I am needing some reloading help with my little Merkel 141 in 9.3x74R, with 21 1/2" barrels. I have tried Varget without satisfactory results. I am using 286 gr Hornadys and 286 gr Norma Oryx. Federal large rifle primers. Please help me out as I already don't have any hair left to pull out.

I have had good luck with Nosler 286 grain Partitions and 63 grains of IMR 4831 Federal 215s.

Try 61.5 grs of H4350, with a 286 gr Nosler Partition, for about 2215 fps

That regulates well in my Merkel 140E! That is a minimum load for that powder, and that is a 36,800 CUP load., well within the proof!

If you are having problems with the 286 gr bullet you might want to try either a lighter or heavier bullet. I have seen guns that were only fair with one bullet weight and really shot much better with either a lighter or heavier bullet.

I'd follow Mac's H4350 suggestion or even try H4895 - start with 53gr.

quote:

without satisfactory results

It might be nice to know what this means.

And I thought the Merkels had a barrel adjustment to regulate it oneself.

Will,
It means the groups suck, 12-16" out of the right barrel all by itself. My gun does have the adjustment you refer too but I count that as a last resort. I don't like to monkey with too many things at once, it always bites me in the ass when I do.
Kebco,
I bought this gun from you. It does shoot satisfactory with Speer 270gr but I no-gotty anymore of those.

quote:

Originally posted by Brain1:
It means the groups suck, 12-16" out of the right barrel all by itself. My gun does have the adjustment you refer too but I count that as a last resort.

If a given load won't make small individual groups in BOTH barrels, re-regulating won't do the slightest bit of good anyway. It isn't time to start playing with the wedge until you have a load that shoots consistently well with both barrels, just not together.
-----------------------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

No test target with information on the regulation load?

Brain: I have been using Nosler Accubonds 250 grain pushed by 59.0 gr R-15 out at 2499 fps. I have been happy and so is my Merkel ss. I also shoot the same lod in my Heym M55 which is being scoped by JJ as we speak. Good luck.

quote:

It means the groups suck, 12-16" out of the right barrel all by itself

Holy mackerel. Even at a hundred yards this pretty bad. Obviously you are not even at the point of trying to regulate it.

So what does the left barrel do? Drop back ten yards, so to speak, and shoot the regulation ammo from the factory, as Jim suggested.

ARE YOU SURE YOUR USING THE CORRECT CARTRIDGES?

I find it hard to believe that any rifle shoots 14" groups no matter what it is firing. If it was me, I'd back up to 25 yards taking out some variables, like eyesight, wind drift, etc. Are you using a (loose) scope mount?

Send it to me. If I can't get it shooting, I'll send it back to you.

Shoot what the factory used at the range they used. If it still doesn't work send it back to Merkel, if it is under warranty.

Best of luck.

It shoots the factory Normas fine as well as 270gr Speers into 2-4" groups from both barrels. I am just trying to get these new Hornadys to work. I know I may be wasting time and powder, but I like burning powder. I would prefer better results for the effort.

quote:

Originally posted by Brain1:
It shoots the factory Normas fine as well as 270gr Speers into 2-4" groups from both barrels. I am just trying to get these new Hornadys to work. I know I may be wasting time and powder, but I like burning powder. I would prefer better results for the effort.

I would like to ring some guys' necks.

All this angst because you want to shoot Joe Blows bullets? I could kill you.

Please spare me the drama Will. I know you are right, I won't argue with your position. I just like to duplicate good performance at a lower cost. The factory regulated load, Norma 285 gr Oryx shoot 2" at 70 yards. The factory Hornady loads suck as bad as mine.

It is just that I was under the impression it didn't shoot anything worth a crap. It is good to hear that at least some of the loads are zinging them in there.

Might want to try some Norma powder if it likes the Norma factory loads.

My FN-Browning 9,3x74R O/U at 50 m :

286 Norma / H4831 / 68.0 (compressed)

Jim,
I do not appreciate you throwing a logical idea in with this. That would be too easy and not as much fun as trying to reinvent the wheel.

Brian

My sincere apologies.

How about this: Save your urine and let it evaporate in the sun. Once dried, scrape the salts and mix with charcoal and some sulphur. You'll have to experiment with the concentrations to get the proper powder mixture.

If you aren't satisfied with your primers, get some fulminated mercury and give that a whirl. I suppose you could use blasting caps in a pinch.

If you need some other tips, you can get a copy of the latest ACME catalog from Wile E. Coyote publications. Lots of good tips in there.

Jim

Oops! Almost forgot!

If you need some help on proper urine evaporation techniques, give Will (a.k.a. "Little p") a shout. He is the AR expert on piss and vinegar - at least that's what everyone says.

I love "will" for the muffled sound he makes on "Ignore". Everyone else here has tried to help. Both my loads have already been suggested. Good luck. Packy

I stopped by and had a visit with Brain 1 today.

I have shot his "little" Merkel in the past and I must say, I like it a LOT.

It is neat, sweet, petite.

I gave him my 286gr bullet load recipe to try, however, I also advised him, as his double is shooting Speer 270gr bullets good, just use them.

He is leaving soon on a Leopard hunt.
I have used the Speer 270's on several deer and wild pigs, including a 330 "pounder" I shot at 19 yards. That is the only 270 Speer bullet I have recovered and it performed perfectly.


Still, I would be curious to see how my 9,3 recipe does in his double.

Wow ... good results with the 270 Speer?

I shot a 125 pound hog with one and a good sized WT doe with another ... both from the Chapuis. Got the same result ... bullet completely penetrated. Bullet path was severely curved. Bullet left chunks of itself in the wound canal. Can't say it failed, but wouldn't shoot one at game again.

Damn shame too ... my Chapuis really likes them and they're relatively cheap.

Mike
The animals were killed, you got complete penetration??? Whats not to like???

A hit normal to the piggy's shoulder that results in the bullet exiting the front of the offside thigh complete with traverse of the gut and shrapnel in the wound. Range was 45 yards.

WT doe was hit at 55-60 yards. There could not have been too much or the core left in the cup ... was big chunks of lead in the wound canal.

Speers are WAY too soft. I am not sure these bullets would have penetrated the gristle plate of a big pig.

Never had this problem with Woodleighs or Partitions.

I have had great results with the 270 hotcore bullets on pigs. All hits resulted in DRT(dead right there) of the pigs. As I said before, I am not happy unless I'm trying to inprove upon perfection.

Brian:

I am curious. Can you tell me what your Merkel weighs without a scope? Is is built on the 28 gurage frame?

Dave

Dave his rifle is on the 28gs frame and has barrels just over 21". It is a very sleek and trim 9,3.

A lot of people think my Chapuis is too light for a 9,3x74R. His Merkel would have to be classified as an ultra light 9,3.

As I like short, light, powerful hunting rifles, I do like the 28ga Frame Merkels.

And I think the 9,3x74R is one of the best hunting calibres on the Planet.

I have put several 141's on a scale, on average they run approx 6 3/4 lb.