I have a 375H&H Merkel and a 470 Merkel.
Both have fired plenty (hundreds) of shots and no problems.

This "coming off the face" myth is crap IMHO.

I could take both of my guns off the face in 10 shots if I
overloaded the rounds or continually "doubled" the gun
from pulling both triggers at the same time (by accident of course).

And in viewing this and other forums and seeing how some
people want to make DR's into high velocity tack holers I can
well understand why with all the playing around people do some
end up having problems.

If you stay within normal pressures you won't have a problem.

Re the Shotgun action - so what if it is. The Germans and English
have been building Rifles and Shotguns for years on the same action
so what's new.

In regards to the "seizing" of the action, if someone looked inside and
gave it a strip and clean, you may find it to be hardened oil. This would
also be the case from the gun having been laid on one side for a long time
where an overly high amount of oil has been used which then collects on
one side of the action.

The hardened oil may be because we all shoot in different climates and
if someone used an oil not for cold temps, it could get a lot harder and
possibly stop the actio from working - especially if a new, unused gun.
Seeing how cold it is in the US where some of you shoot and hunt,
I could believe it.

By the way - English guns come off the face and have done for years.

I Challenge anyone here who has PHYSICALLY seen a Merkel
"off the face" to post BUT ALSO to post WHY it came off he face.
ie Who was shooting it with what loads ?

500 Nitro