Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Winchester 52A Sporter

Thanks Doc - I'll swing by and take a look.

And a huge thanks call out to VernAK. He's a facilitator in my current 52 obssesion and a very nice package of 52 accessories arrived today. Another 5 shot magazine, a 10 shot, a single shot adapter and a new sight insert.

VEry cool, Pugs!

Enjoy!

Sorry but the sling swivels were spotted early on by a M71 deluxe owner.

They don't come any better than VernAK.

At one time, I owned a little more than Twenty .22 Cal. Winchester Model 52's!
I too love the .22 cal. Rifles, and went heavy into the Winchester .22's! As I had a massive Collection!
We Collected, and shot many, and as my Boys weren't into the Collecting aspect of the Winchesters, as I am!
I put a few aside, and moved out the rest in trades, and other deals!
The Winchester Model 52 is Second to none in my opinion, and yours is simply gorgeous!
They're great shooters, and wonderful specimens!
Enjoy!

I was in the shop yesterday....the rifle was gone.

Hmmm. Might wanna wait for Pugs to shed light on that ...

Not sure why. Dropped by today on the way home from Frederick. First time I've been in there. Kind of an odd shop with a mix of stuff. It was still there and they were willing to take $600.

By serial it's a Pre-A and pre-speed lock Target model (but no Winchester crack of doom luckily ) . Built on Jan 7-8 1929. Bore is bright and shiny. Wood is really good given it's 93 years old. Original magazine.

The metal work is good except for some minor blemish on the left side of the receiver and the bottom metal is a bit ugly but no pitting. I think it will clean up well. A little Christmas Eve project in the shop. It has blocks for a Unertle, Lyman or Fecker style early scope. I'll ask Gary's advice on that.

Thanks for the pointer Doc!

In a weird Maryland example of the retarded gun laws of MD, I could not use my C&R FFL to purchase and had to do a standard check. So, it's less paperwork for me to order a gun from out of state and have it mailed to my house than to go to a gun shop in MD and buy a gun. Brilliant morons.....

Pugs-I'll show my ignorance....what is "Winchester crack of doom"?

On the early (Pre-A) model 52s the left rail by the safety was thin and cracking was not unusual with safety application. This was fixed in the Speed lock mod and on all post 52s after that age it wasn't a factor as they thickened up the rail With the crack the rifle can still be shot since it's just the aft part of the bolt rail but it's an obvious huge decrease in value.

Crappy picture of the new one on a workbench that will get cleaned up tomorrow

There's indication that the crack can spell a slight decrease in accuracy. Since the RH lug does the bear's share of containment anyway it's not a safety concern. Evidently though it's enough to allow the bolt to dance a teeny bit and that's enough to effect accuracy. (Any amount of vibration, movement, etc. upon discharge while the bullet is still processing down the bore will effect accuracy to one slight degree or another. Or so I'm told.)

Absolutely easy to believe - As you recall a simple firing pin issue with my Martini resulted in a flyer every group. Good ignition and stability in rimfires is even more important than their faster centerfire brethren.

I am new to the site and really like the 52's. I am interested in one to shoot probably with a scope. That is a nice looking rifle.