First day of fall bullseye league last wk--scored 187 (with a red dot)--NOT happy. Took today to check the zero and it was all over the place--5" groups with an Aimtech grip mount and Tru-glo holograph red dot with butt heel on a sand bag--usually 3 or 4 good shots then about two flyers. Last yr used to get 2" groups off a rest with this setup. Ammo was the same commercial reloads I'd been using and all mount screws seemed tight. Barrel bushing is hard finger tight (didn't use the wrench)
Gave it a good bbl. cleaning and switched to some new Rem. WC ammo-and groups went down to the same 2" as last yr (probably as good as I can do), but opend up to about 3" or a little more with the reloads (still way better than the 5" of earlier in the day)
Does this seem right to you guys? Is the 52-2 picky about ammo and I got lucky last year, or is there something else I am missing? I'd like to use the same commercial reloads I used to use (I don't reload yet) and they are from a reputable reloader, but not with those groups. Some of the reloads were copper flashed, some were lead, results were about the same with either. Also, all my reloads are on my own brass that he reloads for me that I keep sorted by original box when I bought the brass as new ammo.
As the cleaning helped (bronze brush with Hoppe's, then dry patches then clean patch with Rem. Oil) is this what it takes for accuracy in a 52-2? Should I use the wrench to tighten the bushing one more "notch" on the nut, so it is just beyond finger tight? Kind of hesitant to do so where it was OK last year.
I'm kind of used to High Standard 22's and a Ruger revolver that I clean for proper function, but are usually of the same accuracy whether they have been cleaned every 50 rounds or every 300 rounds. By the way, bought the 52-2 just last year, so don't have a lot of experience with it, so pardon the naive questions.

Thanks in advance,

I always used a hollowbase wadcutter in my guns, never had much luck with DEWCs' or hardcast bullets. The barrels on the 52s' usually run .356", much tighter than regular .38s'. Of course you'd have to slug yours to know for sure but that may be the reason factory ammo does better because most use the HBWCs' in them. Follow through is also more critical on the 52 in order to shoot good groups.

Thanks--maybe the reloads were a bit undersized--I'll mike (mic) them.
Roger that on follow-though--I learned last year that no limp wristing allowed and followthrough helps too.
My first timed fire was terrible until I rememberd a tight grip helps on these guns. I know they have a rep for being a great gun but not particularly foregiving. But, used to shoot a few of them in 1970s (friends guns at my club back then) along with some High Standards, so reliving my younger days I guess! Have the High Standards now, this is the first 52 I've owned.
Funny--I've heard two sayings on the 52's, both involving oil;

1) Squeeze it until the oil comes out
2) If your glasses aren't spattered with oil, you're running it too dry.

Think I'll mike the slugs, clean it once more really well, and concentrate and do some practice before next match this wk.

Howdy 7,
#2 seems to work well for me on mine.
I second the thought on hollow base wads too. They have always shot better than cast in my guns.
Good luck with your 52.
Mike

Thanks,
I'll keep you guys posted as to how it shakes out

FYI, here's some eye-candy for your help.


I much prefer the looks without the Aimtech mount and Truglo, but the eyes aren't what they used to be when I was in my 20's!

Am I glad to read this string!! I got a 52-2 at a gun show a few weeks ago and am still on the steep part of the learning curve with it. Keep up the flow of good info, guys.

I shot a Smith 52 with a Aimpoint on it for about 30 years. I won many competitions with it. I only shot one load through it. I shot a 148gr. LEAD HOLLOWBASE WADCUTTER with 2.7grs. of BULLSEYE powder. I would never clean the barrel until the gun started to jam. I always made sure it didn't have too many rounds through it before a match so it wouldn't jam during the match. NEVER HAD A JAM DURING A MATCH. It would pound nails with that load for me.........CookE

Cyrano,
One more tip I learned last year if this happens to you--I was having jams when I got it and narrowed it down to one of the 5 mags. The cartridges on that mag were feeding high and the center of the slug would jam at the top of the barrel / breach face.
Checked the mags and how they function and noticed they were very similar to my High Standard 22's. I bent the rear "ears" inwards at the top of the magazine so the cartridge fed a little lower--just like in the HS mags.
Problem solved!
Gun has not jammed ever since, in about 500 round+
Still a relative newbie here too, but I'll continue to post as I sort this inaccuracy or other issues (if any) out

Thanks for the ammo tips guys--I'll sort out what ammo I have now--the lead HBWC reloads, new Rem. HBWC and the copper jacketed WC's (dont know if these are HB or not) and see if that is the root of the problem

I'm betting the copper WCs' are Berrys plated bullets, and they are hollow base. I tried them for awhile and they are very clean to shoot. I did have to up my load .2grs to match my lead loads, but could never get the same accuracy out of them that I got from the swagged lead HBWCs' in my 52.

Ah, yet more info--I'll ask my reloader who made them and if they are hollow base--the copper nose has a small center protrusion, kind of line Eley Tenex EPS 22LR ammo.
He did recommend them as they do shoot clean--and he was right.

Let you know what I find out

Thanks!

I too tried the Berry's HBWC copper plated and they were nowhere near as accurate as the LHBWC's were. I'm assuming that they just weren't the correct size for the 52 (They also seemed to have a lot of debris in the hollow base, looked like slag.) and I moved on to the Hornady LHBWC's exclusively. They provide excellent accuracy, but I need to use 3.0gr of Bullseye to make the gun function reliably. Had about a 4% failure rate. Maybe not enough lube?
I also had some FTE with the empties not clearing the hood. Thus the upping of the powder from the infamous 2.7gr.

I shoot a dash 2 . I trim all my cases to 1.145 " . I use Remington , Zero or Precision Delta 148gr Swaged Lead HBWC bullets only . Seat bullets flush with case mouth & taper crimp to .369 . Fed 100 primers . 3.1 to 3.2grs W231 , 2.8grs BE , 2.8grs VVN320 , 3.6grs VVN340 & 2.9grs AA#2 will work . Depends on what your gun likes . Firm grip & tons of follow thru are mandatory . You will not get acceptible accuracy from cast or copper plated bullets period . I clean every 300 rounds or so . I use a BME mount & 1" Ultradot with a 7lb recoil spring . See attached pics of gun & 50yd targets .
Andy

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Andy--your 50 yd targets look like my 50' targets--nice shooting!

In the interest of followup--here's what I found concerning my original post;

1) A good clean of the bore--about 10 passes with a bore brush, including using a 45 cal. brush in the chamber, followed by Hoppe's and patches until no residue, then dry patches, the a light coat of Eezox oil in the barrel. Cleaned breachface with toothbrush (did not disassemble the entire gun)
2) It shot Rem. factory ammo and HBWC reloads just fine--problem solved. 50' off a rest in to the 10 bull, except for one I pulled. (before, it was about 4" to 5")
3) Tried a few of the copper jacket reloads again--groups instantly went to twice the size of the lead bullets, but not as bad as before.
4) When I went back to the lead HBWC, groups went right back down again
Lesson learned--I'll use up the rest of the copper jacket stuff for practice even though it will be maddening, and only buy the lead HBWC from now on.
Oh--one more thing, I had not concentrated on as much since last springs league, even 2 wks ago and that Andy mentioned too--

HOLD ON TIGHT--at least compared to my High Standard 22's for sure.