Merkel RX Helix

About the Merkel

Affected by the industrial revolution, the beginnings of the Merkel Jagd- und Sportwaffen GmbH began in 1898 when three brothers Albert Oskar, Gebhard and Karl Paul Merkel created a company under the name Gebrüder Merkel. They started manufacturing firearms in 1905 as a relatively small firm and remained like that during the war as the total number of employees hardly ever exceeded 350. Mainly focusing on export, the company even lost some of its foreign markets, hence pushing the innovativeness in the forefront of their marketing strategy which is to this day notable in their workshop diaries from the time. As the hunting rifles production suffered during the war, they struggled for many years after it ended. However, in the following years, their aesthetically built hunting rifles were again gradually beginning to be sought after in 28 foreign countries. In 1924, one of the most unique and recognizable models – Merkel 303 was presented.

Two years after registering a trademark and gaining rights to the use of the term 'Bock' (over-and-under), Gebhard Merkel passed away in 1933, missing a chance of witnessing the ‘Grand Prix’ prize being awarded to the company in 1937 which increased the export business significantly. In the following year, the management was handed over to Adolf Schade and Ernst Merkel. Their rifles were mostly sold to the upper class - diplomats, famous hunters and industrialists became fond of the company's meticulousness and consistent quality which further broadened Merkel's reputation.

During the Second World War, the market network, consisting of many foreign countries, shrivelled little by little. The war industry was once again preventing the company to focus on what they had been known to do best, subordinating the production of hunting rifles to military weapons manufacturing. At this point, they started adjusting their production accordingly to the market demand, supplying other companies with what the industry needed the most - from carburettor to carbine and rangefinder parts.

Despite the war physically destroying or dismantling a large portion of German factories, Merkel was able to escape such fate, most likely due to its good reputation. At the end of 1945, they restarted the production of hunting rifles, however, due to the Soviet occupation, Merkel successors lost all rights to the company which now operated under the new state of the German Democratic Republic. The Soviets familiarized the company with the two most powerful and influential men at that time - Dwight D. Eisenhower and Nikita S. Chruschtschow which resulted in the first man in space – Juri Gagarin – to be given a Merkel Drilling. Consequently, the socialist regime exploited the company’s notoriety, focusing again on supplying the richest and most prominent people such as Josip Broz Tito, Gamal Abdel Nasser and even Mao Tse Tung. Up until 1987, the production of over-and-under rifles reached 150.000 pieces and the company additionally had a breakthrough in the sport shooting market.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, they struggled with outdated technology, however, foreign investors helped significantly with the expansion of the company which resulted in the development of some of the new products such as HELIX, SR1, K5 and SxS series. Up to this day, the company preserved the tradition of the high-quality, handcrafted character of their rifles combined with a vibrant history that laid the foundation for one of the greatest firearm companies of the 21st century.

Merkel RX Helix Rifle Review

Introduced in 2013, Merkel RX Helix is a German-made straight-pull, push feed bolt-action rifle with an enclosed-design aluminium receiver that houses a bolt with six-locking lugs that lock up with the barrel. Rifle’s take-down system makes it possible to dismantle the weapon and change barrels fast and effectively. The adjustable trigger is smooth and responsive. A manual cocking system that is positioned on the back of the receiver provides the user with easy access and adds to the overall safety of the rifle.

One interesting aspect of helix action is the ratio of movement between the actual bolt and the bolt handle as the handle does not have to travel full length for the bolt to move the full distance. This is achieved by a unique gear ratio placed on the sides of the receiver which makes for a significantly faster shooting experience altogether.

There are pinch knobs on both sides of the receiver that release the detachable single-stack magazine when pressed. All RX Helix rifles come with an integrated Picatinny rail suitable for most styles of optic mounts. This universal mounting base offers a reliable connection and makes it possible for repeatable mounting of the scope.

Merkel Helix

Figure 1: Merkel RX Helix, chambered for .30-06 Spr. (Source: https://svenskjakt.se/jakt-prylar/vapen-skytte/merkel-rh-helix-vapenpresentation/)

Merkel RX Helix can be chambered for the following calibres:

.222 Rem.
.223 Rem.
.243 Win.
.270 Win.
7mm Rem. Mag.
7x64
.308 Win.
.30-06 Spr.
.300 Win. Mag.
8x57 JS
.338 Win. Mag.
9.3x62

Calibre choice depends on the variant.

The rifle is available in the following variants:

Helix Black
Helix Custom
Helix Arabesque / Wild Boar
Helix Deluxe
Helix Alpinist
Helix Explorer
Helix Speedster
Helix Suppressor
Helix Tracker

Merkel RX Helix receivers come with an integrated Picatinny rail for mounting purposes.

Merkel Helix

Figure 2: The receiver of Merkel RX Helix, chambered for .308 Win.

Which Rifles Have Interchangeable Mounts

Two-piece /one-piece mounts

For two-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces must match in all dimensions except the B distance. B distance can vary because two-piece mounts can be installed and adjusted closer or further apart.

For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension.

The rail of Merkel RX Helix is milled from the full material on the action assembly and assures repeatability of the mounted scope. To fit on the rifle, one-piece mounts should not exceed 120 mm in length and should not be shorter than 110 mm. If such conditions are met, most one-piece mounts suitable for Picatinny will fit on the mounting surface of Merkel RX Helix, along with two-piece mounts that do not have to meet the length requirement.

Our Recommendations for Mounts

Fixed Mounts

This fixed INNOMOUNT one-piece mounting solution manufactured in Germany is a reliable choice for your Merkel RX Helix as it combines lightness with durability. The mount that comes with a ten-year warranty is made of aluminium, matching the rail material, and offering a high recoil resistance.

Detachable Repeatable Mounts

If you are looking for a scope mount that provides the user with the flexibility of easily attaching and detaching an optic without any tools and retaining zero at the same time, you might consider purchasing this INNOMOUNT mounting solution for Picatinny mounting surface, produced in Germany. The mount is made of aluminium and comes with a ten-year warranty.

Help us build our riflescope mounts database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu

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Hawke 9-11mm Match Mounts, 25.4mm (1 inch), medium

$31.00

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Hawke 9-11mm Match Mounts, 25.4mm (1 inch), high

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Hawke 9-11mm Match Mounts, 25.4mm (1 inch), low

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Airguns or pellet guns (the name comes from projectiles they shoot – pellets) are popular among all generations of people with a variety of different interests.

They are used for

plinking,
hunting,
sport competitions etc.

All these activities demand variety of different airguns. A lot of these applications do not require a rifle scope for using an air gun, but some of them do – especially hunting or long range shooting.

Hawke 9-11mm Match Mounts, 30mm, high

General Features of Airgun Scope Mounts

It is common to almost all airguns that they have 11 mm dovetail on the receiver. This dovetail is full length and it is used for mounting a rifle scope or diopter. Such dovetails are basically the same as on the rimfire rifles (.22 calibre). It is important to know that they share the same mounting platform and this is why we can found airgun scope mounts also on rimfire rifles and normally, similar scopes are used on both types of rifles.

When thinking of mounting a rifle scope on the airgun, we have to consider that spring powered airguns have strong recoil in both directions. This is why the robustness and rigidness of the mounts is extremely important (especially with spring powered airguns). This problem is not the case with rimfire rifles, where recoil is very mild.

Mostly, these mounts are made from aluminium and can also have a screw that serves as recoil stopper. The screw can be placed vertically, but with the two part design scope mounts, screw can be placed horizontally. Although, majority of airgun scope mounts comes without recoil notches. There are two options available for mounting the scope on the airgun monoblock scope mount: 25.4 mm (1’’) or 30 mm rings. Other dimensions can also be found, however - they are extremely rare.

Normally, airgun mounts are affordable and in most cases fixed. Detachable airgun scope mounts are usually very rare. However, the most affordable airgun mounts are also the ones from the lowest quality (although, sufficient) and high quality mounts can be expensive, too.

Adjustable inclination on the rifle scope mounts is advisable, usable and a lot of times needed (because of the imperfections of different parts – rifle, mount, rings and dovetail). Some of the mounts also have recoil buffer available. There are also available shock absorbing recoil buffers that can be bought separately and installed behind the scope mount and help to absorb recoil.

BKL 0.6" Long Dovetail Rings, 30 mm

BKL 0.6" Long Dovetail Rings, 30 mm

Monoblock Scope Mounts for Airguns

Monoblock scope mounts for airguns are definitely more reliable than two piece scope mounts. This is normally because they can handle recoil much better. They are robust, rigid, hard and they offer great clamping surface for the dovetail. However, with monoblock scope mounts, setting the proper eye relief might be an issue in some cases. Also, monoblock mounts are almost always more expensive than similar two piece mounts. Clamping surface on the rail which is connected to the rings in one piece is usually higher than it can be with comparable two piece mounts. This might also be an disadvantage, worth mentioning.

One Part and Two Part Design of Airgun Scope Mounts

When we are talking about two piece solutions of airgun mounts, we should not forget to mention some of the differences between one part and two part design of these mounts. One part design is easier to produce, therefore these mounts are cheaper as a rule. Versatility with one part design of scope mounts is normally poor. More options of mounting a scope are normally available with two part design scope mounts. It is good to know that airgun scope mounts for rifle scopes with rail systems are not usual (actually, they are rare). If they are available, they are normally available with two part design of scope mounts. Example for such mount could be Recknagel’s tip off mount for 11 mm dovetail on the bottom and with Zeiss rail option (ZM/VM) on the top. They also offer a LM rail version of these mounts.

Merkel RX Helix

About the Merkel

Merkel RX Helix Rifle Review