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For casual sxs only trap shooting would an Ernst Thalmann 125 be sturdy enough? This would be approximately 100 rounds a week for about 16 weeks. I want to spare my better guns though they will get some use too. Thank you.

Depends, if you are running 1 1/8 oz. AA super handicaps, maybe not. With 3/4 oz. at 1100 fps sure.

Ernst Thalmann was an East German factory. So, post WWII production. Your average 12ga sxs being lighter than most dedicated trap guns, if for no other reason than your own comfort, you probably don't want to shoot anything really heavy and fast, as Mark suggests. And for 16 yard trap, you don't need to. If you want to shoot factory ammo and aren't concerned with reloading, just get cheap 1 oz loads you can toss, like Rio or Fiocchi at maybe 1150 fps. Assuming a choke as tight as mod, you'll get impressive breaks and you won't hurt either yourself or the gun. Or something a little lighter (but slightly faster), like 7/8 oz 8's, Federal Top Gun target loads. Even most serious trap shooters have discovered that they don't need those heavy, fast loads for 16 yard targets.

Yes, they actually made Merkel set up for sporting clays. It appeared in early to mid 1990 (GSI imported) and came with choke tubes. The weight was about 7.5lb to help deal with recoil from repeated shots. Probably sold like dairy products with "past best if used by date", therefore, finding one on used market will be very, very difficult.

JM'ster, There are always some of the Merkel Sporting SxS's available online at GI or GB.

I've seen them many times.

Trap eats up equipment. You can't get good unless you practice a lot, and everyone wants to get good. So, unless you are using the left barrel primarily, expect accelerated wear.

The Merkel Sporting model was a limited production gun, still as CZ suggests they are around. They came with fixed chokes, SKT/IC not with choke tubes. Being Merkels, they would make a lasting target gun. I've shot the heck out my 3 without a malfunction, and use my 12 ga. primarily as a SxS event gun.
Karl

Strange, but the last three posters did not even come close to answering the original posters concerns. Read the thread before posting.

Thank you all for the helpful replies. I will be using 7/8oz 7.5s and not fast. Just a casual SXS event. Thanks again.

Like I said,
and I'll clarify it for you, 1600 trap rounds and he can expect accelerated wear.

Functional malfunction? That's an unknown. Depends on the condition of his firearm.
Would he feel a difference from day 1 to day 16? I believe so.

CZ, you really think so, even with the loads he specified?

My first classic sxs was a pre-WWII Sauer 16. Back in my more ignorant days, I had the 65MM chambers punched to 2 3/4". I hunted pheasants with that gun for 20+ years, mostly shooting high brass 1 1/8 oz loads. And those were the days when Iowa had a lot of pheasants. Also shot a bunch of skeet with it, mostly 1 oz factory stuff until I figured out how to load 7/8 oz (which required the use of filler since only 1 oz wads were available back then.) I never saw any wear on that gun. The only issue I ever had was when the piece linking the top lever to the Greener crossbolt broke. Once repaired, I was back in business again.