Five years have passed since Merkel presented the Helix Model, a rifled rifle with in-line repetition with interesting features and valuable technical solutions. This movement not very widespread, but which already appeared on the military achievements of the Austrian Steyr and on the Schmidt Rubins of the Swiss Confederation at the end of the nineteenth century, is back in vogue with different solutions in the closure system: the speed with which a cartridge is recycled after the firing the first was an interesting reason combined with the possibility of changing caliber according to the system that we will examine shortly. This speed of rearming combined with the precision offered today by these solutions has been able to combine the rifle for long-distance precision shooting with that for batting, especially in areas where semiautomatics are banned.
The characteristics that immediately catch the eye when examining this Merkel are precisely the easy barrel change and shutter head: the latter is provided in three different sizes to cover practically the whole range of the usual hunting calibers, while in the barrels there is only spoiled for choice. This is no small reason for those who love to travel the world turning their hunting attention from the marmot to the elephant through the whole series of ungulates or other species. The mechanics are based on a closed castle, obtained by a cutter from an extruded Dural, with shaping of planes and dihedrals alternating with roundness that fulfill precise intentions of resistance and rigidity with the addition of a personal and very pleasant aesthetic. This conformation leads back to that of the Sauer Mod. 202 with prismatic section and long vertical sides to which the barrel is connected thanks to an eccentric lever which binds the breech of the barrel to the front ring. The two sections of the Picatinny slide are obtained in the cap of the castle while a long opening is obtained at the bottom, seat of a block in which the percussion and trigger group, a part of the repetition system and the magazine seat are housed.
The internal details
The shutter is made up of two parts: the rotating front head is inserted through a cylinder in the rear part to which it remains constrained by means of a game of joints while a radial pin and a cam track ensure rotation with the first mm of retrograde stroke of the whole complex. The head has six locking lugs with seats in the breech of the barrel, the elastic ejection pawl and the robust extraction claw with recessed seat, radial movement and long wire spring of excellent reliability. The movement is provided by a shaped handlebar, very adherent to the frame and with excellent grip even in quick rearming: it acts on an internal rack, connected to the shutter, which creates a ratio of 1 to 2 between the linear displacement of the handlebar and the internal one of the shutter. There is therefore an excellent speed in rearming, minimum displacements of the rifle from the line of sight, the safety of the bolt that works inside the castle and does not interfere with its reciprocating motion in the view of the optics or sights. Another piece of valuable technique is found in the cocking and trigger assembly: as is now customary, the bore of the cartridge is separated from the armament obtained by means of themanual tension manual operation of the slide button located on the breech tail of the castle. Usually this device requires considerable pressure with the thumb, not always pleasant especially with cold hands and the consequent splits of the skin: here a double internal parallelogram reduces the effort making everything comfortable and easy in all conditions. A central button allows the battery to be disarmed if you do not want to shoot. The ready and direct shot is very appreciable, without spinning or collapsing, factory calibrated around 900 g: we would say exactly optimal for every shooting situation.
The polymer stock is made up of two parts that abut against the raised side bands in the sides of the castle, a feature that allows the barrel to float and to be quickly disassembled to stow the shotgun even in the backpack. The classic design favors the embrace by anyone with the natural alignment by taking advantage of the adjustable open sights: notch with three green dots in translucent fiber and front sight made from a piece of the same material, but in red. In addition, a recent Sig Sauer optic is mounted on this specimen, a brand recently launched, but with very respectable logistic supports: the Whiskey 5 2,4-12 × 56 model is proposed as an interesting element for its intrinsic qualities and for the listing. more than affordable.
Data Sheet Manufacturer: Suhler Jagd und Sportwaffen GmbH, Schützenstrasse 26, D - 98527 Suhl (Germany) - tel. +49.36818540 - fax +493681854201 - www.merkel-die-jagd.de - www.rx-helix.com Importer: Bignami spa, via Lahn 1, 39040 Ora (BZ) - tel. 0471/803000 - fax. 0471/810899 - www.bignami.it - [email protected] Model: Rx.helix base Type: repeating rifle with in-line movement operation: rack and pinion shutter and rotating head with six blades on two rows Percussion: hammer cocking with external button Extractor: with large claw with orthogonal motion and flush register spring Ejector: elastic pawl in the bolt face canna: in carbon steel - length 56 cm - 4 right-handed lines - interchangeable for groups of calibers - muzzle diameter 17 mm - on request Semi Weight barrels with a diameter of 19 mm: slight weight increase and additional shooting accuracy Shoot: direct adjustable with single trigger Safety: automatic thanks to the manual battery arming system Look: U-shaped rear sight with three green references adjustable in drift - red front sight with elevation adjustment Stocking: in two parts made from polymer molding with medium-fine knurling, soft rubber pad - pegs for quick release t-shirts CALIBRO: .308 Win. (alternatively: Mini - .222 Rem. - .223 Rem. - Standard - .243 Win. - 6,5 × 55 SE - .270 Win. - 7 × 64 - .30-06 Sprg. - 8 × 57 IS - 9,3 × 62 - Magnum - 7 Rem. Mag. - .300 Win. Mag.) Materials: Dural for castle and parts - steel for barrel - synthetic for stock Length: approx. 107 cm (56 cm barrel) Weight :: Approx. 2.900 g Finishes: scratch-resistant black anodizing - burnishing for barrels and accessories Carrying case: available, separately, two models of transport case for single dismantled firearm or, larger, for disassembled firearm, a spare barrel, two optics and an additional magazine