Merkel Rifle Drilling 961LS

About the Merkel Rifle Drilling 961LS

The Merkel Rifle Drilling 961LS is a German three-barrel hunting drilling (Kugeldrilling) built with three rifled barrels on a steel bascule Blitz action, arranged as two barrels over one. Offered in large hunting calibers including 9.3x74mm R, .30-06 Springfield and 8x57mm JRS, it uses a Greener crossbolt and double-underlug locking system with manual rifle-barrel cocking and a double-trigger set-up (the rear trigger firing the bottom barrel). Fitted with a walnut pistol-grip stock with cheek piece and rubber butt pad, hand-cut hunting engraving, and preparation for Suhl swing mounts, it is a bespoke driven-game and mountain hunting arm made in Suhl.

A Kugeldrilling like the 961LS packs three rifled barrels into one break-action gun, letting a hunter carry multiple calibers for different game on a single stalk without swapping rifles - a distinctly German answer to the mixed-bag hunt.

Merkel Rifle Drilling 961LS specifications

Part of Merkel's 96-series drilling family alongside the classic Drilling 96K (two shotgun barrels over one rifle barrel) and the Double Rifle Drilling 961L. The 961LS carries three rifled barrels. Weight is quoted at approximately 3.2 kg with a 55 cm barrel set; exact figures vary with caliber combination and stock wood.