New Merkel Update

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I am off on a business trip today and am going to look at some models of Verney Carron.

Paul Truccolo, an AH member and fellow Aussie, has VC double if memory serves me correctly. He's busy with his outfitting business up north chasing those buffalo you have. I would keep an eye out for his return to AH or send him a PM. Paul is a great gent and will give you the skinny on a VC.

If you really want to get crazy, hop the flight to Dallas for the Dallas Safari Club. VC was on display there last year. It would be my guess they'll be at the SCI convention too. That may seem a bit on the extreme side, but when investing in a firearm of this value, perhaps it's worth it.

 

[Heym 88]

I guess I'm partial..but talking you out of a Heym?????? Wonder what his reasons for that were. If it's price difference then I fully understand. If it's anything else........

 

[Heym 88]

Reckless, sounds like a bunch of BS! And they definitely need a kick in the ass if they talked you out of a Heym! They owe you big time, they need to really step up and attempt to whip out this bad memory.

You got that right!

 

[Reckless]

latest report . re the MiA Merkel............nothing. still the story is that the gunsmith is "still" trying to make the part (not one to be had in the world) got a great deal on an immaculate Beretta silver sable in 9.3x74 on Friday so that one is on its way to me from a very helpful and sympathetic gun dealer in Melbourne (Thanks Angelo Grassi) As soon as I get any news on the never ending story of the merkel I will post for those that have helped me cope with their supportive comments. Anybody had any experience with the Beretta?

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

latest report . re the MiA Merkel............nothing. still the story is that the gunsmith is "still" trying to make the part (not one to be had in the world) got a great deal on an immaculate Beretta silver sable in 9.3x74 on Friday so that one is on its way to me from a very helpful and sympathetic gun dealer in Melbourne (Thanks Angelo Grassi) As soon as I get any news on the never ending story of the merkel I will post for those that have helped me cope with their supportive comments. Anybody had any experience with the Beretta?

Beretta makes top quality double rifles IMO, hunted a while with friend of mines O/U 458 win... This is where my love for the O/U double began... The beretta handled well and was spot on with everything I did with it... Good craftsmanship as well.

 

[Hogpatrol]

latest report . re the MiA Merkel............nothing. still the story is that the gunsmith is "still" trying to make the part (not one to be had in the world) got a great deal on an immaculate Beretta silver sable in 9.3x74 on Friday so that one is on its way to me from a very helpful and sympathetic gun dealer in Melbourne (Thanks Angelo Grassi) As soon as I get any news on the never ending story of the merkel I will post for those that have helped me cope with their supportive comments. Anybody had any experience with the Beretta?

Spent my last 50 years in front of machine tools & I build my own rifles. Gunsmiths don't "try" to make a part. They can either make it or they can't. My call? For whatever reason, you are being handed a line of buffalo dung. If you can get that part back, take it to a machine shop and get it made. Hell, you could have sent it to someone in the states and had it made by now.

 

[enysse]

Spent my last 50 years in front of machine tools & I build my own rifles. Gunsmiths don't "try" to make a part. They can either make it or they can't. My call? For whatever reason, you are being handed a line of buffalo dung. If you can get that part back, take it to a machine shop and get it made. Hell, you could have sent it to someone in the states and had it made by now.

I agree 100 percent !!!

 

[bassasdaindia]

Beretta makes top quality double rifles IMO, hunted a while with friend of mines O/U 458 win... This is where my love for the O/U double began... The beretta handled well and was spot on with everything I did with it... Good craftsmanship as well.

hi jaco

sorry to hijack the thread,but I would like to hear your view on the 458 win caliber

thanks

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

Modern powders and projectiles have placed it on an equal foot with most stoppers IMO.


My best always

 

[bassasdaindia]

Modern powders and projectiles have placed it on an equal foot with most stoppers IMO.


My best always

my objective would be to use it as a bush rifle with a 400g and not a 500g bullet.

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

Possible, and would work very well as you said... but as a stopper I would opt for the 500gr. And at modern velocities of around 2100 - 2200 fps it would be more than adequate, I have seen them work really well.

My best always

 

[bassasdaindia]

Possible, and would work very well as you said... but as a stopper I would opt for the 500gr. And at modern velocities of around 2100 - 2200 fps it would be more than adequate, I have seen them work really well.

My best always

thank you,much appreciated

 

[Cliffy]

I'm not a double rifle expert by any means but I did grow up in a machine shop and I have been a licensed Aircraft mechanic for 50 years AND I do hog some metal now and then on my own machines (don't call me a machinist as I'm way to slow to make a living at it) but has the guy making the part determined what the exact material is? What the hardness is on a Rockwell machine? Was it tempered in a certain way by Mekel? Were the specs for the item received from Merkel? All this goes into "duplicating" a part. Especially a part integral to ones life like on a dangerous game rifle! The other question I have is- can the part be, in fact, broken just by removing the fore arm?
This is tough one to take when all you wanted was a good rifle to hunt with. My best wishes go to you on the outcome.

 

[Stocky]

Hmmmm, been shopping for a double myself. Just crossed Merkel off my list...

 

[Reckless]

Hey guy,s. For those that have not lost interest in this one, the Merkel has finally arrived. I must say after all of the issues the rifle itself is very good and I am pleased with it. I also got hold of a fine silver sable Beretta in the same 9.3 x 74 calibre. When I can work out how to post pics I will show them both. Thanks for the comments and interest shown.

 

[A.Sharpe]

I have been following this thread. Very glad to see all worked out. I do not understand company's today. If I worked for Merkel, I would have jumped threw hoops to make it right. Lets face it, the double rifle market is a small group of people as compared to most sporting rifles. With guns of this price range , quality is demanded and expected. I make custom knives ,I know that your name is everything in business. One dissatisfied customer will cost you 10. You handled this much more graciously than I would have.

 

[Heym 88]

+1 You got that right!

 

[enysse]

I agree customer service should be #1.

 

[Stocky]

I held my first Merkel at a Cabelas in Michigan week before last. The thought of pulling the trigger on one of those .470 NE barrels with that skinny little buttstock on my shoulder frankly leaves me rather cold.

You guys really do that? Not very often I hope.

:hail::hail:

 

[AkMike]

Despite the problems here if I were shopping for a fresh DR, Merkel would be towards the top of my list.

That 'skinny little stock' works just fine too.