Ok, so after all this banter about the Merkel barrels, I just went and pulled my Merkel out of the vault along with my Sako .375.

I also leafed through the pages of my reloading records and totalled up the number of cartridges I've loaded for the Merkel and I then subtracted the number of unfired cartridges from the total to give me a precise round count that has gone through the Merkel. Total round count since new = 298 rounds fired. An even distribution between left and right barrel suggests 149 rounds through each barrel to-date.

I then looked at the bores again.... The Merkel bores (in both barrels) show the leade or start of the rifling with each land shaped slightly inconsistent from land to land with minimal wear or erosion. Moving along the lands, there are a great number of cut marks perpendicular to the lands across the surface of the lands running maybe an inch into the bores proper. The cut marks make the lands look similar to a washboard dirt road. Moving further into the bores, the lands look more like they should. The Sako by comparison has perfectly formed and polished leade and lands throughout it's entire length. The round count is 100 even.

So, my mind isn't playing tricks on me. I'm disheartened by what I saw even though I knew what I'd find.

Still this Merkel shoots!!! I just can't look inside anymore because it really does bug me. I will try to live in a state of denial.