NO! you spend very little money and you get a rifle as good as a RIGBY, when you buy a Merkel!

This is all a bunch of bunk, and is not founded in FACT! If you will trace every one of these rumors down to the source, you will find one of two things. #1 it will be started by someone wanting to sell you something else they can make more money on, or, # 2 they heard it from a buddy's uncle, who got it from his X-wite's brother-in-law, and in most cases the guy telling it has never even shot a Merkel of any kind.

The reason everyone wants to put the Merkel down as junk, is simply because they can't offer a rifle half as good for anywhere near their price! I've owned just about every brand of double rifle ever built, at one time or another, and today, I find the Merkel line to be a lot more double rifle than the price would indicate. I have a 140.1E 9.3X74R, and a 140.2 Safari 470NE, and I find them to be a bargain where Double rifles are concerned. You must remember Merkel is useing east German craftsmen, and there is almost a depression in Germany today. Be glad you can buy a quality working double rifle at the price you can buy the Merkel for!

If you want to buy a Hyem, then go ahead,there is nothing wrong with a Hyem, I sold one a few years ago, and I wish I still had it, but today, they will pop you in the $16K range, for your trouble, and I'll shoot just as many rounds out of my Merkels as you will through the Hyem, and BOTH WILL STILL BE TIGHT, AND ON FACE, as long as you handle, and care for them properly, and both will be loose, and off face if you don't!

NOW! if you want a double rifle that is worth every penny, and you want it built to fit you, then the B.Searcy PH is the way to go. For $9500 (hurry the price is going up!)you will have a $16K double rifle, but if the Merkels fit you, and you want one, they are also worth every penny paid, and you don't have to worry about the guys who tell you, "THE SKY IS FALLING" crap they spread with not one ounce of fact involved!