The Merkel carbine is known all over the world among hunters and just lovers of weapons. Which is not surprising - German weapons were famous at all times. And this carbine is the product of almost a century and a half of the activity of one of the largest companies in Germany. Therefore, it will be very useful to learn more about him.
Company History
For starters, fast forward to the end of the nineteenth century. It was then that the Merkel brothers, who were seriously fond of weapons, decided to create their own manufactory in the small town of Suhl, which later became the capital of German gunsmiths. Initially, they relied on elite weapons made by hand. However, they also did not forget about the middle price segment - a lot of smoothbore guns, carbines and rifles were produced in this category as well.
Quite quickly, the weapons created at this factory began to be valued all over the world. First of all, for the great design, grip, and ease of shooting. In order not to be unfounded, it is worth noting that it was the Merkel carbines that were ordered as gifts for diplomats, ambassadors,presidents, crowned persons. For example, the world boxing champion Max Schmelling, who loved weapons, bought the products of the famous brothers from Germany.
The company did not fall under post-war reparations, so it quickly got back on its feet and started working at the end of 1945, becoming one of the symbols of the GDR. In 1953, the country's leadership presented Eisenhower and Khrushchev with exclusive guns created on the machines of this company as a gift. Yuri Gagarin received the same gift in 1963.
Summary
It is worth saying that the Merkel carbines have not lost the advantages for which they were valued a century ago. They still have excellent technical characteristics, which allows them to effectively fire at a moving target located at a fairly large distance - 200-300 meters.
First of all, this efficiency is ensured by excellent ergonomics and a carefully thought-out shape. Leaving reviews on Merkel rifles, many shooters first of all note that they fit perfectly in the hand, as if becoming an extension of the human body. Moreover, the weapon is perfect for both strong men and thin teenagers or petite women. So it's not surprising that these weapons are in high demand at a high cost.
Key Benefits
To begin with, it should be noted that the Merkel Helix carbine boasts a special ease of use. This is providedsuperbly balanced shape of the main structural parts. As mentioned above, according to the hunters, the carbine seems to attach itself to the shoulder.
It is worth noting the high reliability. The creators, knowing full well that the weapon can be used in a variety of conditions, tried to ensure its effectiveness by all available means. First of all, this is the maximum possible simplicity of the device - a minimum of parts provides maximum reliability. Specially selected processed materials are also used. The metal has a high resistance to corrosion. The stock and forend are made of walnut wood. They are distinguished not only by their external attractiveness, but also by high strength, resistance to high humidity.
There is an open sight, which allows accurate fire without additional sighting accessories - a collimator or optical aiming.
In addition, the developers preferred a single-row store. Although this reduces the number of rounds in the carbine, it significantly increases reliability, almost completely eliminating the possibility of breakage.
Disassembles for cleaning and inspection of weapons very quickly and easily - just relax a few connections.
Major flaws
Alas, the main disadvantage that these carbines have is the high cost. However, the spread here is quite large. If the Merkel RH Helix carbine costs more than 120 thousand rubles, then the SR1 can be purchased in twotimes cheaper - around 60-65 thousand.
Another important drawback is the complexity of repairs in our country. Of course, these carbines fail very rarely. But if it does happen (due to mishandling, accident, or the use of low-quality ammunition), then it will be almost impossible to fix it, you will have to go to the factory, which will take a lot of time and will be very expensive.
Destination
Of course, the main purpose of these carbines is hunting. Moreover, they have proven themselves well both when shooting at small and medium-sized animals. Suitable for lovers of hunting rabbits, roe deer and even deer.
High accuracy makes this weapon an excellent choice for use during professional shooting competitions.
Models produced in small calibers (we will talk about them a little later) will be a good choice for acquiring initial skills in shooting firearms. They are especially well suited for teenagers and just short people. Compactness and small size allow you to comfortably fire regardless of the build of the shooter.
What calibers are produced in
It's impossible to give a definite answer here. The fact is that the Merkel company produces a fairly extensive range of various hunting carbines. Each of them has certain advantages as well as purposes. Therefore, one should approach the choice of a suitable option very seriously, weighing all the pros and cons.
For example,The Merkel Helix carbine is usually chambered in.222 Rem. But, besides this, varieties designed for firing.223 Rem, 6, 5x55SE, 243 Win,.270 Win and 7 × 64 caliber ammunition are quite common.
The developers have not forgotten about reinforced cartridges: carbines for shooting.300 WinMag and 7 mm RemMag are being produced. So, if you are planning to hunt small prey, get a shooting skill or instill it in a teenager, a woman, then these small calibers will be the best choice - weak recoil combined with high accuracy and range are highly valued by professionals.
But if we talk about the Merkel SR1 carbine, then the most common cartridge here is.308 Win. There are also carbines that use the cartridge 9, 3x62,.30-06 and.300 Win Mag when firing. Of course, the recoil when firing will be much greater, but the flatness when fired at a long distance is much less, and the damaging effect is higher. Such weapons are usually chosen by experienced hunters who are going to fire at a distance of 200-300 meters at medium prey, such as deer.
Other features
Despite the difference in calibers, the rest of the characteristics of the Merkel carbines are practically the same. This is very convenient and important for both the manufacturer and the shooters. On the one hand, there is no need to rebuild and produce the most accurate calibration for weapons machines, which means that time and effort are saved. On the other hand, getting used, for example, to a carbine"Merkel SR1", switching to Helix will be quite easy - you won't have to get used to other dimensions and weight again.
The body length is only 1000 millimeters - a very small figure for a reliable long-range weapon. At the same time, the barrel accounts for 524 millimeters, which provides a good distance for a confident fight.
The carbine weighs only 2690 grams, which allows both a man and a teenager to walk through the forest with it for many hours without feeling excessive fatigue. Experienced hunters are well aware that every hundred grams pretty quickly brings the moment when it will be hard to lift a leg for the next step.
It is also worth noting that the barrel is made by cold forging. Thanks to a special oxide coating, the metal is reliably protected from corrosion both when used or stored in high humidity conditions, and when accidentally splashed into water.
Conclusion
Now you know enough about the Merkel.308 carbine and other modifications. This means that you can easily choose and purchase exactly the weapon that will serve you for many years and will not make you regret the wasted money.
