S&W Model 52-2 ammo (handload) & grip question

[JayHutch]

Gang,

Well I've had my Model 52 for about a year now I assumed the initial lust would wear off, like it always does, and that beautiful gun shooting wadcutters only would get its final coat of EEZOX and become a safe queen. NOT.

The Model 52 is hands down the most amazing semi auto pistol ever made by S&W. Some of the newer ones come close. A stainless performance center 952 comes to mind, but . . . what a FUN gun to shoot. If you've never shot one, you have to try it. When you do, you WILL be searching for one. Very tough to find.

Question #1: I'm finally out of the 6 boxes of Winchester Western Match .38 wadcutters that came with the pistol and trying my hand at some hand loads. No problem with dimensions, precision and load data. I know the COAL and tiny bit above flush and slight roll crimp to achieve as close to exact as factory. But my question is DEWC or HBWC? I can buy the DEWC a couple of places locally. The HBWC is a mail order item. Wondering if the Model 52 guru's here have an opinion. Are they the same, or are the HCWC any better? Does the typical 2.7 to 2.9 Bullseye load change with DE vs HB wadcutters? Any pressure diff?

Question #2 (PIC's included): I found some amazing stag grips that are stunning on the 52. Only problem is they are a little thick (OK a lot thick) and change the PERFECT ergonomics of the Model 52 just a little too much. I have small hands so even more an effect on me. QUERY: Is there any reason the thick stag grips couldn't be sanded down from the back to make them thinner? Say on a good belt sander of proper width? Obviously they'd need to be perfectly flat on the frame side. Not sure how to do it and don't wanna ruin them. I know some traditionalists will feel only walnut should furnish this classic pistol, but ya gotta admit these look pretty good. They are just a little thick.

Any advice? Be gentle. - hutch

 

[saleen322]

52 Smith

I used to shoot Bullseye powder but it seemed dirty so about 15 years ago, I went to Clays and VV N310. The Clays (and N310) was accurate and cleaner but I am having great luck with WST in my 45 so I started trying loads for the 38 with WST and it shows promise. I have a rest that I test loads at 50 yards with and the DEWC seems to have more flexibility with velocity where the HBWC shoots very well if you hit the sweet spot but too slow and you get some yaw and too fast and they get inaccurate. In my gun, 2.4 Clays does well and the clock is in the 770 fps range. Good luck with your 52 and I hope this helps.

 

[grif684]

If you sand down the backside of the grips you run the risk of sanding off the shoulder inside the grip screw holes that keep the grips tight against the frame, once the shoulder is made too thin, the grips will be loose, or worst case, with the shoulder gone, the grips will just fall off, don't do it.......the grip screw holes are not the same I.D. all the way through......

 

[JayHutch]

If you sand down the backside of the grips you run the risk of sanding off the shoulder inside the grip screw holes that keep the grips tight against the frame, once the shoulder is made too thin, the grips will be loose, or worst case, with the shoulder gone, the grips will just fall off, don't do it.......the grip screw holes are not the same I.D. all the way through......

TX - I see what you mean. I need to grow bigger hands if I wanna look at those pretty stag grips! ; - )
-hutch

 

[JayHutch]

I used to shoot Bullseye powder but it seemed dirty so about 15 years ago, I went to Clays and VV N310. The Clays (and N310) was accurate and cleaner but I am having great luck with WST in my 45 so I started trying loads for the 38 with WST and it shows promise. I have a rest that I test loads at 50 yards with and the DEWC seems to have more flexibility with velocity where the HBWC shoots very well if you hit the sweet spot but too slow and you get some yaw and too fast and they get inaccurate. In my gun, 2.4 Clays does well and the clock is in the 770 fps range. Good luck with your 52 and I hope this helps.

TX saleen - I have some Clays - I'll try that 2.4 load. - hutch

 

[bobarita]

MODEL 52-2 HOLSTER

I just purchased a Model 52-2 and love it. I need to find a holster that will fit the gun for range action shooting. Anyone have any leads. Thanks

 

[mstuhr]

HBWC and 1911 holster

Howdy,
Mine has always prefered HBWC.
Also 1911 holsters will generally fit the 52.
Thanks
Mike

 

[IRONVIC52]

Jayhutch, you have one very fine gun there. My Model 52 was traded in a weak moment and I sure miss it. I used to feed it HBWCs loaded to mid-range velocities and she was so accurate it was almost boring to shoot bullseye after bullseye, that thing practically did all the work for me. In the looks department the Model 52 had it going on, that's for sure. Haven't seen one since I sold my old 52, but would snap up one in an instant.

 

[Shootingstar]

Holser. Sfariland 568 Custom for a 1911 fits very well. Also Blade tech makes holsters for 52's and 41's

 

[boatbum101]

If you'll search my old posts there's good info on loads with 50YD test targets shot one handed . HBWC is the ticket if you want best accuracy . I'm not a fan of Bullseye or N310 or Clays in 38 special . Better accuracy can be had with W231 , WST , N320 , N340 & AA#2 . N310 & Clays are too fast for this application . 700 - 750fps is the sweet spot for HBWC loads IMHO . If Bullseye's what you've got then start @ 2.7grs & no more than 3.0grs . 3.1 - 3.2 W231 , 2.7 - 2.9 WST ,2.9 N320 / AA#2 & 3.6 N340 . I trim to 1.145 case OAL , seat flush & taper crimp to .369 @ case mouth . Remington , Zero & Precision Delta HBWC's will all work fine . If factory grips don't work for you , find a set of Pachmayr wrap around rubber grips for a M39 ( will fit 52 frame ) . Please stay away from plated bullets as you've got to push them too fast for the 52 . Saw an extractor blown out of a pristine 52-2 with Berry's platted HBWC & 3.2grs Bullseye . Clays builds pressure rapidly & was erratic in my testing . The 52 is like a beautiful , spirited woman . You have to hold her firmly to get the best results . Hope this helps .

 

[merbeau]

If you'll search my old posts there's good info on loads with 50YD test targets shot one handed . HBWC is the ticket if you want best accuracy . I'm not a fan of Bullseye or N310 or Clays in 38 special . Better accuracy can be had with W231 , WST , N320 , N340 & AA#2 . N310 & Clays are too fast for this application . 700 - 750fps is the sweet spot for HBWC loads IMHO . If Bullseye's what you've got then start @ 2.7grs & no more than 3.0grs . 3.1 - 3.2 W231 , 2.7 - 2.9 WST ,2.9 N320 / AA#2 & 3.6 N340 . I trim to 1.145 case OAL , seat flush & taper crimp to .369 @ case mouth . Remington , Zero & Precision Delta HBWC's will all work fine . If factory grips don't work for you , find a set of Pachmayr wrap around rubber grips for a M39 ( will fit 52 frame ) . Please stay away from plated bullets as you've got to push them too fast for the 52 . Saw an extractor blown out of a pristine 52-2 with Berry's platted HBWC & 3.2grs Bullseye . Clays builds pressure rapidly & was erratic in my testing . The 52 is like a beautiful , spirited woman . You have to hold her firmly to get the best results . Hope this helps .

I used to shoot Bullseye (now called Precision) and for the most part always shot factory Winchester. I decided to start shooting again in some local leagues,however; the price of factory pushed me to reloading(which I have done for rifles).

I found this post doing a literature search for hand loads for Smith Wesson 52s. I am using Hornady HBWC and found 2.8 grains of N320 provided 2.5 inch group at 50 yards from a rest. Actually the accuracy was consistent from 2.6 to 3.0 grains but at 2.7 or less the last round would not keep the slide back.

Mine is a 52-1 which was made in 1963 so yes, that makes me an oldie but goodie.

Thanks for taking the time to produce your results on this thread.

 

[samnev]

I used HBWC 148 grain with 2.8 grains for my most accurate load in my 52-2.

 

[gwpercle]

Those grips are IMPRESSIVE !
Don't do anything that might mess them up....you can't find that level of stag at a reasonable price any longer. If they don't fit , change them to another type , save those for BBQ's and showing off.

Gary

 

[Tom S.]

Old thread....

 

[dgludwig]

I'm not alone when I report 2.8 to 2.9 grains of Bullseye behind a Speer swaged, 148 SBWC bullet as being the most accurate load in my Model 52-2. However, I would be remiss if I didn't report author Ken Water's disturbing account of the performance of the hollow-based wadcutter bullets he was using, as reported in the May-June issue of Handloader magazine. He found that the HBWC bullets he was using allowed the thin center web to shoot out, leaving the bullets with a hole clear through the center and the distinct possibility of center portion being left (wedged) in the barrel, causing a gun bursting obstruction. Mr. Waters advised using solid-based wadcutter bullets instead of hollow-based variants; advice that I have followed just to be on the safe side during the ensuing decades.