S&W Model 52-2, failure to fire quite often.

[mikemyers]

OK, just to confirm, break any sharp edges (there aren't many), use oily fingers to drop plunger into hole, with the flat side presumably facing "in" (not to the front, back, or sides). I'm trying to think of a way to test that it goes up and down, but it will probably just "work".

Insert spring, and use a piece of black electrical tape to hold things in when I turn it sideways so I can use a punch on the other side of the slide to start moving the rear sight in, without the parts falling out.

Eventually the slide will be back where it belongs, so I put the small set screw in and snug it up.

I guess this would be a good time to see if the firing pin moves in and out regardless of whether a magazine is in place.

 

[donk52]

You shouldn't need the tape. After inserting the plunger, Just tap the sight over the hole enough to get the spring in then scoot it under the sight base. Continue to tap sight in place.

 

[mikemyers]

Once you expect the worst, so many things turn out to be so much easier to do than expected.

One hammer hit at a time on the punch to move my rear sight (after loosening the locking screw) moved the sight to the right, or so I thought.

The plunger had smooth edges, very nicely finished. I used oily hands to wipe off the plunger, and found it wouldn't drop into the hole - strange, as the old one fell out. As I was fiddling with things, I found that at that point, I could move the rear sight right/left with nothing more than finger pressure. So I just moved the sight to the right, and dropped the plunger in.

Don was right once again - installing the new plunger spring was equally easy - just drop in the spring, push it down with a punch the right size, and slide the rear sight over it by hand - and I could then push the rear sight right to where I wanted it, again with nothing more than finger pressure. For me to remember, in the future, do NOT use the punch to move the sight unless I have to, as that risks damaging it.

Plunger and spring are now back in place, and pushing on the magazine disconnect from the bottom side of the slide moves it just as it should, smooth as can be. Poifect!

Gun is now getting more of a cleaning, after which it goes back together completely. I'll test it when I return from India. Sorry for not posting what I hope is the final chapter until then.

(Next time the gun comes apart, I'll check out the safety - I don't know what the guy before me filed on, but if needed, I now have a new one to install - along with a new firing pin and firing pin spring.)


Don, you were right about something else. One of the first things you said is the gun needed to come completely apart. Had I done that, and also done a good job of inspecting things, it would have been sorted out in a day or two. ........but without your teaching me all the things you did, try to make me "a smith", I wouldn't have known how to do it. The only thing we didn't get to is the trigger......

 

[mikemyers]

Fixed!!!!!!

Well, I got back from India last week, and got to the range today to test out the Model 52. The good news, is every round that got loaded fired the first time, no light strikes. There was a nice dent in every primer. This was with some Zero reloaded ammunition that I bought. I also got some Federal from Champions Choice (arrives tomorrow) and from Magtech.

So, before I say another word, a huge Thank You to Don and everyone else who helped track down the problem.


My life meanwhile seems to be taking a few steps forward (these were giant steps) but then something always makes me take a step or two backward. In today's case, which the first 15 rounds loaded and fired perfectly, I then started getting some FTL rounds, that didn't seat all the way into the chamber. I've got a photo of one that didn't really even start to enter the chamber. I'll go back tomorrow with a second magazine (in case that's the problem) and a box of Magtech (in case the ammo is the problem) and a small bottle of oil to put a drop on the first round in the magazine, like I used to do on my Model 41. The problem might also be that I need to install a new recoil spring.

I was at the range today testing, and everyone wanted to know about this gun. They were flat out amazed that we got it working! I think 90% of that is due to Don - without whom, I never would have gotten to second base. THANK YOU DON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rachel33189]

52-2 backstrap

Came up with a trick that takes all the difficulty out of putting the backstrap back in place. The problem is that the hammer strut, mainspring, and mainspring plunger flex inward when trying to push the backstrap home and then excessive force is needed to push it home.
I solved this by laying a popsicle stick across the channel on the rear of the pistol and then lowering the backstrap assembly down onto the stick. All the parts remain in perfect alignment and the backstrap almost glides into place and the popsicle stick can then be pulled out from either side.

The photo shows the idea.