Model 52 barrel diameter?

[Jeff423]

I'm getting ready to start casting bullets. I seem to recall an article that said wadcutters for a model 52 should be .356. Can anyone confirm the "correct" diameter?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[Jeff423]

I'm getting ready to start casting bullets. I seem to recall an article that said wadcutters for a model 52 should be .356. Can anyone confirm the "correct" diameter?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[butchd]

I've not seen that. I shoot .358 HBWC through my 52 with good results.

 

[Forester]

If you can't slug the bore to get the exact diameter, you are probably better off erring on the side of .357 or .358. If .356 ends up being too small, you will be cleaning lots of lead from your barrel.

 

[Sgt Preston]

Sgt Preston here. Jeff everything I've ever read about loads for the S&W model 52 have listed the bullet diameter as .358 for lead bullets. The .357 diameters are used for jacketed bullets in other 38's. The .355 is listed as for the 380 AUTO / 9mm bullets. The .356 diameter is listed as being used with 38 Super Autos. I know that Ven Fatman on our forum loads for the model 52. You might want to e-mail him off line & ask him to reply to this topic "on line" so that his comments are recorded & saved here. Hope this helps. Sgt Preston USMC LLA

 

[BE Mike]

Quoting an article by Gil Hebard called "The Smith & Wesson 52" from his book "The Pistol Shooter's Treasury, where Gil did extensive testing of reloads for the gun he says, "Trends that became evident in the tests indicated that .356" was the best bullet size...heavier charges, such as 2.8 or 2.9 grains of Bullseye...printed better targets than the lighter loads; light taper crimping (.370"-.372")is superior to roll or heavy (.367") taper crimp."

 

[al27023]

Just for info - my 52 bore is 0.3445-0.3459 and groove runs 0.353 -0.3538. Not the easiest to measure - requires a gauge block on an angle to measure the 5 groove diameter. My info came from an article by Homer S. Powley, I think from an American Rifleman of unknown vintage. I was surprised at the small diameter in the auto versus revolver, which in some of mine run up to 0.358".
Al

 

[handgunner356]

I was told by several people, and Gil was one of them, that S&W actually used a 9mm barrel in the 52. But I also had the best results with swagged lead HBWCs' sized .358". I found hardcast bullets required higher charges to push through the gun, resulting in more recoil. Even hardcast sized .356" didn't shoot as well in my gun as the softer .358" HBWCs'.