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Forums10
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 63
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 63 |
Dear colleagues, Could you advise me what to choose: new Beretta 471 Silver Hawk or new Merkel 47E? Both 12 ga. Thank you in advance
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 298
Member
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Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 298 |
I love Merkels. But then I am deeply prejudiced.
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 809 Likes: 15
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 809 Likes: 15 |
-Shoot Straight, IM
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,576 Likes: 85
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,576 Likes: 85 |
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 638
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 638 |
Merkel, Merkel, Merkel...
USMC Retired
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,058 Likes: 57
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,058 Likes: 57 |
I had a Merkel 47E. Nice fitting, gun was very tight. Engraving sparse and not especially well done. The barrel selector allowed the gun to fire both barrels if positioned in the center, and the spring detent wasn't strong enough to prevent this 100% of the time. Barrel bluing was excellent, except for the flaw along the solder joint. The screw holding the action bottom plate worked loose. Top lever wore the CC off the top tang quickly.
Sold it. New owner loves it, and shoots it well. This was a 1997 GSI import, and they did invite me send it in for correction of the problems, but I never did. New owner did return it to GSI when the second sear refused to set. Good service according to him, although the bottom plate screw still works lose.
I'm done with Merkels.
Never owned a Beretta SxS but have had several 680 series guns. Only one problem ever, and that easily fixed by re-torquing the screw that connects the top lever to the locking pin plate.
I vote Beretta. Wood to metal fit will be better with the Merkel, but that's about all.
"The price of good shotgunnery is constant practice" - Fred Kimble
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,642 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,642 Likes: 1 |
"...it is always advisable to perceive clearly our ignorance."ť Charles Darwin
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,107 Likes: 22
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,107 Likes: 22 |
So Merkel is now an Arab company?
So many guns, so little time!
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16 |
The 471 is a bit overpriced IMO. All of the 20g examples I was looking to buy were well over the advertised weight in the Beretta website catalog. I suspect the 12g suffers this issue as well. Wood fit on them looked very proud of the metal and not as tightly fit as I'd have hoped. All said and done, I elected to find another 20g BSS. But the 12g 471 may be a better overall hunting gun than a 12g BSS if it's lighter than the BSS.
I've looked at the small gauge Merkels off and on and just can't quite get fired up about the engraving and receiver style.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,642 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,642 Likes: 1 |
"...it is always advisable to perceive clearly our ignorance."ť Charles Darwin
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