quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
So, for us peons, how would a rifle double when pressing the rear trigger first?
Peter.

That is a fair question, but one I thought I had already answered!

Normally the front trigger is filed to a lighter pull than the back trigger, and for a rifle without intercepting sears,(like the Merkels) that stops the tumblers from going off from the recoil of the other barrel, the lighter the off side trigger pull the more likely it will be dislodged by the recoil of the other barrel. This is the case with Merkel double rifle in my experience the front trigger is always much lighter pull than the back trigger. IMO, that is the way they should be, the light trigger pull on the first barrel fired is so one can make a better placed first shot. this is the same reason the smaller double rifle are normally fitted with a set trigger on the right (FRONT) trigger for a better accurate first shot.


The Merkel double rifle is not normally fitted with interceptors, so a “mechanical” doubling can occur from the recoil of the left barrel, disengaging the very light sear engagement of the right barrel. The doubling of the left barrel when pulling the right trigger first is usually caused by what is known a “STRUMMING” with the trigger finger slipping off the front trigger, and contacting the back trigger setting it off as well. This is the result of poor shooter control.

SO!!!! If you want to fire the back trigger first on a double rifle, then the trigger pull on the front trigger needs to be heavy enough to avoid the mechanical doubling!

Additionally, if proper trigger control is maintained there is no need to fire the back trigger first, unless you simply like it that way. If you like it that way then have a smith make the trigger pull on the right barrel heavier, or suffer doubling!

…………………………. ........................................

There was a discussion back in 2011 about double discharge and at that time I was posting about a 470NE Merkel double rifle that others had doubled that 470NE Merkel when they pulled the back trigger first. The two passages above the first one from that old thread, and the next was the answer found on NE with pictures of a inertia sear block actuated by the recoil of the right barrel, for the left barrel, because Merkel made the rifle to be fired with the front trigger first (right barrel) which is cut for lighter pull for precision shot placement with the first shot. This also so the left barrels trigger can be lighter pull as well but not be tripped by the recoil of the right barrel being fired. Now we have the answer below over a year later. The reason this was a mystery was so puzzeling was others had DDs with my rifle but I didn't when I pulled the back trigger first. In my case I seemed to have the touch, but others didn't it seems. Neither of use had DDs when the right trigger was pulled first. Answer below!

quote:

By DUBOY1:from NE (MacD37 on AR)






This explains something that has puzzled me for some time about my Merkel 140-2, 470NE double rifle. I’ve had three people accidently double that rifle by pulling the back trigger first, and everyone says this is a malfunction.

Like you found the makers say the rifle was designed to fire the front trigger first. The right trigger has a slightly lighter trigger pull than the back trigger. Now I know why the maker says this. It is because of the inertia trigger block on the left trigger (an interseptor). That allows the right trigger to be lighter without being a “SET “ trigger on the big bores for pin point accuracy.

The strange thing is, I often fire the back trigger first to select a solid that is almost always loaded in that barrel, with a soft point in the right barrel. I have never had a double discharge on this rifle myself in ten years.

This is the way I load this rifle when leaving the hunting car. My reason for this is, I want a soft for the first shot on anything but elephant, and the second shot to be a solid for a possible going away shot.

Thank you for the pictures!

....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1
DRSS Charter member
"If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982

Hands of Old Elmer Keith

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
So, for us peons, how would a rifle double when pressing the rear trigger first?
Peter.

That is a fair question, but one I thought I had already answered!

Normally the front trigger is filed to a lighter pull than the back trigger, and for a rifle without intercepting sears,(like the Merkels) that stops the tumblers from going off from the recoil of the other barrel, the lighter the off side trigger pull the more likely it will be dislodged by the recoil of the other barrel. This is the case with Merkel double rifle in my experience the front trigger is always much lighter pull than the back trigger. IMO, that is the way they should be, the light trigger pull on the first barrel fired is so one can make a better placed first shot. this is the same reason the smaller double rifle are normally fitted with a set trigger on the right (FRONT) trigger for a better accurate first shot.


The Merkel double rifle is not normally fitted with interceptors, so a “mechanical” doubling can occur from the recoil of the left barrel, disengaging the very light sear engagement of the right barrel. The doubling of the left barrel when pulling the right trigger first is usually caused by what is known a “STRUMMING” with the trigger finger slipping off the front trigger, and contacting the back trigger setting it off as well. This is the result of poor shooter control.

SO!!!! If you want to fire the back trigger first on a double rifle, then the trigger pull on the front trigger needs to be heavy enough to avoid the mechanical doubling!

Additionally, if proper trigger control is maintained there is no need to fire the back trigger first, unless you simply like it that way. If you like it that way then have a smith make the trigger pull on the right barrel heavier, or suffer doubling!

…………………………. ........................................

There was a discussion back in 2011 about double discharge and at that time I was posting about a 470NE Merkel double rifle that others had doubled that 470NE Merkel when they pulled the back trigger first. The two passages above the first one from that old thread, and the next was the answer found on NE with pictures of a inertia sear block actuated by the recoil of the right barrel, for the left barrel, because Merkel made the rifle to be fired with the front trigger first (right barrel) which is cut for lighter pull for precision shot placement with the first shot. This also so the left barrels trigger can be lighter pull as well but not be tripped by the recoil of the right barrel being fired. Now we have the answer below over a year later. The reason this was a mystery was so puzzeling was others had DDs with my rifle but I didn't when I pulled the back trigger first. In my case I seemed to have the touch, but others didn't it seems. Neither of use had DDs when the right trigger was pulled first. Answer below!

quote:

By DUBOY1:from NE (MacD37 on AR)






This explains something that has puzzled me for some time about my Merkel 140-2, 470NE double rifle. I’ve had three people accidently double that rifle by pulling the back trigger first, and everyone says this is a malfunction, and claims this cant happen on a double rifle that is not defective. The rifle is not defective just designed to fire the right barrel first. When firing front trigger first the left trigger/sear are blocked by the inertia opperated interceptor. The real fix would be to install this on both barrels.

Like you found the makers say the rifle was designed to fire the front trigger first. The right trigger has a slightly lighter trigger pull than the back trigger. Now I know why the maker says this. It is because of the inertia trigger block on the left trigger (an interseptor). That allows the right trigger to be lighter without being a “SET “ trigger on the big bores for pin point accuracy.However this sometimes causes the light trigger pull on the front trigger be set off by the recoil frm the left barrel being fired first.

The strange thing is, I often fire the back trigger first to select a solid that is almost always loaded in that barrel, with a soft point in the right barrel. I have never had a double discharge on this rifle myself in ten years.

This is the way I load this rifle when leaving the hunting car. My reason for this is, I want a soft for the first shot on anything but elephant, and the second shot to be a solid for a possible going away shot.

Thank you for the pictures!

...................................................................................................

....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1
DRSS Charter member
"If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982

Hands of Old Elmer Keith

quote:

Originally posted by vangulik:
Being new to double rifles, I had not heard of doubling due to strumming before. What errors in shooting technique lead to it and how is it best avoided?

....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1
DRSS Charter member
"If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982

Hands of Old Elmer Keith

quote:

Originally posted by vangulik:
Thanks very much for the information. I will try to follow it when I first fire my recently purchased double rifle.

....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1
DRSS Charter member
"If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982

Hands of Old Elmer Keith