Merkel Helix

[meles meles]

Any of you oomans handled or shot these? We like the look of them...

http://rx-helix.com/en/handling

[DW58]

This "Ooman" rather likes the Helix.

[Blu]

Yep a very nice rifle but with a price tag of $3200 I'll give it a miss.

[meles meles]

Oh ? We thought they might be rather less expensive over there...

[DW58]

From around £2.5k I think dependent upon grade of wood, weight/style of barrel etc.

[Blu]

Oh ? We thought they might be rather less expensive over there...

3,200.00 USD= 2,033.74 GBP They are but not by much

[DW58]

That's a fairly typical price for a European rifle from the stables of Blaser/Sauer/Mauser/Strasser etc.

[Blu]

That's a fairly typical price for a European rifle from the stables of Blaser/Sauer/Mauser/Strasser etc.

Oh yeah I agree, thing is over here they price themselves out of the market. I'm sure there is a market for them otherwise they wouldn't be here but I can't see it being as big as the American makers. Don't get me wrong people here recognise the fine European quality, it's the price, out of the reach of the average American with a mortgage and a young family I guess.

[DW58]

It actually surprises me that the European makers do as well as they do in the US - not because they are expensive, but they're stuffed competing against the ridiculously cheap domestic products.

I've never owned an American-made firearm - over the past thirty-plus years I've owned BSA, Sauer, Mannlicher, Tikka, Merkel, Browning (Belgian-made), CZ, Swiss Military (K31), I F Thompson (Scottish) & Anschütz.

[Blu]

As well as the European firearms there are many fine (not so cheap) American made firearms as well. Because of the easy availability of parts many people go for custom made rifles starting from scratch. I have a couple of custom jobs that I had made over the years.