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Posted By: dukxdog Browning 52B Sporting - 03/25/23
Does anyone here have the 1990's limited edition Browning version of the Winchester 52B Sporting?

I'd like to know how it shoots and your overall opinion of the rifle.

Would be great to have a Winchester original 52B Sporting but the Browning might suffice.

Thanks!
Posted By: cznut Re: Browning 52B Sporting - 03/25/23
I dont own one but have a friend who does and I have shot it some, accurate well made rifle, with mid grade target ammo it was doing 1/2" and less most of the time at 50 yards with a 16x scope.
Posted By: WMR Re: Browning 52B Sporting - 03/25/23
Not at present but I’ve owned 3 of them. Very nicely finished and 2 of the 3 were tack drivers. The other was so-so. They’re hard not to like. I’ll probably pick up another sometime. IMO the Brownings were better finished that the Winchester reproductions.
Posted By: PennDog Re: Browning 52B Sporting - 03/25/23
They are what the others have said and the only drawback I have is they are heavier and do not balance like an original 52 sporter. I have both and find myself carrying the original sporter more often (of course just my opinion!).

PennDog
Posted By: cisco1 Re: Browning 52B Sporting - 03/26/23
I have had 6 or more jap 52 Repos. Played around with them for a number of years. You have to remove the" lawyer pin" from the trigger to get

a part way decent trigger, it will never be great. I prefer the Winchester version because of the stock . They shoot pretty good.

As far as the comparision to the originals , I never noticed much difference. As far as I care the word "sporter" is used generously in the 52'S ...

they are all pretty clubby, and heavy. I have sold my originals years ago as I realized I was not gonna carry'em around off the bench.

Now ,I have a couple 52 custom sporters , that is my interest.

I have 1 Jap model left. I mated it with an old Balvar 6-24 scope I had around ...just for somethin' to do

Attached picture thumbnail-1.jpg
Posted By: cisco1 Re: Browning 52B Sporting - 03/26/23
I have had 6 or more jap 52 Repos. Played around with them for a number of years. You have to remove the" lawyer pin" from the trigger to get

a part way decent trigger, it will never be great. I prefer the Winchester version because of the stock . They shoot pretty good.

As far as the comparision to the originals , I never noticed much difference. As far as I care the word "sporter" is used generously in the 52'S ...

they are all pretty clubby, and heavy. I have sold my originals years ago as I realized I was not gonna carry'em around off the bench.

Now ,I have a couple 52 custom sporters , that is my interest.

I have 1 Jap model left. I mated it with an old Balvar 6-24 scope I had around ...just for somethin' to do

Attached picture thumbnail-1.jpg
Posted By: ldholton Re: Browning 52B Sporting - 03/26/23
I had one that I put thousands of rounds through with a small bore silhouette rifle... shot plenty good trigger was not real whoopee and kind of complex if I remember right one of the springs I completely took out of it to get it close to a 2 lb trigger..
Posted By: 260Remguy Re: Browning 52B Sporting - 03/26/23
I've had one of the Japanese Browning and still have two of the Winchesters. I like the stock design of the Winchester version better than the Browning version.

Cisco1's post is spot on. I swapped out the bolt handle on one of mine because the the shape that they come in causes a high bolt lift that requires medium height rings. I put one of the 6x Leupold Alaskans on it, as a 7/8" scope seems a little more aesthetically in sync with the small action than most 1" scopes.

I have a lot of good shooting .22 sporters so the Winchesters don't get used very often. My Wife bought a 40X sporter for my 65th birthday and that is a pretty good shooter too, but the .22 that gets the most use is a 10/22 with a GM 24" stainless fluted sporter that was tuned by Randy at CPC.
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