I entered a post earlier about my Merkel .500 NE. Well, I would like to add a little more. Yesterday I was practising with it and had a double discharge. If you have ever had a double discharge from a .500NE you will agree with me that it certainly gets your attention. I couldn't figure out what happened until I turned the rifle on its side. The front trigger was bent right back against the rear trigger and was just touching it, so when I pulled the front trigger it would push against the rear trigger and so the double discharge. How the front trigger can bend like this is beyond me, because as far as I see the forces are working in the opposite direction. I ended up straightening the trigger and I'll be buggered if I can bend it with normal operation and giving it a bloody good squeeze. I heard about this once before happening but couldn't understand how it could possibly happen so just thought it was some made up crap you hear occasionally. Maybe it's because they are made on shotgun actions and the parts aren't up to it, who knows. Anyway I am fast loosing confidence with it and luckily I have been offered the sale of an English double rifle, which I will probably take.
I'm not a Merkel hater or anything like that, but I do believe in mentioning these sorts of issues. Now I'm fairly certain this wouldn't happen on their smaller doubles.