Shot my first batch of 52-2 reloads

pmclaine · Mar 28, 2012

My recipe

Mixed brass
W231 2.9 grains
Prec Delta 148 grn HBWC
Win SPP

No trimming or uniforming of cases. All rounds fed/fired without issue which is something I cant claim with the factory ammo I have fired.

My group would have been great if it was from any of my other guns but I have come to expect more from my 52-2. There was a noticeable group and the xring was gone but there were more single rounds outside the group than has occured with factory ammo.

Are expectations good that the group will tighten with another tenth of a grain or two?

I'm not shooting bullseye comp with this gun, just plinking. My ammo expectation is to make a round that works as good as I can hope for with this gun (it prefers factory) but I can still use it in my .38 revolvers for fun shooting.

jepp2 · Mar 28, 2012

I was shooting my M52-1 yesterday with 3.0 gr. of W231 with Hornady bullets. Even at my loading I was getting jams due to the fired case not clearing the ejection port. So at least for me I am going have to up the load slightly.

I haven't shot my M52 in a long time, so I can't recall the load I used to shoot in it.

shovelwrench · Mar 28, 2012

How are you crimping them? Separate from seating the bullet?

Its doubtful that the group will improve by upping the velocity. What I would do is separate a hundred of the same headstamp and work with that batch for load development. Your probably at the bottom of the of velocity there so load ten at a time putting .1 grain more in every ten. Shoot each ten .rd batch from a rest (know anyone with a Ransom rest?) and use the load with the tightest group.

Sometimes you can sacrifice a little accuracy if substantially less recoil gives you more aim time....

wheelgun28 · Mar 28, 2012

Some folks say Bullseye will give better accuracy over 231.

I have used BE in few different 52s. Some like loads bit hotter or lighter depending on the gun. Anywhere from 2.5 to 3 grain seems to work.

I was looking at the Precision Delta bullets. What kind of lube do they use? What the match lube. Are they swaged?

I have had good results with the Speer HBWC some folks really like the Remington. I am ordering 500 of the Rems to try.

ArchAngelCD · Mar 28, 2012

I don't have a M52 but I do shoot a lot of 148gr DEWC's with W231.

My loads range between 3.2gr up to 3.4gr depending upon which revolver they are being shot from. I think you might get better accuracy with a slightly heavier load. Give 3.2gr a try and see if you like it better.

PPCSHOOTER · Mar 28, 2012

3.1 WW231 IS THE IDEAL LOAD FOR THAT GUN WITH A FACTORY SPRING, I HAVE FOUND THAT THE REDDING PROFILE CRIMP DIE GREATLY IMPROVED MY GROUPS AT 50YDS. JP

ArchAngelCD · Mar 29, 2012

All caps???

pmclaine · Mar 29, 2012

Thanks for the replies.

Yes I crimp seperate from the seating die (Dillon dies on an S1050) and my crimp is slightly over the top of the WC. I visualize it more as an assist to feeding rather than a bullet holding measure. I read about .370+ on my crimp. With mixed brass there is some variance on seat depth and COL. I expect this will lead to some inaccuracy but everything fed great!

PD rounds are swaged and I got the basic lube which appears to be some sort of greasy moly. I was kind of surprised by this because my bullets received look like the match lube bullets shown on their site. The 2.9 grns of W231 was their suggestion for this bullet in a 52-2. Its a sweet shooting round - a slight cough, the slide come back, pull the trigger and the gun clears its throat again.

My hits on target were nice and square, no scuffing. I'll bump things up a tenth and give it a try. I'm cautious about velocity dont want to start losing skirts.

boatbum101 · Mar 29, 2012

3.1 - 3.2 W231 or HP38 , 148 HBWC swaged either Remington , Zero or PD . Trim all cases to 1.145 & taper crimp to .369 . Will tighten your groups especially @ 50yds . Some guns like Bullseye 2.7 - 2.9 same bullets & crimp .

pmclaine · Mar 30, 2012

Shot the second batch of 50 from my first nights production. Much better results. Maybe 2.9 works.

This was my first target that caused me concern

This is what I had come to expect from my 52-2

This is what I just shot today.

This is acceptable to me. Maybe the second 50 rounds are a better group because the progressive had a chance to settle and get more consistent with production. I am not a good shot the gun is just scary shootable. I cant imagine what a real master is capable of with this pistol.

ArchAngelCD · Mar 31, 2012

pmclaine said:
My hits on target were nice and square, no scuffing. I'll bump things up a tenth and give it a try. I'm cautious about velocity dont want to start losing skirts.

It's going to take a lot more than 3.0gr or even 3.5gr of W231 to lose a skirt on your wadcutter. Hodgdon's load data with a 148gr HBWC starts with 3.5gr W231/HP-38 and goes to a Max of 4.0gr W231/HP-38 so you really don't have to worry about 3.0grs or 3.2grs W231...

I'm curious, who recommended that charge of 2.9gr W231?

That bottom target is a good looking target...

pmclaine · Mar 31, 2012

Precision Delta recommended 2.9 grns. I emailed them a question and got a return phone call from the principle to give me his pet load. Real nice people.

I'm going to load some more 2.9 tonight. If I get more targets like my last I see no need to waste powder or batter the pistol. It has run perfect at 2.9 even despite mixed brass and the variance in COL.

shovelwrench · Mar 31, 2012

One of the big problems I find crimping any wadcutter flush or slightly below is when the brass rolls over the bullet it has a tendency to force the bullet deeper in the case and cause seating depth variations(causing velocity variations..). With mixed brass this will be more pronounced. I like to seat my wadcutters just a hair above the case, it eliminates the issue. Also a good firm crimp is hard to acheive, it always seemed like a good solid crimp has helped with accuracy regardless of the caliber. I realize 52s are supposed to be seated flush, but give it a try, rested @ ten yards you should be getting sub-inch groups from that pistol fairly easily..

pmclaine · Mar 31, 2012

I've shot some ammo that was seated slightly above the brass, like a fingernails width of lead exposed. They fed okay one or two failures to enter the chamber. The magazine limits how long the cartridge can be somewhat. I have not shot the pistol rested yet, the targets are two handed at a pace I wouldnt call slow fire but its not double tapping either.

planojack · Mar 31, 2012

I've enjoyed th companionship of several 52-2's. All were happier with a slightly heavier load. I normally use 3.1 or 3.2 grains of Bullseye. I prefer the double end wadcutters.

Engineer1911 · Apr 3, 2012

I used an "ejection test" on my 52-2. I fired 5 rounds of Rem 148 grain HBWC to see how the case ejected and how far it flew before hitting the ground.

I made sure my reloads didn't exceed the Remington "ejection criteria". I used Lyman cast wadcutters made from range scrap and military 38 Spl brass. Brass ejected about 2 feet before hitting the ground. Remington factory ammo brass hit 2-1/2 to 3 feet away.

I could keep my reloads in the X-ring at 20 feet, it was another story at 50 yards.

pmclaine · Apr 3, 2012

Made some more loads of W231 at 2.9 grain Prec. Delta HBWC the other night based on my results shown on that final target above. I shot 50 of them using my range bag as a rest

I'm pretty happy with the results as they are better than what I have been able to obtain locally for wadcutter - S&B only, no Remington or the other known good brands.

I think my reloads will work well enough for plinking and they are really cheap to make. I'm thinking that first target above must have been the result of my machine settling in. I'll try these out in my 27-2, model 36 and a Colt Police Positive for fun.

venomballistics · Apr 3, 2012

I think your fist group had some "I am burning loads I just made" syndrome ... makes the best of us twitchy till we gain some confidence in em.
keep playing with it ... she can do better.

mistergizmo · Apr 8, 2012

Volumetrically, 3.1 gr of W231 is the same as 2.8 gr of BE. Found that out years ago when switching from BE to W231 in my Star Press.

Group sizes at both 25 and 50 yds did not change using a Ransom Rest. These were fired in a 52-2 and also in a Clark LSHB.

Remington's swaged 148 gr HBWC were best. Never blew a skirt.

Always used a roll crimp with the HBWC just below, as many others have done. My objective was to match the Reminton, Federal and W-W factory load. My early attempts to use a taper crimp resulted in occasional slight foreward bullet movement as the breech face slammed the round into the chamber.

Just my opinion ...

S.B. · Apr 15, 2012

My go to load for a S&W 52-2 was the old dirty Zero 148 gr over 2.7 pf Bulls Eye. Most of these guys are shooting so close I'd be afraid the paper would catch on fire from the muzzle flash? This always worked great for me at 25 and 50 yards?
Steve

Shot my first batch of 52-2 reloads

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