Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Did you actually handle the rifle before you bough it or you just ordered the best look/features? Just curious
I've handled all three, this isn't my first rodeo, 202 #1, M03 #2, R8 #3.
Just bought a push feed, it's even likely going to Africa.
- Thread starter Ardent
- Start date
I've handled all three, this isn't my first rodeo, 202 #1, M03 #2, R8 #3.
- Location
- West Quebec
Same here.. sweet setup
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Thanks, seems I guessed well.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
No unfortunately, it was either doubles or a Dakota for things I liked for .375 full take downs (as opposed to stock takedowns, could do that easy enough with my RSM). Doubles were too niche in purpose for me and the Dakotas too hard to come by on short notice. Plus, I allready have too many .375s and time for change. I do have a .375 take down project I'm building, but it won't be ready for a year or more.
We'll see, I'll run it through it's paces, it hasn't "made the team" yet. I almost ordered the double today too to try everything, pushing my luck with my wife's permission to buy a takedown at that point though.
Republic of Alberta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ,location, location
Doubles are double trouble. Twice the frustration, twice the gratification, all for half the application.
I'm wondering if you can recommend a wine that goes well with crow.
Haha, just kidding you a bit.
I am curious to see how it shoots. I watched the video clip - is there a secondary method of securing the barrel to the action without the bolt fully in place? Is the bedding such that the tapered barrel channel of the stock helps retain the barrel to the action before the bolt is fully closed, in case a round doesn't enter the chamber without resistance?
Haha, just kidding you a bit.
I am curious to see how it shoots. I watched the video clip - is there a secondary method of securing the barrel to the action without the bolt fully in place? Is the bedding such that the tapered barrel channel of the stock helps retain the barrel to the action before the bolt is fully closed, in case a round doesn't enter the chamber without resistance?
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Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Bowie believe me I won't be handing it down to my kids, purely a tool and she'd be a whole lot better with CRF. Not available however, so you take what you can get, I drive an F150 to work doesn't mean she's the best truck on the road. Not sure on barrel retention, I haven't handled the takedown version yet, just the standard, will write it up in the review.
I liked that too.
I should have mentioned with the M03, I can pull two screws out of my RSM and split it in two as well, just not impressed by that system.
I liked that too.
I should have mentioned with the M03, I can pull two screws out of my RSM and split it in two as well, just not impressed by that system.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Well, bought the double rifle too. Couldn't resist the itch, picked up a Merkel .375. Will do a head to head and see what I like about each, and which I like overall, may even have to write the morrisonarms.com article that way.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
The intention behind the Blaser/Mauser/Sauer system is that you can swap barrels/bolt heads to make use of a variety of calibers and retain the same basic rifle, not the takedown ability.
Republic of Alberta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ,location, location
Merkel in 375H&H ?
Whats going on with you? Push feeds and non-flanged cartridges in doubles?
I have a Merkel 140AE in 470. Tweaked my shooting shoulder and haven't shot it for a 2 years or more just to let things heal up. Never did find a load that regulated, always shot wide. Mine also has auto safety which I still haven't disconnected. Has intercepting sears and that's a good thing.
Whats going on with you? Push feeds and non-flanged cartridges in doubles?
I have a Merkel 140AE in 470. Tweaked my shooting shoulder and haven't shot it for a 2 years or more just to let things heal up. Never did find a load that regulated, always shot wide. Mine also has auto safety which I still haven't disconnected. Has intercepting sears and that's a good thing.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Absolutely and goes without saying, owlowl was suggesting it as a pure takedown however for my travel rifle purposes, so I believe we're agreeing with each other. For takedown purposes, my RSM takes down just as fast as an M03, and to the same length, without the ability to change chamberings of course. With all the time and money they put in the M03 you really just have to feel they could have done better than screws. Some sort of quick detach / attach system befitting of a German maker an day stock that breaks down, would have been nice as I'd really have liked a rifle with Mauser on it.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Yep, something's in the water.
My Merkel's the same a 140AE. Just keeping things simple, if the Sauer was available in a CRF variant I'd spend a lot more to get that, certainly a compromise of what's available. The Merkel .375 H&H, giving thought to converting to Flanged, but at the same time I trust modern engineering and really appreciate being able to use the huge stash of .375 H&H brass I already own. I'll see what I think of the 140AE belted / rimless extractor / ejectors, if they act on the belt at all I'll be perfectly content, if they only act on the rim I'll consider a modification to .375 Flanged H&H (easy to change). I'm only familiar with Merkels with flanged extractors only, so will be new.
Republic of Alberta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ,location, location
If I remember correctly (it was 15years ago) the merkel 375 I looked at had extractors that acted upon the rim. It looked like a good system though, it had multiple pawls if I remember correctly. The gentleman who owned it had hunted throughout Alaska (I met him in Fairbanks) as well as Africa and claimed he never had a problem with it. I remember him telling me he had tried to "make" it malfunction and could not. Looking at it there was no doubt if you were to drop it in the mud on open chambers you were going to have a problem, no different (am much less likely) than say dropping the bolt out of a Remington, Savage, or push feed Winchester face first into the mud. Cleaning it would be a bit more labor intensive though.
Bottom line with anything is if your gun works it works and don't worry about the HOO-Ha of highly theoretical discussions on the finer points of its make up. I am sure you could find someone that would go on and on about the monoblock and how it is inferior to the old chopper lump construction the Merkels used to use. Who gives a ####.
Bottom line with anything is if your gun works it works and don't worry about the HOO-Ha of highly theoretical discussions on the finer points of its make up. I am sure you could find someone that would go on and on about the monoblock and how it is inferior to the old chopper lump construction the Merkels used to use. Who gives a ####.
I have the Merkel .470 and it regulates perfectly with 110 gns of IMR 4831 and 500 gn Woodleigh softs......2 rights and 2 lefts into 1 1/2" @ 50 mtrs. Chrono'd at 2160 fps, was given this load by a friend and it worked right off the hop, started at 106 and up to 112 but 110 gave exact velocity and shot the best.
Ardent..............your ####'s going to drop off you know.........Every animal I have taken in Africa and elsewhere in the world has been with push feeds, (except Atlantic Walrus....CZ 550 FS in 360 Wagner) never never have I had a problem. I never have been able to figure out what all the CRF hype was about. I would use either method in a quality rifle without prejudice or preference.
Ardent..............your ####'s going to drop off you know.........Every animal I have taken in Africa and elsewhere in the world has been with push feeds, (except Atlantic Walrus....CZ 550 FS in 360 Wagner) never never have I had a problem. I never have been able to figure out what all the CRF hype was about. I would use either method in a quality rifle without prejudice or preference.
- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
Ardent; you have champagne tastes and a champagne back account... I have the former only
I don't think you can go wrong with either, but if I had a choice, the Sauer would be it !! The long-standing debate between push feed and CRF is just silly. Well done, sir.
I don't think you can go wrong with either, but if I had a choice, the Sauer would be it !! The long-standing debate between push feed and CRF is just silly. Well done, sir.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Well I bought a push feed, "needed" a takedown as the wife was sick of my rifle case when we travel. Got a thumbs up to buy something compact and it was either this in 9.3x62, or a .375 double rifle. My wood's not as nice as this stock photo.
Aims were for something, in comparison to my RSM:
-Takedown
-Lighter
-Detachable mag if a bolt action
-All weather
-Well applicable to my North American hunting
-Multi-barrels (shotgun barrels fitted for the double, or lighter a chambering barrel for the bolt)
The double, while classy, was wanting in the weight, weather resistance, and North American applicability. I started shopping Dakota Travelers, but availability is scarce and it was tough to find just what I wanted with enough time to practice lots for February. I just couldn't get away from the Sauer 202 Forest Takedown (20" barrel). Good iron sights, all weather coated, detachable magazine, and I got a spare .30-06 barrel with mine. It was also cheaper than the double. While not an heirloom in my eyes, and wanting in the push feed, it nonetheless should prove a very good tool- compact and German quality.
I'll do a review for morrisonarms.com when it arrives.
In the meantime who knows where to get a boatload of 9.3x62?
While I don't have another African safari on my immediate radar, I am in the process of having a light weight switch barrel made on a 700 Remington for next summer's Yukon
adventure, and the 9.3X62 figures prominently in that plan. One advantage the 9.3 has over the .375 is that bullets seem to be less expensive, even in like weights. If you want a boat load of 9.3X62 ammo, I suggest you start vacuuming up every piece of .30/06 brass you can find and go from there.
Why 30-06 brass? Phone Tradeex and buy a few hundred Privi brass at $40 per 50 and away you go.
If you are overseas, try and avoid mis-marked brass, it may cause issues at border crossings.
There are many breakdown rifles that fill the need. As more and more countries and airlines restrict the size of your second luggage piece (South African Air is 62 inches now (LxWxD)), breakdowns make sense.
There are single shots such as the BRNO Effect and others, over and under doubles that work well with scopes in a variety or calibers that breakdown like a double shotgun, side by sides, Fabarm Iris in a variety of calibers, Verny Caron takedowns in nice calibers, Sauer, Customs.... they all break down into a true small package, rather than merely the switch barrel type of breakdown ala the M03.
The neat thing is that you can carry a heavy side by side and another light rifle in a case less than 52 inches in total size. Plus you are not lugging a big SKB or Pelican from airport to airport with the case screaming "GUNS" .
The 202 takedown is a great choice, as is the 9.3x62. I think you will find it is all the rifle you will need (but I do not mean to lecture you on that!). 300 gr softs and solids prove very effective for all manner of beast.
If you are overseas, try and avoid mis-marked brass, it may cause issues at border crossings.
There are many breakdown rifles that fill the need. As more and more countries and airlines restrict the size of your second luggage piece (South African Air is 62 inches now (LxWxD)), breakdowns make sense.
There are single shots such as the BRNO Effect and others, over and under doubles that work well with scopes in a variety or calibers that breakdown like a double shotgun, side by sides, Fabarm Iris in a variety of calibers, Verny Caron takedowns in nice calibers, Sauer, Customs.... they all break down into a true small package, rather than merely the switch barrel type of breakdown ala the M03.
The neat thing is that you can carry a heavy side by side and another light rifle in a case less than 52 inches in total size. Plus you are not lugging a big SKB or Pelican from airport to airport with the case screaming "GUNS" .
The 202 takedown is a great choice, as is the 9.3x62. I think you will find it is all the rifle you will need (but I do not mean to lecture you on that!). 300 gr softs and solids prove very effective for all manner of beast.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Why .30/06 brass? Because especially at this time of year, the country side is covered with the stuff, and its free for the collecting. When's the last time you saw 9.3X62 laying around? Besides, Ardent is a pretty smart guy, and a pretty smart guy already own a .30/06 and probably has a bunch of '06 brass.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Why .30/06 brass? Because especially at this time of year, the country side is covered with the stuff, and its free for the collecting. When's the last time you saw 9.3X62 laying around? Besides, Ardent is a pretty smart guy, and a pretty smart guy already own a .30/06 and probably has a bunch of '06 brass.
Well thanks not sure about smart, but do have 500 once fired cases. I'll be buying some proper headstamp for travel, and shooting a home brew I'm sure too.
