Does anyone out there have this combination?

I have heard that the Merkel action is pretty reliable, if not as pretty as a Chapuis.

How well balanced is the 20 gauge SxS portion of the equation?

Many Thanks,

LD

PS Does anyone have some input on a Chapuis or Krieghoff set?

LD,

I don't have exactly the combination you mention but I do have something very close so can make some comment.

I have a Merkel 140A in .500NE and I have a 140 in 9.3x74R. The 140 also has a set of 20g barrels. As near as I can tell, there is not a lot of difference between the action of the 140A and the 140 and, with the 20g barrels fitted, the 140 is a beautiful gun to carry and use.

I haven't had the 140 9.3x74R/20g set long now, so haven't shot it a great deal, but I am very happy with both of my Merkels (.500 and 9.3/20g). And they form what I have always wanted - a two-gun battery that I can take anywhere and, with it, hunt anything!

Also, I have always been a very mediocre shotgunner but the fit and pointability of the 20g setup is so good that I am finding myself shooting much better than I have ever previously shot with a shotgun. Now I have never owned any really high-end shotguns, but have owned Franchi's, Remingtons and a very nice Aya, but never felt really comfortable with any of them and tended to fire a lot of shots for each hit. But with the Merkel 20g, I am constantly surprising myself with one-shot kills that I don't seem to have to concentrate on, as I did previously, to achieve - it just points where I want it to point without having to think about it.

Would I recommend getting the 20g barrels along with any 140 or 140A? ..... Hell yes!

Instructions: you get on a plane and we meet in Paris for orientation and attitude adjustment, then we drive down to St. Etienne and you get fitted for your combo by Chapuis. What's with all this "ask the AR forum" stuff?

Thank you both for the feed back.

I think it may be time to sell some of my repeater rifles.

Wink, you are sorely tempting me.
Charlie

Bwama,

How do you like the 500 NE. Do you notice a longer time to get back down on target than with a 470NE?

I have owned both .470NE and .475NE doubles and while the .500 has noticeably more recoil I cannot detect any longer time off target. Obviously it has to have more time off target, because there is more recoil, but I think the difference would be measured in milliseconds and of no real consequence.