Model 52 - Same Old Problem

[sraney]

Well, time to take back all of the bad things I said about the 52 wanting to malfunction. Since I'm too stubborn to reload, a couple of you recommended Federal Gold Medal wadcutter. I finally got around to shooting some Gold Medal today (at 67¢/round, counting shipping from Able Ammo). It completely transformed the gun! Since I've owned the gun, I've only used the cheap Fiocchi or S&B wadcutters. With the Gold Medal, the gun felt completely different (still using the 7# Wolff spring). Even though there is (I think) only about 20 fps difference in the muzzle velocity of the ammo (approximately 690 fps vs. 710 fps for the Federal), the pistol has a noticeable increase in "snap," and it functions absolutely perfectly, at least for the first 50 rounds. (My pocketbook couldn't stand any more .38 caliber fun for one day.) Thanks to the the forum members for your input. I'm a happy guy--it's like getting a new pistol. Happy holidays to all.

Steve

 

[11e40]

my 52-2 will not cycle w/2.7 bull. 148 hbwc. runs fine w/3.0 bull. or 231. you really need to load your own & find what the gun likes. also make sure your not limpwristing the pistol.

 

[Kirmdog]

Steve


Glad to hear your 52 is running well now! Like many have said, they are picky about ammo. Now that you have a factory load that shoots good it's time to get into handloading for your 52.

Kirmdog

 

[colt_saa]

Glad that you got yours working.

My 52 has been pretty much flawless for as long as I can remember. I have a Bomar rib on mine and mostly it sees my hand loads which are a tad hotter than most to overcome the added mass. The only factory ammunition it has ever shot is the Winchester or Federal Match and it worked fine with both.

I have never tired the Fiocchi or S&B wad cutters in any firearm. Actually, I can not recall shooting either brand of ammo in any caliber.

 

[MADTN]

I own two 52-2, and both had exactly the same feeding problems.
I purchased 7# Wolff springs for both, and it is much better now, although the problems are not 100% solved.
Best results with the factory ammo I am able to find are with the Sellier & Bellot and witn the Magtech 148 gr WC. With Fiocchi, the failure rate is close to 100% !

MA

 

[7cstevan]

Just bought my first 52-2 Last wk.
FYI, I've never had much luck with any Fiocchi ammo in any of my Berretta 9mms or Sig 380's--not really bad ammo, just not very good either despite their rep for being a high end ammo.
So far I've run new Rem 38 spl wadcutter and some 20 year old SW Nyclad wadcutter and it cycles perfectly with both. I also just a had a local reloader put up about 700 rounds for me with brass I had saved up. Haven't tried it yet, but he likes to load about 10% hotter (about 800 fps) than the factory "mid range" loads that my SW paperwork says is standard for 52's. That jives with what the other guys on this post say. My reloader puts up his load for a bunch of bullseye shooters, and he is one too so I think he is on the right track. I'll be shooting his reloads this Thurs. so I'll let you know how they work out.
PS, I shot both 2 handed while sighting my new toy, and single handed for NRA Gallery bullseye last wk at my club and the gun went "boom" 100% of the time with the ammo's mentioned above--no alibi's at all
Steve

 

[Model 15-4ever]

This is like a support group for Model 52 owners. I've wanted one of these for 30 years and finally found a nice near-new 52-2 two months ago. Took it out and it was incredibly accurate (299/300 on the NMC), but functioning was horrible. Twenty percent of fired cases had the same exact malfunction as the OP experienced: brass trapped between the breechface and the barrel hood. Another 40% of the fired brass ejected but was crushed. This was with Remington, Winchester and Federal factory.

I called S&W and they asked whether I was the original owner. They advised to send the gun back and if repairable they would send me an invoice for the cost. Two weeks later to the day, a box arrives back from them. Inside is my 52-2, with a note "replaced ejector, test fired 15 rounds, N/C". The label from a box of Federal Gold Medal was taped to the box flap.

Works fine now. What a great company S&W is. They'll fix a gun that was discontinued nearly 20 years ago.

 

[Jimmymac46]

My two cents. Handgunner covered it nicely, don't shoot the same loads you would use in a target PPC revolver or similar target loads. The 52 is designed to shoot mid-range wadcutters. That means, 800 fps or there about. That means 2.8 grains of Bullseye minimum. It is a 50 yard target pistol and consequently needs a little more energy.

Another trait of the 52 is a very slow cycling of the slide, and if you don't keep your wrist, grip and sight picture solid throughout the entire cycle, including the return to battery, you risk a malfunction. The problem, IMO, is procedure, not equipment.

Lastly, when reloading, make certain your full length sizer die is designed for an auto, meaning it will undersize slightly or at least back to factory mid-range wadcutter specs. The chamber of the 52 is tight and a slightly over-sized cartridge in an undersized chamber could add to extraction friction, slowing the slide somewhat. Just some suggestions.

 

[7cstevan]

Just a follow up to my last post on this. On my second day at the range I had some failures to feed--the front of the round jammed at the TOP of the barrel, but it was ejecting OK

But, I hadn't cleaned the gun from when I'd bought it a wk earlier.
Field stripped it, cleaned it with spray cleaner and small brushes, blew it out with compressed air, polished a few spots on the feed ramp with 1500 grit wet or dry paper on a pencil tip, cleaned it all over again and oiled it well.

Runs flawlessly now either one hand or two hand hold, both with and without the bbl. wt. Still like the other guys say this is with reloads loaded to about 800 FPS. The paperwork with the gun says the original Smith load was down around 750 fps. so I'd have to agree slightly hot loads help.

Just got my Aimtech mount in and red dot mounted and sighted in, then ran out of time-now to see how I do this wk at my bullseye league night!

Keep you posted

Enjoy!

 

[Dew]

I like 3 to 3.1 grains of W231. Works just fine.

 

[allinthexring]

Model 52-2 ammo

try NSK Sales Ltd.

 

[andyo5]

It sounds like maybe:
1. Your extracter is reluctant to let go of the empty cases. Maybe the hook dimensions are too tight.
2. Too strong a recoil spring.
3. Something wrong with the ejector?

 

[ullrichj]

Any suggestions on where one may obtain a spanner wrench for the 52-2. I have looked a few places and been told by S&W that only option may be machine shop! Thanks in advance for any help!!! JU

 

[TSQUARED]

Any suggestions on where one may obtain a spanner wrench for the 52-2. I have looked a few places and been told by S&W that only option may be machine shop! Thanks in advance for any help!!! JU

I never use the spanner wrench my 52 performs fine with finger tight adjustment of the collet.

 

[TSQUARED]

With respect to ammo choices. I have not used Fiocchi wadcutter ammo in 38 S&W but have used them in 32 S&W Long - they were very mild. I have used 2.8 gr. Bullseye with Remin gton 148 gr. LHBWC and Rem 1.5 primer and have never expereinced a feeding problem.

 

[DHENRY]

Very often (as has been stated) it is a spring issue.
Don