A local gun store has a new Merkel 7mm mag break top single shot rifle. I wonder about using such a high pressure cartridge in a break top action.

500 grains,

It will work fine. I've seen them and the Blaser (I think that is what is was), and their owners had excellent luck with them.

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
www.slatesafaris.com

7mm Rem Mag Page www.slatesafaris.com/7mm.htm

a double rifle used to kill dangerous african game is a top break action!!!! the encore is a top break action!!!! they both chamber those rifles to heavy hunting calibers. H&R chambers big game hunting calibers in their top break single shots, that sell for as little as $200!!!!....they may have slight variances in how they actually lock up, and one may be have more strength than the next, but they all are strong enough.....bob

500grains

Provided this is the latest model Merkel break-top gun, you should be OK. They seem to have "adopted" the Blaser locking system, and that will handle the magnum calibers. Any other break-top gun, I'd be more than sceptical. Mind you, a rimmed cartridge is always of advantage in a break-top gun - simplifies the extraction system.

Check Merkel Hunting Arms - English for a few pictures - you can even surf around a bit for various other combination type guns too (Drillings and what have you )

- mike

[ 03-04-2003, 02:31: Message edited by: mho ]

500grains,

GSI the Merkel importer for the US also has some information:

http://gsifirearms.com/product/m-k1-main.html

I understand that if the scope mount is not included with the rifle, it is an expensive add-on.

jim dodd

I have a merkel k-1 breakaction in 9.3X74R. Presently in to GSI for repairs, and to be fit to a second barrel: a 7X65R.

Light rifle, kicks like hell with the 9.3, and I would suppose it would do teh same with a 7mm magnum.

Accuracy is guaranteed to be 1.5 MOA, and I have got better with mine.

The repairs being done are to fix a malfunction in the safety/trigger setting mechanism that made it inoperable and unsafe. I will have a full report when it comes back, but until then I am waiting for fairness.

Regarding the scope rings: $ 350 dollars a pair.

Best regards,

Jameister

About how much did you spend for that 9.3/74R that you got from Merkel? How long did you have it before the trigger/safety problem arose? The reasons for the questions.....I've never had any functioning problems with Model 70 Winchesters out of the custom shop (bolt action). To my estimation, the bolt action would be more complicated and more apt to malfunction. Please enlighten me here as I really don't know. I have always wanted a 9.3X74R double and have been vascilating between Merkel and Kreighoff. And, here is my concern. If I spend big bucks for a custom double, and I'm eyeball to eyeball with a big buff, I sure as hell don't want any functioning problems with the gun no matter what the cost. Thanks, Mike

I have a break open single shot Blaser K95 in 7RM, it will take high pressure without problems. I have fired way to hot loads in my rifle by mistake (not mine...is it ever?) and besides being hard to open it suffered no ill effects. The merkel uses the same system, I think its called a J�eger lock, it has a locking block that locks up in the barrel. The action itself is made from aluminium.

The statement made by others on this thread about double rifles being chambered for big bore calibers must be strong to take the pressure is BS of course, a regular break open double (or single with a shotgun-type lock) does not handle high pressure very well. The nitro express cartr. are all very low pressure cartridges because of the break open rifles lack of extraction force and action strength.

The problem with high pressure rounds in shotgun-type actions is seen in scandinavia �cause people buy drillings (double shotgun with a rifle barrel underneath) or combination guns and opt for bolt action chamberings like the 6,5x55, it frequently shoots the action loose becaus of high pressure wearing the action down. the european R cartridges have rimmed cases to remedy lack of extraction power and are loaded to lower pressure to suit the weaker action of the double rifles.

As a side note Blaser has developed a double rifle with barrel lock up that should take any high pressure chambering.

Tron

Safely handling a cartridge and acceptably handling a cartridge are two different things. Thomson Center's contender design was marginal in that it was limited by backthrust. It could handle high pressure small diameter cases but larger head sizes dictated lower pressures. Most people believed they solved this with the encore. However, I think they just moved the bar up. My wife's cousin had an encore barrel built in 257STW. I predicted correctly what would happen. The first rounds function great. The second or third loading always ended in a case separation. Everything looks perfect. The problem is flex in this type of action. Unless, as pointed out, some form of positive lockup is provided, then a break action (whether single or double) is not a good choice for a high intensity cartridge.

"How long did you have it before the trigger/safety problem arose?"

I put probably 50 shots through the single barrel before the problem arose.

I do not wish to speculate about cause, but assure you that the single shot k-1 is a completely different rifle from the merkel SXS and OU double rifles. I have a SXS 9.3 that has sent hundreds of rounds flawlessly. It has a conventional third lockup, tang safety, and trigger set up. No problmes, and I have a few loads that show less than 2 MOA promise. WHich is not bad for a medium bore double rifle at 100 yards!!

The single shot K-1 problem is perplexing. Something within the cocking-safety action stuck or broke, keeping the cocking slide from properly engaging and cocking the trigger. At one point, taking the rifle off safe sent the firing pin, and discharged the firearm, even though it did not appear to be fully cocked. This is when I sent it back to GSI for repair.

The strange thing is that after the rifle discharged inappropriately, the cocking slide returned to working OK.

My hope is that a broken piece is found, and that the malfunction can be identified as fixed.

My fear is that nothing can be found to be out of whack, and I would be left with uncertainty regarding the premature discharge.

I am waiting for a report back from specialist at GSI.