• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Winchester 52 rebarrel

Twdmar

I help with coaching a junior smallbore program in the winter and we are in need of some small to medium sized rifles. Our club has several winchester 52s that are not used by anyone. The head of the program is considering rebarreling them with a lighter, shorter barrel that a kid could handle. I can build the stocks.
I know someone will say to sell them but selling all 6 will probably only bring enough for 1-2 european rifles.
My big question is, what is a source for a decent, reasonably priced barrel? Since this will be used for the beginners, we don't need out of this world accuracy. Also, I don't know what size blank would be required for a 52. Thanks.
 
DGP4 said:
The CMP sells Savage FVT Junior rimfire rifles to qualifying groups for $321 each. A model 52 will sell for over twice that. Why butcher a collectible Winchester if you can sell it and get the kids a brand new rifle that fits them?????
Click to expand...
The stock on the savage is not very good. We have a couple and they are pretty lackluster.
 
I agree on the stocks, but you can replace them a lot cheaper than a rebarrel on the Winchesters. I found that the worst problem with the Savage stocks is the cheek weld, but you can add a cheek riser to solve that problem.
 
I get what you guys are saying. This isn't my idea, just getting roped into it. I don't think the plan is wreck any of the old parts, just remove them and replace. It will be an easier sell than buying new high end rifles because there is no longer a reasonably priced anschutz and still wind up with a pretty good rifle. We just aren't looking to spend Bartlein money on theses things.
 
Jeff Buchanan said:
The barrel tenon is .750”-20 TPI. I would think a 1” shank that tapers to .750 at the muzzle would work.
Click to expand...
Actually, that's pretty close to the standard wt. 52 target barrel, which is 1" shoulder x .700 muzzle, 28" long - which was the original 52 barrel and also available in all models afterwards. I would venture to say that you could scrape up 6 of these on this website (many have been taken off for heavier or custom barrels or throat wear) that would be good enough for beginners. Whoever fits them could also cut them off if desired, but you would then have to make provision for a front sight. I don't think you'll find any decent reasonably priced new barrels, which then would have to be threaded, chambered and extractor cuts made. Another alternative would be to look for some older 64 Anschutz target rifles that were imported by Savage. The stocks can be cut down in length and the 26" barrels are not very heavy. Your 52's would surely be worth at least 6 of these rifles; they are quite accurate and have decent triggers.
 
Keep this in mind when rebarreling any smallbore competition rifle: sight radius.

If you have heavy barrel 52's, there were standard barrel versions out there made for 3P & 4P competition. I agree that heavy barrel versions are too heavy for younger kids. Generally it takes someone in their teens to be of appropriate size to handle a 52C or D model. If you rebarrel them shorter, you will need to use an adjustable aperture on the front sight in order to allow for a consistent sight picture in regards to lighting.

The european guns while expensive, are purpose built for competition, even though they are expensive. Sell the 52's, buy two euro guns used, use the rest of the money for the other necessary equipment: ammunition, spotting scopes, stands, shooting mats, coats, gloves, pants, etc.
 
Great intentions, but re-barreling 6 model 52’s for your club’s junior use, to save a little weight, is like paving over Old Faithful because in the Inn needs more parking spaces.

Every single heavy barrel 52 that is ever sold commands a high price. I personally cannot buy a .22 40-X or 52 from about 5 Cabella Gun Library stores because they immediately tell me the listing isn’t current. Did they deem it undervalued if it’s immediately called in and utilize an employee discount for themselves, or hold it for an interested buddy. Probably. Especially when the annual used gun sale time rolls around. This, and the online prices are how I know how many people want these AS IS.

Truly, it’s almost guaranteed they will also shoot worse. The “heavy” 52’s were famous for one thing. Have you researched how few of these there are? The production number can be easily pulled up. Figure 25% of whatever was made now remains after rust, floods, fires, and relatives who like to take guns out of circulation.
 
^ Yes, guys will buy them, I’ve bought club guns. Members will bid but if they don’t for some reason offer FMV, the club has a world of options. These and the 40-X’s when all the dust settles, and nothing currently made still is anymore, will be preferred by many to that popular European. I wouldn’t trade mine, even up. They got it right back then. Your club’s set is like coming across a breeding pair of unicorns in the woods, … barrel swaps would be figuring they are too dangerous looking not to dispatch. Vudoo took a 40-X and set out to duplicate it, and it’s among the best, decades later.
 
This is kinda like the proverbial bar conversation that goes like..."I have a 1970 HemiCuda convertible 4 speed, black on black with 80K miles on on it. Because the clutch is heavy I would like to put a prius engine and trans in it. Anyone wanna help me?"

Time to rethink this idea.

Ten years from now only one in 15 of those kids will even remember what they first shot. But every one of them that shoots a 52 when able will want one, someday.

Maybe you should hold a raffle? Try it with one of the rifles and see if you don't come out well over the usual selling price. Then buy one of the modern lower priced rifles in it's place. Cutting and chopping is just never a good idea, the first time. Now, if it's already done, well you have NOTHIING to lose, so to speak.

Don't get roped into this any further.
 
Sell the 52's and buy rifles of the appropriate size. Nothing drives juniors away faster than rifles that are too heavy and cannot be adjusted to fit (i.e. length of pull, etc.). The OP mentioned that no kids are using the 52s, so go ahead and sell at lest 4 and get 2 used Anschutz 1903 / 64's with the old standard rifle stock configuration.
 
For juniors / lightweight guns
Look for used anschutz 64 benchrest and 3p guns
The cmp used to sell them new for around 1k
The benchrest version simply needs a rail inletted in the stock
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Classified Ads

Forum statistics

Threads
165,831
Messages
2,204,131
Members
79,148
Latest member
tsteinmetz

Share This Page

Back
Top