Hello from Cullman Alabama
New to this forum
Thought this would be an appropriate topic since Jamie, and I are shooting the Win 52, albeit mine a "D". Many years ago my first competition was at the U of A rifle team. Joe Willie and I were both freshmen. I can still remember "The Sarge" and "The Colonel" and also how elated I was to receive my own coat and rifle, a 52 D. My guess they thought, if he wants to shoot this much, we can put him on the 3rd string (not Joe). Time goes by fast and after stints with BE pistol, hunting and lastly stock car racing I nearly succumbed to a disease called "farmers lung" and now 5 years later my recovery is within sight, hence my bucket list. My wife surprised me with a US 52 D 3 years ago with matching numbers. So I began shooting from the bench, although at that time difficult, and out the kitchen window, 50 then 100 yds. (What a wife). Didnt do well. 4" to 5" then narrowed last year after mayo Clinic to 2.5" mostly. then to prone on bags, still 2.5"
Ordered a custom stock from Alex Sitman @ master Class and after a 6 mo wait or so, a spectacular specimen arrived (not awsome). Alex is a true craftsman and I recommend his work. The bedding did not help, still 2.5". So I found a smith in LA that agreed to rechamber the barrel. Slugged 0.2220. Good well 6 mo later I received the 52 back. That was 2 mos ago. Then the tornado came, much damage. Rifles, rev and pistols in safe. When I fed the first round I knew it wouldnt shoot. Dropped in => 4" at 100. Worse, looks better. I still remember how the 52 fed from UA 50 yrs ago.
More calls. DL suggested smith #1. #1 and #2 did not return my calls. One barrel maker did not know what a 52 d was (No Norman it is not the ... size). Jim Pierce (chambered my 308) does not 22RF. A local BR shooter only does XP 100s and only CF. The list grew to 9, "I'm sorry". Found a Shilen 52 D profile at Brunos and Krieger has a 8 groove in stock. I have a lathe, BL #1, but a match grade chamber is not for the faint of heart and would take me 6 mos. PTG has floating reamers in stock. Jim says meyers.
After reading this forum for the last 3 years, signed on. So if anyone out there knows someone that knows someone that can match chamber a dropshipped barrel then please email me. I have a wooden crate and can ship tomorrow.
My new truck is having a tree limb removed in late August and then it can travel and i can still use the window.
My best and thanks
Mike