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Old 08-03-2018, 07:51 PM
Rick H. Rick H. is offline
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Default Model 52 Replacement Barrels

If you are a Model 52 owner and shooter this should be welcome news. Clark Custom Guns has introduced their own replacement barrels for the venerable M-52. A few years back I needed a barrel for one of the three that I own and I had a heck of a time finding one and then had an even worse time finding a quality gunsmith to install it. As an almost last thought I called Clark Custom Guns to see if they could handle the install of the NIB factory barrel I located. The young man I spoke with did some checking and said they would be more than happy to install the barrel.


I think I waited about 4 weeks to get the pistol back and the barrel installation was top notch and worked great. During the course of this repair I mentioned how difficult it had been to find a good replacement barrel and I was told Clark was looking at coming out with their own replacement barrels for Model 52's. Well it was a little while longer than I anticipated but if I know Clark their M-52 barrels will be top notch and they can also handle the installation if needed.


These barrels aren't cheap and go for $300.00 plus install. After what I went thru the last time I needed a barrel and disregarding the two used ones I bought that were junk but were advertised as "good" and "great" ( that's another story about seller honesty), $300.00 is a decent price if you want to keep your 52 in top notch shooting condition.


I have no dog in the hunt on this post. I don't work for them and get nothing for my comments. I just know what I went thru when I needed a replacement barrel for one of my beloved Model 52's. It's my understanding that this was not an easy barrel for Clark to manufacture with all the angles and such and I think it is outstanding that Clark took the time and energy to manufacture this replacement barrel for Model 52 owners. Even though I don't need a barrel right at this moment I am going to order at least one or possibly two for that "just in case" moment. As with anything else the success of their efforts will be determined by how many they sell and if they will continue to carry this product. Happy Shooting!!


Rick H.
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Old 08-03-2018, 08:02 PM
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Good news for 52 owners with squibbed barrels.
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Old 08-03-2018, 09:36 PM
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The question that was asked before and is still relevant...

Is Clark also making a replacement 52 barrel bushing or are they instead making the ball-end (muzzle) oversize to be final fitted to whatever 52 and bushing you have?

Barrels have never been a drop-in part for a 52.

Does sound like good news though!
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Old 08-04-2018, 12:10 AM
Rick H. Rick H. is offline
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I am not sure on the bushing, but the picture I saw of their barrel has the expanded band around the end of the barrel.


Rick H.
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Old 08-04-2018, 08:43 AM
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KKM is also making 52 barrels with a 1-10 twist. The bushing will be made by EGW.
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Old 08-04-2018, 09:42 AM
batman4706 batman4706 is offline
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Default KKM barrel

Where did you find them on their site?
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Old 08-04-2018, 09:50 AM
RGPM1A RGPM1A is offline
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A year or so ago Numrich had them and I bought one for a fellow 52 owner- maybe still do but haven't looked. The barrel needed to be fitted but worked fine. Looked like an OEM barrel too.

Last edited by RGPM1A; 08-04-2018 at 09:51 AM.
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Old 08-04-2018, 01:46 PM
Troystat Troystat is offline
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Just saw them on Clarks site and they sell both the bushings and the barrel. They both require fitting. I think the barrels are 300 and the bushings 75.
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Old 08-04-2018, 01:50 PM
Rick H. Rick H. is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RGPM1A View Post
A year or so ago Numrich had them and I bought one for a fellow 52 owner- maybe still do but haven't looked. The barrel needed to be fitted but worked fine. Looked like an OEM barrel too.

Numrich was where I eventually found a barrel for my Model 52-2 that needed one. Actually I bought 2 from them at about $100.00 each. Clark fitted one into my 52 and I have the other as a spare. I checked on the Numrich website and they have none in stock now and the price for one is up to $140.00. The ones I received from Numrich were in fact OEM Smith and Wesson barrels that had never been fitted to a firearm.

I also checked on the KKM website and looked thru 24 pages of barrels but didn't see any listed for a Model 52. I looked at the EGW website and didn't find anything relating to a Model 52 barrel bushing.

Rick H.
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Old 08-04-2018, 03:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick H. View Post
Numrich was where I eventually found a barrel for my Model 52-2 that needed one. Actually I bought 2 from them at about $100.00 each. Clark fitted one into my 52 and I have the other as a spare. I checked on the Numrich website and they have none in stock now and the price for one is up to $140.00. The ones I received from Numrich were in fact OEM Smith and Wesson barrels that had never been fitted to a firearm.

I also checked on the KKM website and looked thru 24 pages of barrels but didn't see any listed for a Model 52. I looked at the EGW website and didn't find anything relating to a Model 52 barrel bushing.

Rick H.
Patience grasshopper! Actually the attraction to the Clark and KKM barrels for the S&W model 52 is that the 1:10 barrel twist of these is supposed to be superior to the factory barrel.
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Old 08-04-2018, 06:16 PM
Rick H. Rick H. is offline
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Ohhhhh, I see the secret is out already.....!

Rick H.
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Old 08-10-2018, 06:52 PM
Randy Lee Randy Lee is offline
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I just installed a Clark Custom barrel in my 52-1. It is oversize in all the critical areas, including the muzzle ring, which is 0.005" oversized and needed trimming to fit the factory bushing. Both external and bore finish are very clean. My sample had a Rockwell C hardness measuring 40, which is right in the middle of the usual hardness spec for 416R barrels.
While they do have a bushing, I opted to fit the barrel to the factory bushing.

I believe the 52-1 has a slightly longer hood length than the -2 as my factory barrel measured 1.280" from the radial lug edge to the end of the hood, while my 52-2 top end measures 1.272". The Clark barrel measures 1.275" so you might want to check that dimension if you have a 52-1. I spoke to Jess Clark about what I found, and he said they will adjust their drawings to allow for the 52-1 dimensional difference. They designed their barrel around the 52-2 samples they had available and were not aware for the hood length differences.

My Ransom rest grip inserts arrived yesterday, so hopefully I will be able to test accuracy in the 52-1 at 25 yards (the only range I have access to at the moment is an indoor range, and that is as far as I can run a target).
I will post some results next week hopefully.
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Old 08-11-2018, 08:26 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Randy Lee View Post
I just installed a Clark Custom barrel in my 52-1. It is oversize in all the critical areas, including the muzzle ring, which is 0.005" oversized and needed trimming to fit the factory bushing. Both external and bore finish are very clean. My sample had a Rockwell C hardness measuring 40, which is right in the middle of the usual hardness spec for 416R barrels.
While they do have a bushing, I opted to fit the barrel to the factory bushing.

I believe the 52-1 has a slightly longer hood length than the -2 as my factory barrel measured 1.280" from the radial lug edge to the end of the hood, while my 52-2 top end measures 1.272". The Clark barrel measures 1.275" so you might want to check that dimension if you have a 52-1. I spoke to Jess Clark about what I found, and he said they will adjust their drawings to allow for the 52-1 dimensional difference. They designed their barrel around the 52-2 samples they had available and were not aware for the hood length differences.

My Ransom rest grip inserts arrived yesterday, so hopefully I will be able to test accuracy in the 52-1 at 25 yards (the only range I have access to at the moment is an indoor range, and that is as far as I can run a target).
I will post some results next week hopefully.
I'll wager that it makes one teeny tiny hole at that distance.
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Old 08-11-2018, 02:40 PM
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Good to know as I have a 52-2. It does not need a barrel or bushing...... yet.
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Old 08-16-2018, 02:00 PM
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Hmmm...........I'd go for a KKM as Clark's 1911 45acp barrels weren't that good .
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Old 08-16-2018, 02:37 PM
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I'm looking on KKM's site and I cannot find the 52 barrel. Any additional info available?

Edit to add: I bought a KKM barrel for a Glock directly from them and it's been fantastic and I've wrung it out a helluva lot. KKM makes good stuff.

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Old 08-16-2018, 08:17 PM
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Quote:
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Hmmm...........I'd go for a KKM as Clark's 1911 45acp barrels weren't that good .
Just curious, what was your experience with the Clark barrels and when?
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Old 08-18-2018, 12:30 PM
boatbum101 boatbum101 is offline
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Dimensions were all over the place . Some were fine & could be fitted right , some were not . For the price give me a Kart , KKM , Nowlin or Wilson . It was a few years ago .
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Old 08-18-2018, 10:10 PM
Rick H. Rick H. is offline
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Somewhat difficult to go with a Kart, Nowlin, Wilson or KKM barrel for a M-52 when they don't make them don't you think? I have had two Clark barrels that went in 1911's and they had no problem with installation that I know of and they shot pretty darn well.

Rick H.
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Old 08-23-2018, 04:58 PM
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I wonder if Clark would consider making some barrels in 9mm?
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Old 08-23-2018, 10:14 PM
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I wonder if Clark would consider making some barrels in 9mm?
Now that would be very interesting......
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