I have a Merkel Model 8. I believe it is essentially a 147E without the engraving or the "E" (Ejectors?). In any event, I can provide testimony about mine after, oh, close to 25 yrs of use I suppose. At least 20 anyway. It is a 12 gauge with 28" barrels.

It was tight. It is still quite tight in the normal sense, up and down. But it is a little loose left to right - side clip fences not withstanding.

Mine is used hard. It has hunted everything, shot heavy lead loads at turkeys, a bit of steel at ducks (#4s only) and heavy bismuth loads at geese and ducks but not a ton of waterfowling. Mostly it shoots pheasants and clays.

It has been run hard, which means it, and I have had a few face plants. One of which cracked the stock, but that has been repaired by myself years ago. Perhaps this has contributed to the left-right play in the barrels, but I can't prove it.

I like the Merkel just fine and it is no worse for shooting or balance or whatever than my Cashmore, Evans, or Scotts have been. It is no better either.

When I go it, I had it fitted with Briley chokes, a pad that I have since removed and replaced with the original buttplate and the forcing cones lengthened a bit.

But the bone I'll pick is about strength. I think it is a falacy. Why is the Merkel's underbites and greener crossbolt lock up any stronger or stout than the Cashmores, Greeners, Evans or any of a dozen other English guns, not to mention the Husqvarnas, Oshatz, Sauers and other Euro guns that I've been looking at or playing with? I contend it isn't, but their notoriously stiff actions coupled with the German steriotype for overbuilding things gives them this reputation. I just don't see the reason for this reputation.

_________
BrentD, (Professor - just for Stan)
=>/

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]