52-2 question

donadler

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I just bought a pre-model #39, a run of the mill 59, and a nice 52-2. The 39 and 59 are the typical SA/DA with the decocker. The 52-2 is modified to shoot S.A. only, which I expected, but the decocker does not seem to work as expected in that no matter which position the lever is in, the hammer stays back and a trigger pull will drop the hammer.

I assume this is not correct and needs attention. Am I right? Even though it is a target gun, and is SA only this seems problematic.
 

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Congratulations on the new family! A 52 has been on my "buy it if you see it" list for a long time. I'm talking about finding one in a gun store/pawn shop, or a local listing.

As much as I enjoy loading and shooting flush set full wadcutters for my 38 special snubs, it would be a good match for me. Looking forward to a range report on all 3, but most specially, the 52!

Good job!
 
As said above, no variation of the Model 52 ever made use of a decocker and the manual thumb safety is used as a hammer block only.

I looked at the picture you posted of your 52. Though it isn’t a very high resolution photo, I can still tell that something is very much NOT normal with your trigger. It is out much further than a 52-2 trigger typically ever sits forward. And although the picture doesn’t show great detail, that trigger does not appear to even be an OEM 52-2 trigger part — it really looks very much like a 39 or 59 trigger.

I wonder if you have any back story on this pistol. That trigger simply doesn’t look the way that S&W shipped them and it makes me wonder who swapped it out and why.

Can you post a better, more detailed picture in better light?
 
As said above, no variation of the Model 52 ever made use of a decocker and the manual thumb safety is used as a hammer block only.

I looked at the picture you posted of your 52. Though it isn’t a very high resolution photo, I can still tell that something is very much NOT normal with your trigger. It is out much further than a 52-2 trigger typically ever sits forward. And although the picture doesn’t show great detail, that trigger does not appear to even be an OEM 52-2 trigger part — it really looks very much like a 39 or 59 trigger.

I wonder if you have any back story on this pistol. That trigger simply doesn’t look the way that S&W shipped them and it makes me wonder who swapped it out and why.

Can you post a better, more detailed picture in better light?

i agree - the trigger does not look normal for a 52-2. For the sake of comparison, here is a shot of my 52-2 with the trigger in the normal position. As for the safety, it was designed to just cover the end of the firing pin to prevent an inadvertent discharge and to allow dry firing with no possibility of damage to parts.

John

 
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I think the trigger is stock but it does look like it's too far forward. The top screw adjustment is to cock the gun,(with slide off) raise screw, up until it fires ,then down a quarter turn. Dry firing the Mod 52 is ok.
 
When I am chamber checking a new round of handloads or I am checking feeding ability of a new to me magazine or one where I have adjusted feed lips, I will use the manual hammer block safety for safe handling with live ammo at home.

I am not of the camp that the safety should be willfully and purposely used for dry fire. I don’t on my 52’s or my 745’s or any of my single action only true PC Limited target pistols.

It’s my position that the hammer was purposely designed to smack the firing pin and NOT that safety drum. And a firing pin is easier to source and replace than that safety unit is.

I do all my dry firing with the safety off.
 
On the subject of the pictured trigger that seems wayyyy too far forward, it's worth mentioning that the 52-1 and 52-2* pistols are two-way adjustable when it comes to the trigger.

After a field strip and peering top-down in to the frame, you can see a hex head screw with a relatively large head and adjusting that screw should adjust the pre-travel of the trigger, the amount of free play pull you have before you are met with the resistance of the sear.

If this screw is adjusted -FAR- out of a typical setting, it can allow the trigger to be further forward than anyone is used to seeing on a Model 52-1/52-2.*

Personally, I cannot imagine even the far over-adjustment of this screw would allow the trigger to be that far out as shown in your picture. My initial guess is still what I think... I think some non-original parts may be in that pistol.

But better pictures in higher resolution and with more light and at a couple angles would tell more.



(**I leave the original no-dash 52 out of this simply because I have never had the pleasure of working with a 52 no-dash and these guns used a different trigger part and these pistols also had a hardly used and sometimes hardly known double-action ability that made little useful sense on a Bullseye target pistol, and that's why they were slightly redesigned for the 52-1/52-2 models.)
 
As for decocking, when you squeeze the trigger the hammer does not fall completely forward, when you raise the lever back you will see the hammer move to the full forward position.
 
To don, please dont use the supplied bushing wrench for any disassembly.
Just use a wooden dowel to depress the plunger and hand loosen.
Just swab the barrel out and go shoot. Every 52 I have ever seen shoots
perfect right out of the box. If it shoots, dont diddle with it.
 
Better (I hope) photos.
While the trigger does appear further forward than others, I doubt I will mess with it if it functions as it is. It is the smoothest and lightest trigger I have experienced, probably under two pounds. Now to find ammo!!
.
 

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A 3/4-inch 12-point socket is THE tool you should use to very carefully remove your 52 barrel bushing. And for reassembly, finger tight is absolutely tight enough. You do not need a socket wrench or any hand tool — just the socket in your hand. It will safely grab the bushing teeth and it will depress the pin for you also.

When you think 52 barrel bushing, think like the oil filter on a motorcycle. Hand tighten only and the only time you need a wrench or tool to remove it’s because some idiot previous owner put it on gorilla tight, which nobody should ever do.
 
Good pictures you added! With these I can see that it is indeed a real 52 trigger, but I have definitely never seen one that far out.
 
donadler, I'm curious. With the magazine removed,What is the stamp on the edge of the magazine well? My stamp was a C or an O.
 

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