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07-09-2020, 03:55 PM
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replacement Model 52 barrel
Hello Everyone--long story short I ringed the barrel on my 52 no dash (OUCH! I know...) It's about an inch or so in front of the chamber, so to my surprise it still functions but I think accuracy has fallen off a bit (probably psychological, knowing it's damaged). The gun has seen a lot of use and there's some old corrosion damage on the front strap/under the grips, so I'm not looking to restore it to like new, I just want to fix the barrel and continue shooting it.
Any recommendations for "fixing" this?
I bought a 52 barrel off the internet but it was for a -2 and it wouldn't fit.
Anyone have any experience with a gunsmith who could perhaps cut off the damaged barrel and fit a new tube to the stub (is this even a good idea?)? I have a Shimoda 1911 .38 WC gun made from a Super .38 and that's how the barrel was made, but Mr. Shimoda's long gone and Ed Masaki is retired.
Thanks for your help and suggestions!
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07-09-2020, 04:24 PM
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I don’t think the cut ‘n paste is a viable idea. I am curious why a 52-2 barrel wouldn’t work... I didn’t think there was any difference in barrel from no dash to dash-1 to dash-2 where barrel was concerned.
Clark Custom does offer an aftermarket 52 barrel with a different rifling twist rate, they would be my first suggestion as a place to send your gun and let them try. Matter of fact, I would think they could make the 52-2 extra barrel that you already have fit — but it might be a better idea to have them fit their own barrel and you could recoup solid money by then selling off this dash-2 barrel you have.
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07-09-2020, 04:27 PM
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Well heck, I had wanted to ask... please share HOW you managed to ring your original barrel? Stories and lore passed down suggest two typical ways this happens:
1) too light a load, bullet stuck in bore, follow-up shot behind the lodged barrel
2) too HOT a load with a swaged hollow-base wadcutter, blows out the core of the bullet, leaving the full circumference skirt lodge in the barrel, obstructing the follow-up shot.
Anything you can share may help the next guy!
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07-09-2020, 04:31 PM
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^^^^^^Clark can also roll a 52 barrel if you stick a bullet.
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07-09-2020, 05:20 PM
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I would post a WTB ad on the bullseye-lava forum.
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07-09-2020, 06:30 PM
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Thank you all--I think I'll give Clark a call and see what they say.
The 52-2 barrel I bought wouldn't fit into my no-dash slide--IIRC the rear of the barrel (chamber area, lugs, etc.) just didn't match up and placed side by side the barrels were noticeably different so I just sent it back and got my $ back.
I squibbed the barrel this way: I was shooting factory HBWC ammo (decades old Western) and made the mistake of spilling out my rounds onto the bench top next to my bag of fired cases.
When the gun went "click" and I ejected the round there was no smoke or unburnt powder so I mistakenly thought that I had just loaded an empty case my mistake. The next round fired "normally" so I finished off the box and didn't notice any problems until I got home and cleaned the barrel and saw the ring.
I've since fired another 30-40 rounds through the gun and it functioned fine but by then my confidence in the barrel was gone and I really couldn't focus on just pulling the trigger.
I haven't noticed excessive leading afterward but I'm cleaning the barrel thoroughly this afternoon before deciding what to do.
So my lessons learned are these: ALWAYS check the bore when the gun goes "click "instead of "bang" and ALWAYS keep loaded ammo in boxes and well separated from fired cases.
I've squibbed bullets once or twice before but usually the gun malfs or there was some puff of smoke to indicate something was not right--as I've said there was no smoke, no "pop", no malf to indicate a squib.
You're never too "experienced" to learn something.
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07-09-2020, 06:45 PM
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I just checked Clark's website, their 52 barrel installed is $475. I'll call and ask about "rolling" the barrel--anyone have any experience with this? I saw in the archives nearly a decade ago someone in Australia wrote about squeezing the barrel back to shape in a 20 ton press. No follow up on that thread.
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07-10-2020, 12:32 AM
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PM sent. I have a barrel that might work.
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Mike H
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07-10-2020, 03:31 AM
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Thanks Mike, PM replied to.
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07-10-2020, 02:43 PM
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07-10-2020, 04:20 PM
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I've got a 52-2 bbl with the same problem sitting on a bench downstairs.
Back when the pistol came in, the thought was to re-bbl it using the orig bbl as a mono-bloc, cutting the forward section off just in front of the locking lug.
I still think it can be done considering the caliber, pressures, ect.
Then a new Factory bbl was found in Brownells catalog of parts of all places and that put the gunsmithing pistol bbl project to bed.
This was in the mid 90's
No such parts like that anymore.
Never heard of rolling one back in shape other than a shotgun bbl. Have seen that done. But a rifled bore though it can be pushed back into position, the difference in the height of the lands opposed to the grooves would be a problem i suspect. The lands would touch down on a mandrel first inside and could be made to compress well enough to conform to near original look. But the deeper grooves don't have anything to compress against as that metal is pushed down. I suspect it will compress well enough along with the lands but remain a bit uneven and probably have a 'wrinkled' look to it where the repair was made.
I've seen a couple of octagon rifle bbls w/ bulges in them repaired by making fitted blocks that each cover 1/2 the profile of the oct shape. Then with a heavy press, the blocks are squeezed with the bbl in them and the bulge is pretty much removed. But it can still be seen inside though it is noticably reduced as far as the dark shadow ring usually seen. You still feel it with a cleaning rod and patch.
I guess it beats a lot of filing.
Maybe the pistol guys have a negative rifling pattern such as used in hammer forged rifling. Then the entire pattern could be re-struck if set up carefully. Most anything is doable with a big enough wallet.
Hope you find a solution. Nice target pistols.
Last edited by 2152hq; 07-10-2020 at 04:25 PM.
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07-10-2020, 04:35 PM
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2152hq--what got me to thinking about the mono-bloc "repair" is the 1911 .38 WC gun I have; it's built on a Super .38 and the barrel is a Colt .45 "stub" with a .38 barrel silver-soldered/brazed (like the 2 piece Springfield 1911 barrels). One of the two upper lugs were ground off and of course it has a LOT of other work done to it. It shoots great and is my absolute favorite range toy.
Given the time difference between here and Louisiana I'll give Clark a call next week to see what they may be able to do about my barrel.
Thanks for the info shared!
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07-10-2020, 09:50 PM
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OK, just got back from the range and my confidence in the 52 is back--these are the first 50 shots through the gun, rested at 25 yards. 148 Speer HBWCs, 2.8 BE with a "medium" crimp.
100% feeding and functioning for about 100 rounds total, surprisingly no leading that I could see (wiped the bore with a ram-rodz and hoppe's after this relay was completed). I'll tear it down tonight and scrub/examine the bore more closely, but for now I'm happy.
I may still call Clark, but the cost of the new barrel including shipping may run more than what I paid for the gun so I'll probably leave it as is.
If I can find a replacement barrel I will still buy it and if it shoots better than this I'll retire the old barrel.
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07-10-2020, 09:51 PM
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I need more practice!
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07-10-2020, 10:41 PM
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Jon,
I'll check the dimensions on my barrel tomorrow and let you know. But, it sounds like it was more of a mental block than an actual problem with the barrel, and that can easily happen. I'll let you know what I find tomorrow evening.
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07-11-2020, 08:00 PM
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I have rolled a ring out of a 1911 45 ACP barrel that turned out good but it was much thinner than a M-52 barrel. Would probably take heavier equipment than I used ( medium sized pipe cutter with the cutter replaced with a third smooth roller). Glad to know that Clark can do it.
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07-11-2020, 10:57 PM
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I actually haven't called Clark yet to see if they can do it--been shooting my gun and "testing" it. If I find out anything I'll post it here, thanks.
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