Thank you for your suggestions gentlemen. I do have the rifle at a very respected double rifle maker and I await his judgment on the issues. I never did think that a pre-mature firing is probably a bigger concern then the doubling - so a special thank you for that. If my man now can't figure it out, or if the results are unsatisfactory, then it will as suggested above -- off to Champlin or contact Merkel directly. I do believe that it is a mechanical issue as there is no way that the front trigger will set off (even if my finger hits the back of the front trigger on recoil)

Thank you and will continue to read on for the experience of others.