My Merkel 140 AE is giving me trouble with inconsistent ejection. After firing, the ejector on the right barrel sometimes ejects properly, sometimes just "clicks" and nothing happens except the shell is lifted. I'm shooting Hornady factory loads. Chamber is smooth, cases look bright and shiny before and after firing, extractor slide (not sure of the correct term, the part that slides back and forth under the barrel) was removed, thoroughly cleaned and lubricated. Is it likely something wrong in the mechanism in the forend? Or what is your theory?

My only question is is the case sticking in the chamber? If so then it may be two different size Chambers and your case pressures are on the line where it sticks in the smaller chamber but not the bigger chamber. If they both extract easily then nevermind. I had that issue on a 577 once. I figured the ejectors were broken or something but it was just a matter of reducing my load by a grain of powder and then no more left barrel ejectors problems.

Matthew

Case is not sticking, it is always lifted by the extractor but not always ejected.

I'm surprised someone didn't answer this already.
First if you open the barrels quickly it ejects but if you open slowly it doesn't. If this is the case then the ejector trip timing is not right. What is happening is the cartridge is hitting the breach face when opened slowly. A little filing with a diamond file could fix it.

BLS, that is exactly what's happening. Thank you for your suggestion about a cure. I will study the problem a little bit more before doing any file work, but your explanation seems perfectly logical.

I suggest you use a qualified gunsmith to do this adjustment.

Hey Butch, do you know of a qualified gunsmith to do this??? LOL

Gunsmiths in the USA are not a good option for me, I'd need a Canadian smith. It costs me much more than the work just to do the export/import paperwork. About $800 last time I exported a gun to the USA for gunsmith work. Not to deal with Canadian law, but USA law.

If you have another suggestion Butch, I'm all ears. My rifle does fail to eject (the right barrel only) when opened slowly, but not quite as you described. It seems like the mechanism that trips the ejector slides over the sear or whatever the "catch" is, and fails to eject when opened slowly, but does eject properly when opened quickly. The case ( or snap cap) never hits the face of the breech, the mechanism just goes "click" and there is no noticeable movement of the extractor mechanism. Your thoughts please?

"Qualified" is the key word with ejectors that are of the Southgate type (assuming that the subject issue is an ejector of this type), or for that matter any other type. If a so called gunsmith attempts to correct a Southgate early or late ejection problem by filing or honing on the cams of the kickers then he is unqualified, as the removal of metal is to only be done on the faces of the angles of the leaf springs that contact the kicker cams. Few American gunsmiths are qualified on Southgate ejectors.

Why would you not send it to Merkel to fix? Surely they have a US dist. or perhaps a Canada dist..Id at least check that out.

Contacted the original retail store, and to my surprise they said it would likely be under warranty, four years and two owners later. So that's where I sent it. Thanks for the advice!

Glad your getting it sorted out. If your every in need in future of a Canadian gunsmith for your double I’d suggest Ralf Martini Martini Gunmakers in Creston, BC.

Got the rifle back today from Wolverine Supplies. They repaired the ejector mechanism which had developed a small amount of rust. Likely from neglect by the original owner. Charges to me = $0.00! They inspected, cleaned, removed rust, adjusted ejector timing, and sent it back to me expedited and insured. No charge. I will shop there more in the future.

quote:

Originally posted by Longwalker:
Got the rifle back today from Wolverine Supplies. They repaired the ejector mechanism which had developed a small amount of rust. Likely from neglect by the original owner. Charges to me = $0.00! They inspected, cleaned, removed rust, adjusted ejector timing, and sent it back to me expedited and insured. No charge. I will shop there more in the future.

Longwalker, congratulations on your finding this company in Canada suggested by Canuck32. One simply doesn't let just anyone do work on a double rifle.
Outside of Europe there are only a hand full of what I would call QUALIFIED when it comes to working on double rifles. Here in the states we are lucky enough to have a TWO OR THREE that are real DOUBLE RIFLE SPECIALISTS.


Enjoy your double! I have a couple of Merkel double rifles, one being a 140-1 AE 9.3X74R, and a 140-2 470 NE. No problems so far after several years of hunting with either of them.

…………………………………...Good hunting