S&W 52-2

[Mac1184]

I was fortunate enough recently to find a nice model 52. It does not look to have been fired much, if at all outside the factory. Based on the serial number it was a 1982 production.Unfortunately, I did not get a box or manual and only 1 mag with the gun. I am looking for a manual and I will start a search for a mag that does not require a loan.
Quick trip to the range was a good news/bad news deal. First 5 rounds with some Win WC that appear to be from a military order (brown box with WCC and a long alpha - numeric code) went into one ragged hole at 25 yards, Subsequent groups with Rem. target and Zero were not quite as good but still around 1 to 1.5 inches - mostly my fault.
The bad news is I got a FTF every mag, often on the 3rd round. The bullet hung up on the barrel hood or rear of the barrel. It fell free when I dropped the mag and then the pistol cycled fine when I reloaded the round and fired the last 2 or 3.
I have read 2 threads on the forum and picked up some good info. I measured the feed lips on the mag (plastic follower) and the rear measurement is .343-344, but the front is .376-.377. Based on the other posts, that looks like the most likely culprit. The measurement to aim for looks to be around .356.Any tips on how to proceed?

 

[DocB]

Great gun! They do cycle slow. The ammo has to be just about perfect for the gun to get it not to fail to eject from time to time. You sort of get a "feel" for it after shooting for a while. Good luck finding a manual. I've never seen one on EBAY but am sure they come up. . .just not often. When I picked up mine about a month ago, it had everything with it. Is it a 52-2, but shipped in June of 1968 according to Roy. They only came with 2 mags as far as I know, and they are expensive. Here's a photo of mine. The stuff that came with it is worth almost as much as the gun. A 1982 surely had a different box, but maybe the same manual and wrench.

 

[Mac1184]

Yours looks like a real find. A little odd to me is the ejection on mine was perfect every time, even putting the brass is a neat little pile about 18" away. Plus, it always fed the last 3 rounds, counting the one that FTF and I had to put back in the mag.

 

[Engineer1911]

As a former M52-2 owner, I remember my '1982' box being similar to the 1968 box shown in the picture. When shooting Remington factory 148 gr HBWC (1 box of very expensive ammo), the empty brass ejected about 4 feet before hitting the floor. My reloads ejected about 2 feet so I knew I wasn't harming my gun.

OH, for the glory days of 1980's -- eagle vision and lightning reflexes! Or so I remember now.

 

[505Gibbs]

Send me a PM with your email and I'll send a PDF of the manual!

 

[Sevens]

There is a very nice, clean box on Gunbroker now that will be very similar to your 1982 production 52-2.

It's not the classic two-piece box in this thread, it's the flip-type box with the corrugated interior carton.

The one for sale now is newer, late production from the 1990's likely. My 1982 pistol runs (basically) the same box but mine is LSI marked if I recall correctly.

I can't give you the GB auction number or a link because it's against the forum rules but I could PM that if you cannot find it with a simple search.

 

[Mike Z]

My 52 loved WW 148 gr match. It shot everything else just so-so. Also we always used to keep them well lubricated.

 

[Leon Narozny]

MAC 184....You are going to pay $100.00 for magazines. Period. Your specs on magazines...front lips .356 rear... .328-.348. Load your own ammo
as match ammo is almost non existent and when you find it its $30.00
a box. NEVER DROP YOUR MAGAZINES!!!!!! You own a true classic, one of the finest shooting target guns ever made. I never tire shooting mine
even with the occasional extractor failure, and the failure to feed.
Its a link to the past to me, shooting bullseye competition.

 

[Mac1184]

Update on the model 52. I adjusted the mag feed lips just a little - down to .367) (I was too timid to go very far given the replacement cost). Took some factory match ammo and some of my reloads with the bullets reseated to flush with the case mouth, and the gun ate them all! 50 + rounds with no issues and great accuracy, even with my bad vision and pollen issues today. Thanks for all of the help and the manual from Mike.

 

[Ed Fowler]

Congratulations, I am finding out that when you see 52 or 952 on a Smith and Wesson you can ask for no more.