Beau, can you help me please?

4

404tbang

Member
Howdy Beau!
Last night I was meandering around the internet and found a link to a discussion Calfee joined in regarding Winchester 52a problems. The link was to a thread here on benchrest.com. Bill didn't start it, but he did join in.

He told a story of building a fine 52a sporter and not noticing a crack in the reciever that cost him his whole investment, not to mention a LOT of time.

I am not particularly interested in a 52a. What caught my attention was his statement that a 52b with a great trigger could potentially be the best of the 52's. This thread was dated sometime in February, I think in this year.

I can't remember if it was this thread, or somewhere else, that someone mentioned that Karl Kenyon got to the point on 52b's that he would test the hardness of the reciever, and if it wasn't hard enough, he would not make a trigger for it. He eventually gave up making triggers for the 52b.

If I could find the thread, I would try to provide the link. But when I used the search function, I can't seem to get just winchester 52 or 52a or anything with a number, as an aside, I can't get info for remington 37s too easily either. OH, I can get every time anyone even THOUGHT winchester or remington, but putting a NUMBER in there seems USELESS! And this is aggravating me beyond words!

What I would love to know is, why did Calfee say that the 52b with a great trigger could be the best of the bunch if the reciever is supposed to be soft?

And if you could be kind enough to explain what I have to do to look up remington 37 or winchester 52 without getting EVERY remington or winchester post I would appreciate it!

Thank you!
Greg

ps, if you end up talking to Bill about this, please pass it on to him that his presence and contributions are SORELY missed here!
 
Anybody with knowledge on this stuff is welcome to join in.

I am just trying to get a bit more educated!:)
Thanks!
Greg
 
Kenyon found it difficult to alter the B's trigger simply because of the mechanism, not because of the receiver properties. It would be difficult to change any of the levers lengths or pivot points in the B, or for that matter any of the older models.

My experience with B's is that most of them are a little more accurate than the other models, but this is not something I can back up with any tests. I really believe all models are equally accurate. The triggers ,however, are not equal, and the C's and after are just much better.
 
404tbang,

Bill would probably normally read your post and give me the answer to post. He has computer issues right now, so he's not even looking at the BR Board. I will most likely talk to him tomorrow and I will pass along the question.

I agree that his comments, good or bad, controversial or not are sorely missed, but I don't think he will ever directly post again.

As far as the search goes, I wish I had that answer. It would help to narrow it down some.
 
got the post! thanks Pete!

#8 02-12-2009, 02:16 PM
Kathy
Guest Posts: n/a

Friends Harold M, Big Al and Targetshooter2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friend Targetshooter2:

I again apologize for posting on your thread....I usually don't do this..

I learned about the cracking problem with A's the hard way......

Back in the 80's I got hold of a nice looking A and decided to make a presentation grade little sporter from it......loved the wing safety.....little did I know..

Anyway, I installed a match grade barrel in a #1 Douglas taper, fit a neat ramp from sight, made up a set of neat express type three leaf sights for the rear.....made a hidden magazine using a lever opening latch.....did away with the push button in the side of the stock.....stock had a little of a belly to it kinda like a Magnum Mauser for a Gibbs cartridge.....

I had a gentleman in Texas do the highly figured walnut stock...used 30 line checkering and it had a feather crotch pattern in the butt that was killer awesome....hand rubbed oil finish, killer...

Had the metal rust blued, had that old classic "egg shell" appearance to it, killer!

I put the rifle up for sale.....first guy that looked at it said, "are you kidding", didn't you see the left side locking lug seat in the action is gone?

You know, shows how stupid I am.....I noticed the left side locking lug seat looked funny, but until I saw another A, that was intact, I didn't realize the problem.....man I was embarrassed..

I gave the rifle to a buddy of mine......I think he still has it........it's absolutley lovely, but has absolutley no value.....I of course lost everything I had invested.....

I did another A, or two, or three after that, after careful inspection, then swore them off for ever.......

As a collector, they have value, if not damaged....but for alterations the C, D and E 52's are the ones to play with....

A final thought.......If the B Model 52 had the good Micro Motion trigger, it would be superior to even the C, D and E models for making into an accuracy rifle...but it don't..

Thanks Targetshooter2 for allowing me to post..

Your friend, Bill Calfee




There it is Beau!

Thanks Pete Roberson! I did not think to use the words "early model". I would still like to know how to use the search with the number included, the remington 37 and winchester 52 searches still get me EVERY remington and winchester post.

Beau, hopefully that bit of info Bill gave will help. I had a 52b once, never really got to wring it out. I would like to get another 52 one day. I just want to get educated on Bill's thoughts and why he said that.

Again, please let him know that he is SORELY missed!

Thank you!
Greg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top