SHARPSNITRO I think you are mistaken in your opinion of what makes a double rifle strong as far as coming off face by shooting! When a double rifle comes off face because of a hot load it is not the lugs that bend but the action BAR! In the case you site, the bar is actually made weaker by the removal of steel in the bar to accomidate the extra wide lugs! The idea that the rifle is stronger because the lug is wider is camouflage hideing the real problem. The lugs in that rifle are wider so they are easier to machine fit, not to improve strength.

A full 99% of all double rifles that come off face are not that way because of pressure, but because of poor care of the mateing surfaces.

Still all three of the rifles mentioned here are as strong as they need to be for the properly loaded cartridges they are chambered for,so that is not a worry no matter which you choose. Actually the Blaser is probably the strongest of the three, but that in no way makes it the best rifle, because it certainly is not IMO!

The thing that is most important in chooseing one of these doubles is the use it will be put to! If that use is hunting of dangerous game then the Blaser is out right off the bat!

The reason being the combi-cocking system it houses! Many think this is the same system that is found on the Krieghoff, but it is not! The Krieghoff, and the Merkel both re-cock themsilves after firing and breaking to re-load the chamber or chambers. and both have manual safeties! The Blaser is fitted with an automatic so-called safety, that cannot be disconected. How this works is, the rifle is loaded, safety (rifle is automaticlly un-cocked),you fire one or both barrels,and need a couple more shots in a tight sittuation. When you break the Blaser to re-load,and close it back, it has the be re-cocked when time is getting short and danger is getting closer! Forget to re-cock, and you get hit in the belly by a big horn, or tusk, because the rifle didn't fire whe you pulled the trigger.

The same sittuation with the Krieghoff, or the Merkel, when you slam that rifle shut, all you need do is pull the trigger for the next shot, because neither rifle has an auto safety, and both re-cock themselves when the rifle is broken open to re-load the chambers. If however any of these rifles would only be used for deer, or moose, then it doesn't matter, but when you select a double rifle for use on dangerous game, there two one rules total reliability, and the KISS factor ( Keep It Simple Stupid). The two things not wanted on a DGR double rifle are an AUOTMATIC SAFETY, and a SINGLE TRIGGER! The Krieghoff is the safest double rifle in existance today,to carry while fully loaded, and un-cocked, but has auto- re-cock.

IMO, the Merkel is as strong as one needs a double rifle to be, yet is built very close to the Brittish style,and they are as accurate as any double I have ever owned. If it is your interest, they are now available in the Safari chamberings with selective ejectors. I can live with the rifle either way, but some want ejectors. There are a couple of things that are needed with the Merkel rifles. One is a good recoil pad, and is where one adjusts the length of pull for yourself. Also the rifle is light for the 500NE, because the same outside diameter of the barrel is used for both the 470NE, and the 500NE, so the 500NE actually weighs less that the 470NE. With a good recoil pad it isn't a problem!

Foe My money of the ones listed, I would buy the Merkel, and if you can live with extractors, those models are selling for bargain prices now that the new ones are ejector madels! In any event the Merkel Safaris can be found NEW for under $10K!