[Chinaski]

i am vacilating wildly between purchasing something I can afford and something crazy like a Merkel. I can tell my wife -- at least I didn't buy a Perazzi...

Would like to know if anyone has shot a Merkel and can talk me off the ledge.

Hank

 

[john305]

Well Hank I would love to talk you off but I was able to shoot a Merkel trap o/u a few months back, and well if ya can, like nike says "just do it" I personally would love to get one of their SxS in 16ga however I still like being married so I will hold off. I wonder if the, well at least it's not a Perazzi would work. Let me ask the wife.................... Well I asked her and she patted me on the umm "head" and said "sure hun just make sure you sleep with one eye open". So I guess a stevens SxS is just as good.

 

[Guest]

yes, sxs 16 merkel and I have one thing to say...ME WANTEE but I don't the seventeen grand to buy one.

 

[Chinaski]

Well, the entry level model is about 6K, that would be where I would start. Here is a question -- would you think it would be a mistake to get Briley to thread it for screw in chokes? I don't want to turn it into a $600 shotgun...

 

[Guest]

I have 2 of the Merkel SxS boxlocks one a 147 12ga the other a 47e 20ga. Nice guns and the prices start at about 3000 for the 47. The O/Us start around 5500. You should be able to find a used but LN SxS in the 1700-2100 range. In fact at the last gunshow I was at a guy was walking around with a 98% 147e 20ga with box/papers. Asking $2000.. I dont Know if he sold it or not.....

 

[Guest]

I have a 20 ga 47E SXS also. A sweet field gun for sure! Reluctantly I'm putting it up for sale though to get another Merkel - a 12 ga 201E O/U. I'm finding I really need more firepower for late season pheasants. But a Merkel is the only gun I'll own.

 

[sera russell]

I had a 147EL SxS and I did not like it.So save your money and get the Perazzi--they are worth it.

 

[Guest]

I have a Merkel 200E 12 ga O/U. What a dream.

It is fairly light, but the barrels are backbored to reduce the felt recoil.

 

[Guest]

I have a Merkel 1620 which is their 16 ga. built on a 20 ga. frame. I've had it now for the second full season. It's choked IC/Mod and has a 28" barrel. I would not trade or sell it. It's a boxlock, with very nice wood and fine wood-to-metal fit. In the fall of 2003, I shot 29 wild roosters and 26 ducks with it.

For the season just ended here, it was the best one I ever had---47 wild roosters and 25 ducks. The gun's LOP is about 13 7/8" and it fits like a glove; points naturally. I have since shouldered SKB's and the like, and now they feel like clubs.....I bought it at Scheel's All Sports in Iowa City for about $3,700.

The price was a tough nut to crack---but it's the best shotgun I ever owned.

 

[Desertrat]

I have an older Merkel in 20ga. that was given to me by an uncle of mine. It fit me perfect from the get-go and I love the feel and finish of it. I don't use it very often as I mostly use my 28's for hunting....but it is a wonderful gun that I will pass on to my son someday.

 

[chilled shot]

I shot a little Merkel o/u 20 ga. with extra 28 ga. brls. at the skeet range a few years back and yes it was sweeeeeet. The older gentelman who owned this piece of art seemed to love to watch people shoot his gun more than shooting it himself. I was very thankful for the oportunity.

 

[Fasteel]

I hunted upland birds this fall with an older gent that was shooting an O/U merkel and he was amazingly efficient, birds fell everytime he shot, might have been that great kent ammo but I doubt it, Regards Greg

 

[A5guy]

I have two Merkels. Both are pre WWII in 12ga. One is a 400E ond the other is a 302E. Both are nice guns with extra engraving,etc. My uncle was a general in WWII and brought them back with him from Germany. He hunted the 400E a little. These guns do not fit me and I have not shot them for many years.

He also owned a Merkel 24ga 301 but he sold it before he passed away. I have located the owner and hope to buy that gun when he decides that ammo is getting too hard to get(he just turned 75). Maybe soon?? Ha!

 

[Guest]

I WANT ONE! I WANT ONE!