I took my Merkel 96 (one of the new ones with the combination safety/barrel selector and striker-fire rifle barrel) out to shoot yesterday, and was getting light primer strikes resulting in failures to fire on the rifle barrel and left shotgun barrel. I suspect that the action just needs a good cleaning and lubrication. Do you guys have a recommendation for a gunsmith who knows Merkel drillings?

I can recommend J J Peradeau and PISCO (Ken Brooks). I've had work done by both. Good work by both. They are in demand, so it will take some time.
Bfly

If it is a new gun, why don't you send it back to Merkel?

They have Ferlach or Suhl gunsmiths that work at the headquarters here in America.

Simply send it to Herbert at Steyr Arms in Alabama and they'll fix it under warranty. The number is 205-417-8644.

Thank you, MD.