I am considering to buy a Merkel 140 A in cal. .470 NE. Our local gunsmith told me that the Merkel DR's usually have a very stiff trigger pull - trigger pull weight easily exceeding 6 pounds. During this years hunting fair at Dortmund I had the opportunity to dry fire a 140 A. Trigger pull seemed not so stiff - about 4 pounds or so. Our gunsmith told me that this Merkel was certainly built for the exhibition only, never to be fired during a hunt or at the shooting range: because with such a low trigger pull weight the DR would have a strong tendency to "double", i.e. firing both barrels simultaneously.

Perhaps you Merkel users out there in the Accurate Reloading Country can please advise me on this topic?

I have a Merkel 141 in 8x57 IRS. Triggers are indeed heavy with mine at approx. 6 pounds. Lead trigger normally has a set option but that has been remove on my gun. I like the rifle but would like to have the set trigger option on the lead trigger. This is a lot of gun for the money. What do you intend to use the rifle for?

I have a Merkel 140-2 470NE double rifle, and my trigger pull is 4# for the front trigger, and 4.5# for the back trigger! I have shot several hundred rounds of 500 gr Federal Sledge hammer solids in the rifle, and it has never doubled on me yet. This is the way I like all my doubles triggers set up! My Merkel 140E 9.3X74R that has the set trigger for the front trigger, and that is about 2# when set, and about 4.5 # when un-set, the back trigger is 4.5#.

I don't think the set trigger on the front trigger of a 470NE is a real good idea! I wouldn't want a set trigger on any rifle with a round that developes more recoil than the 9.3X74R. That "IS" asking for rifle with a doubling habit! A set trigger serves no purpose on a 470NE double rifle!

4# for front, 4.5# for the rear works fine on my 470NE double!

All the Merkels I have fired had perfectly suitable hunting triggers.

Thank you very much for your feedbacks. I intend to use the Merkel for big game hunting (elephant and hippo). 4 pds on the front trigger and 4.5 on the back would be fully acceptable for me. Yes, I agree, a set trigger on a .470 NE would not be a good idea. By the way: African Prof. Hunters HATE set triggers and regard them as an accident waiting to happen...
Thanks, Hans

The Merkel I have was ordered new from the factory with out the set trigger option and then never picked up. I have wondered what the person who placed the order was going to hunt. Europe Boar perhaps might make sense but there is no real recoil from the Merkel in 8x57IRS. Do the set options sometimes fail even on the small calibres? I like the rifle and have it to hunt Whitetail Deer, Black bear & Moose in tight cover which so far it works better than I do! Anyone with experiance using 8x57 on game?

quote:

Originally posted by Phil T:
The Merkel I have was ordered new from the factory with out the set trigger option and then never picked up. I have wondered what the person who placed the order was going to hunt. Europe Boar perhaps might make sense but there is no real recoil from the Merkel in 8x57IRS. Do the set options sometimes fail even on the small calibres? I like the rifle and have it to hunt Whitetail Deer, Black bear & Moose in tight cover which so far it works better than I do! Anyone with experiance using 8x57 on game?

I had a S/S 8X57JR double rifle, and have a Cape gun with a 16ga/8X57JR both useing a 196 gr soft point. I have taken many muledeer, and elk with both rifles. They are fine cartridges for North American game, inluding Black bear elk Moose, and deer! The 8X57JR uses the .318 diameter bullet, but is the same as the flanged 8X57 IRS with the only difference being the .323 bullet! Work like a charm in my experience!