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03-31-2021, 04:49 PM
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Considering a 52-2...am I crazy?
my hunting buddy has a connection to a 52-2 for sale...not being an auto guy (shield only). I would like to expand my limits and look at it...other than obvious condition is there any thing special I would want to check? I load .38's so wc's are ok...right now is a rough time to buy, but is $850-1000 right???? WOW ...straighten me out!
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03-31-2021, 05:02 PM
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At that price, I’d want another one.
One thing to watch out for is the number of included magazines. I’ve seen them offered for $350 EACH.
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03-31-2021, 05:08 PM
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Sorry I forgot to add.....he said gun only,1 mag.....now I see why.....love my .38's and to get an auto would be great!
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03-31-2021, 05:24 PM
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If it is a pistol in any kind of good to better condition that is a good price.
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03-31-2021, 05:41 PM
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This could be a ridiculously long post, I’ll exercise restraint.
This is a .38 Wadcutter ONLY pistol. That means you cannot use any ammo that isn’t loaded absolutely flush to the mouth of the brass. If you used a button-nose cast wadcutter, you would have to deep-seat it because it must be dead flush.
If you aren’t a handloader, ammo is available but even pre-panic and it wasn’t super easy to find, you’d typically have to order it and have it shipped. Knee-deep in the panic and it’s as hard as, well, every other ammo.
And magazines are $nutbar priced. A single 5-round mag with the pistol would be tiresome but do-able.
The price you quoted is decent! Would need to know many more specifics to judge better but it’s not out of line in the slightest.
The 52 and all variants are AMAZING handguns and I love them more than I’m going to bore you with right now. But they aren’t for everyone.
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03-31-2021, 06:19 PM
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Buy it or tell us enablers where it is and one of us will snap it up. Sweet shooting - only problem for me is that when I miss, I can’t blame the gun.
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03-31-2021, 06:38 PM
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...am I crazy? yea, so where do we go from here. Just go buy it.
And enjoy the fraternity and above all, life. Best, Mike
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03-31-2021, 07:14 PM
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Nice offer.
But.
I had a 52, and when I stopped shooting Bullseye and reloading, I sold it.
Great target pistol. but like sevens said, unless you reload, not an affordable pistol to shoot.
And also mentioned, the mags are in the stupid range of cost.
Your call. Just realize that it is a limited use pistol.
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03-31-2021, 07:21 PM
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Has nobody really read the OP's first post? He states he loads.
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03-31-2021, 07:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AJ
Has nobody really read the OP's first post? He states he loads.
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I did read it. I just wanted to point out, if you stop reloading, like I did, it gets pricey quick.
Also. with the current situation, IDK what the availability of 148gr wadcutters are, but I haven't searched either.
For a target pistol, hard to beat.
For anything else. I'd spend my money on something different.
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03-31-2021, 07:37 PM
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BUY IT NOW!!!
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Good shooting.
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03-31-2021, 07:53 PM
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Smith 52
I bought a 52-2 off this forum a month ago and my reaction when it arrived was, "Why have I not owned one of these yet?" Beautiful all blued steel target pistol. I have to stipulate that I am a bullseye shooter and reloader, most of my modest collection is centered on competition target pistols so 5 round magazines and wadcutter only ammo is not a hindrance for me, current shortages aside. Mine came with 3 mags (hope they all function, have not fired it yet) which made it an even more attractive purchase. If your itch that needs to be scratched is for a serious paper puncher you won't be disappointed. That's a good price and leaves room to by another ridiculously priced mag too.
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03-31-2021, 08:22 PM
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You don't have to be a serious bullseye shooter to own a 52. You just have to have desire to shoot a fine piece of equipment. I like being able to shoot small groups for my own satisfaction. That is why I own a Gold Cup, a PPC Target Revolver and a Browning Medalist to name a few. I do reload and cast my own bullets, so that helps.
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03-31-2021, 11:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fullmetaljacket
I bought a 52-2 off this forum a month ago and my reaction when it arrived was, "Why have I not owned one of these yet?"
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My experience was somewhat like that...
Read about it here:
S&W Mod 52: my biggest regret in handgunning
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04-01-2021, 12:01 PM
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I bought mine a while back from a friend here on the forum . Not long after I bought 2500 rounds of Black Hills w/c's from a member who sold his 52 . It was so pretty it sat in my safe for a good year or so . I finally took it out and all I can say is " wow." Until you shoot one you don't know what you're missing .
As some of you know I dearly love my PC pistols and own more than a few . I consider the 52 to be a pre PC pistol , which I think Sevens stated in the post he referenced above . The only thing that holds back a 52 pistol is the ability of the person shooting it .
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04-02-2021, 10:50 PM
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A bucket list pistol for me. I have shot one and they are fun to shoot.
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04-03-2021, 03:26 AM
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52-2
I loved mine from the first time I shot it, and after I Put a target weight on the pistol, I loved it even more. It took some getting used to, to prevent from doing the double tap, the trigger is exceptional, or can be made that way.
The target weight will help you pick up your target quicker, what little recoil there is to begin with is reduced even more by the addition of the weight.
Buy an aftermarket one, they don't require fitting to slip on and off. The Factory weight, 1 Expensive, 2 needs to be fit to the frame to keep from damaging the finish. I prefer the earlier A series all 52s were had fitted and assembled. These are in my opinion superior to the modern day performance center guns currently made and since the 52s MFG ended. Sometimes the easiest way to get more mags is to buy the right pistol that comes with many, make sure they are the Steel follower mags. Just saw 3 plastic follower mags go for $440.00 plus $15.00 shipping. You could pick up the metal follower mags sometimes for $150-$200.00, ea. I used to buy the plastic follower mags, just so I could re sell them, and then add 20-40 dollars and get the metal follower version, which is the original. Model 41-1 magazines in 22 short are at a high $560.00 was the highest, $399.00-$499.00 was after that. And in the last year I sold some 10 22 short mags and didn't get more than $175.00 ea for the.
The pistol is a joy to shoot, I prefer to shoot it without a scope or dot sight. Just my preference, of course I'm not shooting at 50 yards either. Your getting a very good deal on the pistol, prices have always been up and down, just like the model 41s, but if you ask me people are lucky the price on the 52s should far eclipse the model 41s value. Enjoy them while you can get them.
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04-03-2021, 06:38 AM
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I bought a 52-2 a few weeks ago and shot it for the first time yesterday.
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04-03-2021, 07:17 AM
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First shots with mine made me appear as if I know how to shoot.
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04-03-2021, 08:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sevens
This could be a ridiculously long post, I’ll exercise restraint.
This is a .38 Wadcutter ONLY pistol. That means you cannot use any ammo that isn’t loaded absolutely flush to the mouth of the brass. If you used a button-nose cast wadcutter, you would have to deep-seat it because it must be dead flush.
If you aren’t a handloader, ammo is available but even pre-panic and it wasn’t super easy to find, you’d typically have to order it and have it shipped. Knee-deep in the panic and it’s as hard as, well, every other ammo.
And magazines are $nutbar priced. A single 5-round mag with the pistol would be tiresome but do-able.
The price you quoted is decent! Would need to know many more specifics to judge better but it’s not out of line in the slightest.
The 52 and all variants are AMAZING handguns and I love them more than I’m going to bore you with right now. But they aren’t for everyone.
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I totally agree with everything above.
Mags are REALLY $$$$$$$$ right now and getting worse. The ammo, as noted, was never produced on a regular basis or in large volumes.
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04-03-2021, 09:08 AM
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Of the 3 magazines that came with my pistol, all have a steel follower but one has a S&W logo and the follower is a single piece. The other two are unmarked and the follower is two pieces sandwiched together. The finish on the logo marked mag is plain polished blue, the other two have a slightly mottled, "frosted" (?) appearance. The difference is very subtle but since I have not been able to get to the range and shoot the thing I've spent some time staring at every little detail in anticipation. Might the two mags be aftermarket? If they all function I will not care, just curious.
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04-03-2021, 12:42 PM
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I think owning a 52 is just like owning a model 41. You don't need anything that nice to shoot well, but it sure is enjoyable.
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04-03-2021, 05:04 PM
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Shooting my Model 52-2 for the first time reminded me of the sensation you get if you have ever fired a compensated 1911 type pistol with very light loads. The slide seems to move in slow motion and you will learn the art of follow through or wonder why you get flyers.
Another analogy is like shooting a single action revolver. Not the same sensation, but the experience of taking your time, concentrating on the sights, squeezing the trigger and shooting deliberately. It's surprising how long it can take to go through a box of 50 rounds when you are not shooting a high capacity autoloader.
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04-03-2021, 05:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Walter Rego
Shooting my Model 52-2 for the first time reminded me of the sensation you get if you have ever fired a compensated 1911 type pistol with very light loads. The slide seems to move in slow motion and you will learn the art of follow through or wonder why you get flyers.
Another analogy is like shooting a single action revolver. Not the same sensation, but the experience of taking your time, concentrating on the sights, squeezing the trigger and shooting deliberately. It's surprising how long it can take to go through a box of 50 rounds when you are not shooting a high capacity autoloader.
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This may be blasphemy, but I like my Colt Series 70 Gold Cup National Match as much as I do my S&W Model 52-2. Hard to say which I shoot better.
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04-03-2021, 07:43 PM
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The slow movement of the action is a phenomenon noted by many. We used to joke that my Dad was able to shoot his so well because he was even slower than it was... we youngsters were too impatient to follow through with it like he did!
Froggie
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04-04-2021, 03:04 PM
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I just want to clarify my position.
I had the 52 and 41 when I shot Bullseye. I think that they are the finest out of the box target pistols made.
But after I stopped shooting competition, I didn't enjoy shooting them as "regular" pistols.
Give me a L frame, 3rd Gen TDA, and a Ruger MkII and I'm as happy as a dog with a ham bone.
JMHO YMMV
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04-04-2021, 05:07 PM
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The other thing that is cool about a Model 52 is that it doesn't toss the empties into low earth orbit like many autoloaders. At least mine doesn't. They just kind of get spit out of the ejection port about like if you were to eject a spent shell by hand and end up just a few feet away. Nice when you are collecting them for reloading.
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04-04-2021, 08:32 PM
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A lot of that is having load balanced with the springs, or vice versa. I used to watch a friend shooting his 1911 Colt and it literally looked like the spent case just rolled out of the ejection port! He would lay out a piece of canvas and the cases would dump into a pile.
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04-04-2021, 08:52 PM
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My smallest pile of brass is with my Smith 745. 100 cases land within a 2 foot circle mostly. My 1911's, both 45 and 9mm do essentially the same thing but maybe a 4 foot circle. I contribute that to a better extractor in the 745. Now that should start something!
I have worked hard to balance load and springs. If I change loads I change the spring or live with the more scattered results on the ground.
I've never shot a 52, so this is anecdotal to how it can be. bob
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04-04-2021, 10:49 PM
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52-2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fullmetaljacket
Of the 3 magazines that came with my pistol, all have a steel follower but one has a S&W logo and the follower is a single piece. The other two are unmarked and the follower is two pieces sandwiched together. The finish on the logo marked mag is plain polished blue, the other two have a slightly mottled, "frosted" (?) appearance. The difference is very subtle but since I have not been able to get to the range and shoot the thing I've spent some time staring at every little detail in anticipation. Might the two mags be aftermarket? If they all function I will not care, just curious.
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I don't believe the metal follower mags are stamped S&W on the side, they all were on the bottom plate S&W. The Round S&W logo on the side of the mag frame is most likely the plastic follower, just lay them on their sides as if they are in the pistol, and look up at the top left where the follower has the notch that works your slide stop. The plastic if easy to spot, you see a rib square type notch, a magnet will tell you as well, since the entire follower is made of plastic one piece, the steel followers are all 2 pieces crimped or spot welded together.
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