More forgiving: S&W 52 or accurized 1911 ?

[MSC]

I currently shoot just .22 bullseye in a league, and want to expand into centerfire. Our range hosts 1800 events where you use a .22 and any centerfire. The common response I've gotten is to use an accurized 1911. I've always been intrigued by the Smith model 52 however, but have heard about it being not so forgiving.
Can anyone that's shot both give a comparison? I have a local smith that can build me a suitable 1911 for just a bit more than what I'll pay for a 52.
Thanks for any feedback.

 

[MSC]

I currently shoot just .22 bullseye in a league, and want to expand into centerfire. Our range hosts 1800 events where you use a .22 and any centerfire. The common response I've gotten is to use an accurized 1911. I've always been intrigued by the Smith model 52 however, but have heard about it being not so forgiving.
Can anyone that's shot both give a comparison? I have a local smith that can build me a suitable 1911 for just a bit more than what I'll pay for a 52.
Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Ignatz]

If you plan on venturing off to a 2700...You need a .45. If you like the idea of a bigger bullet touching the next higher scoring ring easier...you need a .45. If this is the only place you intend to ever shoot at, then a 52 is fine for 1800's. Some people over the years shot nothing but indoor NRA gallery (.22 and centerfire) and used 52's as there centerfire choice. 50 foot targets. Are you going to shoot 50 yards?

 

[K-9]

Ignatz raises THE question. Fifty yard shooting. As already mentioned, you'll need a .45 for the 2700's. Buying a 1911 instead of the 52 will save some money. 1911 magazines are much cheaper and readily available. However, it's not easy,(or cheap) to build a pistol that has B-E accuracy at 50 yds. A typical B-E 1911 will run from $1500-$2000 new. And you can also put a Marvel kit on a 1911 frame and have another very accurate .22. You can't do that with a 52. Good luck and have fun. My 2 cents.

 

[shovelwrench]

A 38 revolver is cheaper yet, look at gunbrokers for used PPC guns and your in. I got one for 500$ and its a fantastic shooter.

But, I prefer my 1911 in .45, if this is the route you want to go, the other guys are right. 50yds or 25yds, at my range we don't shoot 50yd bullseye, I don't even know how my.45 shoots at 50yds.

It will shoot less than a 3/4 hole at 25yds from a ransom rest.

 

[CGM]

I have both, the 52 and a 1911. I like the 1911 better...not that the 52 isnt a great gun. I just have never mastered it to the point that I feel good enough with it.

If you go on to competing in 2700's, you are better of with the 22 and the 45.

 

[PPCSHOOTER]

K-9 WAS RIGHT ON THE MONEY. NOTHING ELSE NEEDED. JP

 

[shovelwrench]

OH,
I also have a 1911 in 38 wadcutter, I prefer the .45 though.


You could just get a 952, can't go wrong there. Gunbroker has em for 1700$ in long slide, 1250-1500 in 5".

 

[MSC]

No 2700's anytime in the near future for me. I've got two little boys, and I can't justify giving up a good portion of a weekend day to shoot. My current league (as well as 900's and 1800's) can be done in the evening, which works out nice.
My range is 25yd, so that would be the max distance I could possibly shoot at.
I do like the 952, but I've got a hard $1,000 cap on what I want to spend. A local smith can build me a 1911 (Sprngfld Armory-based) that will shoot <2" @ 50yds, for $950. I was kinda leaning that way, especially after I read so many posts about the difficulty in shooting the M52. I currently shoot a Pardini SP for .22, but will likely move to a more 1911-ish grip. One for a better match on centerfire, and two, because the grip angle seems to irratate my elbow.
Anyhow, I appreciate all the great comments. Need to just digest it all and decide. Thanks again!

 

[Roddy B]

I have a 52-2 & a Colt GoldCup.

The Colt is more forgiving.

However when everything is going well & I remember to constantly follow through after the shot breaks, I get higher scores with the 52

 

[LSP 972]

MSC,

Not sure what you mean by "forgiving"...
I have a RRA ball gun, that I load for, and for a while I had the use of a 52-2 and all the W-W .38 target wadcutters I could shoot.

I definitely preferred the .38 over the .45. The thing to consider is ammunition availability. You can load satisfactory ammo for either caliber; but the average 52 is going to take more effort at the loading bench to find out what it likes best than the average "tuned" 1911; probably. And I suspect that GOOD 148gr HBWCs are as expensive, or more so, than good 185 SWCs these days.

I too shoot strictly indoors, so the long line is not a consideration for me. If I was starting from scratch with a centerfire pistol (for indoor/50 foot or 25 yard matches only), as you seem to be doing, I'd go with a 52.

 

[PeterM]

Originally posted by LSP 972:
MSC,

Not sure what you mean by "forgiving"...

I've seen that term used by several posters especially in regards to the Model 52. What does it mean?

 

[MSC]

Forgiving... Basically, meaning how much tolerance a gun has for a less-than-perfectly executed shot. Whether it ends up being an 8 or a 6

 

[PeterM]

Originally posted by MSC:
Forgiving... Basically, meaning how much tolerance a gun has for a less-than-perfectly executed shot. Whether it ends up being an 8 or a 6

I thought that must be it. I'll have to agree with what I've read: With the 52, you're either on or off. Not much in-between.