The Merkel 1620 is probably the best 16 gauge side-by-side on the market. As the name suggests, the Merkel Model 1620 is a set of 16 gauge barrels modified to fit a 20 gauge frame that weighs only 6.1 pounds. Most manufacturers put 16 gauge barrels on 12 gauge frames. The stock dimensions are almost identical to the Bill Hanus Birdguns made by AYA and Ugartecha in the past, so they are designed for American shooters -- 1-1/2" x 2-9/16" x 14-3/8" with 1/4" cast off. The standard options I offer for leather-covered pads and stock bending for left-handed shooters are available for Merkel shotguns.

 

Additionally, the Merkel Model 16 gauge is offered with a choice of single or double triggers; straight English or pistol grip; a combination 16/20 gauge barrel set; plus a variety of trim options in "E" and "EL" Models.

 The Merkel 1620 features quality oil finished walnut, case hardened receiver with light Arabesque engraving and Holland & Holland ejectors. List price: $4,695. Sale priced, while current supply lasts, $4,295.

 

The Merkel Model 1620E features quality oil finished walnut, coin finished receiver with hand engraved game scene, Holland & Holland ejectors. List price: $5,695. Sale priced, while current supply lasts, $5,095.

 

 

 The Merkel Model 1620EL features "Luxury Grade" oil finished walnut, coin finished receiver with hand engraved game scene, Holland & Holland ejectors. List price: $7,295. Sale priced, while current supply lasts, $6,595.

 

The Merkel Model 1620SL is a true side lock gun (no single trigger option on this model) with "Luxury Grade" oil finished walnut, coin finished sideplates with hand engraved game scenes and Holland & Holland ejectors. List price: $10,995. Sale priced, while current supply lasts, $9,795.

 Sale pricing also applies to Merkel's small frame Model 280 Petite 28 gauge and Model 360 .410 side-by-sides and is limited to stock on hand.

A dynamite new product now offered as an option. The NECG (New England Custom Gun) Universal Recoil Pad solves a problem that has plagued birdhunters for years. The length of pull requirements vary with the season. Shooting doves or quail in your shirt sleeves with, say, a 14-1/4" LOP might suit you to a "T", but chasing last-season birds with snow on the ground while wearing an insulated parka calls for a LOP a quarter-inch shorter. The heart of the NECG Universal Recoil Pad is a unique Quick-Lok locking system that lets you change pads in twenty seconds. We install the system to your "summer" LOP length and furnish a second "winter" pad, a quarter-inch shorter than "summer." The pads are the highest quality soft rubber, so they do what they are supposed to do in absorbing recoil. They feature a classically styled leather grained face, so they won't hang up on your shirt or shooting coat on the way to your shoulder. And because the pads are available in thicknesses of 1-1/4" and 1-1/2" we can easily lengthen butt stocks that are too short. Cost for installation of the NECG Universal Recoil System, complete with two pads, shipping and handling $400.

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Optional Leather covered Decelerator™ Recoil Pad -- a six-pound gun offers little protection in the way of recoil absorption, so a recoil pad makes sense. My pads are covered with hand-sewn black leather by an experienced gunfitter. They are not only look beautiful, but they utilize the recoil absorption power of the Decelerator™ pad, yet will not hang up on the way to your shoulder. The further benefit is that they can be custom fitted to your length of pull requirements -- as long as 15" if desired -- at no extra charge. Price: $300. Your gun is shipped to the gunfitter who completes the pad work, then drop-ships the gun to your FFL holder.

When a right-handed shooter with a dominant right eye brings it up to his shoulder the gun is pointing where he is looking. Cast-off is what makes instinctive shooting possible for him. You keep your focus on the flushed bird and when you bring the gun up to your should you don't have to find the sight plane or associate the front sight with the departing bird because the gun is pointing to where you are looking. This eliminates a head-fake on your part and clips maybe five yards off the distance the departing bird is trying to put between him and you. However, when a left-handed shooter cheeks a cast-off or cast-neutral stock, he pushes the butt stock to the left and down so he shoots a couple of feet to the right and high. The only time they "get lucky" is on a rising bird that flushes to the right.

The 2007 Browning 16 gauge guns that I've inspected have less cast-off than in previous years. It seems to be more 1/16" or 1/8". It's certainly not going to hurt right-handed shooters any, but its enough to throw left-handed shooters off their game.

Trust me, if you are left-handed with a dominant left eye, having the stock bent to accomodate your shooting requirements is the best $300 investment you'll ever make. It will change your life.

Browning (and some other makers) use a high-gloss polyurethane finish on their shotguns. It adds a lot of show room appeal, as well a high degree of field protection to the wood butt stock. But, in my opinion, it also hides the eye-appeal of great wood. The typical finish on Brownings guns is about 10 mils thick. Taking off the top mil, where the shine resides, leaves 9 mils of polyurethane protection with a matte oil finish-like appearance. The best of both worlds for $250.  

 

How to order: Basically, I need payment (check or money order, no plastic) and a copy of someone's Federal Firearms License (FFL) where I can ship your gun. Fax copies of FFL's are now legal. Your dealer should put your name on his license, so I can match it up with your order. My fax number is: 541-265-7400. I will enclose a copy of my license for your dealer when I ship your gun.

  

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