Curiosities on the Model 52

[mainegrw]

So in my copious free time stuck at home this week, I've gone a little wadcutter crazy at the loading bench, having just finished loading around 525 rounds of 38 Special Wadcutter currently to be used in my 686-1. However, the surplus really has me thinking about picking up a Model 52. I know of 3 available for sale in my area, as well as a Bob Chow Colt 1911 in 38 Specal WC as well...

Here's what I'd like to know from those of you who have or have had the Model 52:

- How finicky are they when it comes to ammo?

- do you tend to load on the higher end of the spectrum, or do these guns really appreciate a more mild loading?

- About half of my Wadcutter stock is Berry's plated DEWCs. Is it ok to use plated bullets in a Model 52, taking into account there's a loss of accuracy compared to lead bullets?

- any suggested loadings?

Thanks!



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[Model52guy]

Mainegrw,
Although the model 52 will shoot about any 148 gr wadcutter, I;ve found the accuracy suffer on some. The berry’s plated wad cutter cycled ok for me but the accuracy wasn’t there. My go-to is Hornady’s HBLWC with Winchester 231. Ive used bullseye but I like 231 better. It seems to give a little “softer” recoil than Bullseye. I have lots of DEWC in lead and Berry’s plated but I save them for my 38 Masterpiece. The best load for a M52 is find what it likes for cycling reliability and accuracy, and stick with it. My reloading bench has 4 presses, the Old Dillon 450 on the right is used solely for the model 52 loads.
George

[jc2721]

I have a Shimoda .38 WC gun built on a Super 38 and a 52 no dash, I shoot both regularly. The 52 is more reliable, the Shimoda occasionally jams (usually because of the magazine). I have 6 factory magazines for the 52, I also have 6 magazines for the Shimoda but it's a mix of Colt, Triple K and a home-made magazine.

I prefer shooting the Shimoda, the 1911's grip suits me better.

My 52 has a slight preference for Remington Targetmaster WCs over the Western Super Match WCs, the Shimoda shoots the Western loads better than the Remington.

Sticking to the 52, I use 2.8 gr. BE because that's what my measure throws. I think I used Precision Delta WCs, it's been a few years since I last loaded .38s.

I did have a squib load (Western factory, if you can believe it!) in the 52 which resulted in a ringed barrel (my bad, and I'm looking for a new or used barrel;! I know...good luck). Surprisingly, my 52 continues to cycle well and as long as I'm using HB WCs, the accuracy hasn't been affected.

My reloads, being DEWCs (I think) are another story--accuracy has fallen off noticably with those. I guess the HB swells then contracts after it passes the ring; I think the DE, being essentially solid at the base, probably gets a bit deformed when it passes through the ring.

[batman4706]

I have several 52's, one 52-2 is my regular shooter. I also have a Colt 38 Wadcuter National Match.Both are fine pistols, but I could only keep one it would be the 52. The magazines are so much easier to load, it drops the empty at my feet and has the best trigger. The Colt magazines have springs that could be used for a small cars suspension, I made a little T shaped piece plexiglass that helps to load them. The Colt throws the empties 10 to 15 feet, and I've replaced the recoil spring for one for a Govt, model using hardball. And it has the barrel with the flutes in the chamber. Both are capable of better accuracy I could get up on any day. I tried plated wadcutters thinking they would be great, took 20% more powder to cycle and I could use the same targets for the 52. Just about any starting load with any powder will make a good start. I use DEWC & HBWC and don't really see a lot of difference. They both are good for a day at the range, I always take both so they can compete.

[Sevens]

I had three, all dash-2 models. I have two of them now after selling one to a friend. There are only two things that I would make folks aware of concerning the 52:

1) you must have access to .38 Wadcutter ammo. That means either via mail order or handloading

2) the market for 52 magazines has gone $STUPID. As they only hold five rounds, a 52 is much more difficult to enjoy when you don’t have a handful of magazines.

My 52’s only get fed handloads and while I’m sure that cast DEWC’s will work, I’ve only ever used swaged HBWC. I’ve used Hornady, Remington, Precision Delta and more than any other... old (out of production) Star. I’ve only ever used Bullseye. I’ve loaded 2.8 grains and 2.7 grains. Both shoot well but I think 2.7 has the edge, so that’s what I stick with.

Some magazines need a little adjustment with the feed lips, but other than a one-time occasional adjustment on a new-to-me magazine, I never have feed or function failures.

I love my 52’s but one is a safe queen and the other is my “go to.”

S&W Model 52 pistols are best described as Performance Center Limited pistols before the Performance Center existed.

[Engineer1911]

I had an M52 from 1983 to 1995. Remington factory hollow base wadcutter ammo ejected fired brass from my gun about 6 feet. My double ended wadcutter reloads ejected about 3 to 4 feet. If the brass ejected only 2 feet, the gun did not always cycle reliably. I was shooting Winchester 452 AA powder 3 years before there was published data. I bought an 8# keg for ~$100 at a shot gun range that was have a reloading sale. Never go to a bullseye match with a credit card.

I also shot only military brass in my M52 because of short case life with commercial brass. My relods were comparable to 2.7 grains of Bullseye powder without all the filth of Bullseye.

[824tsv]

I bought my pistol new in 1989. I shoot home cast 148g DEWC's over 3.0g of Winchester W231. I find this combination the best. I've also tried 2.7g of Winchester WST and 2.7g of Bullseye. I prefer W231 although all seem about equally accurate for me. Like Batman4706 I have the Colt and prefer the 1911 grip, but thats just personal preference. If it were me I would have a hard look at the Chow built 38 wadcutter pistol!

[H Richard]

When I had a 52 I shot Star HBWC lead bullets over 3.2 gr 231. It ejected about 4-5 ft, and 100% reliable. Accuracy was more than I was capable of holding. I sold that gun nearly 20 years ago and stayed with a .45 for bullseye.

[Jim Watson]

My Model 52-2 is nice, more of a "centerfire plinker" for me, but I would have a hard time turning away from that Bob Chow gun, or any major big name .38 Special Colt.

Mine does well with the same load I used in PPC, a flush Speer HBWC and 3.2 gr Win 231. It needs a roll crimp which serves the same purpose getting up the feed ramp as a roundnose bullet; taper crimped loads were not reliable.