Winchester 52 questions?

W

Wrencoforge

Sergeant of the Hide
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 9, 2019
123
56
#1
Hi, saw an old Winchester target rifle at lgs today.
Was marked model 52
Serial # 118419d
Was single shot, heavy target gun.
Am I correct that this is a model52D?
What’s a fair price on these and what should I be looking at condition wise..
Just bought a Tikka so not really in a place to by a new gun but very tempted..
 
#2
Does it have US property elecrto penciled above the serial number ?
if not it’s probably a commercial model and thought to be a little better than the trainers , I had read that the triggers were a little better above 115000 mark . Did someone drill and tap the receiver ? If not it’s worth more . What shape is the stock in ? Butt pad , rail under forearm in place, wood in good /decent shape, Redfield front and rear sights ? If all is good $900/1000 .
 
#3
I’d have to check the stencil...
Receiver was drilled... original rear sight was gone, front sight, maybe altered...
Stock looked good, had rail on bottom.
They had a second one that had original target sights, but appears they sold that one..
They’re asking 500 for this one.. seems like an ok price assuming it still shoots well.
If I hadn’t just bought the Tikka I’d be all over it.
 
#7
For a shooter I wouldn't worry about it being drilled. From what I've read some of the later D's were drilled and tapped from the factory as the so called E came into production. By the way Winchester considered the E suffix rifles D's.

I have the EGW rail on one of my 52's and it works good, for me though the scope needs to move back just a little more. It may just be the scope I have but if EGW took about 3/4" off the front and moved it to the back it would be perfect.

Wencoforge if you don't want the rifle let me know where it is and if they'll ship I'll buy it.
 
#8
rifle is at Wrenco Arms in Sandpoint ID
Asking price is 500

if I’d seen it before the Tikka I Just got ai May have gotten it instead... but oh well, can’t get every gun I want.
 
#10
I paid $1,035 for this Win 52D. It is near 100%. Shoots as good as anything I have. I'd never sell this one, they are just too hard to find in this condition. Plus it does shoot pretty good. I am also using the EGW scope base. Five different types of ammo shown below.

Win 52D 7-28-19.jpg
52D RT 7-19-19.jpg
52D Left Rear 7-19-19.jpg

52D Eley Match 7-19-19.jpg
52D Eley Tenex Pistol 7-19-19.jpg
Win 52D Fed GM Ultra Match 10-6-19.jpg
Win 52D RWS R50sc 10-6-19.jpg
52D Lapua Pistol King 7-19-19.jpg
 
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#17
Okay guys it's finally here, the gun shop took my money and FFl info on Wednesday and didn't ship until the following Monday. Anyway I picked it up today. The stock isn't beat up much at all, the tuners are still in it too. There is one crack on the end of the fore end but after it's glued I don't think it'll show up. The barrel and action are freckled up some. I don't think I've ever seen a bolt or trigger assembly as dirty as this one is, the barrel wasn't bad though. I've taken it completely apart and it'll go in the parts washer for a while to soak. It's not really worn bad anywhere, it just appears someone used the wrong lube. My guess is that the dealer took this rifle in on trade or consignment along with the other one that was mentioned. This rifle looks to have been sitting for a long time and probably had very nice metal when parked. The barrel and action that was under the stock is perfect. The sad part is that there are probably many old rifles like this sitting in someones basement or closet waiting for some attention.

I'll try to have the old girl back in shooting shape in a couple days so I can foul the barrel see how she shoots.
 
#19
Glad to hear you got it, look forward to hearing how it shoots..
Still regret I couldn’t afford it, but at least this way I’ll be able to hear a little about it..
 
#21
I couldn't help myself, I had to shoot it. So after cleaning, drying, lubing it up and adjusting the trigger it was time to see if it would go bang. I installed a set of Redfield Palma rear and International front sights. With all the rain we've had the back yard where I shoot to 100 yards is too soft to set up and shoot. I have a bullet trap set up behind my shop where I shoot pistols, if I set my air gun bench up in the back door, it's 35 yards to the trap.

This target is nothing to brag about, but with the set up I was shooting off of it's not really that bad. I was shooting down hill off my front rest only. With it adjusted all the way down the butt plate was way up on my shoulder, normally I'll use the rest and a bag. Also the barrel was squeaky clean, 20 shots before I shot this target. This is the same target we shoot offhand at 10 meters with air rifles.

Enough excuses
52D 3 target.JPG
 
#23
These are fine old rifles. Rimfire Central has loads of data on them. The newer ones are all single shots. I own an 88y old Pre-A speedlock model that looks like it was dragged behind a truck. It still shoots good enough to post 250's in our local benchrest shoots with Lapua ammo and often wins those matches. All 52's were banned from the new ARA factory rifle class because they are too good. There are only a handful of factory repeaters that can hold a candle to the new Vudoos or Annies or the best of Sako. The 52 is one of them. It is heavy, over built and not modern at all but they do shoot well. Mine is topped with an antique BALVar scope.
 
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