Lion Rifles, A Safari In Arms Part I: The Merkel 140AE Double Rifle, .375 H&H

[Boomer]

I have no experience with sxs rifles but on the other hand sxs shotguns are my favorite style for hunting.
My first detraction with sxs are automatic safeties that delay quick follow up shots when first two rounds are expended but against the grouse it's not a big thing.
That sxs rifle having manual safety and auto ejectors would be super important to me especially while lion hunting!
My second point is that I would never buy Merkel sxs rifle for safari style hunting b/c that Greenell crosbolt (?) sticking like the thumb between the barrels to impeed reloading in a hurry, Berretta's style to do without it is a way smarter ingeneering IMHO and Merkel would be wise to coppy it.
Third point is that 375 H&H is bearly minimum legal cartridge for lion IIRC and while fine in accurate bolt action to use its long range potential the sxs rifle having accuracy of say 4" at 100yds group would be useless at much longer distance especially with open sites.
That close and personal style of hunting would make more sense while useing somewhat slower but bigger and heavier bullet for quicker conclusion of the hunt especially against such a quick annimal that second barrel might be just for peace of mind of the hunter....and yes rimmed cartridges and sxs do belong together like ice cream and apple pie.
Those are my 2c worth, good luck PO with your hunt.

When African countries named the .375 as a minimum cartridge for dangerous game, it wasn't done in the same light as when North American jurisdiction imposed a minimum .23 caliber limit on big game rifles. Rather the .375 is an intelligent starting point, not unlike mandating a .30/06 minimum here would be for game weighing over 1000 pounds. The .375 has a marvelous reputation as a general purpose cartridge for African game, being suitable for everything from dik-dik to elephant. All the hunter need do is select the appropriate bullet for the occasion, and put it in the right spot. Lions seldom break the 500 pound mark, and unlike buffalo which can absorb a lot of lead if not iced with he first shot, they go down pretty fast when hit well. Now sometimes hitting the lion, or for that matter even seeing the lion, is the challenge, but that gets no easier by choosing a more powerful rifle.

As to accuracy, I doubt that 4" groups would be an issue for most hunters, despite the demand for sub MOA rifles. First of all, few hunters can hold tighter than 2 minutes from their point of aim, which is what a 4 minute rifle will do, particularly when shooting off hand. Secondly, a 4 minute marksman won't shoot 6 minute groups with a 4 minute rifle, but he will shoot 4 minute groups with a 1 minute rifle. Besides, 4 minutes represents the extreme outside spread in a group, and typically 80% of the shots will fall well within that.

I'm curious why you might think a Merkel is slower to reload than another type, particularly for a right handed shooter. The crossbolt protrudes only a fraction of an inch to the left side of the receiver, so I fail to see the problem, although I might understand if you simply take exception to the appearance. Cosmetic appearances though take a back seat to function. In addition to a Merkel, I also had the opportunity to shoot a Baikal SxS in .30/06 which also had a protruding cross bolt, ditto the Brno combination gun. The Baikal was a real surprise to me, being much more accurate than it had any right to be, and came with wood that was beautifully figured. But the point is, the protrusion of the cross bolt has zero influence on the speed of reloading of the rifle.

 

[medvedqc]

Boomer,

the .375 limit was imposed by the British Empire.
in other colonies the 9.3x62 was the rules (coming from Germany) and even Kenya was giving the permission for experienced hunters, when in other some other lower caliber.

everything said the .375 in different kind is very good and in a 235 grains can be magical for non heavy game at long distance.

at the end the .360 wagner is still my favourite but nodoby can fee orphan using a .375 ...

all the best.

 

[Dogleg]

everything said the .375 in different kind is very good and in a 235 grains can be magical for non heavy game at long distance.

Surprisingly there is very little difference in trajectory between the 235 and 270 grain bullets, or even the 300s. The value of the lighter bullets is a lighter construction and higher initial velocity to smack the little guys around. With heavily constructed heavy bullets on small animals the .375 may not kill as quickly as something little and boring as a .270.

 

[Ardent]

I have no experience with sxs rifles but on the other hand sxs shotguns are my favorite style for hunting.
My first detraction with sxs are automatic safeties that delay quick follow up shots when first two rounds are expended but against the grouse it's not a big thing.
That sxs rifle having manual safety and auto ejectors would be super important to me especially while lion hunting!
My second point is that I would never buy Merkel sxs rifle for safari style hunting b/c that Greenell crosbolt (?) sticking like the thumb between the barrels to impeed reloading in a hurry, Berretta's style to do without it is a way smarter ingeneering IMHO and Merkel would be wise to coppy it.
Third point is that 375 H&H is bearly minimum legal cartridge for lion IIRC and while fine in accurate bolt action to use its long range potential the sxs rifle having accuracy of say 4" at 100yds group would be useless at much longer distance especially with open sites.
That close and personal style of hunting would make more sense while useing somewhat slower but bigger and heavier bullet for quicker conclusion of the hunt especially against such a quick annimal that second barrel might be just for peace of mind of the hunter....and yes rimmed cartridges and sxs do belong together like ice cream and apple pie.
Those are my 2c worth, good luck PO with your hunt.

Going bigger and slower is exactly the wrong direction in my opinion on game like Lion. A Lion is muscular, but not especially large in any dimension compared to the creatures the .375 is perfectly balanced for. The large bores, with heavier bullets at moderate velocities are designed first and foremost to penetrate, a quality without nearly as much application in Lion. .375 H&H is indeed a legal minimum for dangerous game in many places, and it is at its most generously overkill on the cats. .375 H&H on an animal under 500lbs, no matter the tenacity of that creature, is seriously substancial medicine.

The Greener crossbolt has in no way inhibited my one hand reloads for two cartridges at a time, and frankly I was attracted to the Merkel for its inclusion. It represents what is in my opinion by far the strongest action in double rifles, leaving out six figure rising bites and so forth. It may even win there too. As a shotgunner you'll note many of the good commercial fowling heavy doubles of yore sported Greener crossbolts, and I've found in my heavily used past WW Greener Empire 12 bore they remain tight on face essentially forever. In a .375 H&H, which can actually have substantial breech face pressures on account of the tapered case in less than ideal conditions (wet, frosty, or dusty chambers) I value this strength. I also shoot an awful lot more out of my .375's than likely 99% of owners, they get used heavily not casually, unlike many doubles.

So in summary I wanted a workhorse, or as I put it in the article a half ton pickup of a double rifle. I do believe I've found one. As for irons at range, it's only a matter of practice. I shoot irons to 1,000 yards on our private range every summer from match milsurp builds, principles are the same in any iron sighted rifle, with this one on game I'd happily take a 200 yard shot from sticks with the right hand barrel. Biggest limitation is universally the creature behind the rifle, the rifles will all but always outperform their operators.

 

[209jones]

Gunrunner 8, as I understand it, the Blaser S2 is likely coming off the market, because it does not sell well enough, because of the safety system. It does have a strong lockup system, but, a lousy safety system for a DGR. The S2, K95 and Merkel K3 are auto decocked on closing, you have to manually recock it to shoot it after reloading, and closing the action. Whilst that works OK on the singleshots, on a DGR it is frowned upon. And a SXS is primarily used a DGR. The general line of thought, is that it takes time and training to use that setup, which a lot of people will not put in. Combine that with the liking of people who own doubles, to be up close and personal with the DG animals, you could have a problem. How many times have you shouldered an auto safety gun, and forgot the safety?
Most want the gun ready to go on closing the action, no fuss, no muss.
As to longer range accuracy, iron sights limit that to start with, to some extent. But, a double can conceiveably shoot one barrel to whatever range you want, just have to know where it shoots at that range, off that barrel. 2-300yd shots are doable if you practice with it, and the cartridge is one like the 375.
Some folk set the gun up with a QD scope, for that purpose, and sight the scope for the one barrel.
That is an expensive option though.

 

[owlowl]

the Blaser S2 is likely coming off the market

They got a new idea to replace it, new production Rigby:

Irons only, .416 .450 Rigby. Priced as doubles

 

[jjohnwm]

They got a new idea to replace it, new production Rigby:

Replace the decidedly non-traditional S2 double rifle with a classy, classic bolt gun? Sounds unlikely. If they sell that bolt gun it sure won't replace the double...and that gun will definitely never see the word "Blaser" on it. When GM brings out a new luxury sedan or sports car, they don't stick a GMC badge on it.

If they drop the S2 I would bet that they will bring out an undated version that incorporates the Krieghoff-type de-cocking safety. Still allows carry with rounds in the chambers in an uncocked, totally safe condition, but would not require recocking after reloading. They would probably keep the good features of the S2 (super accuracy, outstanding QD scope mounts, great triggers) as well as some of the not-so-hot features (funky styling, ugly rubber weatherstripping between the barrels) 'cuz they're Blaser! If they bring out an "S3" (?), changing that one detail of the decocking safety system would go a long way towards having the rifle accepted by shooters who were accustomed to more traditional doubles.

 

[farshot]

Re the auto safety on a double.

I preferred to take the transfer bar out of my Merkel 470 safety to remove the auto feature. When it is shut - it is good to go (as long as the tang safety is forward - a habit one must develop over years of using tang safeties).

As for the .375 HH for lion medicine. It is a fine round and will kill a cat dead. One must always remember that in today's age - you will be with at least one PH and they will not leave you exposed in a charge or other altercation.

Your rifle caliber becomes less important in many instances. A 308 or 30-06 or 358 or 9.3 or 404 or...... --- they all work. As long as you have Mr. PH standing there with his 416 or 458 - you are invincible. Not to say that you don't want to have great hunt and do it yourself, but to hunt with a PH is vastly different than sorting out a wounded cat by yourself. Then - the rifle becomes very important.

 

[gunrunner8]

Sorry for stirring the pot but those choices I mentioned would be my personal choices for sxs DG rifle. I don't want to argue with anyone.
Those are with no exeptions;

1 manual safety only
2 auto ejectors only
3 flush and flat breach only- no obstructions while loading the cartridges
4 min 40 cal rimmed cartridge shooting min 400gr bullet at min 2200fps

375 H&H is a fine cartridge for lion but while on foot in Africa hunting who can predict how many of them will show up?
What if there is suprise charge from pi**ed off cape buffalo or elephant?
What if your PH's gun is full of sand and useless? or if you are in line of fire between PH and an animal?
PO, I say.... if you can count then count on yourself....a little redundancy didn't hurt anyone!

I say it again - this is my personal opinion about sxs DG rifles.
Your point of view might be different and I am OK with that.
GR8.

 

[Ardent]

Sorry for stirring the pot but those choices I mentioned would be my personal choices for sxs DG rifle. I don't want to argue with anyone.
Those are with no exeptions;

1 manual safety only
2 auto ejectors only
3 flush and flat breach only- no obstructions while loading the cartridges
4 min 40 cal rimmed cartridge shooting min 400gr bullet at min 2200fps

375 H&H is a fine cartridge for lion but while on foot in Africa hunting who can predict how many of them will show up?
What if there is suprise charge from pi**ed off cape buffalo or elephant?
What if your PH's gun is full of sand and useless? or if you are in line of fire between PH and an animal?
PO, I say.... if you can count then count on yourself....a little redundancy didn't hurt anyone!

I say it again - this is my personal opinion about sxs DG rifles.
Your point of view might be different and I am OK with that.
GR8.

Your personal opinions are as valid as any of ours and spark good debate, so to be clear I appreciate them. I've hunted Cape Buffalo with the .375 (as have others in this thread) and I have full confidence in it, my shot was extremely close in extremely thick bush as well, spitting distance stuff. I've put down larger creatures with it too and again, stellar performance. It is not superior to a .458 on the heavies, but it does a damn admirably good job in its own right and leaves little to be desired. A PH on a Buffalo hunt, and really anything south of Elephant (and many a PH still feels the .375 has ample abilities there), will take a very content view of you showing up with a .375. Several times I've seen the content tight smile my PHs have flashed when the answer to their query of "What gun?" is a .375 H&H with 300gr bullets. It's one of those guns that makes their job easier, it is relatively easy to shoot, and extremely effective, making an excellent combination. The closest my favourite PH in Zimbabwe came to being killed was stopped by his .375 H&H, as he just happened to be carrying it that day instead of the usual .458 Lott, and that was a Buffalo charge that skidded to within a metre of his heels. He had fired, and fallen on his face, he turned to find he was still alive and the Buff very dead. Moral is use what you shoot well, that's old news to all here, and I feel I can thread the proverbial needle with my .375 and that's the gun to carry. And indeed, my Merkel has auto ejectors, and a manual safety like your preferences.

 

[Ardent]

They got a new idea to replace it, new production Rigby:

Irons only, .416 .450 Rigby. Priced as doubles

Like the sights options and utterly gorgeous. A proper African rifle.