Model 52-2 hammer follow

[RodJ]

Hello, my apologies for ghosting everyone on this thread who provided advice. I’m back and have followed donk52’s directions to adjust the trigger. (Thank you, donk!) Unfortunately for me, the hammer follow still occurs when racking the slide.

If I didn’t mention it before, I can thumb back the hammer and it will hold. However a good bump or hard jar will cause the hammer to fall. When racking the slide or bumping the pistol, the hammer goes to half cock. On the other hand, with the hammer cocked and the trigger pulled, the hammer falls completely.

So it seems to me that somehow the sear is not catching the hammer sufficiently.

CALREB, if you are around on Sunday, I will be heading from Big D back to Austin and could try to swing wide past FtW and stop by if you are available and up for a visitor. If that’s not convenient for any reason, I still thank you for the advice and the offer at maybe a more convenient time.

Before I give up, I’m going to reclean the sear hammer rebound spring etc and try putting a hair more bend on the sear spring. Any advice or warnings to stay away are welcome!

Thanks again to all!

 

[RodJ]

Another update provided for others who may read this. I disassembled the pistol, cleaned the sear, hammer, etc., and put a bend in the sear spring. It seemed to help but the hammer still falls to the safety notches / half cock most of the time when racking the slide. The nose of the sear doesn’t look evenly cut, or maybe got some slight damage from slipping off the hammer hooks and slamming into the half cock hooks. Ugh and oh well.

I failed to connect with CALREB due to personal schedule and a 4 hour haul one way. Likely off to a smith.

 

[RodJ]

Follow up and Success, Sort of.

Posting this in case it helps someone.

Installed a new sear and that has solved the problem. Compared to the new sear, the original sear looks like a monkey worked on it. No more hammer slipping off the sear.

But then… I inserted a magazine… stopped short of fully inserted, about 1” short of fully locked in. I gave it a push. Then a harder push (I know I know, and I knew better!!). Got it out with a lot of pulling but something is jacked up.

Snatched defeat from the jaws of victory….

Going to start a new thread with more details.

 

[DCWilson]

Congratulations on the initial success, and commiseration on the new issue.

I work more on revolvers than semiautos, so I will resist offering anything substantial to this discussion. I just know that once a problem can be defined, a solution can be found and applied. Take heart, and let us know when everything is as it should be with your 52-2.

 

[AJ]

Did you have this problem before with that 52? I would look at the mag release first.

 

[RodJ]

Instead of a new thread, here goes.

Prior to any changes, the magazines inserted normally. Just like any other semi auto, 1911, Model 952, Browing Hi Power, Ruger MKii, High Standard, SW Model 41, Glock, Springfield XD, you name it. Insert the mag and it goes right in with little resistance. I know how to operate a semi auto.

Before any parts changes: disassemble the frame, several times, down to removing the hammer, sear, and disconnector, and back together, no problems other than the continued hammer follow despite bending the sear spring. (Note, trigger, trigger bar, and mag release untouched).

Only after replacing the sear did this weird magazine problem occur. I’ve now stripped the frame back down several times. Backstrap, sear, hammer, disconnector. Same magazine problem with any/ all of four magazines. Both mags from this pistol and two from another Model 52. It’s as if the pistol frame itself got bent.

After much looking, messing, and analysis, the magazine appears to be jamming the upper end of its back side against the corresponding “block” inside the frame near the top above the magazine well.

Now, through more “testing” a magazine is now jammed near permanently, fully inserted… yes, I forced it while using Dykem on the mag to try to ID the area of interference. Jimminy crickets!

Thanks for reading!

 

[Sevens]

Mystifying. If you successfully get that magazine out... maybe complete tear down again with every part except the magazine catch? With the MSH off and the new sear out of there, all you will have left -IS- the frame really... and if you somehow knocked that out of square, maybe it will be obvious?

If that's what has happened... I wouldn't have any idea how to rectify that. Properly, anyway.

 

[AJ]

Mystifying. If you successfully get that magazine out... maybe complete tear down again with every part except the magazine catch? With the MSH off and the new sear out of there, all you will have left -IS- the frame really... and if you somehow knocked that out of square, maybe it will be obvious?

If that's what has happened... I wouldn't have any idea how to rectify that. Properly, anyway.

The only times that I have ever had a problem with a known good mag getting stuck in a mag well it was the mag catch.

 

[RodJ]

Same here. This is a mystery.

The only thing that possibly comes to mind is that when installing the rear grip plate, that compresses the mainspring, I used a padded vise to hold the frame as my third hand. Now I’m wondering if somehow I cracked the damn frame.

Worst part is that now I may have lost a good M52 magazine.

No amount of vise grips pulling on the mag base moves it. Kroil no help. Setting it down and walking away for a day, nope. Pretty spectacular clusterf— that I’ve created. If I wasn’t so blessed by love and family, this would bother me more. Now I just want to know what the heck happened!

Next move: stick the damn thing in the freezer. Never give up. Never give in. Adapt and overcome! Lol!

 

[AJ]

Same here. This is a mystery.

The only thing that possibly comes to mind is that when installing the rear grip plate, that compresses the mainspring, I used a padded vise to hold the frame as my third hand. Now I’m wondering if somehow I cracked the damn frame.

Worst part is that now I may have lost a good M52 magazine.

No amount of vise grips pulling on the mag base moves it. Kroil no help. Setting it down and walking away for a day, nope. Pretty spectacular clusterf— that I’ve created. If I wasn’t so blessed by love and family, this would bother me more. Now I just want to know what the heck happened!

Next move: stick the damn thing in the freezer. Never give up. Never give in. Adapt and overcome! Lol!

Get the calipers out and check the frame measurements.

I would try gently heating the frame with a propane torch first. Try to stay as far from the mag as possible. A little heat goes a long way.

 

[Sevens]

I also worry that you borked the frame... however, I'm still trying to think positive also and I just fished a 52 out of my safe. As I suspected -- the sear spring is very, very close to the rear of the magazine. There should obviously be no contact there but -IF- something were off with the sear spring... it's orientation or size, shape, position... the magazine and sear spring could make contact.

I am hoping there is some manner of interference there.

I have no solution, but I'm spitballin'.

 

[AJ]

I also worry that you borked the frame... however, I'm still trying to think positive also and I just fished a 52 out of my safe. As I suspected -- the sear spring is very, very close to the rear of the magazine. There should obviously be no contact there but -IF- something were off with the sear spring... it's orientation or size, shape, position... the magazine and sear spring could make contact.

I am hoping there is some manner of interference there.

I have no solution, but I'm spitballin'.

Sevens, I have never torn mine down to parade rest. Do you think the sear spring could put enough tension on the mag to freeze it in place?

 

[Sevens]

I seriously don't know much however I can damn sure see the entire length of the sear spring in my 52 when I pull the magazine out.

When all is well, certainly there is no contact and no interference. However, the sear spring is specifically what he changed in the pistol that is all locked up, so I'm just tossing that out there.

 

[RodJ]

The sear spring wasn’t interfering, no unusual resistance until the back of the magazine contacted the block in which the disconnector sits. I tested with a piece of paper between the block and where the magazine should slide past. To be sure I tried the dykem. For some STUPID, out of body reason, I wanted to see if there were other interferences, so I kept pushing the mag in till it seated…. Seems now like the entire back side of the mag is friction fit.

Just a bizarre mystery.

I was going to try the heat method but (1) didn’t think I could get much heat into the frame without quickly also heating the thin magazine, (2) didn’t want to affect the bluing (just yet) and (3) am thinking that shrinkage is what I want (first time in my life I’ve EVER said that). Hence its in the freezer.

Btw, wife came home this evening and in a disapproving tone announced “Honey, there is a gun in the freezer”. Me: “Yes. I ran out of room in the gun safe”. Not one single hint of a smile much less a laugh.

 

[RodJ]

I seriously don't know much however I can damn sure see the entire length of the sear spring in my 52 when I pull the magazine out.

When all is well, certainly there is no contact and no interference. However, the sear spring is specifically what he changed in the pistol that is all locked up, so I'm just tossing that out there.

Sevens, thanks for your help. To clarify, I replaced the sear itself not the sear spring.

 

[AJ]

Don't part it out. Get somebody who really knows the 52 and let them look at it. Got to be a good S&W Model 52 smith out there somewhere.

 

[RodJ]

Don't part it out. Get somebody who really knows the 52 and let them look at it. Got to be a good S&W Model 52 smith out there somewhere.

You saw my post before I edited it!

Have no fear, it turns out that shrinkage is underrated!

Pulled the frame out of the “new” gun safe (garage freezer), clamped the very tip of end of a pair of standard vise grips to the magazine base, laid the frame on its side on my wooden bench, mag well hanging off the side, pressed down on a towel covering the frame (it was very, very chilly) and VOILA! The darn magazine slid right out.

“More in this developing story at 10pm. This is your Senior Garage Hack Reporter, Rod, reporting from Austin….”

 

[AJ]

Good for you!! There is something to be sai for shade tree mechanics! I am one…….

 

[RodJ]

DONK52, I completely forgot to respond to your question about what letter is stamped on the bottom of the magazine well. The letter is s a capital “U”. Followed your instructions and eliminated the trigger setting as a sole problem.

I now have the pistol back together. The hammer no longer falls to half cock when racking the slide. The magazine “safety” prevents function of the trigger, but pressing on the sear against the sear spring releases the hammer to the fire position. All seems to be well in that regard. Whew!

However now that the frame and magazines are back at room temperature, the dang magazines again won’t insert all the way. They make it past the magazine catch and then stop hard about 0.80” short of full insertion.

The best I can tell is this. The top back side of the magazine is scalloped, so that the top edge has a pair of pointed “ears” on each side. One magazine interferes with the transverse block in the frame (where the disconnector resides) on the left ear on the rear surface of the magazine. Another magazine that goes with the pistol has interference on the back side more centrally, just to the right side of the middle weld (I think it’s a weld) seam. I chalk that different locations up to slight variances in the magazine dimensions… even so, I’m not even sure of that assumption!

Just bizarre.

One hypothesis is that this particular pistol, Serial No. A42xxxx, is a little known, highly sought after and rare, variant that was one of a limited number produced for a classified government procurement contract of Model 52’s for a top secret special forces team operating in arctic climates. The tolerances are so close, that the pistols were only functional at or below zero degrees Fahrenheit. This prevented the possibility that, if a weapon were captured, the enemy would not be able to use it in above freezing temps. Brilliant thinking! My guess is that there is a SEAL Team code named “The Snow Seals”.

Anyway, back to reality… I’m going to check the apparently abnormal interference against another Model 52 to see whether what I’m seeing on the back side is truly abnormal or whether I need to investigate further.

Sorry for the drama. Posting all this in the off chance it helps someone else.

 

[RodJ]

MYSTERY SOLVED! All working properly. Everything in the cosmos is related. And the answer can be found in this thread.

Son of a gun…. Will post the answer later in case someone wants to guess.

Thank you ALL!