500 NE Merkel

[JJBooysen]

Good day

I have purchased a 500 NE Merkel and want to start reloading the gun.
I have all the reloading equipment but dont have a load to work from.
If anyone could please advise me what to do it would be much appreciated.

Regards
JJ Booysen

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

JJ,
Welcome to the forum. Where are you from?

 

[JJBooysen]

JJ,
Welcome to the forum. Where are you from?

South Africa

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I'm loading 100gr S365 in front of a 570gr Swift A Frame. Velocity of 2070 fps.

 

[JJBooysen]

Here is my number if you can contact me on whatsapp please.

[redacted]

 

[Foxi]

this can help.
Is your caliber 3" ???
Good luck and have fun.
A few pics of your gun please.
Foxi

 

[grand veneur]

I also have some data in various reloading manuals, but I don't quite understand why @JJBooysen needs reloading data. The double rifle from Merkel was surely regulated with something, but certainly not with cartridges loaded with Cordite. Therefore, it would be interesting to have some more information about this rifle and if possible the cartridges used in it before.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I also have some data in various reloading manuals, but I don't quite understand why @JJBooysen needs reloading data. The double rifle from Merkel was surely regulated with something, but certainly not with cartridges loaded with Cordite. Therefore, it would be interesting to have some more information about this rifle and if possible the cartridges used in it before.

You are not bound to only use the ammo that your double was regulated to.

 

[grand veneur]

You are not bound to only use the ammo that your double was regulated to.

Absolutely right, but in this case it is about something else. It is clear to everyone that you need data to load cartridges, but before I release data in the Net, I do like to know who I am giving this data and to have more informations about the rifle and the cartridges used before, if knows. This is also a guarantee for the seriousness of the request.

 

[widetrackjack]

Good day

I have purchased a 500 NE Merkel and want to start reloading the gun.
I have all the reloading equipment but dont have a load to work from.
If anyone could please advise me what to do it would be much appreciated.

Regards
JJ Booysen

JJ, Don’t forget the wadding on top of the powder if you are loading with faster or position sensitive powders! You may build excessive pressures and split cases if you don’t! My 2 cents.
Widetrack.

 

[widetrackjack]

JJ, Don’t forget the wadding on top of the powder if you are loading with faster or position sensitive powders! You may build excessive pressures and split cases if you don’t! My 2 cents.
Widetrack.

FYI…. I learned this lesson the hard way.

 

[JJBooysen]

View attachment 723127
this can help.
Is your caliber 3" ???
Good luck and have fun.
A few pics of your gun please.
Foxi

what does the 3" mean please

 

[JJBooysen]

fhe

I also have some data in various reloading manuals, but I don't quite understand why @JJBooysen needs reloading data. The double rifle from Merkel was surely regulated with something, but certainly not with cartridges loaded with Cordite. Therefore, it would be interesting to have some more information about this rifle and if possible the cartridges used in it before.

reason why I need reloading data is that I do not want to load something that wil blow my face off so thats why i will rather ask people opinions and people who deal with the calibre and hunt with it so that i know when I reload it is the correct amounts to ensure that eveything goes smooth, so that is why I came onto this page to ask what I must do.

 

[grand veneur]

The reason why I need reloading data is that I do not want to load something that will blow my face off so thats why i will rather ask people opinions and people who deal with the calibre and hunt with it so that i know when I reload it is the correct amounts to ensure that everything goes smooth, so that is why I came onto this page to ask what I must do.

You cannot blow your face off with a modern double rifle and by using current factory loads, provided there is no manufacturing defect and the rifle is not in a poor condition. Nowadays, rifles and ammunition are matched. It is sure that one should not use old big bore cartridges found somewhere.

Reloading cartridges for a modern double rifle is primarily a financial consideration by duplication factory loads, not a safety concern. It is different for some of us who own old double rifles, all of which were regulated with cartridges loaded with Cordite and where we often don't know exactly the condition of the rifle. In these cases, one has to try to duplicate old loads and, for safety reasons, use often somewhat reduced loads. I don't believe that your double rifle from Merkel falls into this category.

 

[Foxi]

what does the 3" mean please

The .500 Nitro Express caliber is available in two different case lengths, even though it is one and the same caliber.
3 inch and 3 1/4 inch case length.
The standard is likely to be 3".
The English cartridge designations are not always easy to understand (500/465 ? ),
But measuring the cartridge chamber (or having it measured) is not difficult.

Stupid question I know,but are there no firearms testing centers in the USA?
(found no other word for Beschußamt)
I had my self-loaded .458 measured beforehand, because I didn't want the wind blowing in my face and messing up my hair or worse.

 

[grand veneur]

Merkel has not been manufacturing these kind of safari rifles forever. The rifle will most likely chamber the 3" cartridge.

@JJBooysen stay in South Africa.

 

[CAustin]

Good day

I have purchased a 500 NE Merkel and want to start reloading the gun.
I have all the reloading equipment but dont have a load to work from.
If anyone could please advise me what to do it would be much appreciated.

Regards
JJ Booysen

Welcome to AH

 

[MacJenkins]

I had a 500 Merkel for a few years. Mine regulated well in the mid 90 grains of reloader 15 with a 570 woody. Reason I am not giving you the exact charge as my reloader 15 lot is likely not a similar burn speed to your reloader 15.

 

[Russ16]

Download the Hornady reloading app. You can then buy the whole reloading manual or for a lower price the data for individual cartridges. That will give you a solid starting point.

Good luck and welcome to the site.