Howdy Again
I have agree with Jim K about actually shooting a Merwin Hulbert. It is much simpler and quicker to pop open a Top Break revolver and eject and reload while the gun is open than it is to pop open a MH to eject the empties, then close the gun to reload through the loading gate. I also agree that some of the empties often get caught and have to be flicked away with a finger.
Much of the hype about the MH stems from the seminal book about them, The Story of Merwin Hulbert & Co. by Art Phelps. Phelps made a big deal about how advanced the design was, but the simple truth is you have to close the gun again to reload, you cannot reload while it is open. The extractor ring prevents reloading while the gun is open. With a Smith & Wesson Top Break, you open the gun, it automatically ejects the empties, and you reload while the gun is still open. Much simpler. Phelps also makes a big deal about the tight tolerances required to manufacture the unique barrel swiveling mechanism. In fact, the tolerances required are no tighter than were required to build a S&W Top Break. The lockwork of a single action MH is identical to the lockwork of a Top Break Smith. This hype was also used by the now defunct company that was going to reproduce the MH designs.
There is one other thing that can be confusing when shooting a Merwin Hulbert. When loading a Colt, the standard sequence is to load one, skip one chamber, load four more, cock the hammer and lower it on an empty chamber. Because of the location of the loading gate on the MH, one has to remember to load two, skip one, then load three more, cock the hammer then lower it onto the empty chamber. The difference has burned me a couple of times. Also, unlike a Colt or S&W, you can't peek behind the recoil shield to make sure there is no live round under the hammer. The recoil shield wraps around and hides the rims.
The Merwin Hulbert design is distinctive, and really cool mostly because it is so different. These are a couple of shooters I bought from a friend. They have been heavily reworked, they are not pristine, but they are fun to shoot. And it really is fun to walk to the unloading table at a CAS match and swivel the barrel to unload. The unloading officer usually asks what the heck kind of gun is that?
I missed out on a really terrific Double Acton MH at an auction about a month ago. It was in pristine condition. And it went for much more than I could afford.
http://www.amoskeagauction.com/98/273.html