doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Merkel B4 BBF

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum, as well as any sort of combination gun. I've wanted one for quite some time, and so ordered a left hand Merkel B4 in 12 ga / 223 Rem. I've been incredibly impressed with the gun in its accuracy, ergonomics, and overall feel. They really are pretty great, and I'm really looking forward to hunting with it.

But... I have encountered one issue with decocking. Simply put, the gun will not decock when I try using the thumb cocker. For the first while, it worked. Then it did not. The issue eventually resolved itself, and it all worked fine. Now unfortunately the issue has come back.

It will auto decock when I unlock the firearm, or when I partially unlock it, I can ride the slide down in a more normal decock.

Has anyone experienced this, or have any particular idea what's going on? Am I doing something incorrectly?

I have added a link to YouTube of a video of what is going on, if that helps clarify. https://youtube.com/shorts/YYliezN2USA?feature=share

Thank in advance for any help you can give. Overall I quite like this gun, I would just really like to know how to resolve this. I've sent an email to Merkel as well, so will keep this thread posted if I hear from them.

Hello
and welcome on your first posting

https://www.merkel-die-jagd.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Instruction-manual-B3-B4-Englisch.pdf

Review 2.3.2

I would think that a disassembly and good cleaning would rid the gun of manufacturing residue and allow
the de-cocking to function again

Mike

Thanks skeettx,

I've thought about taking the gun down, and think you are correct that it may help clean up anything leftover from manufacturing.

I've never taken apart a combination gun to the trigger group, if you can call it that. I am quite comfortable disassembling pistols, bolt guns, AR15's and the like right down to nothing, however I always have had a parts diagram in case things go sideways. I have not been able to find anything like that for the Merkel B4, so I guess the question is what are the odds I will mess something up digging into those internals? From the very few diagrams of break actions that I've seen, it can get a touch complicated inside. Surprise springs are always unwelcome, ha.

On another note, just after I finished writing the first post, the decocking situation resolved itself again, and I can decock again. Based on what I was doing when it resolved, I'm thinking it will either be a "break in" process that will resolve itself permanently, or I will need to open it up and clean the cocking slide and whatever detent is responsible up.

ianfroese,
Don't worry, there is very little you can do to the gun( unless you try) that someone else can't fix. Just be sure screwdrivers fit the slots, even if you have to re-grind/file them to fit. Remember: pins go in right to left and come out left to right, and screws are likely marked as to which side they go in( a line filed on the end is for one side, no line is the other side, if there are 3 identical screws the odd one will likely have a X). Different people might use different systems, so look at the ends when you take the first ones out. If you put them back in the wrong place, the slots won't line up and engraving won't match up. Dovetails go in and out the same as pins. Good luck.

Mike

Thanks Der Ami! I'm thinking I'll fill my phone with photos as I go, so I can hopefully remember what goes where. Hopefully I'll be able to find some time to do a full take down this week.

Again thanks for the solid tips!

Ian