A single shot for an old gladiator

Chris Dalton tries out a single-shot rifle for the first time, finding in its limitations a primal sense, almost like going back to the airgun of his teenager days

- DUNCAN IRELAND

The use of single-shot rifles in the stalking field is not something I had given much thought to, but that changed after a conversation with someone in the gun trade who mentioned that the sale of such rifles was on the increase. I do know of a few stalkers who use them but I have never handled one.

My curiosity was aroused. After the subsequent and inevitable discussions over a post-dinner dram on the use of the single-shot option for deer, I fired an exploratory email over to those awfully nice folk at Viking to ask about the chances of getting my hands on one for a roebuck stalk.

My request was clearly well received and a few days later a Merkel K5 arrived at Garryloop HQ. What a stunning little rifle it was; it had the most beautifully grained, shaped and oiled wooden stock. In the second box was a compact Leopold VX-3HD 1.5-5 x 20 scope along with a Merkel Helix sound moderator.

I took some time to handle and appreciate the rifle; it’s very light and compact, and beautifully balanced, but it felt so different to any other rifle I had ever used. The lever that opened the barrel was very familiar, but from my shotguns and not a rifle. The fore-end could also be released from the barrel in the same way as when breaking a shotgun down for storage or cleaning. Opening the breech then snapping it shut, I found myself automatically lifting the rifle to my shoulder and swinging it along the line of the window as if it were an imaginary crossing pheasant.

Primal