Merkel Shotgun Instructions Manual

							OWNERÕS
MANUAL
OWNERÕS
MANUAL
READ THEINSTRUCTIONS IN THISMANUAL
CAREFULLY BEFORE USINGTHISFIREARM!
MERKEL
OVER& UNDER
SHOTGUNS
SUHLERJAGD-UNDSPORTWAFFEN
MERKEL
OVER& UNDER
SHOTGUNS 
						

							OwnerÕs Manual
MERKEL 
OVER & UNDER
SHOTGUNS
Models: 2000E, 2001E, 2002E, 303E
This manual and the warnings contained herein must
be read and understood before using your shotgun.  This
manual familiarizes the user with the function and the han-
dling of the  shotgun and warns of the potential dangers of
misuse that may lead to accidents or injuries. This manual
should always accompany this shotgun and be transferred
with it upon change of ownership, or when the shotgun is
loaned or presented to another person. THIS MANUAL IS
NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A HUNTING SAFETY COURSE
OR A FIREARMS SAFETY COURSE! 
						

							WARNING! TREAT EVERY FIREARM AS IF IT
WERE LOADED AT ALL TIMES! REMEMBER, NO
SAFETY IS FOOLPROOF! FIREARMS SAFETY IS
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PERSON WHO
HANDLES FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION!
Dear Customer:
Your Merkel Over & Under Shotgun is manufactured by
Merkel to the highest standards. It has been produced to
meet state-of-the-art requirements for todays hunter. You
can expect unsurpassed performance, superb quality, opti-
mum user comfort, and long service life. 
As a result of our thorough quality assurance system,
you can be certain that you have purchased a product of
truly outstanding quality.
Please read this manual and the warnings contained
herein carefully to familiarize yourself with the function and
operation of this shotgun.  
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							IMPORTANT NOTE:
This manual is for use with Merkel Over & Under
Shotguns 2000E, 2001E, 2002E, 303E.  If you are unsure
of the exact model of your Merkel Over and Under,
please contact GSI, Inc. for identification.  Read this
manual thoroughly and completely familiarize yourself
with your Merkel Over & Under Shotgun to get the maxi-
mum enjoyment and safety from your new shotgun.
Technical specifications of this shotgun may
change without notice.
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							4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Essential precautions for the handling of shotguns ÉÉÉÉ5
Before shooting your new Merkel shotgun ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ9
Bore obstructions WARNING ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ9
Illustration of major components. ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ11
Over & Under Shotguns ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ12
Special Note ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ12
Operation of the Shotgun Safety MechanismÉÉÉÉÉÉ12
Double & Single Triggers ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ14
Top Lever ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ15
Ejectors ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ16
Loading & Firing ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ17
Shotgun Assembly ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ17
Gauge, Chamber length & Choke Designation ÉÉÉÉÉ19
Ammunition Warning ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ19
Choke IdentificationÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ21
Dry Firing ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ22
Disassembly ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ22
Cleaning ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ23
Notes ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ24
Quick reference ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ26
Page
No. 
						

							ESSENTIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR THE HANDLING OF FIREARMS
THE WARNINGS AND ADVICE GIVEN IN THIS
MANUAL ARE FOR YOUR PROTECTION AS
WELL AS THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. DISRE-
GARDING INFORMATION IN THIS MANUAL
MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Before you attempt to use or shoot your new Merkel Shotgun,
learn and understand the following basic rules. Your safety and the 
safety of others depends upon your safe and careful handling of your
new Merkel shotgun.
Any firearm must be considered a potentially dangerous object
requiring particular caution in storage, handling and use.
Make sure to ALWAYShandle and treat every firearm as if it
were loaded.
NEVERplace your finger on the trigger unless you intend to fire
a shot. ALWAYSload your Merkel shotgun so as to avoid any danger
for by-standers. Adequate firearm safety can only be ensured with the
firearm in clean and mechanically sound condition.
Inexpert handling as well as improper or negligent care may
impair function and safety of the shotgun. Unauthorized alterations,
modifications or adjustments to the shotgun as well as damage to the
shotgun through carelessness will void any claims under the manufac-
turerÕs service agreement.
Any work on the shotgun must be done by qualified and autho-
rized gunsmiths, armorers, or factory authorized service facilities.
Firearms must ALWAYSbe stored out of the reach of persons
not familiar with firearms, particularly children. NEVER store ammunition
with a firearm.
In order to avoid damage during transport, the shotgun should
ALWAYSbe transported in the original packing carton or in a suitable 
5 
						

							commercially available transport case.
ALWAYSkeep the muzzle of your shotgun pointed in a safe
direction.  NEVERpoint any firearm at anything you do not intend to
shoot. Stay alert and be aware of all persons and property within shoot-
ing range.
NEVERgive a loaded firearm to another person.ALWAYSopen
the action and inspect the chamber for ammunition, and unload any
firearm before giving the firearm to another person for inspection.
ALWAYSensure that the safety is in the ÒSafeÓ  position. ALWAYS
unload firearms after use to prevent the occurrence of an accidental dis-
charge.  
KEEPthe barrel, chamber and bore free of all obstructions.
Firing a firearm with a barrel, chamber or bore obstruction can cause
damage to  the firearm and injury to the shooter or other persons near-
by, and could result in death. Keep the barrel, chamber and bore free
and clean of mud, snow, cleaning patches, or any other materials which
may clog the barrel.
NEVERdrink alcohol or take medications while handling a
firearm. Responsible firearm handling requires a state of mental alert-
ness.
ALWAYSseek a doctorÕs advice if you are taking a medication
to be sure you are fit to shoot and handle a firearm safely.
DO NOTtotally and blindly rely on the mechanical safety
devices on any firearm. The mechanical safetyÕs function is to block
sear engagement to prevent accidental discharge of the firearm.
However, should this device fail, it is possible to fire a firearm even
when the safety is in the  ÒSafeÓ  position. NEVER place your finger on
the trigger when you do not intend to shoot.NEVERplace your finger
on the trigger or test any safety device when the muzzle of a firearm is
pointed in an unsafe direction.
NEVERtransport a loaded firearm.
ALWAYSwear and encourage others to wear protective shoot-
ing glasses. Flying particles could damage eyes and cause blindness.
Protective shooting glasses could prevent such injury.
ALWAYSwear and encourage others to wear ear protection
when shooting, especially on a range. Without ear protection, the noise 
6 
						

							of even one shot from a firearm, or other firearms close to you, could
leave a ringing in your ears for some time after firing while the cumula-
tive long term effect could be permanent hearing loss.
ALWAYS use only clean, dry, original high quality commercially
manufactured ammunition in good condition loaded in accordance with
factory standards. Do not use ammunition that has been exposed to
prolonged periods of dampness or moisture. Gun and ammunition man-
ufacturers design their products within exacting engineering safety lim-
its. Handloads and remanufactured ammunition are sometimes outside
those limits and can be so unsafe as to blow up or otherwise damage a
firearm, and cause injury, death or damage to property. If there are any
questions concerning the proper ammunition for your Merkel shotguns
call or contact GSI, Inc., 108 Morrow Avenue, P.O. Box 129, Trussville,
Alabama  35173, Tel. (205)-655-8299. Merkel and GSI, INC. specifically
disclaim any responsibility for damage or injury whatsoever occurring in
connection with, or as a result of, the use of faulty, or non-standard, or
ÒremanufacturedÓ or handloaded (reloaded) ammunition.
DO NOTput your finger on the trigger while unloading, loading,
or any other time before you are ready to shoot. DO NOTdry fire on an
empty chamber - the chamber may not be empty even if you think it is
not loaded! TREAT EVERY FIREARM AS IF IT WERE LOADED!
KNOWyour target and backdrop area. BE SUREit is safe to
fire at your target. THINK! What will you HITif you MISSyour intended
target? KNOWthe potential range of your shotgun and ammunition, and
consider this danger for persons and property within that range. NEVER
fire a firearm in the direction of people, non-game animals or property
that could be injured or destroyed. 
MAKE SUREyour shotgun is unloaded before crossing fences,
climbing trees, jumping over ditches, or passing through or across other
obstacles. DO NOTplace or lean a loaded firearm on or against a tree,
fence, automobile, or similar objects. 
FAILURE TO FIRE:If your shotgun fails to fire when you pull
the trigger, keep the muzzle of the shotgun pointed toward the target or
a safe open area and wait for at least two minutes. If a hangfire (slow
ignition) has occurred, the round will probably fire within two minutes. If
the round does not fire, open the breech of the shotgun and remove the
shotshell. If the primer of the shotshell is indented, discard the shotshell
in a safe manner. If the primer of the shotshell is not indented, or is
lightly indented, or off-center, have the shotgun examined by a compe-
tent gunsmith before the shotgun is fired again.
7 
						

							USEcaution to avoid dropping a loaded firearm. Dropping the
shotgun may cause an accidental discharge even if the safety is in the
ÒSafeÓ  position. Be extremely careful while hunting or during any other
activity to avoid dropping any shotgun. An accidental discharge could
result in serious injury, or death. 
TAKE EVERY PRECAUTIONto prevent unsafe firearm han-
dling practices around yourself and others. If you witness any unsafe
gun handling practices by other shooters, politely suggest safe proce-
dures for future use.
NEVER DISCHARGEa firearm near flammable material. Flame
and sparks erupt from the firearm when discharged. They could start a
fire or cause flammable liquids and gases to explode. 
NEVER SHOOTat a hard surface such as a rock, or a liquid
surface such as water. A projectile may ricochet and travel in any direc-
tion to strike you, or an object you cannot see, causing injury, death or
damage to property.
NEVER WALK, CLIMB OR FOLLOWa companion with your
shotgun loaded. When walking, climbing or following a companion,
MAKE SUREthe chamber of the shotgun is empty, and the safety is in
the  ÒSafeÓ  position.
ALWAYSinstruct children to respect firearms. If your children
shoot, teach them or have them trained by a qualified instructor to treat
and use firearms properly, and always supervise them closely.
NEVERabuse your shotgun by using it for any purpose other
than shooting.
NEVERfire your shotgun near an animal unless it is trained to
accept the noise. An animalÕs startled reaction could injure it or cause
an accident.
READ, UNDERSTAND, AND PRACTICEall safety procedures
and warnings in this manual. READ, UNDERSTAND AND PRACTICE
all safety procedures and warnings on commercial ammunition cartons
and containers. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITYto collect, understand
and practice the most up-to-date safe handling procedures for your
shotgun. NEITHER MERKEL nor GSI, INC. are responsible for injury,
death or damage to property resulting from either intentional or acciden-
tal discharge of this shotgun, or from its function when used for purpos-
es or subjected to treatment for which it was not designed.
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							KEEPthis instruction manual on hand for future reference.
Please include this manual with the shotgun in the event you lend, give
or sell this shotgun to any other person. 
BEFORE SHOOTING YOUR NEW SHOTGUN
Usually, your Merkel franchised dealer will furnish your shotgun
in completely assembled condition. You need only clean the barrel bore
of oil and wipe the bore dry before shooting.
BORE OBSTRUCTIONS WARNING!
ANY OBSTRUCTION IN THE BORE OF THE SHOT-
GUN MAY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE FIREARM
OR INJURY OR DEATH TO THE SHOOTER AND OR
OTHER PERSONS NEARBY.  BEFORE LOADING
THE FIREARM, MAKE CERTAIN THE BORE IS 
CLEAR AND UNOBSTRUCTED.      
If you suspect the shotgun may have a bore obstruction resulting from
excess oil, grease, packing material, or cosmoline, or from condensa-
tion or rain, snow or mud in the barrel, or from any other source whatso-
ever, inspect the bore to be sure it is clear and unobstructed.
WHENEVER YOU INSPECT THE BORE, MAKE CER-
TAIN THE SHOTGUN IS NOT LOADED, AND THAT
THE CHAMBER IS EMPTY!  THE BORE MAY BE
CHECKED BY VISUALLY INSPECTING THE BARREL
FROM THE RECEIVER END, NOT THE MUZZLE!
REMEMBER, NEVER LOOK DOWN THE MUZZLE
OF THE SHOTGUN!
Also, remember that a lodged wad or shot column  is a com-
mon form of bore obstruction. They  may become lodged in the 
9