52-2 questions

[Logangrimnar]

I definitely will try it with a real target soon. I was going to just try it at 25 yards but my range had a training going on and put me on the rifle range so I figured I'd give it a go

 

[mikemyers]

I know it's not precise, but in my head I double or halve the group size to think how I might have done at the other distance. I figure if I can shoot an 8" group at 50, I can do half of that or better at 25.

Shooting at 50 for me is still a real challenge!

 

[elpac3]

The model 52 can be one of the more difficult semi autos to shoot well. It is very sensitive to grip pressure and requires prefect follow through. Slight changes in grip pressure or follow through from round to round will yield different results.

Shooting the 52 well is all about doing everything the same every time.

Good luck

 

[Logangrimnar]

Yep, I definitely think its gonna be a journey but I'm excited. I feel that learning to shoot this pistol well will make me better with every other pistol

 

[Tom S.]

There is a lot of info on this forum about these great pistols and their persnickety behavior. One thing I and others have noted is how ammo dependent they are. Literally .1 grain of powder made a sizeable change in group size for me. Many have reported favorite loads and you might want to check them out if you plan to reload, which I highly recommend. Also of note, Hollow Base Wad Cutters (HBWC) seem to perform better over double end versions. My guess about the latter is at the low pressure generated, HBWC bullets expand better to fill the lands and grooves of the barrel.

I've been thinking about ordering a Clark barrel and bushing for my 52. The benefit is the rate twist is proven to be more conducive to .38 caliber bullets. I don't know if it would make the gun more accurate, but it "may" make it more forgiving with loads and bullet types.

 

[mikemyers]

........Shooting the 52 well is all about doing everything the same every time.........

Two thoughts - if one were to "do the same thing every time", results should be repeatable, regardless of whether they are good or bad. As I see it, that's a starting point. From what I've read, it should be a firm grip, and follow-through is essential.

My next thought - once one reaches this point, and groups are pretty much the same, what to change, one thing at a time, to see if the groups get bigger or smaller.

There are so many things:
Is your trigger finger in the best position?
Would it be better to grip tighter or looser?
Is your grip in the ideal position?
Would a barrel weight help or hurt?
Is your stance the best for this gun?

When all this settles down to hopefully something acceptable, next question is which bullet and load be best? There are lots of choices in pre-made cartridges. There are lots of powders that are supposed to work in reloading. What powder charge is best?

I have a feeling that there is no "one size fits all", as different people have different weights, muscle ability, age, and so on. If I find something that is perfect for me, would it be perfect for others, and vice versa.


One limit that people might have, is sights. I'm pretty sure that my eyesight limited how well I could see the sights. Now that the eyesight has been improved, maybe this will help me shoot better. Then there's the choice between steel sights and optics.

No matter how good any of the above are, if one is disturbing the gun when firing it, all the above effort is wasted. The "ball and dummy" drill ought to answer that question. And lots and lots of dry-fire, to be able to fire the gun the same way every time.