Merkel Sidebyside Shotgun Instructions Manual

							DRILLINGS
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Merkel Drillings differ from side-by-side shotguns in that in addition to two
side-by-side shotgun barrels there is a rifle barrel centered directly under the
two shotgun barrels. 
OPERATION OF THE DRILLING SAFETY MECHANISM
There are three positions: 1. Safe  2. Fire for Shotgun barrels  3.  Fire for
Rifle barrel and left Shotgun barrel.  
ATTENTION-MANUAL SAFETY MECHANISM!
THE SAFETY PROVIDED ON MERKEL DRILLINGS IS MANUALLY
OPERATED AND DOES NOT OPERATE AUTOMATICALLY. THE
SHOOTER MUST MANUALLY MOVE THE SAFETY TO BOTH ITS
SAFE AND FIRE POSITIONS. FAILURE TO MANUALLY MOVE THE
SAFETY TO ITS DESIRED POSITION COULD CAUSE AN
ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE!
Position 1- Safety slide is to the rear (red dot firing indicator is covered
by the safety selector).  The trigger sears are blocked for the shotgun and
rifle barrels.
Position 2- The safety slide is indexed forward by depressing the the
safety button on the safety slide and pushing the safety slide forward
Figure 7 - Drilling  Safety Mechanism 
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Safety Slide Safety Button 
						

							until the red dot firing indicator is uncovered. Both shotgun barrels can 
now be fired.  The front trigger fires the right barrel and the rear trigger
the left barrel.
Position 3- The rifle barrel is selected by pushing the safety slide all the
way forward, the rifle is cocked when the safety button on the safety
slide pops up. The rifle barrel can now be fired by using the front trigger
and the rear trigger will fire the left shotgun barrel.  
Uncocking the DrillingÕs Rifle Barrel - Depress the button on the safe-
ty slide and allow the the safety to slide rearward.
Moving to Safe position- Press the button on the safety slide and move
the slide completely to the rear.  The firearm is now in its ÒSafeÓ position.
WARNING! SAFETIES ARE MECHANICAL DEVICES THAT MAY FAIL
OR MALFUNCTION LIKE ANY OTHER MECHANICAL DEVICE!
ALWAYS HANDLE THE DRILLING CAREFULLY AND DO NOT PER-
MIT THE DRILLING TO POINT IN AN UNSAFE DIRECTION!
ALWAYS TREAT THE DRILLING AS IF IT WERE LOADED AND
READY TO FIRE! ALWAYS OBSERVE SAFETY RULES WHEN HAN-
DLING THE DRILLING! THE SAFETY SHOULD ALWAYS BE IN THE
ÒSAFEÓ  POSITION  EXCEPT WHEN THE SHOOTER IS ACTUALLY
FIRING THE GUN. THE SAFETY SHOULD BE MOVED TO THE
ÒSAFEÓ  POSITION , WHENEVER THE SHOOTER CEASES FIRING,
EVEN TEMPORARILY.  KEEP THE MUZZLE OF THE FIREARM
POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION AT ALL TIMES!
When you are not using your firearm, be sure your gun is pointed in a safe
direction, avoid contact with the trigger and make sure the safety is in its
ÒSafeÓ position to prevent accidental discharge. Maintain the firearm safety
in the Safe position at all times, unless you are actually firing the gun.
DOUBLE TRIGGER OPERATIONS
All Drillings are equipped with two triggers, each trigger operates its own
barrel. The front trigger will fire 1)the
right barrel or 2)the rifle barrel when
the safety is indexed all the way forward
(see Position 3 above). The rear trigger
will fire the left shotgun barrel . Do not
pull both triggers at the same time in
order to avoid excessive recoil or kick
Set
Trigger
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							from simultaneous discharge of both barrels.  The front trigger also can
function as a set (hair) trigger and can be set by pushing the trigger for-
ward.  NEVERfire the rear trigger with the front trigger in the set
(hair) position as  both barrels could fire simultaneously.   Note:The
front trigger can be operated in its set (hair) mode for either the rifle
barrel or the right shotgun barrel.
TOP LEVER
The top lever operates the locking bolt, which securely aligns and clasps
the barrel assembly shut to the receiver for firing. The locking bolt and
barrel lugs are designed for gradual wear of locking surfaces and may
therefore exhibit tight fitting characteristics during initial use. The close
tolerances of these locking surfaces ensure that the breech of the firearm
remains tight throughout use.
When closing the breech of the action let the top lever move freely to
its locked (in line with the safety) position (see figure 8). Do not restrain
its travel with your thumb.
It is recommended that the top lever be indexed to the left with slight
finger or thumb pressure to make sure that the bolt is fully closed. If the
bolt does not fully close it is possible that dirt or debris has accumulated
to a level preventing full closure of the breech.   In this condition open
the action and unload the firearm.  Carefully inspect the action and
remove any dirt or foreign matter. Keep the polished breech surface
clean and lightly lubricated.
EXTRACTORS
Merkel Drillings are equipped with extractors. When the action is
opened, the round casings are elevated above the chamber for removal
by hand.
LOADING AND FIRING
Before loading the firearm, visually inspect your safety and make sure it
is in the ÒSafeÓ position. Never load the firearm with the safety in the
firing positions. Avoid contact with the trigger mechanism while loading
ammunition and at all times prior to firing.
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							To insert rounds in the chamber, move the top lever to the right with
the thumb of your firing hand and open the breech. Inspect the cham-
bers and barrel bores to be sure they are free of any obstruction. Insert a
round in each chamber and close the action. Be sure the round primer
and rim is facing rearward when inserting shells in the chamber. When
you close the breech of the action, let the top lever move freely to its
locked position. Do not restrain its travel with your thumb. It is 
Figure 8-Closing the Breech
recommended that the top lever be indexed to the left with slight pres-
sure to make sure that the bolt is fully closed. (See figure 8).
The firearm is now ready to fire. Shots are discharged by indexing the
safety forward and pulling the trigger.
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							FIREARM ASSEMBLY
SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUNS, DOUBLE RIFLES & DRILLINGS 
Before assembly, be certain there is no ammunition in either chamber and
position the safety in the ÒSÓ or ÒSafeÓ position.
Remove all protective lubricants from your firearm before initial assembly.
Use a cleaning rod, patches and a light gun oil or solvent to clean the interi-
or of the firearm bore. Use a cleaning cloth and light gun oil to remove pro-
tective lubricants from metal parts on the receiver and barrel assemblies.
Figure 9-Removal of Forearm
Remove the forearm from the barrels by pulling the forearm latch out and
away from the underside of the forearm (See figure 9). Remove all protective
lubricants from the exposed metal surfaces with light gun oil and a cleaning
cloth. After cleaning, place a couple of drops of gun oil on the metal bearing
surfaces of the hinge, barrel lugs and on the forearm bracket (see figure 1).
The barrels are attached to the action by grasping the stock grip with the fir-
ing hand and supporting the buttstock in between the firing elbow and body
(See figure 10). Grasp the barrels with the non-firing hand and connect the
barrel lug hinge with the receiver hinge pin. Use the thumb of the firing
hand to move the top lever sideways to its most right position.
Maintain pressure on the barrels to keep the hinge pin aligned with the bar-
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							rel lug hinge pin recess, and rotate the barrels upward to close the action.
Release the top lever at this time.
Pivot the forearm assembly onto the barrels. Align the forearm in its proper
position on the barrels and push the forearm lever upward into its housing.
This locks the forearm back into its original position on the barrels.
Figure 10-Barrel Assembly
ATTENTION!While assembling your firearm, do not use excessive
force when closing the action! If the action and barrels are not aligned
properly, excessive force applied during assembly can deform or mar the
fitted surfaces of the firearm. If you perceive any interference while
installing the barrels to the receiver repeat the assembly procedures from
beginning, and be extra careful to align the barrel lug hinge pin recess
and the receiver hinge pin properly. If you continue to experience diffi-
culty in the assembly of your firearm, call GSI or seek assistance from a
qualified gunsmith.
GAUGE, CALIBER, CHAMBER LENGTH
AND
CHOKE DESIGNATION
It is most important that the correct ammunition is used with your
firearm. Use of incorrect ammunition with your firearm could cause
injury or death to the shooter and damage to the firearm. Never use
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							ammunition that does not match the corresponding gauge or caliber of
the firearm. For example, do not use 20 gauge ammunition in a 12 gauge
gun. In addition, do not use rounds with chamber lengths that exceed
the chamber length of the firearm barrel.
DANGER - AMMUNITION WARNING!
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE
MAY RESULT FROM ANY CONDITION WHICH CON-
TRIBUTES TO THE GENERATION OF EXCESSIVE PRES-
SURE, OR THE UNCONTROLLED RELEASE OF GAS,
WITHIN A FIREARM. THE FOREGOING ADVERSE CON-
DITIONS CAN BE CAUSED BY BORE OR CHAMBER
OBSTRUCTIONS, PROPELLANT POWDER OVERLOADS,
OR BY DEFECTIVE, INCORRECT CALIBER, GAUGE OR
LENGTH, OR IMPROPERLY LOADED AND ASSEMBLED
AMMUNITION COMPONENTS. IT IS EXTREMELY DAN-
GEROUS TO USE AMMUNITION WHOSE PRESSURE IS
GREATER THAN THAT DEVELOPED BY AMMUNITION
LOADED TO FACTORY STANDARDS. EVEN THE
STRONGEST FIREARM CAN BE BLOWN UP AS A
RESULT OF EXCESSIVE PRESSURE.
The following information describes the identification system used to
designate the gauge, chamber length and choke on your Merkel firearm.
Be sure you understand this identification system before loading your
firearm, and only use the correct ammunition. If there is any question in
regard to the proper ammunition for your firearm, feel free to call GSI at
205-655-8299 for assistance.
Firearm gauge, chamber and choke designations are engraved on the
underside of the barrels where they interface the breech block of the
receiver (See figure 11). A typical example of a gauge/chamber length
designation would be 12/76 which identifies a firearm bore diameter of
12 gauge and 76 mm (3 inch) chamber length. Bore diameters are 
available in 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge.
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							Figure 11-Gauge, Chamber Length and Choke Designation
Chamber lengths are identified by the numeral 70 or 76. The
numeral 76 designates a chamber length of 76mm which is equal
to the English measurement of 3 inches. A barrel marked with
the numeral 70 designates a chamber length of 70mm which is
equal to the English measurement of 2
3/4inches.
Use of shotgun rounds with chamber lengths shorter than the
shotgun chamber length is acceptable. However, never use rounds
with chamber lengths greater than the length of the shotgun
chamber. For example, do not use 3 inch shells in a shotgun
chambered for 2
3/4inch ammunition.  In the rifle barrel of your
drilling always insure that you are using the proper caliber ammu-
nition.  For example, do not use .270 Winchester ammunition in
a rifle barrel chambered for 30/06 Springfield.  
Chokes are identified for each barrel below the designation for
gauge and chamber length on the underside of the barrels. Choke
designation indicates the dispersion pattern characteristics of the
shotgun bore. The chart on the following page  provides identifi-
cation for choke and a pattern percentage within a 30 inch circle
at specified ranges.
Gauge or Caliber
Choke
Designation
Chamber Length 
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Drilling Rifle Caliber 
						

							Choke
Identification
DescriptionPercentageDistance
1/1 Full Choke   70 - 75 35m
3/4 Improved   65 - 70 35m
Modified Choke
1/2 Modified Choke  60 -65 35m
1/4  Quarter Choke  55 - 60 35m
VZ Improved   45 - 50 35m
Cylinder Choke
S Skeet  70 - 75 20m
DRY FIRING
ATTENTION!!!!! Dry firing or pulling the triggers without live
ammunition is not recommended without the use of snap caps.
Snap caps absorb the inertia of the firing pins and protect inter-
nal parts from the full impact force of the hammers. Continuous
dry firing can potentially damage the internal parts and render
the gun inoperable.
DISASSEMBLY
Remove loaded ammunition from the chamber before disassembling the
firearm. To disassemble the firearm, grasp the firearm barrel with the
non-firing hand and rest the buttstock against the upper leg. Pull the
forearm take down latch out and away from the forearm and pivot the
forearm away from the barrels.
Push the top lever to the right and carefully open the action to rotate
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							the barrel lug away from the receiver hinge pin and separate the barrels
from the receiver. The forearm can be reattached to the barrels for stor-
age.
Do not attempt further disassembly beyond barrel and forearm
removal!!! Further disassembly is not necessary for routine maintenance.
Any damage incurred due to further disassembly is not covered by your
service warranty.
FURTHER DISASSEMBLY BY UNQUALIFIED 
PERSONS COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE
FIREARM WHICH COULD RESULT IN
INJURY OR DEATH TO THE SHOOTER.
CLEANING
Merkel firearms require periodic maintenance and will perform more
reliably over a longer period of time if properly cleaned and serviced.
NEVER clean a loaded firearm. Remove ammunition from the cham-
bers before performing any cleaning procedures.
Always wipe the barrels and action with a lightly lubricated cloth to
remove fingerprints, dirt and moisture from the gun after handling. Keep
a light coat of gun oil on polished metal surfaces and moving parts.
Clean inside the barrels periodically to remove fouling and residue
caused by fired ammunition.
If the action seems unusually tight or if you are unable to close the breech
to its locked position, disassemble the firearm and give it a thorough
cleaning. If functional problems continue, call the GSI Service
Department or seek the assistance of a competent and qualified gunsmith.
A light cleaning consists of oiling and wiping down the firearm. This
can be accomplished without removing the barrels from the receiver. A
full detailed cleaning will require disassembly of the barrels and forearm.
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