I almost bought a new Merkel double in .470 recently after missing out on a second hand one. But whilst I was calling around I got talking to a dealer with double experience, and he talked them down. He told me about a new .500 Merkel that doubled and blew to bits in Western Australia recently (maybe the rear trigger first, who knows). And that they shot loose quite regularly sometimes after as little as 70 rounds, and when they get sent back for repair they shim the action somehow, and once it is out of warranty you are on your own. I have never heard about this before, or since I am not sure if this particular dealer had an axe to grind or what. I have not put this post in to start an argument or any such nonsence, so please don't shoot the messenger. It is just what I heard and it stopped me buying one as I couldn't disprove it at the time. Has any one else heard about this.
P.S. The shooting loose part only referred to calibres above .470