Winchester Model 52
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| Winchester Model 52 rifle | |
|---|---|
 1954 Winchester Model 52C | |
| Type | Rifle |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | T.C. Johnson, Frank Burton, A. F. Laudensack |
| Designed | 1918-19 |
| Manufacturer | Winchester Repeating Arms Company |
| Produced | 1920-1980 |
| No. built | 125,419 |
| Variants | Sporting Model, International Match |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 9 lb (4.1 kg) to 13 lb (5.9 kg) target; 7.25 lb (3.3 kg) sporter |
| Length | 45 in (1,100 mm) target; 41 in (1,000 mm) sporter |
| Barrel length | 28 in (710 mm) target; 24 in (610 mm) sporter |
| Cartridge | .22 Long Rifle |
| Action | Bolt-action |
| Feed system | 5 round/10 round box magazine |
| Sights | Micrometer ladder rear sights, fixed-post front sights standard; many custom iron and optical combinations |
The Winchester Model 52 is a bolt-action .22-caliber target rifle introduced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1920. Familiarly known as the "King of the .22s," it was for decades regarded as the premier smallbore match rifle in the United States and acclaimed worldwide for its accuracy and craftsmanship. The Model 52 Sporter variant was ranked by Field & Stream as one of "the 50 best guns ever made," and Winchester historian Herbert Houze characterized it as "perfection in design."[1][2]
Origins
[edit]The Winchester Model 52's origins trace to World War I, when Winchester's leadership decided not to continue production of the Model 1885 Single Shot in centerfire or .22 rimfire after the war effort wound down. With returning soldiers familiar with bolt-action rifles, and with the popularity of target shooting growing, Winchester resolved to produce a bolt-action .22 rifle expressly designed for precision shooting. The Model 52 was conceived as the first production accuracy rifle in .22 caliber, purpose-built to meet the demanding standards of competitive shooters.
Although early versions resembled military rifles, the Model 52 was never adopted for general military service. The U.S. Army purchased only 500 units for trial, eventually choosing the M1922, a .22 caliber adaptation of the '03 Springfield, as its training rifle.[note 1]
Development
[edit]The development of the Model 52 was led by Thomas Crosley Johnson and Frank Burton starting in 1918.[3][4] Johnson brought extensive experience with military bolt actions, having overseen production of British P-14 and American M1917 rifles, as well as designing prototype military models (Model A through D). The final design used a receiver forged from solid billet, adapted from Johnson's military bolt-action prototypes and the Winchester Model 1885 barrel design.
In 1919, prototype rifles with detachable 5-round box magazines were evaluated by officials including Lt. Col. Townsend Whelen and representatives of the National Rifle Association, receiving favorable marks in accuracy and handling.[5]
Full production began in April 1920, leveraging machinery originally installed for wartime production of military rifles.[6]
Design
[edit]The Model 52 featured a robust, thickly forged receiver and a non-rotating, rear locking bolt designed for precise chamber sealing and reliable cartridge feeding. The bolt included two locking lugs on a rotating bolt handle collar, providing a smooth camming action. The bolt face was designed to encircle the cartridge rim, ensuring tight headspacing.[7] Dual opposed claw extractors controlled cartridge feeding, accompanied by a fixed blade ejector.
The original trigger was a military-style two-stage "Johnson" trigger, later replaced by Frank Burton's innovative "Speed Lock" trigger in 1930, which significantly reduced trigger pull and travel, allowing for faster lock time and improved accuracy.[8]
Over its production span, the Model 52 underwent numerous enhancements. Key variations include the 52A safety modification addressing the safety pivot stem fragility, the 52B with redesigned sliding-plate safety, the Micro-Motion trigger 52C, and most radically, the 52D introduced in 1961 which featured a redesigned single-shot action promoting stiffness and accuracy.[9]
Stocks and Barrels
[edit]Various stocks were offered to suit shooter preferences, including the Standard Target Stock, Laudensack and Marksman stocks with ergonomic improvements, the Monte Carlo stock for sporting purposes, and specialized International Match, 3-Position, and Prone stocks for competition use.
Barrel lengths and profiles varied to match intended use, including the Standard Target 28-inch barrel, Heavy Target with heavier taper, Bull Barrel versions for increased stiffness, and the lighter Sporting Model 24-inch barrel introduced in 1934.[10]
Sights
[edit]The Model 52 consistently featured high-quality receiver-mounted aperture (peep) sights throughout its production, starting with the Winchester-designed 82A folding ladder sight. Shooters could select sighting systems including popular Lyman and Redfield models, with telescopic sight mounting becoming standard by the 1920s.[11]
The Sporting Model
[edit]Introduced in 1934, the Sporting Model Model 52 offered a lower-weight, 24-inch barrel paired with an elegantly finished figured walnut stock featuring a pronounced pistol grip and cheekpiece. It was crafted with exceptional attention to detail and finish quality, earning acclaim as a premium sporting firearm.[12]
Reproductions
[edit]In the 1990s, the Herstal Group, licensed by Olin Corporation to use the Winchester trademark, released "reissue" Model 52 Sporters manufactured by Japanese firm Miroku Corp.. These rifles were marketed under both Winchester and Browning brands and reflected the high standards of the original, serving collectors and shooters seeking classic designs.[13]
Legacy
[edit]The Winchester Model 52 is widely regarded as one of the finest .22 target rifles ever made. Its innovations in trigger design, machining precision, and ergonomic stocks influenced many subsequent target rifle designs. Though production ceased in 1980, its reputation endures with collectors, competitors, and firearms historians alike.
References
[edit]- ^ Joseph von Benedikt (20 July 2020). "Winchester Model 52 Review". Shooting Times. Outdoor Sportsman Group. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ David E. Petzal (20 August 2020). "The 50 Best Guns Ever Made". Field & Stream. Recurrent Ventures. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ Harold Rocketto. "A History of the United States National Outdoor Smallbore Rifle Championships 1919-2010" (PDF). Prone Match. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ Matthew Moss (14 December 2017). "John Browning's Contemporaries: The Guns of T.C. Johnson". The Firearms Blog. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ Hap Rocketto (31 December 2018). "The Seed Is Planted: National Outdoor Smallbore Rifle Championship History". Shooting Sports USA. National Rifle Association of America. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ Harold Rocketto. "A History of the United States National Outdoor Smallbore Rifle Championships 1919-2010" (PDF). Prone Match. p. 9. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Jeff Quinn (2022). "How the Winchester Model 52 Revolutionized the .22 Target Rifle". Rifle Magazine. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
- ^ Joseph von Benedikt. "Winchester Model 52 Review". Shooting Times. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ Matthew Moss. "The Evolution of the Winchester 52". The Firearms Blog. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
- ^ Joseph von Benedikt. "Winchester Model 52 Review". Shooting Times. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ Nick Stroebel (1998). "Old Gunsights: A Collector's Guide 1850-1965". KP Books.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Monroe H. Goode (1945). Esquire's First Sports Reader. Barnes.
- ^ Matthew Moss. "Winchester Model 52 Reissues". The Firearms Blog. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
External links
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