Dave, I agree with you. I had 470 Merkel, shot wonderful, made my first trip to Africa with it. sold it and bought 470 heym, really nice gun. sold that and now have 450/400 heym, waiting for my brass so i can shoot the gun, i m more impressed with the 450/400 then i was with the 470, just personal point of view.

Cost wise, I feel the merkel is the best deal going. the German (or newer guns) (to me) are much easier to regulate.