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Old 11-26-2021, 07:10 PM
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Arrow All right, you got me. I’m back in. [52-1]

Hi folks,

Having steered clear of blued guns for a spell, I was a happy man.

I didn’t have to worry about scratches, rust, improper solvents…life was good.



Until today.
My buddy egged me on enough to attend a local show, and just before I was about to call it quits with some nice 45acp brass, I saw it.

A gorgeous -and lonely- 52-1 sitting on a table among a scattering of lesser guns, calling and drawing me in.

The deep, rich blue was the appetizer, the glass rod snap of the trigger the entrée; I made a deal for the meal, and took it home before anyone could object.

There was some lead schmutz in the barrel and some carbon on the slide, but it cleaned up nicely. I feel like one could do worse than this as the only blue gun in the safe.




Thanks for looking! Any tips or required reading on 52s would be appreciated.
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Old 11-26-2021, 07:43 PM
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I could write many, many things. In fact, I have in these pages many times. Here’s a start:

A 3/4-inch 12-point socket is the best and only tool you should use to remove your barrel bushing, and even then you only need it the first time and that’s only if it is gorilla-tight.

You may or may not have the original S&W tool — that tool is absolute trash, stamped sheet-metal junk.

Install your bushing finger-tight and no more.

The 52-1 is elite and yours looks fantastic.
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Old 11-26-2021, 08:14 PM
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Beautiful gun - nice score! You definitely will not regret it.
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Old 11-26-2021, 08:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sevens View Post
I could write many, many things. In fact, I have in these pages many times. Here’s a start:

A 3/4-inch 12-point socket is the best and only tool you should use to remove your barrel bushing, and even then you only need it the first time and that’s only if it is gorilla-tight.

You may or may not have the original S&W tool — that tool is absolute trash, stamped sheet-metal junk.

Install your bushing finger-tight and no more.

The 52-1 is elite and yours looks fantastic.
Sevens,

Do you think the 52-1 is better that the 52-2?

AJ
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Old 11-26-2021, 10:24 PM
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Man, this thing is pretty. No tool necessary, the bushing came undone with firm finger pressure.

The note in the box said something about slide and trigger work from custom shop.

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Old 11-26-2021, 11:36 PM
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Nice,VERY nice.
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Old 11-26-2021, 11:53 PM
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How many mags came with the 52-1?
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Old 11-26-2021, 11:53 PM
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Sevens,

Do you think the 52-1 is better that the 52-2?

AJ
I think it’s an interesting question and I’m sure I personally don’t have enough evidence to determine the answer, but I can tell you what’s in my head.

The 52-1 doesn’t have quite the pull in the market due to the reputation of the long old-style extractor. So if you watch the market closely, you’ll find that by & large, the dash-2 is given the edge in price (and respect…?) Some folks believe or have been led to believe that the old style extractor is weak and will break but the tangible evidence does not support this argument. The long extractor was somewhat problematic in the 39 no-dash and when it was revised and updated, S&W did the same with the 52.

The 52-1 also has the reputation for a trigger even better than the 52-2. My experience backs this up HOWEVER, I’m drawing from a tiny sample size. As in… I’ve owned three of the dash-2 and have lots of hands-on with five other dash-2’s and my 52-1 trigger beats all of them, but my 52-1 is the only 52-1 I’ve had the pleasure of shooting and handling.

The 52-2 had a handful of years where the quality of the finish was, in my eyes, sub-par. Not so with the 52-1.

Frankly, it’s too close to call. I wouldn’t turn down either, but a 52-2 is more in demand.
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Old 11-27-2021, 12:38 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sevens View Post
I think it’s an interesting question and I’m sure I personally don’t have enough evidence to determine the answer, but I can tell you what’s in my head.

The 52-1 doesn’t have quite the pull in the market due to the reputation of the long old-style extractor. So if you watch the market closely, you’ll find that by & large, the dash-2 is given the edge in price (and respect…?) Some folks believe or have been led to believe that the old style extractor is weak and will break but the tangible evidence does not support this argument. The long extractor was somewhat problematic in the 39 no-dash and when it was revised and updated, S&W did the same with the 52.

The 52-1 also has the reputation for a trigger even better than the 52-2. My experience backs this up HOWEVER, I’m drawing from a tiny sample size. As in… I’ve owned three of the dash-2 and have lots of hands-on with five other dash-2’s and my 52-1 trigger beats all of them, but my 52-1 is the only 52-1 I’ve had the pleasure of shooting and handling.

The 52-2 had a handful of years where the quality of the finish was, in my eyes, sub-par. Not so with the 52-1.

Frankly, it’s too close to call. I wouldn’t turn down either, but a 52-2 is more in demand.
I have only had the opportunity to shoot four 52's, two 52-1's and two 52-2's. To my tastes the 52-1's had fabulous triggers. They were on par with the Colt Mid Range that I had.
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Old 11-27-2021, 08:47 AM
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How many mags came with the 52-1?
I received a total of eight mags with the package.




















Kidding. There were 2 mags.
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Old 11-27-2021, 12:22 PM
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I received a total of eight mags with the package.




















Kidding. There were 2 mags.
You had me going for a second there! A “package” of six extra magazines (2 standard +6) would be a treasure trove since the Model 52 mags have become through some sort of alchemy made of unobtainium! I’d be curious to know what the actual price of a “standard package” of gun, 2 mags, tools, box and docs would be in theses crazy times. They took off before the current jump, but I wonder whether the vultures are after them or just old school collectors and competitors(??)

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Old 11-27-2021, 12:28 PM
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IMHO, the 52 is a beauty and a favorite of many. Let us know how she shoots. If you reload there is a ton of information available. I’d have to go to my notes for my load to share it here though. Enjoy!
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Old 11-27-2021, 12:48 PM
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2.8 grains of Bullseye and a hollow based wadcutter of 148 grains. I have been shooting that load for quite a while. I also use double ended wadcutters of 148 grain and use thos in a PPC revolver that I have. The hollow based wadcutters are reserved for the 52.

Somebody else will be along to put up other loadings.......
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Old 11-27-2021, 01:24 PM
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Thanks for the info. I ordered some copper coated xtreme 148gr boolits to reload after I go through the factory Rem match stash. These aren’t hollow-base. Should I look for those instead?
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Old 11-27-2021, 01:33 PM
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Thanks for the info. I ordered some copper coated xtreme 148gr boolits to reload after I go through the factory Rem match stash. These aren’t hollow-base. Should I look for those instead?
Cast lead hollow based wadcutters of 148 grains. I won't shoot anything else in my 52.
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Old 11-27-2021, 01:51 PM
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I would stay away from the plated wadcutters. The one time I tried them, I had fails to extract with my 52-2. They are not at good replacement for lead in the situation. Though I’ve never tried the cast DEWC in a 52, I would absolutely try that before plated.
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Old 11-27-2021, 01:52 PM
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The red boxes of 250 Hornady swagged 148gr HBWC Bullets can still be found at many Academy locations for about $35.
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Old 11-27-2021, 02:02 PM
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Nice looking piece. Doesn't appear to have been shot much. I have 2 52-2's and probably would have bought that one. 2 mags is good being as I see them priced from $150 to $379.95. I use a Hornaday 148 gr HBWC and 2.7 of Bulleseye with a slight taper crimp.
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Old 11-27-2021, 02:06 PM
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I would stay away from the plated wadcutters. The one time I tried them, I had fails to extract with my 52-2. They are not at good replacement for lead in the situation. Though I’ve never tried the cast DEWC in a 52, I would absolutely try that before plated.
I have tried the DEWC's in my pistol. They do not do as well as the HBWC's as far as accuracy goes.
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Old 11-27-2021, 08:46 PM
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The red boxes of 250 Hornady swagged 148gr HBWC Bullets can still be found at many Academy locations for about $35.
I have one on the way. Thanks for the tip.

Edit: now showing out-of-stock.

Edit 2: Aaaaaaand they cancelled.
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Old 11-27-2021, 11:35 PM
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The Hornady bullets are great, but this is a fantastic option for bulk purchase:

Precision Delta 38 Cal 148gr Hollow Base Wadcutter Bullets

I use both!
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Old 11-28-2021, 06:27 PM
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Well, it’s a keeper. The first 5 shots at 25 feet were less than an inch top-to-bottom, with some horizontal stringing. The next 5 all touched.

Now I just need to fall into some reasonably-priced mags !




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Old 11-28-2021, 06:30 PM
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Well, it’s a keeper. The first 5 shots at 25 feet were less than an inch top-to-bottom, with some horizontal stringing. The next 5 all touched.

Now I just need to fall into some reasonably-priced mags !



Reasonably priced?????

This is a target gun, so two should be all you really need.
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Old 11-28-2021, 07:01 PM
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Reasonably priced?????

This is a target gun, so two should be all you really need.
Opinions vary.
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Old 11-28-2021, 07:12 PM
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Opinions vary.
Yes, they do.😁

This is what 2.8 Grains of Bullseye witha 148 grain HBWC will do.😉 And a lot of these folks will do that at 25 yards. Can't see that far in my old age....😫
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Old 11-28-2021, 09:54 PM
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Yes, they do.😁

This is what 2.8 Grains of Bullseye witha 148 grain HBWC will do.😉 And a lot of these folks will do that at 25 yards. Can't see that far in my old age....😫
That’s an awesome target !

I have to focus on the front sight, so after about 10 yards the targets start looking like 4 bullseyes!
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Old 11-28-2021, 10:18 PM
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That’s an awesome target !

I have to focus on the front sight, so after about 10 yards the targets start looking like 4 bullseyes!
Thank you for the kind words. That may not look it but that is five shots.

In the Corps we were taught to focus on the front sight and let the rear sight and the bullseye be fuzzy. You can not focus on three things at once.
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Old 12-05-2021, 10:24 PM
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I have 2 52-2's, a 52 & a 52-1. One of the 52-2's is my shooter, the rest hide in the safe, although I have shot each of them.

I had awful results with the plated wadcutters, good results with both double end & hollow base. I acquired a case of Remington hollow base recently from a forum.

I use the double ends in my bullet feeder for my Dillon 650, since it won't feed hollow base right.

I also have one of the 1911 38 special guns, but it can't compare in any way to the 52. I usually carry the 52 on most trips to the range to get in a few magazines to remind me of what they used to build.
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Old 12-10-2021, 09:47 PM
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So, in a fever dream a couple of NIP magazines appeared.



Are these too nice to use? Should I look for something further down the trough to shoot, and pass these on to a collector?

Guidance welcome.
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Old 12-11-2021, 01:45 AM
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My opinion?

The market for 52 magazines is discouraging. If I had THAT and I wanted more mags for use, I would leave it sealed and offer it for trade, 2-for-1. I don’t know if anyone would bite, but it seems they could.

Likewise, I’ve watched folks in this forum and others disparage the new plastic follower 52 mags and claim mightily that only the old school steel follower magazines are what they would suggest.

And YET, multiple times in these pages I have offered to swap my metal follower 52 mags, 1-for-2 for their crummy plastic follower mags and I only ever hear crickets.

That offer is still live. If you have plastic follower 52 mags and they keep you up at night, I’ll swap you 1-for-2 a steel follower magazine for your “inferior” plastic follower 52 magazines. Just send me a PM.
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Old 12-11-2021, 02:33 PM
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My opinion?

The market for 52 magazines is discouraging. If I had THAT and I wanted more mags for use, I would leave it sealed and offer it for trade, 2-for-1. I don’t know if anyone would bite, but it seems they could.

Likewise, I’ve watched folks in this forum and others disparage the new plastic follower 52 mags and claim mightily that only the old school steel follower magazines are what they would suggest.

And YET, multiple times in these pages I have offered to swap my metal follower 52 mags, 1-for-2 for their crummy plastic follower mags and I only ever hear crickets.

That offer is still live. If you have plastic follower 52 mags and they keep you up at night, I’ll swap you 1-for-2 a steel follower magazine for your “inferior” plastic follower 52 magazines. Just send me a PM.
Any takers?
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Old 12-11-2021, 02:48 PM
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Hahaha not yet!

You?
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Old 12-11-2021, 09:02 PM
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Hahaha not yet!

You?
Nope, not me I have two and that is enough unless I stumble across some real cheap Like the old saying goes "Even a blind pig finds an acorn"
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