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Looking good!

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target is promising
its allways nice to get the reloading stuff with a new gun so you can start with ammo making and don't have to look and to wait especially with harder to find stuff.

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That 400gr. group looks GREAT for NA shooting. Well, done, buckstix.

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Those groups look usable. But I wonder if the bullets and brrels are still not spreading as the distance increases.
Perhaps try increasing the velocity a small amount, bring the barrels in closer together and maybe drop them lower on the target as well with more velocity.
But no problems with the regulation at all at 50 yards. Except maybe hitting a little high. But can be well used on deer sized game out to a 100 yards as is.
Doing well.
I have always liked the Merkels. A plain rifle but on the used market often very affordable and do what they are meant to do.
Well done.

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thought the standard 470 ammo was at 2150fps?
Looks a bit low for factory ammo - still I wouldn't want to get in front of that load either!
Nice one Bucksticks, very nice indeed

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Those groups look usable. But I wonder if the bullets and brrels are still not spreading as the distance increases.
Perhaps try increasing the velocity a small amount, bring the barrels in closer together and maybe drop them lower on the target as well with more velocity.
But no problems with the regulation at all at 50 yards. Except maybe hitting a little high. But can be well used on deer sized game out to a 100 yards as is.
Doing well.
I have always liked the Merkels. A plain rifle but on the used market often very affordable and do what they are meant to do.
Well done.

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Hello NitroX,
Thanks for the reply.
Compared to many of my other double rifles, the groups from this one are very acceptable, considering my 69 year old eyes.

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Very usable groups.

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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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Yes I also like Merkel and have a 500NE myself.

Beware though, if it's true to history, you may develop a rattle in the buttstock, and make sure you always fire the RH barrel first (front trigger). Let us know how you get on and I can explain further if required, unless yours is newer than mine and has modifications. I bought mine second hand but virtually new in 2012.

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Hello mauserand9mm,
Thanks for the reply.
According to the Factory, mine was made in 2005. I typically shoot front trigger first. (right barrel) I have noticed that the front trigger pulls easily, while the rear trigger is very hard - almost too hard. That doesn't concern me because I assume its to prevent mechanically doubling and/or strumming.
But, please explain further.

I couldn't find an original Merkel case, so I bought a Winchester 101 replica canvas and leather hard case, and I modified it to fit this gun. First 2 pics are as the case was advertised, the next 2 are as modified to fit my gun. You might say I "Merkel-ized" it.



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.

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"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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Hi buckstix. The rear trigger in mine is only slightly heavier than the front. ... The rear trigger mechanism has a recoil operated interceptor that blocks the sear arm of the LH barrel so it stops the sear from tripping on that side when the other (RH) is fired. ... Mine will fire both barrels almost guaranteed if the LH barrel (rear trigger) is fired first. I've also played around (unloaded) with the front trigger - it's articulated. ... I'm happy to live with this and always fire RH barrel first. The manual says to do this for regulation purposes (I don't really believe this) and it doesn't mention anything about having both barrels fire if the LH barrel is fired first - but it makes me wonder why there is only 1 interceptor....

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Hi buckstix. The rear trigger in mine is only slightly heavier than the front. ... The rear trigger mechanism has a recoil operated interceptor that blocks the sear arm of the LH barrel so it stops the sear from tripping on that side when the other (RH) is fired. ... Mine will fire both barrels almost guaranteed if the LH barrel (rear trigger) is fired first. I've also played around (unloaded) with the front trigger - it's articulated. ... I'm happy to live with this and always fire RH barrel first. The manual says to do this for regulation purposes (I don't really believe this) and it doesn't mention anything about having both barrels fire if the LH barrel is fired first - but it makes me wonder why there is only 1 interceptor....

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Hello mauserand9mm,
Thanks for the reply.
My rifle does not have an articulated front trigger. Is there an easy way to check if my rifle has the interceptor on the left trigger? Or if it does not have it, is that perhaps why the left trigger pull is so much heavier than the right - to avoid doubling?

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The only way to check for the interceptors is to remove the bottom plate, and it's mounted on the inside of the plate:









You can see the arms of the sears that the triggers activate and that the interceptor catches:







I also have photos of the bar weight in the stock, attachment arrangement and broken wood crew:

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Congratulations on your new double rifle. I hope you enjoy it and get great service from it.
Interesting to see the mention of an articulated front trigger. Non of my double shotguns has such a trigger, but one of my double rifles does. That is the Beretta ... It seems to work fine with no problems.

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Hi buckstix. The rear trigger in mine is only slightly heavier than the front. ... The rear trigger mechanism has a recoil operated interceptor that blocks the sear arm of the LH barrel so it stops the sear from tripping on that side when the other (RH) is fired. ... Mine will fire both barrels almost guaranteed if the LH barrel (rear trigger) is fired first. I've also played around (unloaded) with the front trigger - it's articulated. ... I'm happy to live with this and always fire RH barrel first. The manual says to do this for regulation purposes (I don't really believe this) and it doesn't mention anything about having both barrels fire if the LH barrel is fired first - but it makes me wonder why there is only 1 interceptor....

The only way to check for the interceptors is to remove the bottom plate, and it's mounted on the inside of the plate: You can see the arms of the sears that the triggers activate and that the interceptor catches: I also have photos of the bar weight in the stock, attachment arrangement and broken wood crew:

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Hi Buckstix, I hope you do not mind. I have used this image as an illustration on double rifle regulation on the NitroExpressCom facebook page and group. I will also post my post on a thread here on NE. Where most of our members know it all already.

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Re: Triggers on Double Guns.

Rear Trigger on a double triggererd double gun - whether its a rifle or a shotgun generally has a heavier pull weight than the front. Firstly for reasons of safety - you do not want the second being discharged by the recoil of the first. But more importantly gives you more control on the second shot - most second shots are much more dynamic. It's a faster follow up shot on the duck that barreling skywards, or on a double rifle, its the follow up on a fast disappearing buffalo. Adrenalin is up, trigger finger is moving fast back onto the trigger, so a bit of extra weight helps you to control things.

Given the way the doubles need to be shot - ie firmly held and squeezed in, a bit of weight on the front trigger I find really helps the whole process. On my Hambrusch I do have a push forward set trigger that is very light. When set I find it difficult to shoot accurately as you are trying to counterbalance a firm hold on the rifle with a delicate touch on the set trigger. Unset - breath in and as the sites align, squeeze both hands and think the bullet into the target and breath out on the follow through.

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