The Merkel Helix with the Aimpoint 34L weighs in at 7lb 11oz with a sling .

The Merkel Helix Explorer in 308 is a straight pull synthetic stocked rifle . I shoot lefty and can toggle the bolt handle with my right hand quickly .

I chose the Steiner MRS red dot for an optic , at 2.5 ounces it was hardly noticeable on the rifle and offered an adjustable brightness dot to use . It mounts directly onto the cast-in Picatinny rails on the Helix receiver . I like the fact that the scope rails are integral , no screws to loosen or rails to purchase . I chose the forward rail for the Steiner .

flick .

The barrel is removable for those who choose to swap calibers , close the bolt , pop the fore end off ( loosen the button and push ), the bolt face and barrel come out together . Calibers from 223-9.3 are available . A set of fiber optic sights sit atop the barrel . They glow nicely and hit to point of aim . This barrel appears to be coated with a type of Melonite . While 22 ”, a shorter bbl is offered but was not available in the US when I purchased this rifle .

Aimpint 34L Dot

The Steiner MRS is a lightweight , the combo weighs 6lbs 15.5 oz with a sling .

This is the fastest manual action I have ever shot . Pull back on the bolt handle , the rotating bolt unlocks , ejects the brass . Push the bolt forward and it strips a round from the single stack magazine and feeds it into the chamber . 3 and 5 round mags are available . There is a 2:1 “ transmission ” in the bolt system , the bolt moves twice as far at the bolt handle with a set of highly protected and rugged gears in the action . This makes for a smooth and fast bolt

The plastic stocks are more than adequate , sturdy , clean up nicely and give the rifle an air of utility . A thicker recoil pad would have been appreciated for this class .

Merkel Helix Pro Tip : Loosen the lower recoil pad screw then remove the upper screw to access for bolt removal with an extra-extra-extra long allen wrench .

The MRS Red Dot

Scout Rifle Magazine | -15-