Merkel RX Helix Straight-Pull Rifle — Teutonic Tour De Force
One of the most innovative rifles we tried at Media Day in January was the Merkel RX Helix, a very impressive piece of rifle engineering. Merkel claims the RX Helix is the fastest-cycling centerfire bolt action in the world. We can’t confirm that claim, but the Helix certainly cycles faster than any other centerfire bolt-gun this Editor has ever tried. (Yes, a Fortner biathlon action can be worked more rapidly, but that’s a rimfire). Both Jason and I really liked Merkel’s RX Helix. It balances well, the action is smooth, the wood is gorgeous, and the overall design thinking that went into this $3795.00 (MSRP) take-down rifle is very impressive. The Helix’s universal-sized action lets you shoot anything from a .222 Rem to a .300 Win Mag with the same gun. And — get this — you can really swap barrels (and change bolt heads) in under one minute with no tools, employing a dead-simple bolt-release lever concealed under the push-button-released removable forearm.
Rotary 7-Lug Bolt
While the RX Helix is a straight-pull rifle, it retains the strength and safety of a rotary bolt head with seven locking lugs that seat in a barrel extension. Unlike a Blaser, the RX Helix has a fully-enclosed action housing. That’s an important safety feature. Moreover, since the RX Helix employs a closed action, the bolt body doesn’t travel outside that action. This means the shooter can maintain his cheekweld with an eye on the target as he cycles the bolt.
The RX Helix’s linear (back and forth) bolt-handle motion is transmitted to the bolt head through a 1:2 ratio “transmission” gearing system. This allows smooth and fast cycling without the rotational or tipping movement found on other straight-pull, bolt-action rifles, such as the Blaser.
The Merkel linear-movement action cycles exceptionally fast, which allows for faster follow-up shots — a good thing if you’re hunting dangerous game. The RX Helix features a manual cocking lever on the tang and a direct trigger system. And here’s good news for southpaws — though Merkel does not make a dedicated left-hand version, lefties can very easily use their right hand to work the bolt while maintaining cheekweld. That may sound awkward, but with practice, it’s actually pretty efficient.
Fast, Easy Disassembly and Barrel Exchanges
The video below shows how the Helix can be disassembled (for cleaning or transport) in a matter of seconds WITHOUT TOOLS. The forearm slips off with the push of a button. A short lever on the left side of the action holds the barrel. Simply rotate the lever and the barrel (with bolt head) slips off. That’s it — in 30 seconds the rifle is apart, and you don’t even need an allen wrench as with a Blaser.
The RX Helix has a universal action length that covers calibers from .222 Rem to .300 Win Mag. Changing calibers (or chamberings) takes less than a minute with the appropriate barrel, bolt-head and magazine. Weaver rails are integrated into the action, and iron sights with three-dot rear and one-dot front fiber-optic inserts are standard.
The RX Helix is available with a standard black finish as well as four levels of design—Arabesque, Wild Boar, Spirit, and Deluxe. An all-carbon-fiber version is also available either with or without a carbon-wrapped barrel. The RX Helix comes in a wide range of popular calibers including .222 Rem, .223 Rem, .243 Win, 6.5×55 SE, .270 Win, 7×64, .308 Win, .30-06 Sprg., 8×57 IS, 9.3×62, 7mm Rem Mag and .300 Win Mag. Barrel lengths vary according to caliber, and barrels, bolt-heads and magazines are available for caliber changes. MSRP for the standard black rifle with Grade 2 wood is $3,795.00.
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Tags: Blaser, Fortner, Germany, hunting, Merkel, Rotary Bolt, RX Helix, Safari, Straight-Pull, Take-Down Rifle
I guess straight pull is another name for a semi auto without gas ports. English AR15 rifles have no gas ports in the barrels and have extended operating handles added to the bolt carrier for manual operation. Rather have an AR15 or AR10 with multiple uppers that will be way more accurate than this merkel.
NRA HRA HIGH POWER RIFLE COMPETITION PT#1 with english approved manual operated AR15 rifles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Acn3q9mkFcw
I mean, I could be wrong but. . .this just looks like a Heckler & Koch 2000 SLB reworked to be a “straight pull” and rebranded as a Merkel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ow7Se2xCbs
EDITOR: Jed, this is really a completely different rifle inside and out. It is absolutely NOT just a converted semiauto.
Looks like a second attempt by Merkle to compete with the R93/R8 Blaser.
Do the scopes and barrels return to zero like the Blaser or Kreighofs.
Jed: Straight pull is not synonymous with converted semi-auto, and what exactly do you know about this rifle’s accuracy to say that a manual AR is “way more accurate”?
Marc, obviously I was being sarcastic and a little snide in my opening comment, as in “the emporer has no clothes”.
No offense intended Mr. Editor I was merely pointing out what I saw to be an obvious lineage IMHO with the HK SLB 2000. Pistol grips unique angle, bolt, safety location and operation, magazines, etc. scroll through all the rotating pics at the bottom of the page.
http://www.cg-haenel.de/en/haenel-jaeger/products/semi-automatic-rifle-slb2000/
EDITOR: I see a strong similarity in the appearance of the rotary bolt head (though it has fewer lugs than the Merkel). And the HK has a detachable forearm (not push-button release from what I can see). You can say the side profiles of the guns are similar from the barrel attachment forward. But honestly, I think its really stretching it to say the Merkel specifically copies the HK. If anything the action looks more like a Sauer from the side, but of course all the internal mechanisms are completely different. I would not be surprised if the Merkel engineers looked at a variety of pre-existing rotary locking bolt designs. Any intelligent engineer would.
Please also look at the Merkel SR1 compared to the H&K SLB 2000 and judge for yourself. http://www.ducatillon.com/upload/referentiel/8392/images_secondaires/261.3154-3.jpg
EDITOR: Hmm… OK. I’m not really seeing the verisimilitude. Action different, barrel attachment different, take-down different, trigger guard & mag housing different, and of course bolt actuation completely different (being a semiauto). But yes the HK is also a rotary-locking rifle built in Germany.
http://outdoorroadmap.com/sites/default/files/images/RX_Take_Down_T.png
Being involved in mfg. I tend to be able to ignore the superficial lines and facades and concentrate on hole placements, alignments, etc. A hole used for a hinge pin can easily be adapted to a removal pin and vice versa. Of course there are lots of cosmetic differences but the basic working structure is there. Much like the falcon unit body being used for the mustang. Many people will argue they are 2 completely different animals. Facade is different but the frame remains the same. I feel the same has happened here but that is just my humble opinion and until I can get my hands on one of each or some blueprints then that is all it is. JMHO.
Jed:
“Pistol grips unique angle”
It’s a mild Kaisergriff, a classic feature. google is your friend.
“safety location and operation”
Tang safeties aren’t uncommon.
“magazines”
What, a box magazine with a wider end plate?
None of those features, along with the rotating bolt, are uncommon.
Marc, H&K owns merkel and restructured the merkel rifle division in 2006 to be UNDER H&K SUPERVISION !!!!! DON”T BE SO NAIVE !!!! google is your friend too !!!!!!
Guns Illustrated 2007 By Ken Ramage
39th annual edition
Read all about H&K owning Merkel rifle division and taking charge of it.
Before today I had no idea H&K bought Merkel and took over their rifle division. This thread was a great benefit and an eye opener. It really got me looking into an H&K-Merkel connection. I feel justified in my assertions now and validated that this rifle is of H&K lineage and no doubt a decendant of the mighty SLB 2000.
You would be able to tell whether the gun is merely a converted semi-auto by looking at its fire control system. Is it hammer-fired or striker-fired? This is significant because striker firing used in bolt actions can achieve considerably faster lock times than hammers, which semi-autos typically employ. At this point i can’t find any information about the fire control system in RX Helix.
If Helix employes a striker, it really doesn’t matter what its lineage is; I would consider it a brand new gun, period. Also, you cannot change out the barrel in the SLB 2000, only the upper receiver. The entire upper receiver on the Helix therefore is an entirely new design.
You can download Helix instruction manual from this page:
http://www.merkel-die-jagd.de/no_cache/en/extras/downloads/
LINK: http://www.merkel-die-jagd.de/no_cache/en/extras/downloads/?tx_abdownloads_pi1%5Baction%5D=getviewclickeddownload&tx_abdownloads_pi1%5Buid%5D=31
Apparently it is hammer-fired, although you can tell that the design is considerably different from SLB 2000. A lot of work went into this gun to make it switch barrels and cycle easily as a bolt action rifle. I would say that it is not a converted semi-auto.
A nice sample for german overengineering.
I looked carefully at both the Blazer and the Merkel RX Helix at the recent SCI convention. One feature that puts the Merkel over the Blazer is the detachable magazine. Having the magazine as an integral part of the trigger assembly is definitely a draw back for the Blazer. The Blazer is superior in that a wider range of calibres is offered, especially the .375 H&H and up. Overall, I prefer the Merkel, assuming accuracy is the same, but I would want to test fire both before making a final decision to purchase.
This is a great piece of engineering and an innovative design with very fast cycling. I have shot the .308 and found it handled well and was very accurate with out of the box ammo printing groups of about 2cm. Merkel have a winner here.
Pretending that southpaws can easily operate a right hand action with their right hand, still maintaining cheekweld and retaining sight of the target is I think a salesman’s excuse for the lack of a LH action model in their lineup. Very feeble.
I will have to stick with my blaser & Sauer. Pity.
ALL IS FINE but LH shooters need to operate action with right hand. Non of true lefties will bay this because of that!
Blaser for lefties or Sick with classics:)