OK I decided I can't afford a Cooper or Anschutz 1517 or 1710D. So I'm doing the stock work myself. But need a good starting point with a factory stock I can use as the base for my duplicator.

First thoughts are a CZ 455 which gives me an option for an easy quality aftermarket barrel. Likewise a 77/22. Or should I look for a cheaper Anschutz or Win 52?

Other options.

Well, there's always a Browning or Winchester repro M52, if you can get a deal on one. I've never heard of them NOT shooting well. They can still be found for around $7-800 if you shop sharp.

Hard to put the other actions mentioned in the same conversation as the Win 52 or Anschutz, IMHO.

Win 52 A, B, and C targets can be had fairly reasonably if you watch and have some patience. Either have the barrel turned down to sporter specs or order a barrel from one of the several who make sporter weight barrels for the Win. 52 and have it installed.

I picked up a Win 52 sporter stock pretty cheap a while back on Gunbroker. You may want to keep an eye on their ads. Mine is for a Repro, but it should fit an original fine with a little inletting.

Just my experiences for what it is worth. Also, might consider a 40X target and the same process. I have both and they will both become sporters this year sometime.

Bob

The repro M52's are nice. A Kimber NY K22 Hunter is worth consideration. Also can be found for $7-800. Mauser-style bolt with full-length claw extractor, wing safety, match grade chamber, and exceptional triggers.

Just some quick looking. Like the lines of the Winchester 52. Don't care for the stock on the Browning version.

Sheister does someone make a replacement barrel for the 52? Or is it simply buy a new barrel and have a smith set it up for the 52 and install?

I'm pretty sure there aren't any pre- threaded, short chambered barrels available for the 52 at this time. You would need to have a smith set it up or send it to someone like Pacnor who will install one of their barrels for a fee. Or, you could take a chance and have the existing barrel shortened and turned down. Several people I know have gone this route and have had great results, including my gunsmith- who has done several. In fact, I believe he has one of his 52 Sporters for sale right now.

As far as the repros, the Winchester Version is a copy of the 52B, while the Browning version is a copy of the 52C. Both have a copy of the "C" trigger, which is a very good trigger. There is a Winchester repro in the classifieds right now for around $800 IIRC. Pretty good deal these days. A couple other very good .22's you might keep an eye out for in the same price range that are very good shooters and going up in value now are the Remington 541T and 541S rifles. Very well made, hand lapped barrels, shoot very well and are tapped from the factory for scope mounts.

Bob

Heck of a deal sold yesterday at 4pm.

You have gotten me interested in a 52. More research.

A 455 may shoot well enough that you don't need to replace the barrel. Same for a 452 or 453, if you can find either in the American model. DIP sells very nice steel trigger guards for all the CZs for about $130 or so. If you shop around and find good factory wood, you can do this pretty cheaply, and have a fine shooter that also looks good. If you have the skill to do a good stocking job yourself, I can understand that you'd want to go that way, but CZ wood can be pretty nice and is fitted pretty well.

The Kimbers, NY or Oregon, would be another good way to go for a bit more money. My late brother owned SN 501 out of Oregon, and it was a peach.

A few months ago Dick Wright posted some pictures of a CZ 452 that he restocked. if you can find the post you will be amazed at what a 452 looks like in a nice stock - I certainly would be proud to own it.

drover

With patience you can find some very fair prices on used Annie 54's. Keep a close eye on Simpson. Can't think of a better way to go but it might take a bit of time..

If you're going classic, a lot of good advice has already been posted. But, if you want to go more modern, a Kidd barreled action is a very nice shooter. I went with a bead blasted Match .920 threaded barrel, silver receiver, bolt buffer, 2 stage trigger set to 2.5#. It will drive nails at 50. You can obliterate a bullseye one ragged hole at a time.

Local Dirt,
I have a Volquartsen modified 10/22 that shoots more accurate than I do. That is supposed to go to the grandkids when I get the stock cut and finished for my Kidd barreled action. So looking for a bolt action. Heck now that I can find 22 ammo again can't get by with only one 22 rifle.

I've always thought the Rem 541 was a sexy, full size .22.

ramrod, great idea leaving the Volquartsen for the kids. It's so much fun letting the kids shoot the Kidd.

I have custom RF Sporters based on a pre A M/52 with standard weight barrel and a Springfield 1922M2. Both rifles have had the barrel shortened to 22", the M/52 was shortened from the breech end preserving the forged front sight ramp. I had a factory Anschutz Mannlicher based on the 54 action, it has DST's and was a really nice rifle, regretably I let myself be talked out of that one. It is a rifle that I really miss and were I to have it to do over I would never let go of it. Never saw one like it before or since, it was prewar vintage being marked only "Germany".

Go for the CZ , my suggestion would be to find a used 452 trainer, (or better a 453), they shoot great out of the box. Use the factory stock for inletting template, and make your own beautiful stock..then sell a bunch of stock copies to the frustrated CZ owners who want something pretty. You'll have enough for an Annie in no time.

Easy for you too say.

So any guess as to the market price of a 455 semi with say AA wood?

Can't just buy them; gotta play the wood lottery!

Sorry since I do duplication I was wondering the market for semi inletted stocks for the 455 using say AA grade wood. Blank by themselves would be around $110 then add labor on top. So $225-235??

$235 for great wood will be money better spent on a CZ. A replacement barrel will cost more than that, and probably gain very little over the factory tube...

$650 for a proven shooter with AA wood? That would sell, hell 77/22 are selling for that and they aren't even in the same league with CZ's. The low-end Annies are selling for that much too and they have awful wood.

Several years ago I saw a Winchester 52 Custom that was sold by the big auction house in Maine... AAA wood, 22" barrel with banded front sight and an express rear...along with a Leupold 4X Rimfire scope in QD mounts I believe...just beautiful. Went for the $4K area as I recall...

I've owned four 52s and think they are the finest .22 rimfire action ever made. Just make sure if you use a 52 to have the smith bend the bolt for scope use. Ontherwise you will end up having to use high rings like on the repos...

Bob

My Winchester repro was NOT a great shooter with any of several bullets that worked fine in all my other rifles. Maybe I did not find the one.

Jack

I believe that Kreiger makes barrels in 52 Sporter profiles, both original and repro. As regards the suggestion on using CZ or BRNO barreled actions, I have had a BRNO sporter and I believe that would be a good choice that would not be as costly as a Win 52.

Have you considered a Rem 40x.