I had a Merkel K1 in 300 Win Mag.

He had a Luxus Model 11 Custom FQ in 280 Rem.


Been wanting a Luxus for quite a spell.

Now he has the Merkel, and I have the Luxus.

Waiting on the Talley rings...........












Screws have been timed



nice fit and finish all around.



I'm pleased.


Best,

GWB

GWB, that's the caliber I went with...seemed about right for a svelte little single. I later added a 260 Rem barrel.

I'm thinking about checking on either a 250-3000 or 25-06 barrel as a compliment.

Best

GWB

Great looking rifle and my favorite caliber.

Geedubya,
I have the 243 and an extra 260 Rem bbl in the Model 11. I also have some additional Talley QD rings, 30mm, should you need another set.

Nice catch there GWB. I foresee more dead hogs.

Looks kind of squarest to me. But would have to handle one to know how it feels.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
Looks kind of squarest to me. But would have to handle one to know how it feels.

Not sure what you mean by squarest.

If you're commenting on the square corners of the wood at the break point just in front of the trigger guard, I know what you mean. In my hand the point of balance is just in front of the trigger guard.




Due to the size of my hands, the width and the sharp edges of the wood at the point of balance is somewhat offputting.



Unlike the Merkel, whose petite nature fits and balances perfectly in my hand.
I think with the Luxus, the nature of the design of the action predicates as wider stock at the balance point. May take a look at rounding the edges and refinishing the forearm grip. Will be mounting a scope this week. Will see if that changes the point of balance .

However, the squareness will not be an insurmountable problem as I do very little spot and stalk. Usually to and from. Most of the carry will be either slung, or in a pack scabbard.



Anyway, I wanted one and got it right IMHO. I’ll develop a load and shoot it. The fit, finish, looks, accuracy and trigger are the factors that will determine whether I keep it or blow it out.

Best,

GWB

quote:

If you're commenting on the square corners of the wood at the break point just in front of the trigger guard, I know what you mean. In my hand the point of balance is just in front of the trigger guard.

that is what I mean

Can you comment on the pros and cons of the Merkel and Luxus? I see where you have landed, but I was wondering.... That funny lever thing (cocking device) just looks kinda weird to me!
Peter.

Please let us know how it shoots after you've had a chance to take it to the range.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Can you comment on the pros and cons of the Merkel and Luxus? I see where you have landed, but I was wondering.... That funny lever thing (cocking device) just looks kinda weird to me!
Peter.

Peter, I'll craft a response and post it here.


WBT,

I'm waiting on rings and dies. Should be in today. I'll craft a few loads. I'll post the result, prolly next week.


Best

GWB

Nice Rifle GWB.I wanted to buy one of these,but decided to spend the money on an Alaskan hunt next year with my Son.

OB,

For what I got in the rifle you couldn't even do a non-trophy white-tail hunt here in Tx. Maybe 1/4th of an elk hunt.

Nice thing about bustin' hogs at my lease. It's relatively inexpensive as hunting goes.

Mebbe one day I'll quit buying rifles and start paying to hunt sommers' good.

Best

GWB

GW,
Package is on its way to you.

I have a M11 in a 6BR. It is a fine shooting iron you will be pleased.

Ed

charlie - shoot a couple of pigs with that thing for me please

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Can you comment on the pros and cons of the Merkel and Luxus? I see where you have landed, but I was wondering.... That funny lever thing (cocking device) just looks kinda weird to me!
Peter.

Sir,
This is just one man’s opinion, and I tend to ramble so take away from this what you will.
I like blue steel, especially when comforted by the warmth of well figured and fitted wood. Stainless and wood is a distant second, but will suffice in a pinch.
I like deals. If I can get a rifle for 60% of the MSRP, that is very attractive. That price point gives one selling/trading power. A rifle bought at that price can usually be sold at par, or many times at a profit should something else come along that one cannot live without.
I like single shot rifles, having owned a half dozen each of Ruger #1’s, Highwalls (Brownings & Winchester) Contenders, NEF’s, H&R’s, and a dozen Coopers in models 21, 22, & 38.
I’ve now had 3 Merkels in my possession, two Stalkers (300 Win. Mag, 9.3 x 74R)and 1 Jagd Stutzen (7mm-08).
This is my first Luxus. I’ve only fondled one other Luxus so I don’t have a large experience base to judge mine against others.





So here goes.
These rifles are similar in that they have excellent material, workmanship, fit and finish. They are a joy to behold and fondle. Of course as with many material possessions, the owners’ ego plays a significant role. I do love the “ooh and aaahhh” factor at the deer lease when I pull out one of these. In the past I come up to my lease with my old ’97 Ford 350, stay in my truck-bed camper for which I paid $100. We’ve a guy on our lease who is the adopted son of one of our members. He lives in Washington State, flies down in his $750K Beechcraft and stay in his $50K RV. It drives him bat shit crazy when I pull out the Merkels, a Sako and a couple Coopers.


And here are some particulars in random order.

Both are single shot, break open actions, rather than those featured by Wichester, Browning or Ruger#1.

The Luxus breaks open by squeezing the trigger guard. The Merkel, but pushing the lever mounted on the tang to the right.





Each has extractors rather than ejectors. If you are familiar with the highwall or number 1’s they will positively eject the shell when the lever is depressed/cocked.



With both the Merkel and Luxus tilting the break open action mechanically forces the spent shell rearward about ¼’. At that point it is necessary to use the thumb and index finger to remove the spent shell. The Merkel has an internal cocking mechanism. The luxus has a hammer that is cocked by a side lever. The Merkel has a tang mounted safety that has to be pushed forward to actuate the firing mechanism. To de-cock the Luxus, you must hold the lever and pull the trigger.
The Merkels break down much like an over/under shotgun in that you depress a catch and remove the fore-end. Push the lever on the topside tang and break open and detach the barrel. The Luxus is much like a Thompson Center Contender or Encore. A single screw attaches the fore-arm to the hanger bar mounted to the underside of a barrel. The barrel is then removed by driving in the center pin located in the action.
No tools are required to break down the Merkel, unlike the Luxus. Advantage, Merkel.
I looked for almost a year for a particular barrel and fore-end, even contacting Steyer Arms directly to no avail on acquiring another barrel for my Merkel. A friend of mine has 3 barrels for his Luxus. Advantage Luxus.
Sling swivels v sling studs.





I almost always sling my hunting rifles. I enjoy using an quick adjusting sling for carrying and as a shooting aide.
Both the Luxus’ and the Merkel come with barrel bands for the front sling attachment. The Luxus has studs. The Merkel’s have swivels. I prefer the studs to which I can attach a quick release sling, then quickly remove when changing to other rifles, or for transporting to and from my domicile to where I’ll be hunting.

Stock Finish
I like oil finished wood. The Luxus I have has a satin oil finish that I could apply stain/ polish/oil without stripping the whole stock. The Merkels have a hard finish which will have to be stripped before repair.
Wood quality. The wood is touted as being “ Exhibition Grade on the Luxus.

Sights/ Scope Mounts.
The Merkel K1’s come with iron sights and Recknagel twist on/off ring-mounts.

I’ve not owned the K3’s as they have the Blaser type Saddle mount. The Recknagel twist mounts can be detached or attached in a heartbeat and return to zero every time of the multiple times I have broken them down.
The Luxus has a quarter-rib that is slotted for Talley Rings. Talley rings can be either fixed or Quick Release with Levers.
Some folks detest WAM’s (windage adjustable mounts). I’ve never had a problem with them. But I don’t throw my rifles onto piles of rocks or into streambeds or against trees. Neither rifle uses WAM’s.
Advantage Merkel for ease and speed. I’ve not done it but it would be a simple matter with the Merkels to have two scopes tuned to two different types of ammo or zeroed at different ranges.

Trigger

The Merkels have a 3 position external selector that adjusts between 2.1 and 3 lbs. IIRC. My Luxus is breaking at just under 3 lbs. At this point I do not know whether it is "user" adjustible or not. I prefer a trigger to break around 2 lbs or less on a hunting rifle. I do luv the set triggers on the Sakos that break around 9 oz., also. It is almost never cold enough for gloves here and I do not carry a loaded rifle to or fro, so a light trigger pull is desirable for me.

Weight/Purpose.

In effect, these rifles would be considered to be for two distinctly different purposes. I don’t see the Luxus as a lightweight “stalking “ rifle. Mine weighs 9 lbs with the 2.5 x 8 VX3 scope. With its 26” barrel and weight, it would make for an excellent “stand” rifle.
Both the K1 Jagd Stutzen (Mannlicher Carbine) and the Stalking rifle weigh 6.8 lbs., scoped.
I’ve done two elk hunts carrying a Remington Sendero. One was at 10,000’ elevation in Colorado. The other was at 7,500’ in Montana. Both involved a good deal of walking straight up and down, in the snow, carring a pack with gear. At my age, one definitely notices an extra 9 to 11 lbs.
I took the Merkel in an Eberlestock H20 Gunrunner last year in New Mexico at 7,200 ft. The difference was noticeable.
The Merkel is made by an venerable old company in Germany that been producing rifles and shotguns for centuries. It is designed to be a light fast single shot stalking rifle. It is much more refined that the Luxus.
The Luxus is the product of a Company that has been importing Turkish Walnut for years and decided to go into the business of producing and selling rifles that are stocked with the Walnut they import. It is my understanding that at first many of the procedures were farmed out. Later those operations were brought in house. As with all start-up companies refinements will be needed and will be accomplished if they continue in business.

All in all, I’d say that the Merkel K1 Jagd Stutzen in 7mm-08 is my favorite.



However, I sure do like thumping hoglets with the 9.3 x 74 R.

But being the gunwhore I am, there’s room for the Luxus. I’ll probably use it for killing stuff between 100 and 200 yds. I’ll post pix of groups/first cold barrel shot at a later date.

Best,

GWB

Wow GWB, thanks SO much for taking the time to respond to my post. Great photos and a very nice, clear analysis. Now let's see how the Luxus shoots!
Peter.