Merkel Sidebyside Shotgun Instructions Manual

							OWNERÕS
MANUAL
OWNERÕS
MANUAL
READ THEINSTRUCTIONS IN THISMANUAL
CAREFULLY BEFORE USINGTHISFIREARM!
MERKEL
SIDE BYSIDE
SHOTGUNS
SIDE-BY-SIDERIFLES& 96K DRILLINGS
SUHLERJAGD-UNDSPORTWAFFEN
MERKEL
SIDE BYSIDE
SHOTGUNS 
						

							OwnerÕs Manual
MERKEL SIDE BY SIDE
SHOTGUNS, DOUBLE RIFLES
AND 96K DRILLINGS
This manual and the warnings contained herein mustbe
read and understood before using your firearm.  This manual
familiarizes the user with the function and the handling of the
firearm and warns of the potential dangers of misuse that may
lead to accidents or injuries. This manual should always
accompany this firearm and be transferred with it upon change
of ownership, or when the firearm 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 Side-by-Side Shotgun, Double Rifle or 96K
Drilling 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 perfor-
mance, superb quality, optimum user comfort, and long ser-
vice 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 firearm.  
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							IMPORTANT NOTE:
This manual is for use with Merkel Side-by-Side
Shotguns, Double rifles and 96K Drillings. If you are
unsure of the exact model of your Merkel, please con-
tact GSI, Inc. for identification. Read this manual thor-
oughly and completely familiarize yourself with your
Merkel firearm to get the maximum enjoyment and safety
from your new firearm.
Technical specifications of this firearm may
change without notice.
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							TABLE OF CONTENTS
Essential precautions for the handling of firearms ÉÉÉÉ5
Before shooting your new Merkel firearm ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ9
Bore obstructions WARNING ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ9
Illustration of major components. ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ11
Special Note ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ12
Side-by-Side Shotguns ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ12
Operation of the Shotgun Safety MechanismÉÉÉÉÉÉ12
Side-by-Side Shotgun Double & Single Triggers ÉÉÉÉ14
Top Lever ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ14
Ejectors ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ15
Loading & Firing Side-by-Side Shotguns ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ15
Double Rifles ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ16
Operation of the Double Rifle Safety Mechanism ÉÉÉÉ16
Double Rifle Trigger Operations ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ18
Top Lever ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ18
Ejectors ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ18
Loading & Firing Double Rifles ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ19
Drillings ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ20
Operation of the Drilling Safety Mechanism ÉÉÉÉÉÉ20
Drilling Trigger Operations ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ21
Top Lever ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ22
Extractors ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ22
Loading & Firing Drillings ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ22
Firearm Assembly ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ24
Gauge, Caliber, Chamber length & Choke Designation É25
Ammunition Warning ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ26
Choke IdentificationÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ28
Dry Firing ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ28
Disassembly ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ28
Cleaning ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ29
Notes ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ31
Quick reference ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ34
Page
No.
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							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 Firearm,
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 firearm.
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 firearm 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 firearm. Unauthorized alterations, mod-
ifications or adjustments to the firearm as well as damage to the firearm
through carelessness will void any claims under the manufacturerÕs ser-
vice agreement.
Any work on the firearm 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 firearm should
ALWAYSbe transported in the original packing carton or in a suitable 
5 
						

							commercially available transport case.
ALWAYSkeep the muzzle of your firearm 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 call or con-
tact 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 connec-
tion with, or as a result of, the use of faulty, or non-standard, or Òreman-
ufacturedÓ 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 firearm 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 firearm 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 firearm fails to fire when you pull the
trigger, keep the firearm 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 firearm and remove the round. If
the primer of the round is indented, discard the round in a safe manner.
If the primer of the round is not indented, or is lightly indented, or off-
center, have the firearm examined by a competent gunsmith before the
firearm is fired again.
7 
						

							USEcaution to avoid dropping a loaded firearm. Dropping the
firearm 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 firearm. An accidental discharge could
result in serious injury, or death. 
TAKE EVERY PRECAUTIONto prevent unsafe firearms 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
firearm loaded. When walking, climbing or following a companion,
MAKE SUREthe chamber of the firearm 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 firearm by using it for any purpose other
than shooting.
NEVERfire your firearm 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
firearm. NEITHER MERKEL nor GSI, INC. are responsible for injury,
death or damage to property resulting from either intentional or acciden-
tal discharge of this firearm, or from its function when used for purposes 
8 
						

							or subjected to treatment for which it was not designed.
KEEPthis instruction manual on hand for future reference.
Please include this manual with the firearm in the event you lend, give
or sell this firearm to any other person. 
BEFORE SHOOTING YOUR NEW FIREARM
Usually, your Merkel franchised dealer will furnish your firearm
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
FIREARM MAY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE
FIREARM OR INJURY OR DEATH TO THE SHOOT-
ER AND OR OTHER PERSONS NEARBY.  BEFORE
LOADING THE FIREARM, MAKE CERTAIN THE
BORE IS CLEAR AND UNOBSTRUCTED.
If you suspect the firearm may have a bore obstruction resulting
from excess oil, grease, packing material, or cosmoline, or from con-
densation or rain, snow  or mud in the barrel, or from any other source
whatsoever, inspect the bore to be sure it is clear and unobstructed.
WHENEVER YOU INSPECT THE BORE, MAKE CER-
TAIN THE FIREARM 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 FIREARM!
Also, remember that a lodged projectile, wad or shot column  is
a common form of bore obstruction. They  may become lodged in the
bore if (assuming the trigger has been pulled with a live round in the
chamber) the ammunition contains no powder, or the powder fails to
ignite, and only the primer charge ignites, resulting in insufficient force to
propel the projectile, wad or shot column out of the bore.  Whenever an 
9