I found a new plain jane # 140 in 470 for 7500.00.Is that a good price. The sights leave a lot to be desired. What are my after market options and cost. The rib is not machined for scope rings, what would be needed to fit a scope? I can swing the deal if I trade in a couple of my rifles. I know its not a top end rig but should serve me well.

JD

Yes, its a very good price

That is a good deal, but you'd better be pepared to spend in excess of 1k to get the mounts done right!

JW

If it is in good condition, locks up tight, clean bores and is not off face, you have a very good deal.

Merkels are good solid rifles and even today a good deal for the money.

Lots of options for after market sights. Probably best to hear from the Merkel owners on that count.

Scope - again there are some options there. Claw mounts, in my view anyway, are the way to go. I think Tomo had some Merkel mounts he was looking to sell. Nothing wrong with those either.

Rusty just received a Chapuis from EVO with some nice looking QD mounts on it. Don't know if they do rifles other than Chapuis.

Whatever you do scope wise, best to get it to someone experienced (like Champlins) to do the work. Some people mounting a scope have found that their rifle does not regulate properly afterwards. Some are fine without an issue, and some it totally throws off.

It seemed like a good deal,its been sitting on his self for a year. Its a push to buy it but I don't think I can find a better deal. I hope to make a buff hunt in a year or so, I know I don't need it but it sure would add a little style to the hunt.

JD

Once you go "Double" you'll never go back....Just a friendly warning!

Just walk away. You don't need it and once you shoot it you won't be able to live without it.

That's a good price and I wouldn't scope it until you see what you can do with it using open sights. I too dislike the Merkel square sights...but am beginning to rethink them. I'm not convinced "they" make me any slower and I know they don't make me inaccurate.

If in good shape that's a good price.

Scope, on a 470? Not for me. Why would one want to scope a gun/cartridge designed to be used at ranges from under 10 to (maybe) 100 yards?

I would suggest you try the gun with iron sights before messing with it. I could see going to a peep though if you have problems seeing he rear sight.

The rear sight with my eyes would not be much good at any distance as it comes if any speed was needed. A peep would suit me just fine.
The rifle is new.

JD

quote:

Originally posted by J D:
I found a new plain jane # 140 in 470 for 7500.00.Is that a good price. The sights leave a lot to be desired. What are my after market options and cost. The rib is not machined for scope rings, what would be needed to fit a scope? I can swing the deal if I trade in a couple of my rifles. I know its not a top end rig but should serve me well.

JD

quote:

The Model 140A is a self cocking, Anson & Deeley boxlock with cocking indicators, side clips and receiver ledge. Greener crossbolt with double under barrel locking lugs. Double trigger with the option to have the front trigger as a set trigger. Automatic tang-mounted sliding safety. Case ejection through split cartridge slide or Holland & Holland ejector for rimless cartridges with extractor claw. Barrel Length 600mm (23.6") and weight approximately 5kg (11lb). Classic English-style pistol-grip oil-finished walnut stock (Hogsback available on request). Receiver is grey-stained and hand engraved in Arabesque pattern with higher grades of engraving of African game animals available at extra cost.
Imported into Australia in .375H&H Magnum, .416 Rigby, .470NE and .500NE.

http://www.granitearms.comLibrary/Merkel-500-lge.jpg
Merkel 140A in .500 Nitro Express (pictured)

The Merkel may not be the top of the line in double rifles, but it certainly is a long jump up from what ever is bottom of the line!

quote:

By Jim Manion

If it is in good condition, locks up tight, clean bores and is not off face, you have a very good deal.

Merkels are good solid rifles and even today a good deal for the money.

Unless the rifle has been very abused, it will not have any of those negative conditions Jim warns of! I find Merkels to be as solid as a bank vault, and as accurate as any double rifle I've ever owned. I would say you can look a long time and not make a better deal on a serviceable double rifle, for $7500. The rear sight can be re-worked into a shallow "V", and the front can be changed to a bead from NECG, or the existing front blade can be re-shaped into a round bead quite easily. I have two Merkel double rifles, and both still have the factory sights, and I don't find them to be a draw-back, as far as accuracy is involved. However, I like the wide "V", and bead front better, so will change mine at some time in future.

If this is your first double rifle, let me warn you! DOUBLE RIFLES ARE ADDICTIVE!

Thank you mac.now I am feeling a little guilty about the old man joke on the double triggers
string!
JD

JD, don't worry about the snide little jouvenile remark about old age! you young whipper snapper!



Just Joshing you JD, but in responce to the idea expressed on the doluble/single trigger thread, single triggers were available, I REMEMBER,back when Taylor, and I first left Ireland, but the fact is they cost more, and were a hazard to the health!

On the Merkel 140, 470NE, I don't think you will be disapointed with it, and if you want you can take it on a safari, and sell it, and buy something better, when you return. That is the way I got mine. The origenal owner bought it, shot two elephant, and three buffalo, on two safaris, and sold it to me. He said he had no more need for it, and went Brown bear hunting in Alaska! That was good for me, because I always have a use for a double rifle.

I responded on the other string as well!

quote:

The rear sight can be re-worked into a shallow "V", and the front can be changed to a bead from NECG, or the existing front blade can be re-shaped into a round bead quite easily. I have two Merkel double rifles, and both still have the factory sights, and I don't find them to be a draw-back, as far as accuracy is involved. However, I like the wide "V", and bead front better, so will change mine at some time in future.

Admit it MacD37...you're starting to figger that notch rear and square front sight ain't all that bad. I've only got a hundred rounds through my Merkel .470, and I too prefer the shallow 'V' rear and dot front front sights...but I'm starting to wonder if it's all in my head... Heck, I think I'm about as quick with the Merkal as anything else.

Badger, I've had one of the Merkels for about 5 yrs,(a 9.3X74R 140E) and because I'm an old hand at pistol hunting/shooting, the sights didn't offer any set-back for me, and it came quite natural to me to place the top of the front sight level with the top of the back sight, with equal amounts of light on each side, just like my pistols! When I got my 470NE 140-2 it had stock sights as well, and the transition was painless, and has caused me zero problem.

I do believe the the bead front, and wide "V" rear, with a platinum triangle pointing to the apex, at the bottom of the "V", in conjunction with a white warthog ivory bead front, is faster in more light conditions, and I will modify the sights on the 470NE rifle. The standing sight will be a treditional wide "V", and the 100 yd flip up, will be cut to a narrower "V", for more precision bullt placement a longer range!

Still, there is no hurry, as the stock sights work very well as they are!

Is this the same one you found in October?

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/...=799107745#799107745

have you bought this rifle ??

Yes,and for a little less than it was offered for. I had offered a 16 ga AYA #2 round body
for trade and a montana 1999 in a nice piece of english,with a full al. bedding block,1X6 burris euro (1/2 moa rifle .He was not interested in the 375, and offered 4+ on the Aya. The AYA has 29" barrels so it swings better than most and a up grade on the wood.Its a real pretty shotgun.I told him I would have to pass on the trade,and that without the trade the sales tax would blow the sale,I offered 7000 even he counterd with a deal too good to pass up.
I think it worked out better with out the trade.
If after shooting the 470 I don't like it,I should be able to get my money out of it. If I had trade the other guns,I may have had a hard
time find one as pretty or as accurate.

My wife asked why I need the 470? I expained that eeven though ,we may only have a small pot to pee in, I was now prepared to defend it no matter what came by. We live only a couple miles from the zoo,who knows what might slip out

JD

quote:

We live only a couple miles from the zoo,who knows what might slip out

That's not too far from the truth. Ask NE450No2 about his zoo experience.

congratulations on you purchase ! tom