Thanks Sevens. Appreciate the feedback on the use of the spring. Wolff provided me with the dimensional specs, so I'll check that before ordering.

It is an interesting exercise. Bought this one on a whim, expecting I would sell it, but quickly becoming a keeper.

I'm a long time Bullseye competitor (for whom the model 52 was specifically developed for) and have found 2.9 grains of Bullseye, behind a 148 grain Speer HBWC bullet, to be the most accurate in my pistol over the many years I've owned and shot it. This pistol can be finicky and I've had way more "alibis" with it than any of my 1911 pistols at matches. But the trigger is so good and the pistol is so easy to shoot accurately, I put up with its occasional idiosyncrasies.

Concerning the bullet type, I did read one report years ago where the shooter/author reported the base of the hollow base wadcutter separating from the bullet and causing a potentially dangerous barrel obstruction. Something to look for, I guess.

I shoot an M1911 that has been modified to shoot .38 Special (the pistol was originally a 1958 .38 Super configured Colt M1911). I tried the 2.8 grains of Bullseye with a 148 grain HBWC and had numerous failures to feed. I upped the charge to 3.0 grains of Bullseye and it works as advertised. I understand I am not using a S&W 52, but I am saying try different loads to see what works in your pistol.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

[QUOTE] I understand I am not using a S&W 52, but I am saying try different loads to see what works in your pistol.

I appreciate the advice, AJ, but I've been competing in Bullseye matches since the early sixties and I've tried many different loads in my Model 52 (and my 1911 pistols as well, of course) and the load I've settled on is the one that shoots most accurately in my pistol. In terms of function, a little more powder got a little better reliability but not enough better to compromise on the superb accuracy I get with 2.9 grains of Bullseye.

I load wadcutters for M52 and revolver with Win 231 instead of the usual Bullseye, but velocity is still in the mid to low 700s. That has been the standard midrange load for a long time.

I would not hammer a target pistol with the "service wadcutters" now made by the boutique overload specialists like Buffalo Bore even if Maj Geo. C. Nonte did once recommend it for home defense by target shooters who had no better weapon.

Thank you for everyone's help. Recoil spring appears to have been the fix.

Swapped it with a factory weight spring from Wolf and runs like a champ with the Magtech ammo in all six magazines.

Did pretty well with the Doubletap ammo but one magazine didn't care for it on a couple of rounds.

Appreciate the support and ideas.


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