I realized that the magazine tab on the slide stop on my new to me model 52-2 is a bit short after I bought a spare 52-2 slide stop. On close inspection this part looks like it has to be fitted. Just dropping the new one in would cause the slide to bind pretty tightly. The bottom of the barrel lug I seem to ride over the top of the slide stop where it goes through the frame. The original has been relieved a bit on the upper side. Just a minor amount...maybe 0.010-0.020. Also on the new slide stop the magazine tab is a bit too long and contact the center part of the follower. I gently stoned the top of the slide stoip where goes through the slide and now the slide doesn't bind but it is still I think too tight as the barrel is pushing on the slide stop enough that it doesn't rotate easily. My question is for any S&W techs here....how much and how precise is the fitting of a slide stop on a model 52-2??

Pics of original and new slide stop:

Several Bullseye pistolsmiths use the technique of fitting a barrel to a slide by removing material from the slide stop. The thinking is that if you have a good barrel that has been proven in a barrel tester you can keep it in service longer by keeping the lower lugs longer and changing slide stops to control lock-up in the slide.

Let me provide more useful information.

In another thread, Model 52-2 Slide Stop, there are several posts by forum member donk52, who is a fantastic resource to us. Rather than copy-and-paste and maybe lose some context, it would be best to read that thread.

I fit this one by gently stoning and testing. You can see where the barrel lug rides over the top of the new slide stop in the pic. It was originally so tight the slide was binding and hard to open. I took the stop down enough that it is very tight but but functions without binding. Thanks MUCH to donk52 for his assist!!!