New to me 52-2
- Thread starter PaulDoc
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PaulDoc
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thank you Sevens for your insight. I'm very excited to have found one of these models.Great tip with the 12-point socket but let's be clear — the socket for a Model 52 should be used just like an oil filter wrench for your vehicle. You only need that frustrating tool when you are tasked with removing a filter that some IDIOT before you installed and grossly over-tightened. This is where the 12-point 3/4" socket is superb. Use the socket to un-do the idiot's gorilla installation.
After that, finger tight and no more. Frankly, you don't need to be messing with the bushing all too often anyway. Keep in mind that those threads are extremely fine — if you cross thread them you will have likely turned a fantastic machine in to a parts donor.
Other tips for your first 52:
—the trigger is two-way adjustable, for pre-travel and for over travel. If you have never adjusted a trigger, it's relatively simple UNTIL it isn't. Myself, I find fantastic advantage when the over travel is adjusted very finely where I want it but note that if you adjust it too closely, two negative results can happen. First is that what feels perfect in the basement at your bench may not actually work during live fire, mostly due to the ability for the trigger to properly reset. So adjust it at home but be prepared to fine-tune at the range under shooting conditions to ensure that it operates 100% of the time.
The other pitfall is that your adjustment screw can migrate under live fire, and if you have it "just right" but it moves on it's own, it can lead to function issues. I use just a pin-dot of blue loc-tite.
Adjusting the over travel is a little annoying in that you have a magazine disconnect safety, so it is mag in mag out mag in mag out when adjusting.
Model 52's are world famous for being exquisitely accurate and also for radically punishing any shooter's poor marksmanship habits. Follow through is perhaps more necessary with this handgun than any other I'm aware of. You'll look like a genius when you are on your game and you may look like a rookie if you aren't doing your part 100%.
Truth: at the end of the second magazine I ever sent through my first 52, my prevailing thought above all other thoughts was, "…oh God, this gun is out of production, owning ONE of these is not enough!"
That's how much I love the Model 52.
Sevens said it all except,,,,,,,, if you find a magazine priced under $100 …. Buy it. They are hard to come by.
batman4706
Member
I have a 52, 52-1 and two 52-2's and I still look at ads for the 52 series, one of my favorite pistols to shoot.
donk52
Member
One thing about removing the barrel bushing, I find the easiest way is once the bushing plate is loose enough, rotate it over the plunger, you won't have to fuss with it while rotating on or off.
Barrel bushing is one of first things I look at on 52s. If it shows signs of tool being used on it , I look elsewhere. Don't want pistol whose owner uses channel locks to work on his pocket watch.
If the 52 is a pocket watch then the INCLUDED sheet steel piece of flop factory "wrench" is a cheap chinese pair of vise-grips.
The original S&W issued and included tool is such junk that it's an insult when near a Model 52.
It also makes no good sense whatsoever if you compare it to the many decades and variants of SAT's they shipped with revolvers and with the Model 52 also. The exquisite old school SAT is nothing whatsoever like the OEM bushing wrench, which is trash.
I've never seen them marked, but I cannot be sure they never did. The 52 stocks are the same (exactly) as the 39, 39-2 and also (arguably) the same as the 439/539/639.
Here's why I put it that way…
39/39-2 have a flat-top edge on the right side stock panel as no 39 or 52 had an ambi safety lever. However when the 2nd Gens came out, shortly after debut, ambi became an option and new right side stock panels were clipped to allow for the right side paddle.
Of course the 52 never had a right side paddle, it wasn't even an option however eventually at some point in the 1980's (best I can date it…) the 52's started shipping with the ambi-friendly right side stock panel.
It's a very slight difference but you can spot it if you look at many 52-2 pistols.
Anyone that did not know this? Go check your pistols now!
USBP SW
Member
I don't know if it was covered before but the model 52 is very particular in the ammo you feed it. Flush seated wadcutters are the only rounds that will not cause problems. If lead is exposed, the rounds will hang up in the magazine and will not find their way into the chamber. However, they are extraordinarily accurate and loads of fun to shoot. They also instill good shooting techniques, since they are very unforgiving. They have a long barrel time and long recoil.
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PaulDoc
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That is great information Sevens. You can tell you are very knowledgeable and passionate about this model. I have only had mine one day and I can't take my eyes off it. I'll post some pictures when I get it all cleaned. I may have to PM you when it comes to trigger adjustment. That's a bit over my head at this moment. It's like a new car and I'm trying to figure it out.I've never seen them marked, but I cannot be sure they never did. The 52 stocks are the same (exactly) as the 39, 39-2 and also (arguably) the same as the 439/539/639.
Here's why I put it that way…
39/39-2 have a flat-top edge on the right side stock panel as no 39 or 52 had an ambi safety lever. However when the 2nd Gens came out, shortly after debut, ambi became an option and new right side stock panels were clipped to allow for the right side paddle.
Of course the 52 never had a right side paddle, it wasn't even an option however eventually at some point in the 1980's (best I can date it…) the 52's started shipping with the ambi-friendly right side stock panel.
It's a very slight difference but you can spot it if you look at many 52-2 pistols.
Anyone that did not know this? Go check your pistols now!
Paul, please go shoot the gun. Come back and tweek later.
I fought off the interest and urge for a 52 for something on the order of two decades before I took the leap of faith. It grabbed me immediately, and in two stages. The first time I handled one and then the first time I shot mine.
Here is my Model 52 origin story:
S&W Mod 52: my biggest regret in handgunning
Here is my Model 52 origin story:
S&W Mod 52: my biggest regret in handgunning
AJ
US Veteran
I passed on one in 1988 that belonged to a friend. He had shot competition with it in Calif. Could have bought it for $350. I held off buying one until last year after shooting a friends. I was into M1911's for IPSC and Bullseye. Now I shoot my 52-1 almost as much.
Grayfox
US Veteran
Another point about ammo. If you reload, the 52 likes brass trimmed to minimum length. Longer brass may have feed issues. 
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PaulDoc
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I will definitely shoot it first. For all I know it could be perfect. You all have been great! It's nice to get lost in this world of S&W, and have so many share their knowledge. Doc
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PaulDoc
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That's a great story. Your background and mine are very similar. I can't wait to shoot it.
