Merkel RX Helix

Specifications

Maker: Merkel
Type: Rifle
Action: Straight pull
Era: Current (2000–)
Produced: 2011–
Magazine: 5 rounds
Swedish class: 1

Chambered in

.308 Winchester
.30-06 Springfield
9.3×62
.300 Winchester Magnum

Stock

Wood
Polymer

What it is worth

$2,000–$3,500

Well-worn to unfired · priced 2026-08-05

Blue Book of Gun Valuesvalue guide$2,000–$3,500 2026-08-05

Indicative only. A second-hand gun is worth what its condition, chambering and provenance say — these are published figures, not an offer.

Chapter 01

Overview

Merkel presented the RX Helix in 2010 — R for Repetierer, the Roman X for the year — as a very fast straight-pull rifle built around a traditional rotating bolt head. It is made in Suhl beside the company’s break-action guns.

Chapter 02

How it works

The straight rearward pull of the handle drives the bolt head through a 1:2 transmission, so the stroke stays short, and the six-lug head locks in a receiver closed at the rear. Barrels and calibres change without tools in a true takedown, the rifle is cocked by hand just before the shot, and the direct trigger adjusts from about 900 to 1,900 g.

Chapter 03

Variants

The Explorer carries a glass-fibre-reinforced polymer stock that is interchangeable with the wooden ones; the Speedster has the top-open SpeedStock thumbhole and a cheekpiece that rises to a preset height at the push of a button. Merkel also lists Black, Carbon, Deluxe, DS, Noblesse, Tracker and Arabesque Wild Boar versions.

Chapter 04

In the field

The steel magazine holds three rounds as standard or five as an option, which Merkel pitches for driven hunts, and the hand cocker can be eased forward silently if no shot comes. Calibres run from .223 Rem through 6.5 Creedmoor, 8×57IS and 9.3×62 to 7mm Rem Mag, .300 and .338 Win Mag.

Sources

Written from: HELIX Explorer — Merkel, HELIX Speedster — Merkel, Merkel – Die Jagd (product range), Merkel Jagd- und Sportwaffen — Wikipedia (de) — read 2026-10-29

Cross-reference