Saw one new in leather case this week for $7900. Any comments positive or negative? Looked like a nice gun...hows it stack up to other double guns?

KENTUCKY NIMROD. I CONVERTED TO DOUBLE RIFLES FOUR YEARS AGO. I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH, READ AND SPOKE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS I COULD. I WAS TOLD THE MERKEL WAS TOO LIGHTLY CONSTRUCTED FOR STEADY USE. MY BIG RIFLES ARE BRITISH. HOWEVER ON THE ADVICE OF GEORGE CASWELL AND J.J. PERODEAU, GUNMAKER,(champlinarms.com), THE BEST OF THE NEW MADE DOUBLE RIFLES IS THE CHAPUIS, FROM FRANCE. I BOUGHT A 9.3x74R AND HAVE BEEN WELL SATSIFIED WITH THE RIFLE (AND CALIBRE ALSO). I HELPED A FELLA DEVELOP HANDLOADS, FULL POWER AND PIG HUNTING LOADS IN A .470 NITRO. IT ALSO SHOT GOOD. ONE NICE THENG ABOUT MOST OF THE CHAPUIS DOUBLES IS THE RIB IS CUT FOR A SCOPE MOUNT. FOUR SCREWS AND PRESTO YOUR SCOPE MOUNTS ARE ON THE RIFLE. I HAVE A 2.5X8 LEUPOLD HEAVY CROSSHAIRS, ON MY 9.3. THE SCOPE GOES ON AND OFF AND HOLDS ZERO. WHAT COULD BE A BETTER LEOPARD, LION, OR BEAR RIFLE WHILE HUNTING OVER BAIT THAN A PROPERLY SCOPED DOUBLE RIFLE? ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SCOPE IS QUICK DETACH AND MAINTAINS ZERO.

My fellow Kentuckian,
I own one of those. Anyone who says they are no good has no experience with them. Mine is the 140 A or 140-2.0. The 140-2.1 has game scene engraving (minimalist) instead of the simple scroll on the coin finish action. Mine has the straight comb with just the right amount of drop, pitch, and cast off to the stock. Length of pull is 13.5" and 14.5" for the two triggers.

It weighs 10.7 lbs. and is not "too lightly constructed" in anyway. For strength, fit and finish, accuracy, you name it, they cannot be beat for the money. Mine does not have ejectors, but I can live without them. Besides the ejector thing, the only way another boxlock could be any better would be due to availability in a different caliber if you desired something other than 470 Nitro, which is the only decent caliber Merkel makes, and my first choice in a double rifle cartridge. A Searcy in 500 NE makes sense too. The Merkel and Searcy are the best buys going, no doubt.

I am a medium sized guy and mine fits me like a glove. I couldn't be happier with the quality of the Merkel. That is a good price for one now, as they have appreciated about $1000 in the last few months.

Darrell Whittaker got mine for me at a lower price than you quote, about six months ago, with the Italian leather case. Have you tried him for his latest price? He will get it from GSI in Alabama.

There are other Merkel fans here. If you have any more questions, I am sure assistance will be forthcoming.

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RAB

[This message has been edited by DaggaRon (edited 04-07-2002).]

Kentucky,

My only advise would be to check around. Like Ron said, there may be a better value for the rifle you are looking for. A good endorsement from a man who own one is hard to beat!

In other makes I think Butch Searcy's site has their field grade 470 for 7K. I believe that Kreigoffs can be had for around 7,400.

Rusty
We band of brothers!

Dagga,
Thanks for the info. Recently bought my CZ550 in .416 from Mr. Whittaker. I love his shop its just so far out of the way and I get delayed on my NICS check every time I buy a gun and have to come back and get the gun the next day...that's another 250 mile round trip...ugh.

Nimrod, Im glad to see it isnt just me. I was beginning to get a complex. Out of the last six guns I have bought not one has come back approved by NICS. I have gotten put on delay for everyone and they have eventually timed out. Like you I travel some distance to my preffered gun shop so multiple trips is a pain. So much for the instant part.

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Happiness is a warm gun

NE450#2's approval of the Chapuis is the first good thing I have ever seen about that maker. Other DB users like MacD or Ray might like to chime in here but the double gun shooters I have known personally give the French maker low marks. Being a devout Mauserite I have no opinion one way or another on these heretical devices.

Sarge

I'm not a Chapius fan, and yes I have used one a bit...I do like the Merkel but only in rimmed calibers which is the 470 and I believe it will stand up to that caliber and the problems were with the 416 and 375 rounds, that operate at 50,000 PSI....

My choice today would be the Searcy double rifle. or an English gun...but thats what makes a horse race.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com