Merkel 96K Drilling | Gun Carrier Rifle Reviews

The Merkel 96K Drilling is a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun and rifle combo with handsome looks as well as reliable hunting performance. It's German-made and an outstanding work of art.

Merkel 96K Drilling 3-shot Capacity

The Merkel 96K Drilling is a three-barreled firearm combination of a shotgun and rifle. The Merkel brand may not be very popular but some sources say Europe has been making these guns for over a hundred years now. This 96K model is just one among three other drilling rifle types namely the Doppelbock Drilling 961L, Bergstutzen Drilling, and Rifle Drilling/Shotgun Drilling. Merkel has a dozen expertly trained engravers which explain why each of their firearms have elegant engravings on the metal sides and other parts of the gun.

Gun Specs

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The Merkel 96k Drilling is a 3-shot capacity shotgun with Blitz locking system. Its 23.6-inch barrel is available in 12 and 20 gauge including calibers .223, .243 Win, 7x57R, 7x65R, .308, .30-06, and 9.3x74R. The rear sight is pivot-style and blade front on the tip of the barrel. This gun has an overall weight of 6.83 lbs including the beautiful Walnut-made stocks.

Ease of Use and Performance

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This gun has excellent balance for a 12 and 20 gauge long arm. One of the four types of long barrel drilling guns, the 96k version is the basic two barrel shotgun with an attached rifle barrel. This firearm is a lethally precise German-made weapon.

Pros and Cons

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I like this gun's versatility in the small game hunting area. The workmanship is readily obvious as soon as you set eyes on this Merkel with its elegant handcrafted carvings. A classic design with technically advanced features is what this gun is made of. Though I'd rather prefer it to be a pure shotgun leaving the rifle aspect aside, it does work efficiently on both aspects.

Overall Verdict and Price

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For a shotgun and rifle firearm combination, the 96K Drilling model is one heck of a gun. Expert shooters are able to utilize two different gun types without having to carry them separately. It's definitely not cheap at a price range of $5950 – $9000, but some folks just want to get their hands on this baby.

Take a closer at the Merkel 96k Drilling in this short video:

I have to admit I was surprised when I first knew about this gun. Looking at the beautiful engravings is one thing, but knowing there are three barrels handcrafted side-by-side with one being a rifle, that's a whole different ball game. I gotta have one of these guns soon!

Have you tried shooting this bad boy? Share your experience in the comments below!

This Merkel rifle is a fine piece of hunting equipment. Check out the Taurus PT92 also for your handgun needs.

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Editor’s Note – This post was originally published in September 2015 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

Feature image via guns.ru