What length of pull do you need? Just took in a lightly used Merkel 500 that has had a spacer put in between the pad & the wood for a LOP of 15 1/2". I am going to try and get pics and a full description within the next few days. $7750 delivered to your FFL Email if you want the descriptionQuote:
Originally Posted by huntingbigun
ken@kebcollc.com
Not sure if you've already made your decision but I just recently acquired that very gun. I got a good deal on a Grade 2 and I couldn't pass it up. I plan to use it next year for my Cape/Leopard hunt (though obviously not on the Leopard - I'll be using a 375 for that).
This was my very first DR and my first time shooting anything over 375. I've taken it out twice thus far. The first time was out to a 25 yard private range. The objective was just to just plain shoot the darn thing offhand and have fun. I just wanted to get a feel for the handling and recoil. It definitely lets you know it's there but the recoil isn't that bad. The only time it "bit" me was when I didn't shoulder it properly - instead of the using shoulder pocket I put it in the pocket created between the shoulder and the bicep. I felt that shot for the next few days. My conclusion was that if you shoulder it properly and roll with the recoil - it's all good. I just shot 24 shots but aside from that one, didn't have any issues with it and had a blast.
The second time (actually yesterday), I took it to a public range to check how well it regulated at 50 yards. I used a "stand up rest". I took some forum member's advice and set up a firm pillow on top of two milk crates that sat on top of the wood bench at the range. I weighed the crates down with a 25# bag of shot. It was suitable for open sights. I plan to reload mostly for practice rounds but I first wanted to see how factory ammo regulated. I shot a box of 500 Grain Federal Premium Barnes XXX FB. Unfortunately, I left the house in such a rush that I forgot to take my chrono. The first 12-14 or so shot were outside the black (using an NRA SR-1 100 yard target) and low. My two barrel spread was fairly significant at about 6-8" and not consistent. I was using a sub-six hold on the black. So I raised the hold and it was still low and spread out. I wasn't worried though because I knew it was the shooter! I had the original regulation target from Krieghoff so I knew that unless the previous owner really somehow messed this rifle up, the rifle was capable of sub-2" groups at 50 meters. I know I wasn't using the same load but it couldn't be THAT off. So after experimenting with my hold techniques I realized that I couldn't see the rear sight very well. I couldn't see the clean line on the top nor the vertical white line. So I really couldn't tell where the front bead was and hold that sight picture consistently. It was a combination of my aging eyes but mostly very low light. The range positions are covered and the contrast between being in the shade and shooting at the sun-lit target was too much for my eyes. So I had my son shine a flashlight on the rear sight while I shot the next 6-8 shots (not consecutively of course). WOW - that was the trick. The pair-groups were not only in the black at 50 yards but about only 2" close to each other and just about 3-4" under the X. Now that I know the issue, I still need to play with the sight picture a bit to get to center.
When I'm shooting the "money shot" on the cape, I'll presumably be 100% outdoors so the shade/sun thing hopefully won't be an issue - I HOPE! Worse case if I can't get a good sight picture, I'll switch to my scoped 375.
Let us know what you finally got!
Have not made the call yet but glad you put a report on your gun, sounds like shot very well, heck my old 56 year old eyes I will put a cheater on it my 1X4 VR Leupold on QD mounts, The K gun seems to be a good value the grade 2 is the one I am looking at as well.
Thanks
Thanks sent ya a email Ken about the Merkel
Bigun,
Sent you a PM.