SPEEDY Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 The gun that I am looking at buying is a brand new Merkel model 96K – standard drilling, with 24†barrels in 12ga SXS with 3†chambers & a 9.3X74R barrel underneath. At a weight of just 7.7lbs it should make an excellent carry around rifle/shotgun with (hopefully) excellent balance and handling at that length and weight. My plan was to use it as a shotgun for the most part, as I was considering having my current shotgun modified by trimming the barrels down to 24†and having rifle sights fitted as well. I had planed on using it as a slug and buckshot gun for Pigs up north and as scattergun for Rabbits and Foxes down south but a friend that borrowed it recently liked it and has made a good offer on it. As I don’t use my 375H&H very often, I just don’t have much game down here that warrants its use. But for big game up north I think a single 9.3mm 285gr pill should work just as well under 100m as a 300gr .375, then of course having a couple of Brenneke black magic DG slugs in the top tubes should provide more then enough protection if something large decides it doesn’t like my presence. Has anyone used slugs in one? If so what was the regulation like at 50m? I am also uncertain as to what it would be like to use a shotgun with a scope, should I leave a scope off or would 2X magnification still have a fast enough target acquisition on in close rabbits etc. I have little wish to rush into a decision and want to make sure that what I buy now will suit my needs for many years to come. For instance while it will be used as a shotgun for small game and pigs with occasional use on Red and Sambar deer for the next few years, I will be moving to Darwin in the future and it will see use more on Pigs, Horses, Scrub Bulls and Buffalo then as I have friends with properties reasonably close by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 Personally I would leave the scope off, but it depends on how comfortable you are with the gun.Inthe heat of the moment with a large buffalo trying to step on me I would rather have open sights. A 2x scope wouldn't help with close rabbits, in my opinion. That does sound like a very impressive weapon though, when loaded with slugs. What are you buying next, a .50 cal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDY Posted July 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 That does sound like a very impressive weapon though, when loaded with slugs. What are you buying next, a .50 cal? Funny you should mention that, I just got offered a 50BMG at an excellent price yesterday it’s a shame that I have no use for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 I'm not sure if it was you who mentioned it, Speedy, but can you shoot cassowaries in Australia? Are they legal quarry? I heard that they're vicious, and very clever animals that cause a lot of trouble (and injuries). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDY Posted July 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 I'm not sure if it was you who mentioned it, Speedy, but can you shoot cassowaries in Australia? Are they legal quarry? I heard that they're vicious, and very clever animals that cause a lot of trouble (and injuries). Well you can in an extreme case of self-defence or if you have an extremely good lawyer. The only native animals that you can hunt in Australia are. 1) Kangaroos with tags – all states 2) Emus in WA with tags 3) Galah’s & cockatoo’s most states with permit 4) Dingos most states 5) Ducks 6) Quail There may be more but I am sure of these ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 I'd read an article on another shooting website about how unpleasant cassowaries are. One anecdote was about how a pair of the birds had outmanoeuvered a team of hunters, and attacked the dog pack chasing them. They sound great, have a look at the photo on this link of the man shieled behind the steel plate: http://www.amazingaustralia.com.au/animals...ary-attacks.htm Just curious as to whether the Merkel would be up to the job if you found yourself cornered by a cassowary, or whether the .375 would do a more final job. Can you not hunt buffalo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDY Posted July 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 Just curious as to whether the Merkel would be up to the job if you found yourself cornered by a cassowary, or whether the .375 would do a more final job. Can you not hunt buffalo? I will be hunting buffalo soon enough I’m planing a trip at the moment oh and for charging cassowary’s I would want a SXS and a load of SSG buckshot (it works wonders on there bigger cousin the Emu anyway) But I have decided to drop the Drilling idea as not suitable for my present needs. My 375H&H has much more power and more easily available components for reloading (and it’s a bloody top rifle to boot). I was also more after a SXS shotgun for hunting with buckshot and slugs then another rifle. I’m looking at a Beretta silver pigeon slug gun or a Sabatti slug gun both are Italian made SXS’s designed for shooting ball ammunition which is what I originally wanted anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 They both sound like good choices. I'd definitely want the reassurance of two barrels and two triggers if I was using a slug gun on something that wanted to chew or step on me. I wouldn't even consider a semi or pump action slug gun, if I was in that position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDY Posted July 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 I would be just as happy with a Remington 870 myself but the laws down here have a different opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 I got rid of my Remington 870 a while ago. A great gun, but not exactly good in heavy cover. Even with a 24" barrel they are still pretty bulky. Also very hard to use such a gun in a stealthy fashion, bearing in mind how noisy the action is. I would far rather have the double redundancy advantages of a SBS slug gun over a single barrelled gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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