Recommend a double 500 NE?

[LimbNoMo]

Merkel stopped making big bore double rifles ?

I talked to T&G Imports after posting their ad. He made no mention of Merkel no longer producing Safari caliber rifles, but did say they are going to have a 30% price increase.

 

[IvW]

I could be wrong but I believe that Chapuis never produced a .500 NE. And it is definitely not in their current line up. Merkel is out of modern double productions in large safari calibers. It's down to VC, Sabatti, Krieghoff, and Heym if you want a new .500 NE in a non-British double. You can find old Blaser S-3's or Merkel and others out there. I picked up a Merkel in .500 NE on Rock Island Auction but it's not new.

VC are out and Sabatti in 500NE is a real poor choice....
So make your pick Heym or Krieghoff....

 

[Tiger2001]

Merkel stopped making big bore double rifles ?

Yes Sir. About 10 years ago they kind of disappeared. Even here in Germany trying to find them is extremely difficult. I just attended the annual hunting expo in Salzburg, Austria last weekend. Merkel and Krieghoff both had their areas and displays. Krieghoff had a number of safari caliber DR's on display. Merkel had none. Just a couple of O/U 9.3x74's. Their reps kind of chuckled when I asked about the old 140's and 141's they used to make/sell.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Yes Sir. About 10 years ago they kind of disappeared. Even here in Germany trying to find them is extremely difficult. I just attended the annual hunting expo in Salzburg, Austria last weekend. Merkel and Krieghoff both had their areas and displays. Krieghoff had a number of safari caliber DR's on display. Merkel had none. Just a couple of O/U 9.3x74's. Their reps kind of chuckled when I asked about the old 140's and 141's they used to make/sell.

What a shame. They made an okay double rifle. Not the best, but pretty decent value for the money.

 

[Northern Shooter]

So you’re saying the 160AE I just bought is now a classic.

Their Safari caliber doubles are still listed on the Merkel website. Maybe they only produce limited runs each year?

 

[Tiger2001]

Hi everyone. I really don't know but believe me I have expended a lot of energy trying to get an answer. I can tell that if you reach out to Merkel you will either go round and round and never get a straight answer or you will be referred to that fellow in Alabama who seems to be their designated POC. And the above link to Gunsinternational is the first time I have seen a NEW Merkel double featured, so maybe things are turning around!

But getting back to the original thread. If one wants a NEW, non-British made modern double in 500 NE you are limited (IMHO) to Krieghoff and Heym. Sabatti, whatever you think of them, I believe makes this caliber and I am not sure if VC still does. That's it for the above criteria.

 

[KJE81]

Siace Big Hunter can be had in .500 Nitro Express, about 12 000 euro when I inquired a few years ago. It can be heavily customized when it comes to engraving, wood grade, stock type and scope mounts/red dot mount.

Big Hunter

BIG HUNTER is the new side-by-side express manufactured for Dangerous Game Hunting. Each rifle comes with monoblock barrels in Chrome-Molibdenum steel. Action and small parts are machined from solid blocks of special compound steel (Nickel-Chrome-Molibdenum). The British-type double bite locking...

www.siacearmi.com

 

[Rare Breed]

Hi everyone. I really don't know but believe me I have expended a lot of energy trying to get an answer. I can tell that if you reach out to Merkel you will either go round and round and never get a straight answer or you will be referred to that fellow in Alabama who seems to be their designated POC. And the above link to Gunsinternational is the first time I have seen a NEW Merkel double featured, so maybe things are turning around!

But getting back to the original thread. If one wants a NEW, non-British made modern double in 500 NE you are limited (IMHO) to Krieghoff and Heym. Sabatti, whatever you think of them, I believe makes this caliber and I am not sure if VC still does. That's it for the above criteria.

I would put Heym at the top of your list but if you want new look at the wait time. Problem is not much for a value on the posted used gun market at this time

 

[rafter3]

So you’re saying the 160AE I just bought is now a classic.

Their Safari caliber doubles are still listed on the Merkel website. Maybe they only produce limited runs each year?

I have one and love it, they seem to get a lot of bad press but I think it's a beautiful gun and have enjoyed shooting it. Shot a nilgai in Texas last month and plan to shoot 4 buffalo in SA this summer.