Straight pulls
Huge fan of the straight pull designs. I started with a few of the R8’S and had to search further for different styles. That search lead me to he Merkel Helix and the Heym SR30. All unique in their own way, mostly in the lock-up design and the bolt operation.
They all function fine , and is any one faster than the other? Some gun writers claim they can be cycled as fast or faster than a semi-auto. I’ve never seen the need for that much speed in a follow-up shot, but they were mostly designed for driven hog shoots. I guess it would be highly practical for follow ups on predator hunts as well.
For what it’s worth, knowing what I know now, I could have started and finished with the R8. Of all the straight pull designs the R8 is the smoothest operating
And I would even say, the nicest balanced for handling and carrying in the field.
The Merkel Helix is just as fast but a bit “clunky” in the bolt design and I am hung up on how the bolt sticks out too far from the action.
The Heym SR30 works well and the ball bearing lockup obviously works, but to get it all to a working level, I believe they had to “over” size it. I find the action
Quite bulky and the resulting “bulk” through the pistol grip awkward.
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