Well after a long drive and the parting of cash I'm the owner of a U/O double rifle in 7x65R. During the hours of driving to look at the rifle I convinced myself that if there was even one thing about it I didn't like, I would pass and keep the loot in my pocket.
As soon as it emerged from the gun slip I knew I was in trouble and after looking it over and asking about its history, my money was gone. A heap of factory RWS ammo and RCBS dies rounded the deal off.
It is in almost new condition and passed proof I believe in Jan 1981. The scope, a zeiss 6x42 with typical german heavy post and cross rails, was factory fitted and is of a design I've only seen in books. The turrent closest to the shooter is for focusing and the other handles elevation. Windage adjustment is in the rear mount, which are the see though type, and its optics are wonderful.
The gun is still tight to the point of being a bit difficult to open, and though the wood is plain, its perfectly fitted. I pulled the butt off the other day and all internals are beautifully fitted and finished.
After shooting it at the range at 75 m using a pair of the RWS 173gr T mantels, the 2 shots were only 1 1/4" apart and hit right where I was looking. Happy times!
Last weekend I went after some pigs with it and bagged 9 from 9 shots [all without scope attached] and learnt a few things about using a U/O double. First thing was that these rifles handle VERY well. Only 1 of the pigs was shot standing still, all the rest launched themselves out from under my feet, and all I had to do was lock my eyes on the bugger and grab the tigger. End of story for Mr grunter. The extra opening angle was not even noticed when reloading. I was well aware of the extra force needed to cock the hammerless action as my other doubles are hammer rifles, which of course just fall open. The ejecting of the fired cases is another thing new to me and will take a bit of getting used to. I also found that using the top barrel first allows one to reload in complete silence if that is the only shot fired. Just open the action enough to pluck the fired shell out and slip in a fresh round. The ejector doesn't come into play.
I had read and heard that this style of double can't complete with a side by side. Now that I've used both I wonder just how many shooters have really used both under hunting conditions. I kill pigs with my doubles just about every second weekend and with a good mate who also uses a double, we account for around 500 at least each year. I will still be taking my British hammer doubles out every now and then but the Merkel will be my go to rifle. One has a more traditional bwana look and one is typical german. Both are fantastic.