Completing the battery.....

I recently purchased a slightly used Merkel 140AE 450-400 NE 3" I have only shot 40 shots with it, but so far it meets my expectations. Perfectly functional, reasonably accurate and regulated with Hornady ammunition, and fits me like a good shotgun. The only flaw I have discovered was a front sight that was too high for me. So it shot low. Perhaps I view / hold the sights differently than the person who regulated it. In any case it was an easy and cheap modification to purchase and install a lower front sight. I have no other doubles with which to compare, and little experience to share, but I am satisfied up to now.
 
HWL said:
Hi folks...

I have the chance to buy a quite new Merkel 140 AE in .450/400 NE...

For a long time, I am looking for a SxS, that, in a pinch, can handle every game africa has to offer.

I am not a professional but a "client"...

.... and I do not look for a "charge stopper",....but for the all around rifle.

Is a double in .450/400 NE the right tool?


HWL
Click to expand...
I have just purchased a used Merkel 140 500 NE. I bought it after buying three different bolt actions in 458 Win Mag and Lott. Two of them had feed problems that so far I have not been able to get fixed. The other one is no where near as accurate as the other two but it feeds excellent. However, I just got tired of messing with them and out of a fit of desperation I bought the Merkel. It put a dent in my billfold twice as much as the bolt guns all three put together but, it put two shots within two inches at forty yards offhand using reloaded Woodleigh 570 grain softpoints. If I make it to Africa this will be the gun I take. Reliability is of the essence. I think there are bolt actions out there that are super reliable. I think you will pay about as much for those bolt guns as you will a good double. That's just my own opinion and experience thus far.
 
Finally, it became a Ruger #1 in .450/400 NE 3"....

:whistle:

HWL
 
Congratulations. Good rifle with a strong track record.
 
crs said:
Congratulations. Good rifle with a strong track record.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I still feel the strong demand for an african double...

:sneaky:

HWL
 
I cannot speak of Merkel , but l know a little about the caliber .
My best friend and hunting colleague uses a .450 /400 double rifle by Westley Richards . I had a chance to fire about 12 rounds through it. It is lighter and recoils less than my .450 NE double rifle made by Ribgy . I have seen him take a elephant with his one. But another time , the .450/ 400 solid failed to penetrate another elephant's vitals , and our my friend's professional hunter had to step in , and use a Winchester Model 70 in .458 Magnum to dispatch the elephant.
My friend uses Hornady ammunition , just like l do.
My humble observations are that it is a very good weapon for the occasional elephant , but l wouldn't use it for long term Elephant shooting or Buffalo shooting . If you plan on shooting lots of game in the future , l would recommend stepping up to a .450 NE
 
4 Bore said:
I cannot speak of Merkel , but l know a little about the caliber .
My best friend and hunting colleague uses a .450 /400 double rifle by Westley Richards . I had a chance to fire about 12 rounds through it. It is lighter and recoils less than my .450 NE double rifle made by Ribgy . I have seen him take a elephant with his one. But another time , the .450/ 400 solid failed to penetrate another elephant's vitals , and our my friend's professional hunter had to step in , and use a Winchester Model 70 in .458 Magnum to dispatch the elephant.
My friend uses Hornady ammunition , just like l do.
My humble observations are that it is a very good weapon for the occasional elephant , but l wouldn't use it for long term Elephant shooting or Buffalo shooting . If you plan on shooting lots of game in the future , l would recommend stepping up to a .450 NE
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with the 450/400 NE, your friend just needs to step up to premium grade ammo when hunting DG.

Yes bigger is always better if you cab handle it but using non premium ammo in a larger caliber will not solve the problem.

When hunting DG, the price off ammo should be the last consideration.
 
IvW said:
Nothing wrong with the 450/400 NE, your friend just needs to step up to premium grade ammo when hunting DG.

Yes bigger is always better if you cab handle it but using non premium ammo in a larger caliber will not solve the problem.

When hunting DG, the price off ammo should be the last consideration.
Click to expand...
Sir , the part about the premium grade ammo you mentioned , is interesting. I also use Hornady Ammunition ( 480 grain Dangerous Game Solids ) for my .450 NE Rigby Double. Is it a bad brand ?
 
4 Bore said:
Sir , the part about the premium grade ammo you mentioned , is interesting. I also use Hornady Ammunition ( 480 grain Dangerous Game Solids ) for my .450 NE Rigby Double. Is it a bad brand ?
Click to expand...

For DG yes,
there are much better bullets out there to use.
 
A 400gr .410 bullet has a sufficient sectional density to reach the vitals on any reasonable shot, assuming proper bullet behavior.

The shot was either ill--advised or the bullet failed (or the hunter mistakenly used a soft).

My $0.02.
 
4 Bore said:
Could you recommend me some good brands for .450 NE ammunition ?
Click to expand...

What brands are
available in Bangladesh?

How is it that you are able to own 2 rifles and a shotgun in Bangladesh? and being able to order another from England?

I was under the assumption that a person could only own one rifle and one handgun and the laws were quite strict?
 
I cannot find any Premium factory ammo in the U.S. for the 450 NE, with a search on ammoseek.com.

Would appear to be a handloading proposition.
 
IvW said:
What brands are
available in Bangladesh?

How is it that you are able to own 2 rifles and a shotgun in Bangladesh? and being able to order another from England?

I was under the assumption that a person could only own one rifle and one handgun and the laws were quite strict?
Click to expand...
Officially , that WAS the law. But there are MANY ways around that law . A lot of people here own a rifle AND a shotgun . I have licenses for two guns : The .450 NE and the 12 bore Beretta over under shotgun .
Regarding the 4 bore Smoothbore l am getting , you have ways to get the license for that too .
The 7mm Rigby Mauser on Paper , belongs to my grandfather . But since he always goes with me to my Safaris , l have full access to that gun :)
 
tarbe said:
A 400gr .410 bullet has a sufficient sectional density to reach the vitals on any reasonable shot, assuming proper bullet behavior.

The shot was either ill--advised or the bullet failed (or the hunter mistakenly used a soft).

My $0.02.
Click to expand...
Your theory is correct , sir . The bullet did Break , but it was a solid
 
4 Bore said:
Officially , that WAS the law. But there are MANY ways around that law . A lot of people here own a rifle AND a shotgun . I have licenses for two guns : The .450 NE and the 12 bore Beretta over under shotgun .
Regarding the 4 bore Smoothbore l am getting , you have ways to get the license for that too .
The 7mm Rigby Mauser on Paper , belongs to my grandfather . But since he always goes with me to my Safaris , l have full access to that gun :)
Click to expand...

And you are a lawyer @ 22 years of age?

They have a short course for that as well?:confused:
 
IvW said:
And you are a lawyer @ 22 years of age?

They have a short course for that as well?:confused:
Click to expand...
Yes . The law course is 3 years. I started first year in when l turned 17 .
And l forgot to answer one of your questions .
Here , we have Hornady and Federal ammunition as most popular , sir :)
 
4 Bore said:
Yes . The law course is 3 years. I started first year in when l turned 17 .
And l forgot to answer one of your questions .
Here , we have Hornady and Federal ammunition as most popular , sir :)
Click to expand...

Makes for an easy choice then.
 
4 Bore said:
You recommend federal over Hornady ? I have never seen a federal .450 NE load , sir
Click to expand...

Exactly!

Good luck to you, cheers.
 
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