Schultz & Larsen M52 Target Rifle
| M52, M58, M58E, M69 Schultz & Larsen Target Rifles | |
|---|---|
| Type | Target Rifle |
| Place of origin |
 Denmark
|
| Service history | |
| In service | c. 1950–present |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Schultz & Larsen |
| Designed | late 1940s |
| Manufacturer | Schultz & Larsen |
| Produced | 1950–1970s |
| Variants | M52, M58, M58E, M69 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.82 kg (8.4 lb) |
| Length | 1,110 mm (43.70 in) |
|
|
|
| Cartridge |
.30-06 6.5×55mm 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Action | Mauser bolt action, |
| Effective firing range | 600m depending on sights fitted |
| Feed system | 5-round integral |
| Sights | target aperture iron sights |
The M52 was the first in a family of target rifles based on refurbished Mauser M98 military actions by the Danish company Schultz & Larsen in the years following World War II. They were produced to fill a need for target rifles by the Danish shooting association - De Danske Skytteforeninger. The M52 was superseded by later variants (M58, M58E and M69) the last of which remained in production until the 1970s. It had a similar development path to other Scandinavian target rifles derived from German M98 and other Mauser actions, such as the Kongsberg M59 and Carl Gustaf M63.
At the end of World War II the Danish shooting association faced a shortage of target rifles. The pre-war standard rifle, a variant of the Krag-Jørgensen in 6.5×55mm, was complex to produce, obsolescent and it was not deemed practical to place it back in production. In any case, the .30-06 M1917 Enfield was the Danish Army’s interim standard rifle, which would be soon replaced by the US M1 Garand, also in .30-06, and the Krag-Jørgensen action was not strong enough for the powerful US round. In a development path also followed concurrently by other Scandinavian countries, notably Norway with the Kongsberg M59, the Danes turned to the substantial quantity of Mauser 98 rifles left behind by the recently surrendered German forces. These were ideal in many respects. The action was much stronger than that of the Krag-Jørgensen, was suitable for the 6.5×55mm still favoured by Danish marksmen, and could handle the slightly longer .30-06 cartridge with some minor modifications. It was a strong action eminently suited for use in a target rifle and a target rear sight could be mounted on the receiver bridge. Most importantly, it was available in the numbers required.
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