LOL. I do hate you now! It surely looks strange that short. That said, at least you are using it, and it's just a barrel...

 

A youth model 52 target!

 

It may shoot well, but just looks wrong! Glad you are happy with it. Have a friend that has over 30 Win52's, one has been cut down for a youth rifle. Barrel shortened and the stock cut down. He bought it for a parts gun. Talked him into buying a stock to fit it and trying it to see how it shoots.

 

A few years ago I did a trade/buy with a shooting buddy for a heavy barrel US Property 52C.
He had picked it up it in hopes his son would take an interest in shooting, his son did not.
Both the stock and barrel had been shortened previous to when he acquired it, possibly for a smaller statured person.
The barrel was shortened 4",recrowned and dovetailed for the original Redfield Olympic front sight. The work was nicely done, most likely by a well skilled gunsmith. Te original Redfield Olympic rear sight was also on the rifle.
Likewise the butt was shortened and a metal checkered butt plate was fitted, again the work was nicely done.
I'm a bit on the taller side, 6'3" with a 35" sleeve length so I acquired an original unaltered in VGC 52C stock from an RFC member and switched the barrel action over.
The rifle has been given a name, Colonel Stubby in honor of being a US Property Rifle and having the shortened barrel.
After a real deep cleaning and adjusting the stock trigger to a decent pull weight and for over travel I've had it out shooting several times and although I'm not a paper puncher it does not disappoint compared to any of my 5 or 6 52's.
I obtained a very nice unaltered heavy 52 barrel from another RFC member before I shot the rifle with the thought of rebarreling it, but after seeing 51 on the underside of the barrel I realized it was a B, not a C barrel so any thoughts of rebarreling it to "correct" specs evaporated,
BUT I am quite happy with Colonel Stubby as is and it will remain that way for the remainder of my lifetime., then it's next caretaker will be free to do with it as they please.
To some it up, I, in this instance have found that a properly skillful shortened barrel may not be a detriment to accuracy.
The pictures shows the rifle as was when I first received it.

 

I almost fainted looking at that picture
Gilbert

 

Many say you only need 16" to use up all the powder. If that is true or not I don't know, but at 18" it will be interesting to see how it fares against a longer barrel model. Should be an interesting little experiment. Could be a diamond in the rough.

Rick H.

 

I had a .22 target rifle that had barrel that had been cut to 20 inches for some reason. It did not shoot as well as I thought it should. I found the correct 28 inch barrel and replaced it. Viola, it shot great. This was a Remington 37.

 

Do you think the length of the barrel had anything to do with the accuracy loss, or was it a bad barrel to begin with and perhaps a poorly cut crown on it? Shorter barrels seem to do quite well these days in the realm of rimfires.

Rick H.

 

Just got done bedding it.
My shooting buddy has a new Anschutz with a 27" barrel and a 45x leupold and this gun will shoot right with it.

 

Even if it shoots lights out, it's still not something I'd do.

 

Slightly off topic but what is the pistol (behind the rifle) for? Shooting competitors who might out score you?

 

Looks like a Glock of some sort.

 

I dunno what makes my eyes bleed more, your shorty or all the stuff hanging off of that Anschutz in the background, lol.

JK, hey it's your gun. 😊

 

Yes, that is my glock 32c I carry. That's my buddy in the background. I give him crap about all the stuff he has on that Annie. I told him all he needs now is a laser, a flashlight, and maybe a cell phone holder and he will have all of his bases covered 😉

 

Even the dog clearly disapproves
Gilbert

 

It‘s like seeing porn for the first time…you can’t get that picture out of your head! 28 inches is the minimum barrel length of a target rifle. I don’t care if it shoots 2500’s in ARA UL…it is just not right!

 

I rather like your rifle LarDaBear. Many years ago I had a 52B that just never shot very well for me and I had given thought to what the problem might be. Any cure always came back to the barrel and I gave thought to having it shortened and recrowned. I just couldn't do the amputation and ended up selling the rifle. After seeing yours I wish now I would have taken the chance and shortened the barrel. It may have turned out to be a better shooter and no doubt a conversation piece. Once you get over the initial shock of seeing the shortened barrel it kind of grows on you. I think seeing all the short barreled .22's from Anschutz and other places has warmed me up to the idea. Shoulda, woulda, coulda....a missed opportunity for me.

Rick H.

 

SUG (short ugly gun) actually shoots better now than it did before I cut it. Now, I can't definitively say cutting made the difference or the new crown.
Trust me, if the gun had not been in such bad shape I would have never cut it.
Unfortunately, years ago during the BR50 days there was a weight limit and a lot of nice 52s among others were cut to get to weight