I can't agree more. I had a choice of a new merkel for $5000 + plus some trades or a C&H 500 BPE for $5000. I asked for advice on this forum and my local highend gun dealer - with the express intent of doing a lot of shooting. The responses were pretty much the same. Old guns are a real hoot to shoot, but are very very expensive to repair, it at all. I went with the merkel and am very pleased with the quality, warranty, and cheap factory ammo to boot. It shoots an honest 2.5 inch 8 round group at 50 yards at point of aim.