Winchester 52B .22 Caliber Bolt Action Rifle Instruction Manual

							horizontal, depress the magazine release button. Pull
the magazine out (see Figure 12).
2. Remove the cartridge from the chamber.Cycle
the bolt open and the cartridge will eject. Leave the
bolt open. 
3. To fully unload the magazine, strip each cartridge
from the magazine until it is empty. 
CHECK THE CHAMBER TO BE 
ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN IT IS UNLOADED. 
TRIGGERSYSTEM
The Model 52 trigger system is famous for its clean,
crisp pull. Trigger pull on the Model 52B is pre-set at
the factory at approximately 6 1/2 pounds. 
ANY ADJUSTMENT, DISASSEMBLY OR
SERVICE OF ANY PART OF THE TRIGGER
SYSTEM MUST BE PERFORMED BY A
QUALIFIED GUNSMITH ONLY.
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Depress the magazine release button and pull
on the magazine to remove.
FIGURE12round from the magazine into the chamber. 
CAUTION: THE RIFLE IS NOW READY TO
FIRE BY PULLING THE TRIGGER. IMMEDI-
ATELY PLACE THE SAFETY IN THE ÒON
SAFEÕÕ POSITION UNLESS FIRING IS IMMI-
NENT.
LOADING TOFULLCAPACITYÑ 
If you manually load a round in the chamber, the ca-
pacity of the Model 52 can be increased to six rounds. 
After the round is in the chamber, close the bolt.
Then, insert the magazine. 
CAUTION: MOVE THE SAFETY TO THE ÒON
SAFEÓ POSITION. DO NOT CARRY A
ROUND IN THE CHAMBER UNLESS
SHOOTING IS IMMINENT.
Also, you can load the rifle to full capacity by, first,
cycling in a round from the magazine into the cham-
ber. Leave the bolt closed. Remove the magazine.
Refill it to capacity, then, reinsert it.
CAUTION: KEEP THE SAFETY IN THE ÒON
SAFEÕÕ POSITION. 
UNLOADING
ALWAYS REMEMBER TO PLACE THE
SAFETY IN THE ÒON SAFEÕÕ POSITION
WHEN THE BOLT IS CLOSED. POINT THE
MUZZLE IN A SAFE DIRECTION WHEN UN-
LOADING.
1. Take the magazine out of the rifle. With the rifle
18 
						

							justment to your scope or sights. Adjust the scope and
sights you choose according to manufacturerÕs in-
structions. 
CLEANING ANDMAINTENANCE
SUGGESTIONS
Your rifle will function better and more reliably over
a longer period of time if it is properly maintained
and kept clean.
BEFORE PERFORMING ANY CLEANING
PROCEDURES, ALWAYS MAKE CERTAIN
THERE ARE NO CARTRIDGES IN THE
CHAMBER, MAGAZINE OR ACTION/FEED
AREAS.
You should clean your rifle after every day of shooting
and more often if it becomes excessively dirty. If
shooting for extreme accuracy your rifle should be
cleaned after every 50 shots or even as few as every
25 shots under competitive conditions. 
A minimum cleaning includes wiping down the
action and oiling key parts. Most regular mainte-
nance will also include cleaning the barrel. If you
encounter a function problem (tight action when
working the bolt), be sure to give your gun a thor-
ough cleaning to see if it solves the problem before
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The receiver is drilled and tapped
for scope mounts on top and for a
peep sight on the left side.
FIGURE13
For peep sight
FOREARMADJUSTMENTSCREW
Some original Model 52B rifles were supplied with a
forearm adjustment screw. Your new Winchester
Model 52B is also supplied with this feature. The
adjustment screw is located on the underside of the
fore-end, in the center of the middle checkering dia-
mond.  
This feature was very popular with some avid target
shooters a number of years ago. It allows you to apply
pressure or force against the bottom of the barrel
itself Ñ a feature used to aid in tuning a barrel to dif-
ferent ammunition.
You may wish to experiment with this feature, apply-
ing a slight bit of pressure by turning the screw clock-
wise with a small screwdriver until the end of the
screw contacts a special surface on the underside of
the barrel.
In our testing, with MODERN AMMUNITION, the
new Model 52B has shown to shoot its best with the
screw not touching the barrel and the barrel free
floating. Consequently the screw comes from the fac-
tory in the fully out position, not touching the barrel.
SCOPEMOUNT& SIGHTS
The receiver is drilled and tapped to accept scope
mount bases on the receiver (see Figure 13). A two-
piece scope mount base and high scope mount rings
are available as accessories.  See your Winchester
firearms dealer for details.
The Model 52 also comes  drilled and tapped for a
precision target-type peep sight (refer again to Figure
13). There are several types to choose from. Your
dealer can help you with this as well.
Always fully unload your rifle before making any ad-
20 
						

							residue can be expected and is not serious. It can usu-
ally be removed by repeating step one, using a patch
saturated with solvent. If or when fouling should
become heavy, it can be removed with a brass bore
brush. Dip or spray the brush with solvent and scrub
the chamber and bore until the fouling is removed.
To prevent brass bristles from breaking off, the brush
should be pushed completely through the bore before
being withdrawn.
3. After fouling has been removed the bore should be
wiped dry. Then pass a slightly oiled patch through 
the bore, for preservation. A fine, light gun oil 
is recommended.  
4. Wipe all exposed metal surfaces of the receiver,
forearm and barrel with a clean rag. Finger marks
should be removed because they provide a place
where moisture can accumulate. Any dried oil in the
receiver area should also be removed. 
5. Lightly oil your gun at the points described under
ÒOiling the ActionÓ explained earlier in this manual.
Ordinary good judgment will, of course, indicate that
the metal of the gun should receive a light film of oil
any time the rifle has been exposed to weather or
handling. This is very important and must be done
with every rifle Ñ even stainless steel models.
Remember, the polished, finely fitted surfaces of the
receiver and action mechanisms must always have a
thin film of oil. Make sure that the surfaces of the
breech bolt are especially clean and lightly oiled with
a high quality gun oil. Do not use pure silicone 
or lanolin.
6. 
INSPECT THE BARREL AND CHAMBER.
TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT NO PATCHES
HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY LEFT IN
THEM. 
Remove any that remain.
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seeking the services of our service facility or a com-
petent gunsmith.
To clean your firearm, follow the general outline
below:
CLEANINGPROCEDURESÑ
BE CERTAIN YOUR GUNÕS CHAMBER AND
MAGAZINE ARE UNLOADED. ALWAYS
WEAR PROTECTIVE SAFETY GLASSES
DURING ALL CLEANING PROCEDURES.
KEEP AMMUNITION AWAY FROM THE
CLEANING AREA. DO NOT TEST THE
FUNCTION OF YOUR FIREARM WITH LIVE
AMMUNITION.
The correct procedure for cleaning your rifle is as 
follows: 
BE CERTAIN THE RIFLE IS UNLOADED
AND THE BOLT HAS BEEN REMOVED.
ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHEN
CLEANING YOUR RIFLE.
ALWAYS PLACE THE SAFETY IN THE
ÒONÓ (SAFE) POSITION BEFORE BEGIN-
NING ANY CLEANING PROCEDURE. 
REMOVE THE BOLT FROM YOUR RIFLE
AS EXPLAINED PREVIOUSLY.
1. Use a cleaning rod with a tip and patch suitable
for the caliber of your rifleÕs bore. Make sure the
patch is large enough for a snug fit in the bore. Insert
the rod and patch into the barrel at the receiver end
and run it back and forth several times. Use a crown
protector if you are cleaning from the muzzle end of
the barrel. Damage to the crown of a barrel can
affect the accuracy of your rifle.
2. Inspect the chamber and bore for brass, copper
and powder fouling. A normal amount of powder
22 
						

							special Arnold, Missouri Service Facility.
OTHERCLEANINGSUGGESTIONSÑ
¥ Never pour large quantities of oil into the receiver
or other parts. It can drain down to the wood and
soften it Ñ and cause permanent damage and loosen-
ing of the stock.
¥ After extended periods of heavy use, your gun
should be taken to a qualified gunsmith to have the
action disassembled for professional cleaning and
lubrication.
NEVER ATTEMPT TO TAKE YOUR MODEL
52B APART FURTHER THAN EXPLAINED
IN THIS MANUAL. 
This is a specialized, finely fitted mechanism. You
may permanently mar it by attempting to disassemble
the inner mechanism assemblies. If further disassem-
bly for service or cleaning is required, take your gun
to a U. S. Repeating Arms Company recommended
Service Center or a competent gunsmith as explained
under ÒService or Repair.Ó
25
Front
FIGURE14
Follower
Spring BodyMagazine fully disassembled for cleaning
Base
Detent
7. Wipe all wood surfaces.
8. When transporting only, store your rifle in a quali-
ty protective case to prevent scratches and dents.
Store in a dry place to prevent corrosion. Store away
from children. 
MAKE SURE YOUR RIFLE IS UNLOADED
AND ALWAYS STORE AMMUNITION 
SEPARATELY.
CLEANING THEMAGAZINEÑ
Disassembly: Depending on how often you shoot, it
is helpful to disassemble the magazine for cleaning.
First, with one finger depress the retainer catch spring
button on the bottom of the magazine, and slide the
plate off, away from the rounded end of the magazine.
Remove the spring and follower and wipe clean. The
magazine is now fully disassembled (see Figure 14).
Lightly oil the internal parts.
Reassembly: Reinsert the spring, follower and base
retainer, then slide the plate back onto the magazine.
Be sure the magazine base retainer is correctly aligned
with the magazine and the springÕs loop is anchored
to the plate divot (refer again to Figure 14). 
DO NOT TAKE YOUR GUNÕS ACTION
APART BEYOND THE EXTENT EXPLAINED
IN THIS MANUAL.  
This is a specialized, finely fitted mechanism, and you
may mar it for life by an attempt to disassemble the
inner mechanism assemblies. If further disassembly is 
required, contact the U.S. Repeating Arms Company 
24 
						

							QUESTIONS
If you have other questions about Winchester rifles
and shotguns, call or write our Customer Service
Department:
Customer Service
U.S. Repeating Arms Company, Inc.
275 Winchester Avenue
Morgan, Utah 84050-9333
Phone: 1-800-945-5237
WINCHESTER-GUNS.COM
U.S. Repeating Arms Company offers an information
resource for you on the world wide web. 
¥ List of authorized repair centers.
¥ Customer service information.
¥ Answers to many technical and historical ques-
tions.
¥ Links to helpful sites.
Go to: www.winchester-guns.com
27
ORDERINGPARTS
To order parts, please write our parts department and 
furnish the following: your name, address, and tele-
phone number. Also specify the model and serial
number of your gun. When we receive your request,
we will send an order form and a parts breakdown
with prices.
Write to:
Parts Department
U.S. Repeating Arms Company, Inc.
275 Winchester Avenue
New Haven, Connecticut 06511-1970
CAUTION: PARTS ARE MADE FOR
WINCHESTER BRAND FIREARMS MANU-
FACTURED BY OR FOR U.S. REPEATING
ARMS COMPANY, INC., AND SHOULD NOT
BE USED IN OTHER GUNS EVEN THOUGH
MODELS MAY BE SIMILAR. IMPROPERLY
FITTED PARTS MAY BE DANGEROUS.
SERVICE ORREPAIR
If your Winchester firearm should ever need repair or
service, please utilize one of the world-wide network
of U.S. Repeating Arms Company A
uthorized Repair
C
enters for Winchester firearms. If you have any
questions about how to obtain service for your
Winchester firearm, call or write the Authorized
Repair Center (ARC) nearest you. A list of ARCs is
packaged with your new gun. If you need to obtain a
new list of ARCs call us at:
1-203-789-5000
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