Merkel Helix or Blaser

The Stalking Show - 11th to 12th April 2026 - Staffordshire County Showground
I have several Blasers and a doyen barrels. Very happy with them especially the way they shoot. Aesthetically the Helix doesn't do it for me and my Blaser does everything that I need.
 
I've never seen a Helix in the flesh so they might be pretty rare and it might be even less common to find someone who has owned both and can make a useful comparison for you.

Given that all I can say is that Blaser are very common and popular and have a great reputation as a stalking rifle, I have one and love it for all sorts of practical reasons, and so if you ever came to sell again the Blaser might be easier to shift than the Helix.
 
caorach said:
I've never seen a Helix in the flesh so they might be pretty rare and it might be even less common to find someone who has owned both and can make a useful comparison for you.
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You see hardly any Merkel shotguns or rifles in the UK. I don't know why not, they are splendid guns, they really deserve to do better!
 
The Blaser R93 would get my vote. Rifle choice is a very personal thing. I don't care for most of the new fangled designs like the Helix or the R8 although I havent tried them. The newer Steyr SBS models also dont float my boat. Yes the rifle is a tool but I like to feel something for it if that doesnt sound too strange. I second the quality of the shotguns, combination guns and drillings that Merkel have produced.
 
Hard to contribute without re igniting pro/anti views on xyz rifle model - and consequently answer the reasonable question asked!

Not owned either, but tested examples of all three - Helix, R93 and R8 in addition to range sessions and stalking outings with clients using the latter two.

If straight-pull floats your boat and barrel changeover is anything of an issue for you then I'd recommend at least trying the helix - it does various 'Blaser like' things in a slightly different way that I personally prefer - others will have different preferences. A quick search of various online reviews will highlight these.

​Do let us know how you get on.
 
I currently own 4 Merkel shotguns and drillings and have used some of them for many years. All are lovely firearms and beautifuly made, however I have also owned and used 5 R93/R8's and rate then very highly. They have many great features but one that I always find particularly useful to me where I hunt is the way the action seals against the elements. Yesterday I only just returned from western NSW hunting pigs with my Blaser. It is extremely dry out there at the moment and the dust is a real challange for firearms. It gets into everything, including me and the GSP. I just tape the muzzle and when I cleaned it this morning and put a patch through it, not dirt was on the patch after a week in the paddock.To me this is a useful advantage, however I realise this may not be important for others in their hunting enviroment. I again gave the R8 a big knock against a tree stump whilst pushing through some thick scrub. The Blaser professional stock is very tough and does not even appear to mark easily. I have also handled the RX Helix, it also handles great and the action is very slick. It is obvioulsy also well made. I doubt you would be dissappointed with any Merkel or Blaser. Personally I prefer Merkel guns and drillings and Blaser rifles. I hope this helps you a little.
 
9.3x64 said:
I currently own 4 Merkel shotguns and drillings and have used some of them for many years. All are lovely firearms and beautifuly made, however I have also owned and used 5 R93/R8's and rate then very highly. They have many great features but one that I always find particularly useful to me where I hunt is the way the action seals against the elements. Yesterday I only just returned from western NSW hunting pigs with my Blaser. It is extremely dry out there at the moment and the dust is a real challange for firearms. It gets into everything, including me and the GSP. I just tape the muzzle and when I cleaned it this morning and put a patch through it, not dirt was on the patch after a week in the paddock.To me this is a useful advantage, however I realise this may not be important for others in their hunting enviroment. I again gave the R8 a big knock against a tree stump whilst pushing through some thick scrub. The Blaser professional stock is very tough and does not even appear to mark easily. I have also handled the RX Helix, it also handles great and the action is very slick. It is obvioulsy also well made. I doubt you would be dissappointed with any Merkel or Blaser. Personally I prefer Merkel guns and drillings and Blaser rifles. I hope this helps you a little.
Click to expand...


​What is "drillings"?
 
I would go for the Merkel. I find Blasers ...well to be truthful...boring. The Merkel is equal in quality. I have a KR1, a pair of Merkel 12b and am looking for a Helix, but not one of the plastic jobs. Perhaps not a gun to buy new unless you plan to keep it ad infinitum. I imagine it could be hard to shift unless you discount heavily. I agree with Pine Marten: Merkels are severely under-appreciated in the UK.

I imagine drillings to be the plural of drilling: http://www.merkel-die-jagd.de/en/produkte/gewehre/drillinge/drilling-96k-96ks
 
Hi, a drilling is a 3 barrell gun. They are available in many combinations. I have a Merkel with two 12 gauge shotgun barrels over a 222., great small game gun. This week I was shooting rabbits with it, but a fox presented itself at about 100metres. Probally because of all the dead rabbits. I shot him with the 222. My other drilling is built on a 28gauge action with two 9.3x74r rifle barrels over one 20gauge shotgun, this is called a double rifle drilling. But these are just two examples of the many combinations and calibres available. I once saw one made for a dealer in Sydney which was two 16gauge shotguns over a .303. They are very interesting and very useful guns and Merkel have a long history of making lovely drillings.
 
9.3x64 said:
Hi, a drilling is a 3 barrell gun. They are available in many combinations. I have a Merkel with two 12 gauge shotgun barrels over a 222., great small game gun. This week I was shooting rabbits with it, but a fox presented itself at about 100metres. Probally because of all the dead rabbits. I shot him with the 222. My other drilling is built on a 28gauge action with two 9.3x74r rifle barrels over one 20gauge shotgun, this is called a double rifle drilling. But these are just two examples of the many combinations and calibres available. I once saw one made for a dealer in Sydney which was two 16gauge shotguns over a .303. They are very interesting and very useful guns and Merkel have a long history of making lovely drillings.
Click to expand...

Everyday is a school day. Never knew they were called that, but know exactly what you have now.
 
If it was my choice for a stalking rifle then it would be the Blaser. I have looked at the helix and it is a very nice rifle if you are shooting driven game. I am a Merkel fan as i have two.
The Helix, Browning Maral, And simular rifles are made for the driven game market. There's a chap at the running moose range who shoots a Blaser the speed he reloads has to be seed to be believed.
 
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