Merkel 140 reviews

[Masai]

I just got myself a Merkel A140 .470 NE and can't wait to test it. Taking it this summer to my camp in Zimbabwe and most likely will leave it there to use when I go. I bought a couple of boxes of Hornady DGX and DGS, I'll tell you how they do.

 

[Andrew Short]

I just got myself a Merkel A140 .470 NE and can't wait to test it. Taking it this summer to my camp in Zimbabwe and most likely will leave it there to use when I go. I bought a couple of boxes of Hornady DGX and DGS, I'll tell you how they do.

Congratulations!!

 

[Rare Breed]

I hear this a lot, but I wonder how much of it is real and how much just repetition of a story? The internet does that. In any event I am sure a bit of gunsmithing could solve it if it is there.
To put it to bed though please can I ask any of the Merkel double owners on here whether they have had any trigger, or other problems? Reason being we have a young learner PH who needs a double and the Merkel is so much more reasonable in SA.

i know this an old thread but the Merkle 140 cannot double fire unless the protective sear is broken. When I bought mine and asap sent it to JJ perodeau he told me it is a great feature they have but many are broken like mine…it was a fairly easy fix

 

[IvW]

i know this an old thread but the Merkle 140 cannot double fire unless the protective sear is broken. When I bought mine and asap sent it to JJ perodeau he told me it is a great feature they have but many are broken like mine…it was a fairly easy fix

Many broken like mine does not sound so good....

 

[dlmac]

I had a merkle in 416 Rigby and never had an issue. I have had issues with doubling or a semi going full auto, almost always due to falulty sear engagement. This was usually due to " improving trigger pull/weight.

 

[petander]

My Merkel 140 470 NE started doubling after 500 rounds. It is a design flaw and will happen one day,just a weak construction. Not a broken sear.

A very good gunsmith changed and re-built the whole double discharge prevention system on my rifle, now the left barrel can only fire when you actually pull the rear trigger. It is a trad german system. Absolutely reliable.

My rifle's new mechanism can be seen in the video on the starting page here:

Gunsmith Services – Nordic Gun & Riflemakers

nordicgun.fi

 

[petander]

I like the gun a lot. Surprisingly regulates with 400 grainers 2150 fps @ 50 m,too. I practise shooting clay pigeons on berm with coated cast bullets. Weight,balance and strength, everything is nice -aside from that flimsy original DD prevention system.

DD did not happen every time and it was with full power 500's. A good, keeper rifle now that it's been worked on.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

I have a 140AE in .450-400 3”. It has been reliable, accurate, and satisfactory in every way. I never believed reports of these guns “doubling” until an incident with my Beretta Silver sable 9.3x74 R. I was casually shooting targets with that gun, and neglected to hold it firmly and with my finger completely on the trigger near the first joint crease. Gun “doubled” on firing, which was a surprise, but was entirely my shooter error. If a double with two triggers is held loosely, and the trigger finger positioned with only the round tip on the front trigger, is possible for the finger to slip off during recoil and fire the rear trigger too when the gun bounces back after the first shot. That’s what happened to me with my Beretta.
So if I can make a completely reliable, proven design like the Beretta “double” through careless handling, I’m pretty sure somebody has made a Merkel “double” by doing the same.
Practise a firm grip, place trigger finger on the trigger near the first joint crease, and go slay big beasts with confidence. The Merkel won’t let you down.

I don’t own a double, but have seen this first hand, and only with the same shooter , several people ( as in at least a dozen ) had shot this rifle and at a comp, and no one else had the issue, it was filmed and in slow-mo you could see his hand slide on the trigger causing it to double, I will give the guy credit for voluntarily firing several times with a 500ne to try and work out what was happening
Gumpy

 

[Rare Breed]

I don’t own a double, but have seen this first hand, and only with the same shooter , several people ( as in at least a dozen ) had shot this rifle and at a comp, and no one else had the issue, it was filmed and in slow-mo you could see his hand slide on the trigger causing it to double, I will give the guy credit for voluntarily firing several times with a 500ne to try and work out what was happening
Gumpy

Given I have owned one the gun is built with a seer that prevents doubling. many times this breaks as mine did. JJ repaired my broken one for $500 good as new

 

[petander]

Did anyone look at the video?

Mine was rebuilt before I bought it from my 60+ years old friend who has a room full of trophies from decades of shooting competitions. He is still winning. He can shoot, it started to shoot doubles on him.

The original system was not designed for hundreds of rounds,at least not in this 2007 year 140. Thin weak metal in critical places. The gunsmith and I were both able to repeat doubling. It was not bad shooting or finger control, happend from bench as well as upright.

Look,I'm not bashing Merkel or the gun. I bought it!

I also have two other Merkels, a SxS 20 gauge (40E ???) and a SL2 combi gun 7x65R / 20. Combi gun trigger system broke, no more firing, and had to be repaired. A new "connection bar" (or transfer bar,sorry bad terminology) was made, the old one just snapped. A 30 mm long 3 mm thick steel bar anyway. Again I was informed that I had been shooting it too much, it is a hunting gun not designed for hundreds of rounds in the range. Mine has thousands and will have thousands more now.

Stuff just needs maintenance.

 

[dlmac]

Never had a rifle double or go full auto, only Govt 1911. Then I have never shot 500 rounds in anything other than my skeet, trap and target pistols. My Merkel never doubled but probably only shot 125-150 times. Like the man said these types of weapons usually are never shot more than a couple hundred rounds at most, you and yours are definitely an exception.

 

[Rare Breed]

I hear this a lot, but I wonder how much of it is real and how much just repetition of a story? The internet does that. In any event I am sure a bit of gunsmithing could solve it if it is there.
To put it to bed though please can I ask any of the Merkel double owners on here whether they have had any trigger, or other problems? Reason being we have a young learner PH who needs a double and the Merkel is so much more reasonable in SA.

If the Merkel is doubling it means the seer that stops this from happening is just broken and can be fixed by a component gunsmith. actually this seer is a great feature of the gun. I owned one and really liked it.

 

[reinwood]

Hello,

I own a 140A in 416 Rigby, never had an issue with DD.

Other question - does anyone knows the regulation distance and typical factory ammo Merkel is using? I asked the question to merkel but so far never got an answer.

 

[juan pablo pozzi]

Opinions on this rifle please. Yes, I know It’s not a heym or VC but is it dependable.

Merkel 140 AE Safari 470 N.E. with game scene - Martini Gunmakers Canada

Merkel 140 AE Safari 470 N.E. with game scene Gun is in excellent condtion! Barrels 23 5/8″ Lop 15″ to the front trigger New cleaning tools RCBS dies, Ammunition Hornady 500 DGS(67pcs) Comes with the Original hard case!

martinigunmakers.com

I have a Merkel 160AE 470NE they are excellent doubles .Very accurate and dependables

 

[farmer_john]

Whats a good price for a Merkel 140A if someone came across one?

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

I have been spending more time with my 140AE .470 NE with the goal of increasing my proficiency with a double. My objective is accuracy while increasing speed with two shots, reload, two shots. The 140 action locks up like a vault. I like my 140 quite well and have not had any problems whatsoever:

50 yards off shooting-sticks. “Green” shade is right barrel. Load is 500 gr Woodleigh RN SN at 2150 fps:

100 yards off shooting-sticks:

 

[farmer_john]

I have been spending more time with my 140AE .470 NE with the goal of increasing my proficiency with a double. My objective is accuracy while increasing speed with two shots, reload, two shots. The 140 action locks up like a vault. I like my 140 quite well and have not had any problems whatsoever:
View attachment 741984
50 yards off shooting-sticks. “Green” shade is right barrel. Load is 500 gr Woodleigh RN SN at 2150 fps:
View attachment 741985
100 yards off shooting-sticks:
View attachment 741986

How are you training?

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

20 yard target. Free style form. CED Timer. Off the belt with reload attempt. No where near, not even remotely close to the 5 Seconds guideline from the Speed Thread. Initial splits are not terribly awful. Executing reload is where the wheels fall off……..but the old adage of “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”…………

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

My understanding is the older 140AE barrel joining method was Shoe Lump and the newer (>2007) is Monobloc both systems with the Greener Cross-Bolt. Looking at the OP pictures I believe that is monobloc(?). Monobloc with Greener Cross-Bolt, and double bites makes for an extremely strong action.

 

[leslie hetrick]

Never had a rifle double or go full auto, only Govt 1911. Then I have never shot 500 rounds in anything other than my skeet, trap and target pistols. My Merkel never doubled but probably only shot 125-150 times. Like the man said these types of weapons usually are never shot more than a couple hundred rounds at most, you and yours are definitely an exception.

yes, i had a 1911 .45 acp go full auto, the firing pin spring broke and bunched up jamming the fireing pin forward. no body hurt, but a quick change of underware was needed.