used merkel or brno

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joef

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thinking buying used merkel or brno sxs any thoughts, also was eyeing on used marocchi ou.my budget not much older gun?
 
There is a big difference between the two in price, I have seen some nice Brno's for sale lately for under $500 but Merkels will start at three or four times that price. Both are nice guns and well made, but Merkels are a "best" quality gun, Brno's are solid and serviceable, but hardly in the same class. I have owned a couple of Merkels, and a buddy has a Brno that I have shot. I think both are made better than most of the guns out there if they fit you.
 
Longwalker said:
There is a big difference between the two in price, I have seen some nice Brno's for sale lately for under $500 but Merkels will start at three or four times that price. Both are nice guns and well made, but Merkels are a "best" quality gun, Brno's are solid and serviceable, but hardly in the same class. I have owned a couple of Merkels, and a buddy has a Brno that I have shot. I think both are made better than most of the guns out there if they fit you.
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These guys have lots of Merkel SXS's for less thann $1,000AS AS WELL AS A BUNCH OF BRNOS.
I've owned a bunch of brnos and like them.
I have seen several used Merkel O/U's on our EE for about $2,000 as well.
http://www.tradeexcanada.com/
Cat
 
Buy the BRNO model 49 if money is the problem you get an excellent type of side lock with Purdy type fastener,and Poldi steel barrels for around $500 bucks, what a deal, the high and mighty English use these when they don't want to get there Purdy or H&H wet! The Mercles always fasenate me , but I really want a 28 or 410 in one of these! good luck on your selection, dale in T-Bay
 
Cat, I'm surprised that you would call a Thalmann a Merkel. They are both built in the city of Suhl, they are mechanically similar, but are not the same manufacturer as far as I know. I agree that they are good value for the money though....
Can someone comment definitively about Suhl guns and the various manufacturers?
 
thanks ,it is hard to decide, how will merkel older will handle some of new shell that are out like nitro pheasant load? or remington nitro mag/?
 
joef said:
thanks ,it is hard to decide, how will merkel older will handle some of new shell that are out like nitro pheasant load? or remington nitro mag/?
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It's pretty obvious to some of us where you're looking at these guns. Make sure you find out from Tony whether the guns you are considering are chambered in 2 1/2, 2 3/4, or 3". Many of his vintage pieces are perfectly safe with 2 1/2" black powder shells, but not chambered for, nor proven for any 2 3/4" nitro (smokeless) shells. He doesn't often have guns chambered in 3" (but it does and could happen).

Before you start comparing prices, reliability, and fit, find out whether the proof marks indicate black power proofs or nitro proofs. Then, determine the chamber length. If the information is not available, assume 2 1/2" chambers with black powder proofs.

Your posts tend to suggest that you need a nitro proven, 2 3/4" chambered gun. I wouldn't consider 3" chambered SXS's to be useful. A SXS is optimized for the field. It's design is purpose-built for snap shooting on sudden flushes. There's no compelling need for magnum loads in the uplands and it's impractical to carry the heavy gun needed to mitigate the recoil from them. If you think you need magnum loads (for the occasional waterfowl hunt, for example), get an U/O or a semi-auto instead.

If you really want a SXS, get one chambered in 2 3/4", proven for nitro loads, and weighing between 6 and 6.75 pounds. Shoot only lead shot through it. Get non-tox lead substitute shot shells or a separate gun for migratory birds.
 
Longwalker said:
Cat, I'm surprised that you would call a Thalmann a Merkel. They are both built in the city of Suhl, they are mechanically similar, but are not the same manufacturer as far as I know. I agree that they are good value for the money though....
Can someone comment definitively about Suhl guns and the various manufacturers?
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nope, they are genuine Merkels I was looking at!:cool:
Here's one!
http://www.tradeexcanada.com/index.php?option=com_paxgallery&task=view&gid=9&iid=6317
he even has some Berreta SXS guns, and one Berreta hammer gun!:)
I have owned a few Suhl Thalmann guns, and although they are a tad on the heavy side, they are solid , well built guns.
Cat
 
I asked a question about those Merkels on another forum and got back some information that I was able to verify with a few Google searches: basically the name "Merkel" doesn't mean much without an understanding of the company's history. The guns being referred to were made during the Russian occupation of Germany.

Nothing wrong with them functionally, but they are not worth more than what is being asked.
 
looch said:
I asked a question about those Merkels on another forum and got back some information that I was able to verify with a few Google searches: basically the name "Merkel" doesn't mean much without an understanding of the company's history. The guns being referred to were made during the Russian occupation of Germany.

Nothing wrong with them functionally, but they are not worth more than what is being asked.
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I'm not sure about the quality diufferences between then and now, but I have shot a few of the occupied built merkels, and tey are very well built.
Now, I'm not sure if these guns would be better/worse than a Thalmann, but these ae also pretty well built shotguns.
I am sure for the money they are a good deal.....
Cat
 
I have Merkels built in both east and west Germany from the same era and have found no disrenable difference in Quality. I recently had a discussion about quality with Klaus Hyptmayer ( Fantastic Gunmaker from Quebec) and his opinion was that Merkles were Merkels and even in East Germany, although they may come from the same factory, they built more quality into the them than Thalnmann, Simsons & Sauers. That being said, do not discount the Brno's -- they are of high quality and a joy to shoot!
Cheers/Luck!
 
Grouser said:
I have Merkels built in both east and west Germany from the same era and have found no disrenable difference in Quality. I recently had a discussion about quality with Klaus Hyptmayer ( Fantastic Gunmaker from Quebec) and his opinion was that Merkles were Merkels and even in East Germany, although they may come from the same factory, they built more quality into the them than Thalnmann, Simsons & Sauers. That being said, do not discount the Brno's -- they are of high quality and a joy to shoot!
Cheers/Luck!
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I thought Simsons and Merkels were built at the same factory. I have owned both and the quality was excellent.
 
i decided with brno with a english stock, my friend has one and fits nicely ,not sure if merkel fits without trying out to see if it fits. both are good guns i had to go with one i know fits. all the feed back seem either one they are both quality gun built well .also most of my hunting is upland.the english stock for me comes eye better.
 
Good selection. The "old world" BRNOs are very well made.

May I suggest the use of 1oz to 1 1/8oz (maximum) loads for your Upland needs.

Comparatively heavier loads are not always forgiving (and not really needed) where Game Guns are concerned and place undue stress on the stock head more specifically if the shotgun is a sidelock.
 
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