Your opinion regarding the Merkel 140AE chambered in .500 NE 3”?

Hello everyone,

I am considering the purchase of a Merkel 140AE .500 Nitro Express 3”. I would appreciate reading your general opinion, technical opinion, and experience with House of Merkel double rifles.

Thank you in advance.

Schüler Jumbo said:

Hello everyone,

I am considering the purchase of a Merkel 140AE .500 Nitro Express 3”. I would appreciate reading your general opinion, technical opinion, and experience with House of Merkel double rifles.

Thank you in advance.

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Very nice entry grade double rifles. I personally much prefer them over Sabatti or Chapuis or Rizzini.

Please be warned, however. One of my white hunters in Botswana used to own one (also chambered in .500 Nitro Express) which would double discharge whenever the front trigger was pulled first. This actually also happened to me. It was NOT a pleasant experience, I assure you.

Later, I corresponded with quite a few other hunters online who reported the same phenomenon.

Schüler Jumbo said:

Hello everyone,

I am considering the purchase of a Merkel 140AE .500 Nitro Express 3”. I would appreciate reading your general opinion, technical opinion, and experience with House of Merkel double rifles.

Thank you in advance.

Click to expand...

I owned one I hunted my lion with. Nice rifle for the money. I paid $11,000 for it used kept for a while and sold it to another AH member for $10,000

Question Hunter-Habib:

In your opinion is the double discharge of the Merkel .500 NE a specific problem for the 140AE lock works design or does it occur in other manufacturer’s doubles?

Many thanks.

I’ve had a few merkel doubles, there are better options for about the same money. If I was going to spend 10-15knon a new production double it would be a chapuis. And I would wait and see what they have coming next year….ive heard rumors of an iphisi 450-400

uplander01 said:

I’ve had a few merkel doubles, there are better options for about the same money. If I was going to spend 10-15knon a new production double it would be a chapuis. And I would wait and see what they have coming next year….ive heard rumors of an iphisi 450-400

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The 450-400 is listed in the Iphisi on the Chapuis website but I've never seen one actually in inventory anywhere.

Hunter-Habib said:

Very nice entry grade double rifles. I personally much prefer them over Sabatti or Chapuis or Rizzini.

Please be warned, however. One of my white hunters in Botswana used to own one (also chambered in .500 Nitro Express) which would double discharge whenever the front trigger was pulled first. This actually also happened to me. It was NOT a pleasant experience, I assure you.

Later, I corresponded with quite a few other hunters online who reported the same phenomenon.

Click to expand...

The double discharge is due to the broken safety seer that Merkle has to prevent that. easy fix. I had it on mine as well. JJ Perodeau easily fixed it

uplander01 said:

I’ve had a few merkel doubles, there are better options for about the same money. If I was going to spend 10-15knon a new production double it would be a chapuis. And I would wait and see what they have coming next year….ive heard rumors of an iphisi 450-400

Click to expand...

I would choose the Chapuis as well. I had one in 450-400 which was excellent. In my experience having owned both the clear winner is the Chapuis. It will cost you new from Champlain $14,500 with a lifetime warranty

I owned a 140 AE chambered in .450-400 3". I found it satisfactory in every way. I did send it to a gunsmith to have it re-regulated for the ammunition I had available, my only concern worth noting. I liked it, and only sold it after I had used it to take two buffalo and several local game species. I had plans for other rifles that needed their turn.

Hunter-Habib said:

Very nice entry grade double rifles. I personally much prefer them over Sabatti or Chapuis or Rizzini.

Please be warned, however. One of my white hunters in Botswana used to own one (also chambered in .500 Nitro Express) which would double discharge whenever the front trigger was pulled first. This actually also happened to me. It was NOT a pleasant experience, I assure you.

Later, I corresponded with quite a few other hunters online who reported the same phenomenon.

Click to expand...

My 470 NE Merkel doubled also. Working up regular loads with right barrel first. Pulled the trigger and found myself pushed back and starring at the ceiling wrestling the rifle...but didn't fall off the stool at the range! Happened several times. Sent it in.... came back with a much heavier trigger pull. My rifle has the right with a set trigger.... correct... a set hair-trigger. Merkel reminded me not to shoot the left barrel first as recoil would move my trigger finger to set the right. The action is compact.... but no safety sears. The Merkel is hell for stout and can take punishment.... lots of it. I've put over 1000 rounds through it... having to retighten the screws once and a while. A little nose heavy but a good gun. My Heym is "better" by nothing wrong with the Merkel.

Love mine! Never had any trouble with it but had Jj go over it in detail. Best money I ever spent. He also milled it for a red dot.

A Merkel chambered in 500NE kicks like a mule! They are too light for that chambering. I sold one for $7500 awhile back and the weight was 9.5 pounds or just slightly more but definitely less than 10 pounds. If you pay more than $7500-8000 for an ejector, then you are overpaying.

EJ

Rare Breed said:

The double discharge is due to the broken safety seer that Merkle has to prevent that. easy fix. I had it on mine as well. JJ Perodeau easily fixed it

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I second this, sent my Merkel 165 AE in .500 NE to JJ after it doubled 4 times. I promise you that once is more than enough! He also put an rmr red dot on it and have been more than happy with it since! Hyem on order now so in 2 years or so I will sell it but will hunt with it until then!!