S&W 52-2 semi-auto 38 Special ??? up for sale

Jim Watson said:
A friend tried plated wadcutters in his revolver and accuracy was poor, better to stick with cast or swaged for target loads.
Long ago, a friend cast a double ended wadcutter we called "The Spool". But Speers were better.
Click to expand...
I just bought 1,000 Berry’s Plated 158 HBWC ! let’s see they do
 
Mark_Mark said:
I just bought 1,000 Berry’s Plated 158 HBWC ! let’s see they do
Click to expand...
As long as they are soft enough, you should be fine.
We lived in mortal terror of leading, back when I first started reloading. Frankly, it wasn't really a problem, even with soft lead projectiles. If you do get soft lead deposits, they are easily enough removed.
Mark_Mark, let us know how you fare.
Moon
 
I may be wrong about this but wasn’t the model 52 designed when only lead Wadcutters were used?
I would not use jacketed or plated bullets in that gun if it were mine.

If you’re worried about leading try Bear Creek Supply moly coated HBWC bullets. OR Hornady’s HBWC bullets. They use a lube coating that works.

BRASS: I use Federal brass that was from a 500 round case of their Gold Match Wadcutter rounds.
Another to try is Remington brass. RP brass is thin and easy to work.
 
Pat Riot said:
I may be wrong about this but wasn’t the model 52 designed when only lead Wadcutters were used?
I would not use jacketed or plated bullets in that gun if it were mine.

If you’re worried about leading try Bear Creek Supply moly coated HBWC bullets. OR Hornady’s HBWC bullets. They use a lube coating that works.

BRASS: I use Federal brass that was from a 500 round case of their Gold Match Wadcutter rounds.
Another to try is Remington brass. RP brass is thin and easy to work.
Click to expand...
 
S&W610 said:
I been shooting a 52 for about 5 years. It loves Speer 148 HBWC over 2.4 grains of Clays. The slide to frame fit is like butter. I just wish the shooter shot as good as the gun.
Click to expand...
I need to venture out on powder. Been loading with mostly HP-38 , Universal, AutoComp,

need to try some Clays… I actually might have a pound
 
Pat Riot said:
I may be wrong about this but wasn’t the model 52 designed when only lead Wadcutters were used?
I would not use jacketed or plated bullets in that gun if it were mine.

If you’re worried about leading try Bear Creek Supply moly coated HBWC bullets. OR Hornady’s HBWC bullets. They use a lube coating that works.

BRASS: I use Federal brass that was from a 500 round case of their Gold Match Wadcutter rounds.
Another to try is Remington brass. RP brass is thin and easy to work.
Click to expand...
I’ll get some Lead Wadcutter’s, but a few Plated 158 HBWC won’t hurt the gun as an experiment!

I need to step up my .38 brass game! I got buckets of range pick up and few boxes vintage .38 brass. But Don’t gave any new stuff
 
Mark Mark, My suggestion before you get to carried away - Head over to Precision Delta and buy some 38sp 148gr HBWC remanufactured ammo and an equal amount of their 148gr HBWC bullets.
 
kidneyboy said:
Mark Mark, My suggestion before you get to carried away - Head over to Precision Delta and buy some 38sp 148gr HBWC remanufactured ammo and an equal amount of their 148gr HBWC bullets.
Click to expand...
why so? I got Berry’s 148g HBWC and some 8 boxes of once fired Western brass from the 50’s or 60’s.

I’m all about buying more bullets but not loaded ammo. They make good stuff?
 
As far as ammo, the best for me (in the 52) was the Remington 148 gr HBWC. Disgustingly dirty lube but boy did it shoot. Long gone but you might try putting out some feelers. Next best was Zero 148 gr HBWC.

The gun is a work of art. I read S&W sold them at a loss.

On your best days it will shoot incredible groups. Slack off on your follow through/technique and you can be badly punished. In short, it can be a maddeningly fickle gun at times.

In the end we let it go and moved to a Colt OMM.


P.S. In case it sounded otherwise, you should definitely buy the gun.
 
Russ57 said:
As far as ammo, the best for me (in the 52) was the Remington 148 gr HBWC. Disgustingly dirty lube but boy did it shoot. Long gone but you might try putting out some feelers. Next best was Zero 148 gr HBWC.

The gun is a work of art. I read S&W sold them at a loss.

On your best days it will shoot incredible groups. Slack off on your follow through/technique and you can be badly punished. In short, it can be a maddeningly fickle gun at times.

In the end we let it go and moved to a Colt OMM.


P.S. In case it sounded otherwise, you should definitely buy the gun.
Click to expand...
just waiting for the waiting period . I have a OMM that I have not shot yet
 
Mark_Mark said:
why so? I got Berry’s 148g HBWC and some 8 boxes of once fired Western brass from the 50’s or 60’s.

I’m all about buying more bullets but not loaded ammo. They make good stuff?
Click to expand...
They do indeed make good stuff. I'm suggesting trying some of their loaded ammo to get a feel for how the wadcutters are supposed to shoot in the 52. A baseline of sorts.
FWIW I have passed on every 52 offered to me. A very specialized firearm built for a specific purpose using a specific ammo.
 
kidneyboy said:
They do indeed make good stuff. I'm suggesting trying some of their loaded ammo to get a feel for how the wadcutters are supposed to shoot in the 52. A baseline of sorts.
FWIW I have passed on every 52 offered to me. A very specialized firearm built for a specific purpose using a specific ammo.
Click to expand...
Alright, looks like their ammo is out of stock but Will definitely try again. I like odd guns! keeps the hobby interesting. If another came up for around the $1200 make, I’ll get another

or even a 39 - the 9mm version
 
rabid wombat said:
Out of wild, absolute luck - a local gun store has a National Match 1911 in 38 (with box!)…first time I have seen one in the flesh. I would still like the S&W 52 over it, but YOWZA!

Still a good purchase @Mark_Mark
Click to expand...
I bought the 52-2 cash!

just waiting for the cool down pistol period, for safety of the criminals. Not like I don’t already own guns already
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
S&W 52 .38 special questions?
Replies
6
Views
445
Owen
O
S
  • Locked
S&W Model 52...
Replies
3
Views
604
Jim Watson
J
jell-dog
  • Locked
Should I purchase S&W Model 52?
Replies
21
Views
2K
AbitNutz
A
K
  • Locked
S&W 52 vs. SIG Hämmerli P240
Replies
23
Views
8K
Saleen322
Saleen322
S
  • Locked
S&W Model 52-2: Need opinions of this gun(Good or bad?)?
Replies
15
Views
8K
slick6
S
Back
Top