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  #1  
Old 05-15-2012, 04:59 PM
wallizs wallizs is offline
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Default S&W 52-2

New to this site! Just picked up 52-2 for bulls eye shooting and I purchased a BME scope mount for it to fit a Ultra dot scope 30mm. I fired the gun with this set up but found it to be inconsistent with regards to cycling. So I purchased a lighter recoil spring from Wolf. I'm having trouble removing the old spring, any good advise would be welcome. The load I'm using is what I found in my Hornady loading manual. Cut brass to proper length with a Hornady 148 gr. hbwc and 3.3grs of 231 seated and crimped to the top of the brass.
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Old 05-15-2012, 09:04 PM
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The way I disassemble my M52 is to depress the spring loaded pin and unscrew the bushing sufficiently until it will swing clear of the slide. The spring can then be removed.

The 3.3 gr of 231 sounds high for the M-52. It will vary based on your pistol but normally 2.7 or 2.8 gr of Bullseye and 3.0 gr of 231 are used with the M-52. You may need to adjust for your particular pistol.

Last edited by jepp2; 05-15-2012 at 09:05 PM. Reason: wording correction
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  #3  
Old 05-15-2012, 09:47 PM
wallizs wallizs is offline
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Thanks I took it apart and cleaned the gun last week after shooting it and it was pretty easy, however I was trying to remove the recoil spring and seemed stuck like it was threaded on or something. Tonight I just ripped into again and figured it out. The load was in my hornady loading manual and was 750 fps but I guess I will need to mess with load some more. Got the new spring in hope it works ok thank much for your input. I suppose most everyone that read my post wonder what this was all about but I'm new to this game. Thanks again
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Old 05-15-2012, 10:10 PM
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Grat gun. I have had mine for 6 or so months but am only now getting into shooting it as I am reloading .38's.

I did my first tear dwn on the gun last week. I went the remove the bushing first using the wrench tool method but never again. In the future I will remove the slide, remove the spring and guide rod, than remove the bushing.

My spring was tight on the guide rod but came off with some careful finesse.
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Old 05-15-2012, 10:15 PM
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Is your BME mount on the frame or slide? If its the slide mounted version, that extra weight on the recoiling slide will affect the function of the gun and it may be a factor here. Did you have functioning problems prior to mounting the red dot?

And it is a great gun so how about some pictures?


Last edited by civil1977; 05-15-2012 at 10:18 PM.
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Old 05-15-2012, 10:25 PM
pmclaine pmclaine is offline
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Pics of mine here

Two new S&W semi autos in one week!

It came with a scope mount that is actually a grip panel. Not sure who manufacturer of the mount or red dot are. Havent tried them out yet.
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  #7  
Old 05-08-2013, 07:42 AM
Richard E Richard E is offline
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I have been shooting a 52-2 for a couple of years now, I am loading Berrys DE .38 wad cutters with titegroup powder. Beautiful gun to shoot and accurate as you could want. Secret is cutting brass to correct length. I keep all of my 52 ammo in red plastic box's from Berry's. Red box for me means 52 use only use other colors for other 38's. One slightly long round will prevent loading in magazine, or functioning.
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Old 05-09-2013, 07:21 AM
mistergizmo mistergizmo is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pmclaine View Post
Pics of mine here

Two new S&W semi autos in one week!

It came with a scope mount that is actually a grip panel. Not sure who manufacturer of the mount or red dot are. Havent tried them out yet.
The grip panel looks like a Cal-Grip mount.
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  #9  
Old 06-29-2013, 07:31 PM
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Walton Feep Walton Feep is offline
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I just acquired a Model 52-2 for club level bullseye. Added a BME mount and a Burris FastFire III. Liking it a lot. We shoot National Gallery and Short Course with rimfire and centerfire. I was using a S&W 945-1 for the centerfire but I am sure I'll do much better with the lower recoil on the Model 52. My rimfire is a Ruger MKIII Hunter.

I went to the range with it today for the first time and shot Sellier and Bellot and Federal with no issues other than the slide failed to lock after the last round a couple of times.

Any advice on the slide not locking as well as recommended factory ammo will be appreciated. I will scour the forum for load info and other tips.

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  #10  
Old 06-29-2013, 07:43 PM
mistergizmo mistergizmo is offline
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The problem might be caused by the lip of the follower in the magazine.

After the last round is fired, the magazine follower rises and the lip engages the slide stop. easy fix, just like the 1911.
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  #11  
Old 06-29-2013, 08:06 PM
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Thanks MisterGizmo. I have five magazines. I numbered them when I got back from the range so I will keep notes and see if the issue is with specific magazines.
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Old 07-03-2013, 08:56 AM
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Happy to say I shot my best centerfire round to date the first time out with my M52-2. It is such a pleasure to shoot.

I did have two fail to feeds but fortunately in the slow fire stage. Both times the rounds never came out of the magazine. I have numbered the magazines and so will begin working on those that seem to be problems. I ordered some mag springs from Wolff and will give them all a good cleaning and check.
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  #13  
Old 07-03-2013, 10:28 AM
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Thanks! I did order some reduced power springs as well. I absolutely need the RDS though as my vision has several issues.
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  #14  
Old 07-08-2013, 11:31 AM
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Can anyone recommend snap caps that will work with the Model 52? I use some Pacmayrs in my revolvers but they won't load in the 52 for obvious reasons. Is it OK to dry fire without caps in the 52?
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  #15  
Old 07-13-2013, 09:44 PM
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I replaced the stock recoil spring with a 7lb Wolff reduced power and replaced the magazine spring in the magazine that was acting up with a higher power Wolff magazine spring. 50 rounds today at the range and no issues with cycling or the offending magazine. I am starting to really bond with my Model 52-2. Shooting my best centerfire scores of the season with it the last two weeks. S&B factory ammo is cycling fine.

Last edited by Walton Feep; 07-13-2013 at 09:54 PM.
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  #16  
Old 08-22-2013, 11:01 AM
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Updated photo of my Model 52-2 with Burris Fastfire III and Herrett stocks. Shooting my best scores of the season with this as my centerfire pistol. Shot a 258 on the 25 yard course last week which considering I started in April after 35 years away from Bullseye is good.


Last edited by Walton Feep; 08-22-2013 at 04:33 PM.
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  #17  
Old 09-16-2013, 05:00 PM
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Default 52-2

Hello Gang, I have a 52-2 that needs some work and I would like to
find new Barrel for it. Need to find Smith that works on the Model 52-2
These days. Seems that S&W does not work on them anymore.
Mayhaw
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  #18  
Old 11-20-2013, 01:00 AM
gun.nutsy gun.nutsy is offline
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May I ask what type of mount you used for your red dot?

Thanks

Quote:
Originally Posted by Walton Feep View Post
Updated photo of my Model 52-2 with Burris Fastfire III and Herrett stocks. Shooting my best scores of the season with this as my centerfire pistol. Shot a 258 on the 25 yard course last week which considering I started in April after 35 years away from Bullseye is good.

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  #19  
Old 11-20-2013, 01:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pmclaine View Post
Pics of mine here

Two new S&W semi autos in one week!

It came with a scope mount that is actually a grip panel. Not sure who manufacturer of the mount or red dot are. Havent tried them out yet.
Very nice - green with envy here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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  #20  
Old 11-20-2013, 04:08 AM
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Default 52-2

You should never try to remove the bushing until after the slide has been removed from the pistol. Then the Recoil spring and Guide rod are removed from the assembly. You can then easily remove the bushing and barrel. Assembly is in reverse, it is not the easiest thing to get the guide rod seated properly, but with some care and patience you will succeed.


Quote:
Originally Posted by jepp2 View Post
The way I disassemble my M52 is to depress the spring loaded pin and unscrew the bushing sufficiently until it will swing clear of the slide. The spring can then be removed.

The 3.3 gr of 231 sounds high for the M-52. It will vary based on your pistol but normally 2.7 or 2.8 gr of Bullseye and 3.0 gr of 231 are used with the M-52. You may need to adjust for your particular pistol.
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  #21  
Old 11-20-2013, 07:26 AM
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Gun.nutsy. The mount for the Burris is a BME.

BME-Mounts.com
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  #22  
Old 12-04-2013, 12:49 PM
tenx100s tenx100s is offline
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Default Burris Sight on M52

[QUOTE=Walton Feep;137395854]Updated photo of my Model 52-2 with Burris Fastfire III and Herrett stocks. Shooting my best scores of the season with this as my centerfire pistol. Shot a 258 on the 25 yard course last week which considering I started in April after 35 years away from Bullseye is good.

This is my first post to this forum so please indulge me if this has been already addressed.

Have any of you other S&W 52 Shooters used a reflex sight like the Fastfire or Trijicon on your Bullseye guns? If so what precautions have you had to take to maintain optical precision? I have mounted an Matchdot on my High Standard for Bullseye and recently purchased a 52-2 for the indoor centerfire gun.

I own a tool and die machine shop where I can shoot into a trap I built. The lighting is quite good and with 7000 square feet I get decent ventilation but the light levels in our local range are low enough that my open sights are getting real difficult to see and thought I might be able to use a reflex sight if it was as optically accurate as the tube type sights. I quite shooting .45 acp indoors because our range does not handle the smoke well enough for my taste. I love the smell of gunsmoke but would rather not eat it. I am hoping to find a bullet, powder, primer combination that will minimize my exposure to the smoke and figured the .38 special might help.

I appreciate your thoughts.
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  #23  
Old 12-04-2013, 02:35 PM
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you can dry fire the 52 by using the safety as the safety is actually a firing pin block
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  #24  
Old 12-04-2013, 02:54 PM
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Default Incrased magazine capacity for S&W model 52

Somem time back in some thread - (which I cannot for the life of me seem to find), someone had posted a question about increasing the magazine capacity of the model 52 from 5 to 6 rounds for use in a PPC shooting event. Someone? had mentioned they had done the modification but could not make money doing it as there are so few 52's out there.

Well, I have a 52 and have been thinking of trying it for a PPC style shoot and checked with the local gunsmiths about increasing the magazine capacity to 6. I believe I read you increase the cut in the magazine follower slot by .350" to accommodate the 6th round. None of the local gunsmiths here are willing to do the work and a local machine shop guy is not interested in doing a CNC milling job on the slot.

Any suggestions other than use a revolver or get a 1911??
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  #25  
Old 12-04-2013, 07:08 PM
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tenx100s,

I have no issues at all with the FastFire III on the 52-2. You need to use a little blue Loctite to keep the screws tight. The sight retains zero very well for me. I have the same model on several target pistols and I am very pleased with it. I shoot with both eyes open and focused on the target. If you have good light on the target I guess it may be an improvement over the iron sights.

Last edited by Walton Feep; 12-04-2013 at 07:12 PM.
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