Thanks Birdhunter, I chose the 450 Nitro as the cases are readily available and not to expensive, there is a large choice of projectiles and it has a low breach pressure. I figured that as the Merkel has a Greener crossbolt, side clips, bolsters as well as a Purdey nose it would have to be a good candidate for a conversion. Being a 12 gauge frame means I can build plenty of weight into it. The only concern I have is whether or not the steel used in the frame is any good as it was made in East Germany during the communist era. I have lots of relatives who live Magdeburg and some of them worked in the steel industries during that time, and they often talked about the steel quality being a bit unreliable. Mostly that is because their industries were very inefficient and supply of East German made steel could not keep up with demand, therefore sometimes Russian steel was substituted. Hopefully with Merkel being a premium exporter they only used good steel.

Waidmannsheil.