Bearhunter 500
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How about the model 52 38 waddcutter gun? I am looking at one but have never shot one before. Anyone got any advice or comments on this gun?
model 52
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Bob M
Member
Bearhunter,
The Model 52 is one of the finest out-of-the-box center fire target pistols ever made. Very accurate, great trigger and nicely finished by S&W. Even my wife does very well shooting the 52. Only limitation is the flush mounted .38 wadcutter ammo. Not readily available and pricey, unless you reload.
Bob
The Model 52 is one of the finest out-of-the-box center fire target pistols ever made. Very accurate, great trigger and nicely finished by S&W. Even my wife does very well shooting the 52. Only limitation is the flush mounted .38 wadcutter ammo. Not readily available and pricey, unless you reload.
Bob
smithfan4152
Member
I purchased mine after reading the posts on the forum, and have never regretted the purchase. This was an out of the box ready for competition pistol. Back then they didn't have performance center guns, but this was one, they were all hand fitted and test fired to hold 10 ring accuracy at 50 yards, these were machine rest tested, most of them held 2- 2 3/4 inches.
Needless to say if you decide to get one I would go for the -2 model as they had the improved extractor over the early models in the no dash and -1 guns, plus you could mount the target weight which greatly eliminates any muzzle jump, which is not bad to begin with.
Needless to say if you decide to get one I would go for the -2 model as they had the improved extractor over the early models in the no dash and -1 guns, plus you could mount the target weight which greatly eliminates any muzzle jump, which is not bad to begin with.
Highly accurate, with the best out of the box trigger of any gun ever built. When you are "on", they all go in the "X" ring. Unfortunately, when you aren't "on", I tended to throw the misses out around the 7 ring. With my 1911 bullseye gun, if i threw one it would usually go into the 8 or 9 ring. I can't explain why, and maybe it was just me. I loved the gun, but just couldn't shoot it as well as I did my 1911's.
dkees
Member
I have a 52-2 and will not part with it. However, it is a specialized piece for bullseye/target only. Only holds 5 rounds, only shoots flush loaded wadcutters. I've never seen one in a holster, not for carry.
They are getting scarce but are a fine example of fit, finish, and performance from S&W.
They are getting scarce but are a fine example of fit, finish, and performance from S&W.
jrm53
Member
Model 52
I have a 52-2 that I have shot in PPC matches, NRA action shooting I have modified the mags to hold 6 rounds. This was the first S&W auto that I had shot for a long time. It got me used to the way an auto should be I got so used to it that when I was looking at a friends S&W auto I put the saftey off on it and the hammer dropped it scared the dickens out of me I almost dropped it and he said whats the matter? I said your guns broke, no they all do that! Not mine I said. You can not go wrong with a 52. Jeff
I have a 52-2 that I have shot in PPC matches, NRA action shooting I have modified the mags to hold 6 rounds. This was the first S&W auto that I had shot for a long time. It got me used to the way an auto should be I got so used to it that when I was looking at a friends S&W auto I put the saftey off on it and the hammer dropped it scared the dickens out of me I almost dropped it and he said whats the matter? I said your guns broke, no they all do that! Not mine I said. You can not go wrong with a 52. Jeff
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I purchased my 52-2 new in the late 1970's. It has the greatest 'feel' of any of my Smith autos. The model 39 style grip with the substantially curved back strap is the reason, IMO.
As a pure target pistol it is somewhat muzzle light. I believe the members that responded to this thread have experienced the negatives of a muzzle light slow fire handgun. Around the same time I had a PPC pistolsmith build a gun for me. It was a model 19 round butt, fitted with a 6", roughly one inch diameter, slab sided barrel and Bomar rib. While the trigger on this gun is like breaking glass at roughly 2lbs., it is still no match for the 52 trigger. I shoot the revolver better than the 52 and for me, the reason is muzzle weight. I can hold better with lots of weight out front.
Regardless, were I only able to keep one of the two, I would not hesitate in keeping the 52. Clearly a work of art, IMO.
As a pure target pistol it is somewhat muzzle light. I believe the members that responded to this thread have experienced the negatives of a muzzle light slow fire handgun. Around the same time I had a PPC pistolsmith build a gun for me. It was a model 19 round butt, fitted with a 6", roughly one inch diameter, slab sided barrel and Bomar rib. While the trigger on this gun is like breaking glass at roughly 2lbs., it is still no match for the 52 trigger. I shoot the revolver better than the 52 and for me, the reason is muzzle weight. I can hold better with lots of weight out front.
Regardless, were I only able to keep one of the two, I would not hesitate in keeping the 52. Clearly a work of art, IMO.
Jimmymac46,
"work of art"....
I can't tell you how many times I've said that very thing. IMHO the 52 IS the "Cats Rear"
I have a 52 and 52-2 and hope to "accumulate" a few more for no other reason than my feeling that they are true pieces of art built with care.
Bearhunter500,
If you elect to buy a 52, you can buy a weight for the front end (knock-offs, patterned after the original factory weight are readily available, and about $40.00) which may address some of the "issues" some have with the gun "being a bit tough to follow-through with". It's not universal, I had just a couple rounds "stove-pipe" on me and with a little (not a lot) of concentration I had gun functioning like it was intended...now please do not confuse function with drilling single hole groups...I'm not EVER going to be able to make the 52 do what it is capable of...it's that good.
Bob
"work of art"....
I can't tell you how many times I've said that very thing. IMHO the 52 IS the "Cats Rear"
I have a 52 and 52-2 and hope to "accumulate" a few more for no other reason than my feeling that they are true pieces of art built with care.
Bearhunter500,
If you elect to buy a 52, you can buy a weight for the front end (knock-offs, patterned after the original factory weight are readily available, and about $40.00) which may address some of the "issues" some have with the gun "being a bit tough to follow-through with". It's not universal, I had just a couple rounds "stove-pipe" on me and with a little (not a lot) of concentration I had gun functioning like it was intended...now please do not confuse function with drilling single hole groups...I'm not EVER going to be able to make the 52 do what it is capable of...it's that good.
Bob
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