My vintage 52D/Lyman STS

[El Paso Mark]

Greetings all. Let me take the opportunity to say thank you to everyone who helped and responded, both online (Forum) and off line (E-mail), with my questions about, and quest to get, a vintage target rifle/scope combo- Thank you, I sincerely appreciate your time, help, and effort.

After seeing the posted pictures of the great old rifles and scopes I “Got a bug up my butt” and had to get one too. Not only for the “Nostalgic look” but also to use for training and learning to better shoot in the wind. Things worked out well and I purchased a CMP marked Winchester 52D, and a near perfect Lyman Super Targetspot 30X w/original box and manual off ebay. Took them to the range last Sunday and the 52 is a real shooter. Took me a while to figure out/learn some of the scope’s “Idiosyncrasies,” so didn’t shoot/test ammo as much as I wanted. Fortunately a fellow was there who had experience with this type scope and helped me out. Thanx Larry. Had several comments from fellow shooters, mostly to the effect of- “Wow, is that a 52!? I had one as a kid, what a great gun,” and “What a cool scope, I’ve never seen one in person, only in pictures.”

I’m a “Happy camper” and I’m really going to enjoy using and shooting this combo. So, here a few pictures though I apologize for the poor formatting and lighting-

Again, thank you all, I really appreciate it.

Now, what next? A 52B and Unertl scope maybe?

Cheers,

Mark

 

[jcwit]

What can one say other than NICE! VERY NICE!!!!

Like your range also, good setup there.

I've owned my deceased brothers 52B for years now, and just 2 weeks was able to put a 15 power Lyman Target Spot on it. My rifle is complete even with handstop, and I remembered my brother having a long scope on it back in the early '50's. It was purchased new by him in '49, and I have no idea what scope he had on it, but the TS looks right at home.

Best to you Mark

Jon

 

[Larry Elliott]

Beautiful old combination!

The newer rifles and optics may be some better, but they sure don't look anywhere near as nice!

I'm envious!

 

[BottleBaby]

How does it shoot?

 

[glp]

Larry,

Beautiful old combination!

The newer rifles and optics may be some better, but they sure don't look anywhere near as nice!

I'm envious!

my opinion is that the old long focus scopes are VERY difficult to equal, quality of image wise, by anything modern I have which has included Weaver, B&L, Leupold, Nightforce.

I have a Remington 37 that will run with any Anschutz I have seen, but probably not with a full blown Hall or others rifle in 3" stock.

The are, without much doubt, both beautiful and very accurate. Nothing like the looks, feel and smell of blued steel and old, mellow walnut!! --Greg

 

[vicvanb]

Old guys lament

my opinion is that the old long focus scopes are VERY difficult to equal, quality of image wise, by anything modern I have which has included Weaver, B&L, Leupold, Nightforce.

Nothing like the looks, feel and smell of blued steel and old, mellow walnut!! --Greg

Amen, brother. Those of us over 55 know what "classic" means. Younger guys just don't get it, but who can blame them when they go to gun shows these days and 80% of what's there has black stocks and stainless metal?

 

[El Paso Mark]

Thanx guys. Preliminary indications are that she's a shooter. I only tried SK Jagd Standard and Lapua Club on Sunday. She liked the SK better. Still have Eley yellow (Team?), SK Rifle Match, and Lapua Master M to try. Going to order a box or two each of Eley Sport, RWS (Orange), SK Pistol, and Wolf Match and give them a go. Wanted to try the Federal GMM but everyone's out.

Alas, most of those used to be $3.00 - $6.00 per box, but nowadays those are almost all in my upper price range (What I'm willing to pay).

Yep, I'm a wood and blue metal kind of guy.

Cheers,

Mark

 

[Patos]

My Dad gave me my 52D when I was 10, in 1962 - standard weight barrel. Still have it. Had the 3" long piece glued back onto the stock that my Dad had cut off for me. Also Redfield rear sight and Womac front tube. Still fun to shoot. Oh, and the good ammo back then - Remington Red/Green box or Winchester Mark III was only $1 per box - had to save it for "matches". Never had a scope - thinking about putting a modern one on it. Bought a Villani (?) base a while back, so that I wouldn't have to do any more drilling for bases. The originals are kind of wide spacing. Glad to see that others still enjoy the old rifles! (this is also my first post)

 

[katokoch]

Amen, brother. Those of us over 55 know what "classic" means. Younger guys just don't get it, but who can blame them when they go to gun shows these days and 80% of what's there has black stocks and stainless metal?

Hey now... let's not judge. I learned how to shoot with a Remington 41 and it's still a fine rifle for cleaning up starlings.

One of these days I'll own a nice 52 like yours... I'd love a quality sporter rifle (kill them squirrels with dignity). Enjoy the rifle!