Originally Posted By: BrentD
Originally Posted By: mbuckly
Looking at Merkel 147E 12 Gauges and wondering what opinions are out there about them. I know Merkel's are built like tanks. Does anyone have a Sporting edition with the 30" barrels? I'm wondering what they handle like vs. the 28".


This is still a bit Teutonic, but I have become enamored, to some degree by Oshatz. They are a little more streamlined to my way of thinking, but still have the pancake cheekpiece. I bought and traded on with trigger bar locks that was extremely narrow and light for a 12 bore.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-fo...342A9B6.cfusion


As I mentioned before when it comes to old game guns the competition for best suited tool has always been between the English and country located south across La Manche. Take a look at French knockabout Mondaile 2" 12ga guns at Marks site. There you can see how they solved weight problem at barrel jointing and shaping of the butt stock. That is where gunmaking skill iies.