What do you guys think of this rifle and accessories for the price. I need an entry level DR for a tuskless cow hunt in 2007. Hunting Chewore North in the "thick" stuff.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976749017.htm

Thanks.

Tim

Looks like a good deal to me. I paid over $6000 for mine new back in 2003 and it was the plain model. This has a nice piece of wood and accessories. Thirty rounds is insignificant. If that's what i wanted I'd go for it. I'm really pleased with mine.

If you get all that, it looks like a good deal!
I'd have a good recoil pad put on it to fit.

Then I'd wade into the thick stuff!

Having said that, I'd make sure the rifle was checked out by someone who knows what to look for. I know it says less than 30 rounds through it, but for the kind of money you are talking about, making sure is insurance well spent!

I have one and it shoots very well, and the only thing the merkel 470NE safari needs is a quality recoil pad. The butt plate is on all Merkel rifles, and is there so the new owner can adjust the length of pull to his own measurements by installing his recoil pad! Mine has a Kick-EZE and works like a champ. Mine has taken two bull elephant, and two buffalo, not by me, but by it's previous owner!

That rifle retails today for almost $12K, and is well worth the asking price if everything is true, especially with the belt and ammo, and oil bottle. The merkel fitted cases are very nicly made as well!

If it is what you want, I'd go for it, I love mine!

Sir,

I got an e-mail direct from Merkel in response to questions I sent. One was about the "weighting" of the rifle.

They put a weight into the stock to compensate for barrel weight. This is because the UK pattern of having 50%

of the rifle's weight based "between the hands" when shouldering the rifle is NOT followed by Merkel. Some say the

UK pattern is best for the way the rifle will swing/handle. Some others say it does NOT matter.

I AM NOT EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO RENDER AN OPINION.

Looks like a good deal to me. I have a Heym and a Merkel, and I have to say that I really enjoy the Merkel. For the money they are a good deal and generally seem to shoot very well. Mine is a .500 NE and it will shoot under 2" all day long.

Mark is the guy to deal with at First Stop. I had a good experience dealing with them.

Jim

If you send it off to JJ Perodeau to get your pad installation,I highly recommend checking out his flip up ivory front sight.I had one installed on mine + am extremely pleased.

It looks good to me. You should ask Gibbo what he thinks of the Merkel 470.
OZhunter

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
It looks good to me. You should ask Gibbo what he thinks of the Merkel 470.
OZhunter

OZhunter,

I know you have had success in Chewore North with your Merkel 470 and your 9.3x62. I also know Ian has told me in the past that he prefers his clients to use bolt action rifles.

So, what does he think of the Merkel 470?

Thanks.

Tim

Shumba,
Ian also told me that he dislikes when clients use doubles, but I think that its due to the fact that alot of people don't use their guns enough.
If you get familiar with it, no problem.
Ian was openly impressed with the Merkel and its feel and stated that it would be a great rifle for Lion follow up.
ozhunter

Shumba,
I think the Merkel is the best bang for the buck. The problem I have with the Merkel, and again this is a personal opinion, it does not have ejectors. This is an issue with me personally when it comes to dangerous game. I have friends who say they just cant the gun and out drops the cases but there might be a day when the cases stick alittle then you must manually pull them. Those few seconds could cost you dearly. The father of modern PH's, John A. Hunter once said, "A double rifle without ejectors is a piece of iron." I personally would save for a double with ejectors like the Heym PH or would use a bolt gun until I could afford a double with ejectors. A DG double with ejectors has a lot better resale than one without. Dirk

In doubles chambered for the flanged cartridges designed for double rifles, the cases can't stick once primary extraction has taken place unless the chambers have been buggered. That's endemic to the design. Extractors are just as fast as ejectors and are more reliable. I've owned and used both ejector and non-ejector double rifles for many years, and still do. The rifle I use the most has ejectors. I tolerate them with it because it's a medium bore, but I wish it didn't have them. My heavy double is a non-ejector, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Many years ago, ejector rifles brought a modest premium in the used market. As the market became more educated, that disappeared, and I haven't seen it in years.

Merkels aren't my cup of tea, but they're good, serviceable rifles. The price sounds good. Always get a used double checked out by a pro before you buy.
------------------------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

I've been using a merkel 470 for quite some time now having gotten rid of another in its place. I find that the merkel is a good quality piece trimmer and faster handling than are most. I'm not recoil sensitive so I have never used a pad and took the weight out of the butstock. I find that I carry the gun a hellofvalot more than I shoot it, but it's taken the trip over with me several times accounting for everything from impala to ele. without a problem. I've got fancier doubles, but none that work better, and I don't have to cry because the thing gets a scratch or two

I would not buy a heavy double with ejectors. I have worked on many that have ceased to work. I have never worked on extractors that quit working. Ejectors are an expensive way of asking Mr. Murphy to come along on your hunt.

I have 2 doubles with ejectors, and my 450 No2 is an extractor gun. I switch between them interchangeably on the same hunt, on the same day without a problem.
On the 450 No2 i most always pull out the brass and put it in my back pocket before I reload. If I am in a big hurry I just pluck them out and drop them on the ground.

I usually catch the empties out of the ejector gun, and then put them in my pocket as well.

No doubt an ejector gun is very slightly faster to reload... However after using both I must say it just does not matter to ME.

In the field I have never lost a case with my 450 No2, I have lost cases with the other 2 doubles.
I do not feel handicapped with the extractor 450 No2 in any way. I have shot 3 elephants at 6 yards or less.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 400 Nitro Express:
Extractors are just as fast as ejectors and are more reliable.

------------------------------------------------
Truly, extractors are more reliable, but if ejectors do go south on you just extract the cases. With reference to the speed issue there is no way that extractors are as fast as ejectors, time yourself the next time your at the range. If you are as fast with the extractors my hat goes off to you.

Thanks guys! I went ahead a bought it. I'm not a big fan of the Merkel engraving, but this seemed to be close to the cost of a used standard model (no engraving) when you factor in the value of the case, belt, ammo, etc.

I would also prefer to have ejectors, but can live with extractors for the cost savings over an ejector gun.

I have shouldered quite a few double rifles at the last SCI convention and the Merkel seemed to fit me the best. I just have to figure out what the final LOP will be when I add a pad.

Anyway, I should see the gun in person in next week. After that it is a 10 day wait (benefit of living in California) and then off to the range to test it out.

Thanks again for all of the input and advice.

Tim

quote:

Originally posted by Shumba:
Thanks guys! I went ahead a bought it. I'm not a big fan of the Merkel engraving, but this seemed to be close to the cost of a used standard model (no engraving) when you factor in the value of the case, belt, ammo, etc.

I would also prefer to have ejectors, but can live with extractors for the cost savings over an ejector gun.

I have shouldered quite a few double rifles at the last SCI convention and the Merkel seemed to fit me the best. I just have to figure out what the final LOP will be when I add a pad.

Anyway, I should see the gun in person in next week. After that it is a 10 day wait (benefit of living in California) and then off to the range to test it out.

Thanks again for all of the input and advice.

Tim

Shumba, the case comes with all Safari Merkels! The belt, and AMMO are a big plus, however!

If the Merkels fit you well, then you need to keep that length of pull after the pad is installed! These are tough little rifles, and it will serve you well! Congratulations, now one more member of DRSS!

Good choice Shumba. Welcome to the Merkel-DRSS

Congrats, if you enjoy it half as much as I enjoy my .500 NE Merkel, you will be pleased.

Congrats Shumba
You will enjoy chasing ele with it.
ozhunter