SW Model 52 w/ plated HBWC or DEWC

[jbrown13]

I was searching some old threads and saw a mention that some guys used plated wadcutters in their Model 52, but there were no details. Does anyone load plated wadcutters for their 52 and what are the results like compared to the swaged lead bullets?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[boatbum101]

As an active 2700 shooter I'll tell you there's not a plated bullet that'll equal nor outshoot a swaged bullet . In my 52 I'll only use swaged HBWC's from Remington , Zero , Star or Precision Delta . Dang sure no plated or cast period . Had a local shooter insist on using Berry's plated in his 52-2 . During load developement when he couldn't get desired results he called Berry's . On their advice he kept bumping loads until at 3.6gr Bullseye he blew the extractor out the gun . Trying to push a .358 plated bullet with 3.6gr BE thru a .355 - .356 bore didn't work to well . IMHO he's lucky he didn't wreck the gun or seriously injure himself . Shame is the guy is an experienced reloader , casts his own bullets & shoots many old military rifles & handguns with his own cast loads . I was able to find & replace the extractor for him . If you'll search the forum there's a ton of swaged HBWC load info that'll work just fine . Personally I don't think plated bullets bring anything to the table . This is America & you've the right to do as you please with your property . Seriously I honestly believe you need to reconsider .

 

[jbrown13]

boatbum101, appreciate your insights. I was concerned that I would have to up the powder charge with plated to get the pistol to cycle, and that concerned me. I was just trolling for other's experiences, and yours is very welcome.

 

[sunday bill]

Kept a 52 several years. IIRC, I only loaded Albert's and Star (and maybe Speer???) 148 gr. swaged HBWCs. My 52 was far more accurate than I was, unsupported, and since I had no interest in shooting a handgun from a rest, any change in bullets, in an effort to improve accuracy, would have been pointless.

The only reason the 52 doesn't roost here, now, was that, with the same load, my 14 allowed as much accuracy as I could make use of, offhand, and I never had to pick brass.

 

[jbrown13]

sunday bill, I wasn't attempting to improve accuracy since most guns are more accurate than I can hold. Was trying to see if anyone had plowed this ground since plated bullets are much easier to handle and load, and the gun is much easier to clean after shooting plated.

 

[OKFC05]

sunday bill, I wasn't attempting to improve accuracy since most guns are more accurate than I can hold. Was trying to see if anyone had plowed this ground since plated bullets are much easier to handle and load, and the gun is much easier to clean after shooting plated.

IMHO, 2.8gr bullseye under a swaged WC is not onerous to clean, if you start with ALL the copper out of the barrel and never use a copper coated bullet.

A lightly fouled barrel with the above load is easier to get really clean than removing copper. Before anybody blows a gasket, start reading on pg 88 in the 49th Lyman manual.

 

[jbrown13]

IMHO, 2.8gr bullseye under a swaged WC is not onerous to clean, if you start with ALL the copper out of the barrel and never use a copper coated bullet.

A lightly fouled barrel with the above load is easier to get really clean than removing copper. Before anybody blows a gasket, start reading on pg 88 in the 49th Lyman manual.

I'm basing my gun cleaning statement on my experiences with a revolver, and it was definitely more difficult to clean, and not from leading but from greasy soot which I assume came from the lube.

Not sure why we are diverging from the original question.

 

[socal s&w]

I tried the Berry's plated in my 52 with poor accuracy results. I think that the problem lies in the fact that the bullets are 'dirty'. By that I mean there is trash inside the hollow base. It looks like plating debris for the most part. Some have lots, some not so much, but they all had some making each weigh differently.

Accuracy fell of a lot so my attempt at it was short lived and I went back to Hornady 148 gr LHBWC's, which I think are excellent bullets that provide great accuracy using the standard 2.8 to 3.0gr of Bullseye.

 

[OKFC05]

I'm basing my gun cleaning statement on my experiences with a revolver, and it was definitely more difficult to clean, and not from leading but from greasy soot which I assume came from the lube.

Not sure why we are diverging from the original question.

Well, lets put my answer in terms of your original question:

Does anyone load plated wadcutters....what are the results like compared to the swaged lead bullets?

1. Not as accurate.
2. Leave less of the easily removed soot, but the harder-to-see copper is harder to get out, and the accuracy falls off much faster with the copper fouling than with the lead WC.
3. Based on my experience, the standard lead WC is much better for accuracy competition.
4. If you're just plinking, then who cares?

 

[Glenn Bruce]

I too did not get good accuracy out of Berry's plated bullets. The guy I spoke to at Berry said to push it slightly faster than the lead bullet for better accuracy, but did not offer specific load advice. He said the 52 will never get great accuracy with their bullets, I think he said something about the rifling in the 52 being shallow of something like that. I don't recall for sure.
I like the Berry bullets in other guns, they work good for me. I will use them most of the time in my 52 for indoor shooting. We don't have great ventilation at our range, so the Berry bullets are MUCH cleaner to shoot from an air quality stand point. When I shoot out doors, I like the lead!!!

 

[Muddy Dog]

Been reloading for my 52 for over 20 years now. Getting good results with 2.5 grs. of V.V. N310. Cleaner than Bullseye Powder. The rifling's of a 52 is more shallow and are less likely to foul up.

 

[jbrown13]

Muddy Dog, I'm guessing your VV310 load is with swaged lead HBWCs. Please confirm this for me. Have you chronoed that load?

Thanks.
Jeff

 

[Muddy Dog]

I'm using HBWC by Remington & DEWC by R.A.V. Mfg. I'm not sure where R.A.V. Mfg. is made but I found a box of 2000 for $18.00 several years ago in a little Mom & Pop gun store and couldn't past up the deal. I use the same amount of powder for both. CCI primers and Remington or Federal brass (which ever I have polished up at the time). No I never did chronograph the load, I shoot in Bullseye Competition at a local club and the load just seems right. Ejects the brass and less recoil and quicker on back on the target.

 

[Muddy Dog]

Going to have to disagree with the commit about the 52 not having great accuracy. If the load is right and the shooters hand is steady it will out shoot 1911's any day. I've been shooting mine for many years and have over 20 awards while shooting in Bullseye Completion. As for the riflings being shallow is for not to foul up as quickly. That came from the Vice-President of S&W.

 

[Herb686]

Plus Plus on boatbum's comments re: bullet manufacturers. 52-2 accuracy with 148 HBWC and BE is more accurate than my Clark Heavyslide 1911.