S&W 52-2

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wallizs

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New to this site! Just picked up 52-2 for bulls eye shooting and I purchased a BME scope mount for it to fit a Ultra dot scope 30mm. I fired the gun with this set up but found it to be inconsistent with regards to cycling. So I purchased a lighter recoil spring from Wolf. I'm having trouble removing the old spring, any good advise would be welcome. The load I'm using is what I found in my Hornady loading manual. Cut brass to proper length with a Hornady 148 gr. hbwc and 3.3grs of 231 seated and crimped to the top of the brass.
 
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The way I disassemble my M52 is to depress the spring loaded pin and unscrew the bushing sufficiently until it will swing clear of the slide. The spring can then be removed.

The 3.3 gr of 231 sounds high for the M-52. It will vary based on your pistol but normally 2.7 or 2.8 gr of Bullseye and 3.0 gr of 231 are used with the M-52. You may need to adjust for your particular pistol.
 
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Thanks I took it apart and cleaned the gun last week after shooting it and it was pretty easy, however I was trying to remove the recoil spring and seemed stuck like it was threaded on or something. Tonight I just ripped into again and figured it out. The load was in my hornady loading manual and was 750 fps but I guess I will need to mess with load some more. Got the new spring in hope it works ok thank much for your input. I suppose most everyone that read my post wonder what this was all about but I'm new to this game. Thanks again
 
Grat gun. I have had mine for 6 or so months but am only now getting into shooting it as I am reloading .38's.

I did my first tear dwn on the gun last week. I went the remove the bushing first using the wrench tool method but never again. In the future I will remove the slide, remove the spring and guide rod, than remove the bushing.

My spring was tight on the guide rod but came off with some careful finesse.
 
Is your BME mount on the frame or slide? If its the slide mounted version, that extra weight on the recoiling slide will affect the function of the gun and it may be a factor here. Did you have functioning problems prior to mounting the red dot?

And it is a great gun so how about some pictures?

DSC_0252.jpg
 
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I have been shooting a 52-2 for a couple of years now, I am loading Berrys DE .38 wad cutters with titegroup powder. Beautiful gun to shoot and accurate as you could want. Secret is cutting brass to correct length. I keep all of my 52 ammo in red plastic box's from Berry's. Red box for me means 52 use only use other colors for other 38's. One slightly long round will prevent loading in magazine, or functioning.
 
I just acquired a Model 52-2 for club level bullseye. Added a BME mount and a Burris FastFire III. Liking it a lot. We shoot National Gallery and Short Course with rimfire and centerfire. I was using a S&W 945-1 for the centerfire but I am sure I'll do much better with the lower recoil on the Model 52. My rimfire is a Ruger MKIII Hunter.

I went to the range with it today for the first time and shot Sellier and Bellot and Federal with no issues other than the slide failed to lock after the last round a couple of times.

Any advice on the slide not locking as well as recommended factory ammo will be appreciated. I will scour the forum for load info and other tips.

walton-feep-albums-feep-s-artillery-picture9855-model-52-2-burris-fastfire-iii.jpg
 
The problem might be caused by the lip of the follower in the magazine.

After the last round is fired, the magazine follower rises and the lip engages the slide stop. easy fix, just like the 1911.
 
Thanks MisterGizmo. I have five magazines. I numbered them when I got back from the range so I will keep notes and see if the issue is with specific magazines.
 
Happy to say I shot my best centerfire round to date the first time out with my M52-2. It is such a pleasure to shoot.

I did have two fail to feeds but fortunately in the slow fire stage. Both times the rounds never came out of the magazine. I have numbered the magazines and so will begin working on those that seem to be problems. I ordered some mag springs from Wolff and will give them all a good cleaning and check.
 
Thanks! I did order some reduced power springs as well. I absolutely need the RDS though as my vision has several issues.
 
Can anyone recommend snap caps that will work with the Model 52? I use some Pacmayrs in my revolvers but they won't load in the 52 for obvious reasons. Is it OK to dry fire without caps in the 52?
 
I replaced the stock recoil spring with a 7lb Wolff reduced power and replaced the magazine spring in the magazine that was acting up with a higher power Wolff magazine spring. 50 rounds today at the range and no issues with cycling or the offending magazine. I am starting to really bond with my Model 52-2. Shooting my best centerfire scores of the season with it the last two weeks. S&B factory ammo is cycling fine.
 
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Updated photo of my Model 52-2 with Burris Fastfire III and Herrett stocks. Shooting my best scores of the season with this as my centerfire pistol. Shot a 258 on the 25 yard course last week which considering I started in April after 35 years away from Bullseye is good.

walton-feep-albums-feep-s-artillery-picture10375-m52-2-w-mustang.jpg
 
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52-2

Hello Gang, I have a 52-2 that needs some work and I would like to
find new Barrel for it. Need to find Smith that works on the Model 52-2
These days. Seems that S&W does not work on them anymore.
Mayhaw
 
May I ask what type of mount you used for your red dot?

Thanks

Walton Feep said:
Updated photo of my Model 52-2 with Burris Fastfire III and Herrett stocks. Shooting my best scores of the season with this as my centerfire pistol. Shot a 258 on the 25 yard course last week which considering I started in April after 35 years away from Bullseye is good.

walton-feep-albums-feep-s-artillery-picture10375-m52-2-w-mustang.jpg
Click to expand...
 
52-2

You should never try to remove the bushing until after the slide has been removed from the pistol. Then the Recoil spring and Guide rod are removed from the assembly. You can then easily remove the bushing and barrel. Assembly is in reverse, it is not the easiest thing to get the guide rod seated properly, but with some care and patience you will succeed.


jepp2 said:
The way I disassemble my M52 is to depress the spring loaded pin and unscrew the bushing sufficiently until it will swing clear of the slide. The spring can then be removed.

The 3.3 gr of 231 sounds high for the M-52. It will vary based on your pistol but normally 2.7 or 2.8 gr of Bullseye and 3.0 gr of 231 are used with the M-52. You may need to adjust for your particular pistol.
Click to expand...
 
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