Merkel 140AE vs 160AE

[juan pablo pozzi]

Merkel 160.View attachment 666404

Top of the brand

 

[Northern Shooter]

Still trying to figure out what the Merkel was regulated for. I've picked up both Hornady's DGS/DGX and Barnes TSX and solids.

What should I be looking for, 1 inch at 50m?

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Still trying to figure out what the Merkel was regulated for. I've picked up both Hornady's DGS/DGX and Barnes TSX and solids.

What should I be looking for, 1 inch at 50m?

Hornady.

 

[juan pablo pozzi]

Any owners of a 160AE?, worth the upgrade over the 140AE if the price is right?

I have a 160AE 470NE great rifle bever failed but if you want just a working rifle stay in the 140 There isnt a true advantage on the 160 just nicier rifle.

 

[juan pablo pozzi]

Own 2 a 470ne and 500ne neither doubles if front trigger pulled first if right handed
A left hand shooter pulling front trigger on on right hand set up,rifle will double as there trigger finger crosses over rear trigger and recoil will force finger into hitting rear trigger
If shooting a trigger system set up for an right hand shooter then the left handed shooter advised to use rear trigger first then front.

I shoot left handed but never doubled

 

[LimbNoMo]

Are the 160’s a true side lock or is it just a plate to give more engraving area?

 

[rafter3]

Are the 160’s a true side lock or is it just a plate to give more engraving area?

Its a sidelock

 

[LimbNoMo]

Thank you. I was at a shop in Dallas a month ago and a guy brought in a “sidelock”. The salesman at the shop told him it wasn’t a sidelock and they were just decorative plates. Had to take them off and show him.

 

[Pondoro]

Hornady .470 DGX bonded factory crono at 2170fps in my Krieghoff.. The effect on buffalo was devastating..

 

[camperx]

I think the 9.3x62 is a great cartridge, as it produces to make an arbitrary number likely 80% of the .375 H&H's effectiveness with 60% of the recoil, again by my arbitrary judgement. With legal requirements, slightly poorer ballistics, and less ubiquitous ammunition as considerations in many places I find the .375 fits my purposes best, it will vary for others and other applications.

As for the Lion hunt, I'll be sure to do a full write up. I also hope to have video from a first person perspective as I invested on a GoPro camera and chest rig for it.

 

[Aussie Chris]

There are better options, Heym, Chapuis, VC for example. I've owned multiple Merkels, as have buddies of mine. One in 500 NE actually developed a cracked receiver. One cracked a stock, and the other the weight in the buttstock started coming through the recoil pad. I'm not impressed with Merkel at all.

I just bought a new Merkel K5 in 30-06 (single shot break action). I fired a box of 20 rounds and the 11th, 14th, 18th and 20th rounds misfired (factory Norma ammo).
It’s back to get fixed. Also not impressed.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I just bought a new Merkel K5 in 30-06 (single shot break action). I fired a box of 20 rounds and the 11th, 14th, 18th and 20th rounds misfired (factory Norma ammo).
It’s back to get fixed. Also not impressed.

Any rifle can misbehave. I know of a brand new Heym in 500N.E that double discharged on the first go. Damaged the rifle severely.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Something that some may find interesting. Certainly surprised me.

Just finished a safari with a gentleman out of Germany. He owns quite a few doubles and rifles. Some of them very high end.
Told me that in Germany, the Merkel was considered a higher end rifle than the Krieghoff. Also that the Merkels were more expensive than the Krieghoffs in Germany. Seems that the prices in South Africa between those two rifles have now followed that route as well.