How to Take Apart a 22 Cal. Winchester

Winchester's most famous .22 caliber rifle is the model 52, often thought of as the most accurate .22 LR rifle in the first half of the 20th century. Winchester's design caters to accuracy not military ballistic numbers, so the .22 fills a very special niche. Target shooters still enjoy the simplicity of the bolt-action design, though modern .22 rifles from companies like Anschütz now dominate the field. The Winchester model 52 may be disassembled in part at home. Full disassembly is typically done by a gunsmith.

• 1

  Unload the weapon, checking to make sure that the magazine and breach are empty.

• 2

  Close the bolt. Point the rifle in a safe direction. Dry-fire once.

• 3

  Insert your finger into the trigger guard, behind the trigger. Push the trigger forward towards the muzzle of the firearm.

• 4

  Keeping pressure on the trigger, release the bolt and slide it off the receiver. This will give you access to the trigger assembly and the bolt mechanism.

• 5

  If further disassembly is needed, consult a gunsmith.