winchester model 52
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italiansport
Member
These are the epitome of Winchester craftmanship and unrivaled as target rifles. Great find!
Jim
Jim
Big Cholla
Member
Congratulations, it looks in wonderful shape. I owned and shot a M 52A during HS rifle team matches and then shot a M 52C during my three years on my college rifle team. Two things; It was designed to shoot best with standard velocity lead bullets and the Lyman Super Target Spot is much younger in age than the rifle. That scope is very collectible.
Match regulations call for a 3 lb. trigger pull, but if you are only shooting for your own enjoyment the trigger can be taken down just a little more. The later redesigned trigger for the M 52C can be fitted and it is a much better trigger.
I no longer own a Winchester M 52. I'm rearranging the 'stuff' in my workshop storage area and found one more five shot magazine for the early M 52s. If you would like to have it PM me with your mailing address and it will be on its way to you. ...........karma to a fellow Winchester M 52 rifleman. .........
Match regulations call for a 3 lb. trigger pull, but if you are only shooting for your own enjoyment the trigger can be taken down just a little more. The later redesigned trigger for the M 52C can be fitted and it is a much better trigger.
I no longer own a Winchester M 52. I'm rearranging the 'stuff' in my workshop storage area and found one more five shot magazine for the early M 52s. If you would like to have it PM me with your mailing address and it will be on its way to you. ...........karma to a fellow Winchester M 52 rifleman. .........
thank guys. you can see that the stock was patched where its inlet for a peep sight. if I recall correctly the lyman scope wasn't introduced until the 40's. the quality is quite impressive and the dot is so fine that its capable of very precise shot placement.
Congrats on the 52, nice looking gun. Let us know how it performs and what ammo you used.
Years ago, I had both a Win. 52 and Anschutz 54. Both were fantastic shooters.
Years ago, I had both a Win. 52 and Anschutz 54. Both were fantastic shooters.
29aholic
Member
I own and have owned several more 52's. I have an early 4-digit pre-A with the cock on the close firing pin and the Krag style stock. It has a 15x Fecker on it. It will agg. in the 4's at 100yds.
I have two true 52 Bull guns both have basically identical 15x Unertl varmint scopes on them. One is a B and one is a C. Havent shot them much at 100, but they will easily shoot sub 1/4" groups at 50 and often well into the 1's
I have two true 52 Bull guns both have basically identical 15x Unertl varmint scopes on them. One is a B and one is a C. Havent shot them much at 100, but they will easily shoot sub 1/4" groups at 50 and often well into the 1's
Big Cholla
Member
As mentioned I shot in four position competition with a M 52A and later a M 52C. I wanted a M 52D so much I couldn't hardly watch the guys who had one to shoot. Later in life while shooting Benchrest, I wanted to branch out into rimfire benchrest. I bought a Anschutz 54, put it in a benchrest stock and did fair with it. So, I bought a M 52D and wouldn't you know previous owners had worn out the barrel cleaning with abrasive rods from the muzzle. I then bought two Kimber M 82Gs from the DCM and found one of them would out shoot the Anschutz and the Winchester after a benchrest trigger modification on the 'G'.
22 LR Benchrest Competition is a very challenging sport! ........
22 LR Benchrest Competition is a very challenging sport! ........
According to Houze's "The Winchester Model 52" your rifle was manufactured on May 20th 1932 (SN 27967 to 28081). It is a pre A SpeedLock with a Lyman 82A rear and a 17A front sight and the standard 28" barrel. Looks to be in original unaltered condition which is unusual as most competitors did customize theirs to some degree or another. Very good find!
DWalt
Member
I used a Heavy Barrel Winchester 52B (ca. 1947) as a competitive shooter throughout my high school and college years, and still have it. For several years after college, I coached a junior rifle team, and allowed the best shooters to use it as a special treat. It hasn't been used much for the past 25 years, but I do occasionally take it out and use it as a 50 yard bench rest rifle, as I can no longer shoot the typical positions. It has a pre-WWII Unertl 10x 1-1/4" scope (which I seldom used, as most of my shooting was at 50'), and also a Marble-Goss match peep sight. It was easily capable of shooting 100x100 on the 50 foot A-36 smallbore target, and did so many times in the prone position. I'm at the point where I am thinking about letting someone else become the new owner.
Big Cholla
Member
HARDWARE: I must extend my apology. I looked and looked today for that M 52 magazine. I had about given up when I found what I had assumed for several years to be said magazine. In cleaning it up it just didn't 'feel' like my Win. 52 mags did. So, I walked across the street to my fellow gunny neighbor and asked if he still owned a Win. M 52. He did have a M 52A in his collection of 22 LR target rifles. My magazine didn't fit. He looked it over and then suggested we try the Mossberg Target rifle. It fit. So, I don't have a good one to send to you.....and he is ahead one unexpected magazine.
How about instead I send you 25 targets for 22 LR Benchrest Competition? That I have........... Sorry, I should learn to have what ever I'm giving away in hand before offering. ........ :-(
How about instead I send you 25 targets for 22 LR Benchrest Competition? That I have........... Sorry, I should learn to have what ever I'm giving away in hand before offering. ........ :-(
Frank46
US Veteran
I've a 52B made in 1946 same as me. Great 22 target rifle, you will enjoy shooting it. Thanks for sharing. Frank
CptCurl
Member
I also am a lover of the Winchester 52. My preference is the 52C. To me it was the pinnacle of production in that it had the Micro-Motion trigger and was the last repeater. Some say the trigger improved somewhat with the 52D and 52E. Some years ago I had a NIB 52E (my first 52). If the trigger was superior than a 52C trigger it would take careful analytical testing to show it.
Here's a look at one of my 52C rifles at the range last fall:
And a 50 yard five-shot group I shot with it that day:
Curl
Here's a look at one of my 52C rifles at the range last fall:
And a 50 yard five-shot group I shot with it that day:
Curl
One could shoot a squirrel's eye out with that thing!
CptCurl
Member
Sometimes I shoot with a Unertl 15x Ultra Varmint, but I find the iron sights much more enjoyable. Here's one of my rifles decked out with the 2" Unertl:
I have two of these 52C rifles, both pristine and both identical. Why two? Nuts, I guess. About a year ago I very nearly bought a third one. Can't control myself.
Curl
I have two of these 52C rifles, both pristine and both identical. Why two? Nuts, I guess. About a year ago I very nearly bought a third one. Can't control myself.
Curl
That's okay. Don't worry about it. I was moved by the kind gesture. I've got a couple repros on the way from brownells.
Like many others here I shot a 52D in high school, college, and on an American Legion post-sponsored junior team...Long Island, NY; USMMA at Kings Point, and throughout northeast in junior smallbore team matches back in the '60's and early 70's.
We restocked it with an international thumb-hole stock, then wrapped at least five or six pounds + of lead solder wire around the bull barrel; poured a bunch of molten lead into a hollow-out we drilled in the stock; and then taped two lead ingots in front of the butt plate and used some lag bolts and more electrician's tape to keep it in place.
In retrospect, the gun looked like chit (we never really refinished the stock...it was raw wood with just a bit of some sort of oil)...and went 11 or 12 pounds at least. But boy, could she shoot; and holding it up for offhand was great exercise.
I miss those days. We would go hunting upstate NY, taking a public bus and the Long Island Railroad to the Port Authority in NY City and then a bus upstate. All with rifles in cloth cases. Never heard a word or got questioned by anyone.
We restocked it with an international thumb-hole stock, then wrapped at least five or six pounds + of lead solder wire around the bull barrel; poured a bunch of molten lead into a hollow-out we drilled in the stock; and then taped two lead ingots in front of the butt plate and used some lag bolts and more electrician's tape to keep it in place.
In retrospect, the gun looked like chit (we never really refinished the stock...it was raw wood with just a bit of some sort of oil)...and went 11 or 12 pounds at least. But boy, could she shoot; and holding it up for offhand was great exercise.
I miss those days. We would go hunting upstate NY, taking a public bus and the Long Island Railroad to the Port Authority in NY City and then a bus upstate. All with rifles in cloth cases. Never heard a word or got questioned by anyone.
tndrfttom
Member
Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to stumble on a Model 52B Sporter. The receiver had been drilled and tapped and had an old Weaver J4 scope mounted and the front sight had been replaced with a Lyman globe front sight. When I checked the serial number it was only about 557 off the serial number on my Model 52B Bull Barrel target rifle. The Sporter is a joy to shoot!
