One of the more interesting weapons I fired at SHOT Show's Media Day at the Range was the Merkel RX Helix. It's a straight pull bolt action rifle made in Suhl, Germany that comes standard with a wood stock. Why should you care, oh tactically-minded individual?
Because it's fast. Really, really fast, and easy to operate, and it offers a quick change barrel/bolt head, too.
Although the bolt is 130mm in length, it travels only 65mm. So the bolt doesn't even protrude out the back of the receiver when you cycle it - it stays inside the action. In the photo above, the bolt is to the rear.
This means that you can maintain a perfect cheek weld between shots. The example I fired was in .308 and had a Swarovski 1.7-10x42 mounted on top; although I didn't fire it on a timer, I felt that I was at least as fast hitting steel targets as I would have been with a .308 semi auto, and I never missed a shot.
The trigger was crisp and set to 2.2lbs. It was incredibly easy to work the action, too - one finger to the rear, a gentle push of the thumb forward. I should also mention that I liked the straight stock, and feel that it added to the "shootability" of the rifle. Picatinny rails are integral to the receiver, and Merkel says it maintains zero between barrel changes.
Skeptical of the strength of the action? Merkel has tested it to 8000 bar - that's 116,000 psi in American. Current calibers range from .222 Rem to 9.3x62, and various grades of wood stocks as well as synthetic and carbon fiber stocks are available. Prices start at roughly $3,800, and they're currently available in the US.
