel has to be fired first. It has scared some off firing it at all.

I've heard the arguement that some people will use different loads in each barrel and like to select, but I'm not sure this is valid in a DG rifle.