Winchester 52B Reproduction

[james]

Anyone have an idea of current value of Winchester 52B Reproduction Zanders HB model.

Thanks

 

[Hozzie]

Is it NIB or shot? I would say it could go for up to $1000 NIB and around $800-$900 in excellent, but used condition. I sold my 99% 52b Utah Centennial for $850 a little over a year go.

 

[patriot]

The Zanders are much more sought after than the Japanese reproductions. I found an old post talking $1600-$1800.

Mark

 

[Hozzie]

I thought the Zander's were also made in Japan? They simply have a heavier barrel, no tensioning screw, and reverse twist barrel if I remember.

 

[patriot]

My understanding is they were made in Japan; a limited special order. From reports they appear to shoot well, but I'd like to see if they can come near the real 52B and 52C sporters' performance. It is interesting that the reproductions hitting the market did not lower the price of the originals, instead they continue to soar.

Mark

 

[CJ6]

Check on Rimfirecentral, There's a bunch of 52 collectors/shooters on there.

 

[mshelton]

My nephew had a repo 52 sporter, he ran every match 22 through it, tried all the action screw torque trick, bag placement, etc etc etc.

Best it would do was an inch at 50yds.

Point of the story, sell your gun.

 

[INShooter]

I owned one of the Browning versions of this rifle. It shot very well for a standard production sporter. It certainly would not hang with my buddy's original Winchester 52 but the cost was about a tenth of an original.

 

[Frankr]

I just bought one Winchester repro 52B Used slightly. But really as new in box. The original owner scoped it sighted it in and that was all he ever did with it. It actually was nicer than some of the NIB ones I have seen, so I bought it. paid 900 for it. Shoots well for what is was intended for. I sighted it in at 25 yards and ready to hunt. It is not a 50 yard target rifle. So far from what I have seen it shoots as well as most 22LR..I am not going to try and get it to shoot 1/4 groups at 50 yards..The trigger feels real nice. As far as I am concerned where they were made in japan is where Browning has made the citori shotguns. A bolt rifles/Winchester 101 shotguns. Maybe one of the finest firearm manufacturing facility in the world. so the quality of the rifle is there and at a price that most can afford. Although pricy for a 22..Maybe some know this and some don't but when Winchester made the 52B sporter most could not afford it was very high priced what I read was would be like a 2,000.00 22 now days. Me personally I am not a big 52 fan I was just in the market for a quality 22LR and It is a nice rifle for the money.

 

[patriot]

Interesting question. A 1947 52B sporter had a factory list price of $113.35, or on average two weeks pay. Adjusted for inflation that would be $1,209.46. To custom build the same rifle today, parts quality and hand craftsmanship, would run I'm guessing $3,500. For today's average salary that would take four weeks pay. So back in 1947 it might have been a good deal. Are the original 52B or C sporters in good condition worth the $4,500-$5,500 price? How would they compare to a 52B reproduction, CZ, Cooper, Kimber of America, or Remington sporter? That is something each of us will have to judge for ourselves, but it would be a whole lot of fun finding out.

Mark

 

[Frankr]

All I really know is most 22LR guys say they 52B repro's are the best keep secret in 22 bolt guns out there.
The Zanders HB are rare and BIG money if you find one for sale.

Mine I made a 40 yard shot threw a softball size hole in the tree braches today. just amazed I got threw there. seems accurate enough to me.kind of what they were made for.

 

[patriot]

Very nice. To my eye, the Winchester is the best looking of all the sporters; perfect balance of lines. But a friend that is seriously into sporters (see photo) prefers his 40X.

Mark

 

[Frankr]

Can you list the rifles in the picture ?
top two look like Anschutz
what is the third one down from the top? cant see the bottom of it . Is it a custom Rem 504 ? I like that one..
forth one down a cooper
fifth one a rem 40x
sixth one is a win 52B

shew wee there is a few bucks ..hun ? Very nice collection.

 

[patriot]

Wow, you know your sporters. The third down is a Kimber of America. The sixth is a 52C (hard to tell from the 52B until you try the trigger). The top two are Anschutz models 64 and 1712. When my friend let me try the Kimber I didn't care much for the way it mounted for offhand, but I'm 6'1" so you mileage may vary.

Mark

 

[james]

Thanks for all the comments

 

[Frankr]

What I read was the zanders HB were a special order run for zanders sporting goods. they special ordered them with the HB. I read only 1,000 of them made. where the Win 52B and the browning 52 there were somewhere in the 15 16 thousand range.I could not find anything on how much the zanders HB sell for they seem to be non existent.