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Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: 52 Winchester still works

  1. #1
    Boolit Master kootne's Avatar
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    Dec 2013
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    Libby, Mt.
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    52 Winchester still works

    I went out with a couple friends to the range today. I took Dad's old 1947 52B and some CCI SV. I haven't shot it in 30 years. While they were busy magazine dumping I shot 4 shells into the berm to sort of prelube the barrel. With the Lyman Iron sights (front sight had the orange plastic aperture insert) I then shot 3 shots at a 50yd. target from a bench rest. "How's that ancient thing shooting?" I was asked. Well, they had the spotting scope so I said, "you tell me". "That old gun shoots pretty good", I was told. When we measured the little triangle of shots it was .280" c to c, widest 2 shots. I put my old gun away and watched them shoot.

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
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    Jan 2025
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    I bought different 22lr rifles for different sporting events along with to use to hunt different game with.

    My winchester 52B I bought to shoot groundhogs with.
    [IMG][/IMG]

    That 52b flat out shot, took many a groundhog with that rifle over the years. Got to the point I didn't hunt anymore so I took it to a gunshow and sold it. Needless to say I didn't even make it in the door and it was sold. Probably should of kept it, but these winchesters are made to be enjoyed.

    Until you actually pick up a winchester 52 series rifle, you don't really realize what they're capable of.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master kootne's Avatar
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    Is that a sporter, or did you redo the stock? It looks quite nice. In High School rifle club in the late '60's/early '70's we had some of those 52B's but also several C's. The C's had heavier barrels, better sights and stocks so mostly I shot a C. The girls team liked the B's because they were lighter. In 1971 we went to a sectional match in Great Falls, Mt. A lot of Kids from other towns had leather shooting jackets and Anshutz rifles but with my old canvas jacket and a 52C I managed to squeak out 2nd place overall. Then as now, matches were mostly won with offhand and lost with prone. I haven't thought about those days for years till I took the 52 out friday. I think I am getting old.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master gc45's Avatar
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    Jul 2015
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    My old 52c is still a tack driver and being it was my Dad's comp match rifle first, my grandson is getting it one day.

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy
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    Yes, it's a sporter 52B.

    I've always bought/collected the sporter versions on the classic target 22lr rifles.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master pietro's Avatar
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    Mar 2008
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    .

    I once had both an original M-52 Sporter with a factory-issue receiver peep sight and a newer Miroku-made Model 52, and both were fairly accurate ( even though the Miroku was scoped).

    While the Miroku looked perfect, I liked the original much better - which is an old-guy thing.


    .
    Now I lay me down to sleep
    A gun beside me is what I keep
    If I awake, and you're inside
    The coroner's van is your next ride

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by pietro View Post
    .

    I once had both an original M-52 Sporter with a factory-issue receiver peep sight and a newer Miroku-made Model 52, and both were fairly accurate ( even though the Miroku was scoped).

    While the Miroku looked perfect, I liked the original much better - which is an old-guy thing.


    .
    Had an original 52b sporter that shot pretty well, the chamber wasn't right. It was rough at the 6 o-clock, that "I don't clean my rimfire bbl mentality". Ended up trading it for a 1st year of production anschutz 54 sporter that flat out shoots.

    The 52b pictured above is a Miroku and it put that original 52b to shame accuracy wise.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master

    dale2242's Avatar
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    I have a M 75 that has been a safe queen for too many years.
    It has an old Unertl 15X target scope on it.

  9. #9
    Boolit Mold drjjpdc's Avatar
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    Aug 2011
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    I have been waiting to take out my rifles ever since I found out that I need cataract surgery in both eyes. Right eye tomorrow and a month later the left eye. Here is my vintage Model 52, I also have the original ladder sight and the 5 shot magazine from 1929, I think.

    "And some like two guns. But one's all you need if you can use it..." - Shane

  10. #10
    Boolit Master Shawlerbrook's Avatar
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    Nov 2015
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    I’ve got a Frankenrifle 52 I bought from a gunsmith 35+ years ago. It’s a 22 mag.with a bubba-ed stock and an old Weaver K6 scope. Heavy and ugly but has killed many garden raiding woodchucks.
    “A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition”

    – Rudyard Kipling

  11. #11
    Boolit Master rmcc's Avatar
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    Aug 2010
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    Central Iowa
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    I shoot a preA 1934 standard barrel for IBS 50 yd. Has a Unertl 14X with dot
    For 100yd IBS I have another preA 1936 bull barrel wearing a Redfield 3200 16X
    They both win more than they lose.. Ha Ha if the old man behind the glass does his part!
    They are great rifles!!
    fools rush in where angels fear to tread...Alexander Pope

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check