Merkel K4 Stutzen and others like it

[Southern]

I am going to start a new thread, but also pose ask in this long thread about the Single Shot Stalking Rifle, where it may be lost:

Have any of you owned, used, or shot the single shot Stutzens like the Merkel break action with a full stock?
Is it too short, or is it really handy?
What cartridges have you used in these short rifles, on what, and what do you think of the results vs full sized rifles?

I see some posts of a K95 Stutz in .243 and a .30-06 Stutz.
And a .25-06... is it a Stutzen? Now much does it give up in a short barrel?

The reason I ask is that a friend it going by the Steyr HQ in Alabama today. They are having a sale of inventory, about 30% off the Steyrs and Merkel shotguns and rifles. He is going to see what choices they have. One was a K3 Stutzen in 7mm-08 with Zeiss Terra for $2,895.00.

....up to $6,000 off factory demo guns and writer samples. Customers can stop by the new Steyr headquarters, or they can stop by many local Steyr dealers to take advantage of these great deals.

For additional information, please call Steyr Arms directly at (205) 417-8644.

 

[mchughcb]

Yes had it three months now. Shot 6 deer with it. Mine is 30-06 which i think is enough for the recoil in such a light small gun. Where I have to walk one handed because I'm holding onto tree etc in very rough terrain, that very light weight makes it doable. Even if I had to fire one handed I could. Its nice, light and packs down. Everyone that has held and shot it loves it. I mean everyone. One of the best stalking rifles about as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Southern]

Beautiful carbine you have there!

What loads do you use, and do you know what velocity you are getting?

This sale ends today, and I think my friend is going to buy a 7mm-08 or .270.

 

[mchughcb]

View attachment 44737

Currently its sighted in for 170gr T Mantel Geco Factory rounds. But it will shoot my reloads of 180gr Sierra Gamekings. Velocity should be around 2800fps or thereabouts. I haven't bothered chronographing out of the short barrel yet. My chrono is a magnetic one and it would be difficult to strap given the wood at the end of the barrel. I've shot at the range out to 300m which generally covers everything for woodland stalking. My mate has the K3 I think, but its not the stutzen, great rifle in 7x57R. He's shot a few deer when we've been out stalking. A little cheaper than the Blaser but great wood, great handling and the quick release mount system still pretty good.

 

[Southern]

Thanks for the feedback. That is a pretty hot load.
Beautiful little rifle in you hand.

 

[Southern]

My friend got the Merkel K3 Stutzen in .270 with a Swaro Z3.
We will let you know how it likes some loads we run through it, and what velocity we get from it.

 

[hoofpower2]

I have a Mannlicher Stutzen in .308....although not single shot, I do relate to your comments about using a tree etc.
I find the full length stock ideal for resting your hand on the side of a tree as a rest (a la`Shooting sticks) with your hand much further along the stock than is possible than with a normal rifle fore-end.

 

[Southern]

I have a Mannlicher cabine in .270 Winchester, and have owned older ones ( 1950, 1952, MCA) in .30-06, 6.5x54MS, and .243. What hoofpower2 says about resting it on a tree is tree - excellent from a high stand, especially the small ones or climbing stands used in the US.

Also, it enables holding like a shotgun, hand out and pointing, for a quick getting on target. I know a fellow who uses an MCA carbine in .270 for still hunting. Most of his shots are 25 to 50 yards on deer that are moving or he just surprised, and he is deadly with it.

 

[Pine Marten]

I have two, a 7mm-08 and its' .22RF little cousin for practice, and they do both have superb handling and pointability, which was one of my main reasons for choosing stutzens in the first place (the other being aesthetics). But as regards resting the tip of the stock for shooting, I wouldn't do that as it flexes and touches the barrel. I don't rest it any further than about half way, where the sling swivel is attached. After that it becomes noticeably thinner.

 

[Southern]

No, I don't rest the stock on anything hard, but as hoofpower2 says, hold the rifle further out and brace the back of my wrist against a tree trunk for a very steady offhand shot. My Mannlicher and full stock bolt action Mauser carbines have one piece stocks.

How does that two piece stock on the Merkel work as for holding it ahead of the joint or behind the joint, up close to the magazine, on the checkering?

 

[mchughcb]

So did your mate end up buying that bargain, and if so do you have any photos?

 

[Southern]

Yes, one of them got a .270 Win Stutzen with Swaro 3.5-10x42 and the other bought a 7mm-08 with some Zeiss Terra. The rifles arrived, and we hope to shoot this weekend if not rained out.

 

[Cris]

I have two, a 7mm-08 and its' .22RF little cousin for practice, and they do both have superb handling and pointability, which was one of my main reasons for choosing stutzens in the first place (the other being aesthetics). But as regards resting the tip of the stock for shooting, I wouldn't do that as it flexes and touches the barrel. I don't rest it any further than about half way, where the sling swivel is attached. After that it becomes noticeably thinner.

I take it that they are free floating barrels. My old BSA is pressure bedding at the muzzle end and the for end sling swivel acts to tension the pressure via a band round the barrel.

 

[mchughcb]

Yes, one of them got a .270 Win Stutzen with Swaro 3.5-10x42 and the other bought a 7mm-08 with some Zeiss Terra. The rifles arrived, and we hope to shoot this weekend if not rained out.

Great choice, look forward to the pictures. A true stalker's rifle.

 

[Heym SR20]

I had a good look at that Merkel Stutzen at the the Stalking fair. It's very short and light, and to my mind a bit too short and light. I am 6ft with long arms and it's stock was too short for me, but a longer stock and it would be out of proportion. Also that short barrel will be very loud. My suggestion would be to have a look at a standard length one with a 24" or 26" barrel. It's still way shorter than a bolt gun, but will be easier to shoot and a lot quieter. I have a 16/ 7x65r Ferlach combination gun with 26" barrels that weights less than 7lbs with scope. It's really handy to carry, but very confident to shoot. Took a fox the other evening at 150 yds of sticks, and a cull roe buck through the back of the head at similar range - and before the incoming -he was a sick looking buck that needed taking and grass was up to his neck. The 7x65r is just a boom and because of the long barrel is quieter than a shotgun or my 243 with a 24" barrel. I did shoot a few months back a Mannlicher carbine in 308 with an 18" barrel - it was very loud and horrible, even with good ear defenders.

Just my pennies worth.

 

[Southern]

I agree with you 100%, Heym. The standard rifle is still so short and light, why go to a carbine barrel?

But these fellows were struck by the good looks of the rifle. And one of them likes how it will fit into a soft case or his backpack. But the full rifle will fit into a takedown shotgun case.

I have a 7x57R combi and it is just a boom, as you say.
I have a Steyr M carbine in .270 and it is a blast, very loud.

 

[Heym SR20]

Southern - as most things in life - it's a compromise. Certainly the little carbines are very small and handy and given that most hunting rifles spend 99% plus of their time being carried then makes sense to focus on that. I have carried mine broken down in a backpack, but the barrels do have to stick a few inches, so can see the merits of shorter barrel. And when you shoot at a buck or other game you never notice the recoil or noise.

These sort of rifles are not range guns - rather sight it it in and go hunting. And with good mounts you can take them down a reassemble and you are still well within the kill zone. I tried a group with mine and taking it apart including scope of the barrels and reassembling between shots, it keeps 3 shots within an inch at 100 yds.

The only thing these lightweight rifles don't like is rapid shooting. If you want a good group wait a few minutes between shots. That's not to say a second or third quick shot won't be accurate enough - it will be within an inch or so, but they are not the weapon of choice for long range varmint shooting with lots of targets.

But it as a rifle for stalking with I think they take some beating. I have had mine five years now and taken several deer with it and never once felt that I needed the magazine. On one occasion I did need some follow up shots on a red stag - it just stood there and took three rounds through the heart and lungs before falling over - probably 20 seconds from start to finish. Nothing wrong with the shooting or bullet placement. I was using the RWS 162 cone point bullet, which is I think quite hard, but to be honest if I had wait 30 seconds after the first shot he would have fallen over dead.

 

[Southern]

One of these fellows lives in a city at the foot of the mountains, and when he gets a day or two, likes to go hunt deer and wild boar there (German stock, long ago escaped from a fenced preserve of a railroad tycoon). His only other large centerfire rifles are large, like 7mm RM. And this little Merkel can be cased most of the time and slung over his shoulder. He also travels on business to Maine, Canada, etc, and this will fit into his suitcase.

I am going to do some chronographing of various loads through the .270 Merkel, my Mannlicher, vs a 24-inch .270. With my Mannlicher and with my 7x64 Brno carbine, I have found that when they are fed the right loads, both will shoot under 3/4 inch groups of 5. The 160-gr bullets in the 7x64 are terrific. I shoot the Sierra BTSP and BTHP, the HP being a tougher bullet, for something like your red deer. 56.0 to 57.0 grains of N-160 works well.