Will button nose was cutters work in a model 52?

Yes, they will work if seated properly. No lead exposed.

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USMC 1969-1993

Yes, they have to be flush with the case mouth or they won't feed right.

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Protocall Design

Another alternative, is to trim the cases about 1/8" back, and then you can have the nose button exposed, while still keeping within the original OAL.

The case headspaces on the rim, so shortening it won't affect anything. Try it, and see if it works out for you.

My 2¢, I shot military 38 Spl that lasted for ever trimmed 0.010" under minimum length with flush seated wadcutters. Factory ammo ejected from 5' to 6' from the gun. My reloads ejected 3' to 4'. Case life with commercial brass; Federal, Remington, or Winchester; was about 3 reloads before the case body, not the neck/mouth, split.

Check how your mag loads. The button nose might slide with slight clearance in the magazine. My M52-2 was a VERY unforgiving gun. Rested it fired amazing groups at 25 / 50 yards. Me standing tall, one handed, kept most shots inside the 8 ring. Using a 2-hand hold I could duplicate the benched groups.

Enjoy!

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S&WHF 366

There are probably some minor differences in these guns. I've only had one 52-2 so am not real knowledgeable. However, I had little trouble in finding a load that fed perfectly and was very accurate. Overall cartridge length using an H&G #50 with a minimal roll crimp was 1.16", but I suspect that acceptable OALs might vary slightly from one gun to the next.

I used .356", .357", and .358" sizing dies and those sized in the .358" die were the most accurate, though actual sized bullet diameter was .3575". Here again, best diameter may vary in some guns. 2.5 grs. Bullseye at app. 750 fps outshot heavier charges, but again, I wouldn't expect this to be the best charge in all guns.

The H&G 50 bnwc will shoot fine turned around and seated flush in the 52. It wont group like a hbwc but plenty good for practice. Try it in a wheel gun. It shoots about the same both ways. I use them in my Colt 38 special 1911-and my Clark long slide 38's. I have plenty of hbws but use dewc's or bnwc's for practice. A 148 flat base dewc would probably be a better choice for practice in the 52 alox or lubed. You may have to bump the charge a hair over a hbwc.

H&G 251 DEWC was designed for the Model 52 . HBWC for best accuracy , factory very very hard to beat @ 50yds . If a load will hold 3" or less @ 50 , you got a keeper .

Almost any 148 grain WC will shoot well in a 52 with 2.8 grains of Bullseye. In my 52 it seems to shoot HBWC's better than DEWC's.

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USMC 1969-1993

Cast bullets don't give the accuracy of swaged HBWCS and are a waste of the guns ability.
Velocity should be 625-725 fps. Guns aren't sprung for heavier loads.
You need a roll crimp so only brass contacts feed ramp. Buy a box of 38WC ammo and you'll see exactly how to load it.
I found, in three M52s, that use of Redding's profile crimp die produced better accuracy than any other roll crimp die. Second place was Lee FCD with carbide ring removed.
After setting up and seating and crimping a dummy round, pull bullet and ensure base of bullet hasn't been swaged down.
Powders: Bullseye, Red Dot, AA2, and 231/HP38.