Merkel Helix

[Yeomans]

Afternoon All,

I'm considering in investing in a Merkel Helix rifle for stalking. Like the look of the quality wood and Merkel seems to get good quality reviews.

Does anyone have one or have any experience of one? Any thoughts, comments or suggested alternatives?

Budget for actual rifle probably £3-4k - like tradition wood looking with a modern twist!

M

 

[gixer1]

I’ve never shot one but I have man handled a fair few and everytime I see one on a gun rack I am drawn to it.

Lovely looking rifles and very well built from the ones I’ve seen. It’s always been a hankering of mine.

Good luck when you get it!

Regards.
Gixer

 

[Steff]

Hands off!!!!! Seriously.
I‘ve seen countless Helix‘s with a jammed action that could only be opened with force. I‘m a range officer, so I get to see quite a lot.
Then comes the fact that you cannot clean the barrel without taking it out. And it does not have the perfect return to zero properties a Blaser has. Sometimes it works and then they‘re off by 2‘‘.

I know they look good and handle nicely, but technically they are crap and only sold to people who unfortunately don‘t know any better.

 

[Jammy-landy]

Friend had one. As said above, he had some issues with the action jamming. They may have addressed it by now but it would be enough to swerve me to something else. His jammed with a live round too, I could shrug off an empty case maybe, but imagine trying to be brutal with a gun thats live. Not a bit of me!

 

[Steff]

Friend had one. As said above, he had some issues with the action jamming. They may have addressed it by now but it would be enough to swerve me to something else. His jammed with a live round too, I could shrug off an empty case maybe, but imagine trying to be brutal with a gun thats live. Not a bit of me!

Exactly this!
Then again, you could always put the safety on and drive to the smithy.

 

[Yeomans]

Thanks for the info, very useful!

Any recommendations on what would be a better choice?

 

[Steff]

Thanks for the info, very useful!

Any recommendations on what would be a better choice?

A very common question without a definitive answer I‘m afraid.
You best a make list of features that you want. The way to choose a rifle is best tackled by means of exclusion using such a list.
I assume you have a switch barrel and straight pull on your list. Should this be the case and also considering the budget a Blaser R8 would fit the bill.

 

[Yeomans]

A very common question without a definitive answer I‘m afraid.
You best a make list of features that you want. The way to choose a rifle is best tackled by means of exclusion using such a list.
I assume you have a switch barrel and straight pull on your list. Should this be the case and also considering the budget a Blaser R8 would fit the bill.

Thanks for the advice.
No, not dedicated to a straight pull or switch barrel to be honest, just liked the look of the wood with a modern twist. Was also looking at Rigby Highland Stalker for a more traditional offering.

 

[Steff]

Thanks for the advice.
No, not dedicated to a straight pull or switch barrel to be honest, just liked the look of the wood with a modern twist. Was also looking at Rigby Highland Stalker for a more traditional offering.

Ha, ha, now we‘re talking business.
Your choices are countless. I suggest you turn to a custom gun smith.
No offense meant, but you seem to be rather new to the trade and should seek some qualified advice off (away) from the internet with the amount of money you are willing to spend.

 

[Adyb]

Helix's have been popular amongst driven boar hunters and a few have them in my team here in france - nice looks/feel but french hunting forums are full of horror stories - jammed action is not what you need when a 90kg boar is running at you...

Linear action is great if you want super fast follow up shots. If that is not your priority consider a quality bolt action instead - tried and tested, less to go wrong.
The RX helix is especially complex as it has a geared lever (to shorten lever throw length) as well as self rotating locking lugs

 

[lambic]

Do you really want beautiful wood on a stalking rifle ?

How will you feel when you scratch it on the hill or the wood gets saturated ?

Will be ok if you are doing a half walk on a nice evening, but maybe not for hind culling

 

[HonestJohn]

Thanks for the advice.
No, not dedicated to a straight pull or switch barrel to be honest, just liked the look of the wood with a modern twist. Was also looking at Rigby Highland Stalker for a more traditional offering.

Steyr mono block with wood perhaps?

 

[Woodsy]

Thanks for the info, very useful!

Any recommendations on what would be a better choice?

Have you considered Shultz and Larsen? Extremely well made rifles.
They have recently started making synthetic stocks too but if you like wood you’ll not be disappointed with what they have to offer.

Great Dane Rifles | Schultz & Larsen

www.greatdanerifles.com

 

[HonestJohn]

Have you considered Shultz and Larsen? Extremely well made rifles.
They have recently started making synthetic stocks too but if you like wood you’ll not be disappointed with what they have to offer.

Great Dane Rifles | Schultz & Larsen

www.greatdanerifles.com

They do look very nice! the Ambassador caught my eye!

 

[Shaun Goss]

With that budget and not set on a straight pull I think there’s some great options. The Schultz and Larsen definitely should be on the list aswell as perhaps steyr and sauer. Best thing is to go to a good gun shop or perhaps wait until the shooting show in February and go and pick a load up and see what you like.

 

[Dunwaters]

Do you really want beautiful wood on a stalking rifle ?

How will you feel when you scratch it on the hill or the wood gets saturated ?

Will be ok if you are doing a half walk on a nice evening, but maybe not for hind culling

OOHH yes. Nice wood, blued steel, a little engraving….
I especially enjoy the end of season session steaming out the dents, each one brings back a memory.

 

[8x57]

Hands off!!!!! Seriously.
I‘ve seen countless Helix‘s with a jammed action that could only be opened with force. I‘m a range officer, so I get to see quite a lot.
Then comes the fact that you cannot clean the barrel without taking it out. And it does not have the perfect return to zero properties a Blaser has. Sometimes it works and then they‘re off by 2‘‘.

I know they look good and handle nicely, but technically they are crap and only sold to people who unfortunately don‘t know any better.

Seriously that's very interesting to learn.

 

[Yeomans]

Thanks for all the comments, i've definitely scrubbed the Merkel off the list... those Shultz & Larsen's do look good!

 

[Woodsy]

Thanks for all the comments, i've definitely scrubbed the Merkel off the list... those Shultz & Larsen's do look good!

And Steve Beaty at Ivythorn Sporting (Somerset) has a range you can use. So you can go and try before you buy a Shultz and Larsen. Plus he’s a genuinely nice man to deal with.

 

[J Shave]

I've got a merkel helix in 300WM never had a problem with Jamming , holds zero every time . I swap between a Aimpoint DS to a S & B PM2 both on quick release mounts & deadly accurate .
I can remove barrel in sections if needed for cleaning . I must of got a good one ?.