I finally shot a S&W 52-2. WOW! :)

[Mark_Mark]

Hopefully that was the first...and last one you shot in it.
I don't generally pick favorites, but I think you might be my favorite now lol

Lesson learn! Don’t shoot 3.1gn of HP38 with 148gn Berry HBWC through a 7.5” barrel!

I’m going to make a stronger HBWC load for my revolvers. looking at of VV powder, I can pronounce the name of VV

 

[DMW1116]

I would love to shoot one of these. If I started competing, maybe I could justify owning one. However, I keep seeing really nice looking S&W 38 revolvers for sale locally and would probably go that route for a dedicated target 38 Special pistol.

Lesson learn! Don’t shoot 3.1gn of HP38 with 148gn Berry HBWC through a 7.5” barrel!

I’m going to make a stronger HBWC load for my revolvers. looking at of VV powder, I can pronounce the name of VV

I don't know if this applies to plated bullets, but "stronger load" doesn't go too well with HBWC. Try some Berry's 148 gr DEWC. They shoot great out of my 6.5" Blackhawk with 8.5 grains of HS-6, and are a true magnum load, if a bit on the light side of the category. It's probably not true, but I think they make even bigger holes than the same bullet from a 38 Special load. To date, they are also the tightest group I've ever shot from a centerfire handgun at 25 yards.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I would love to shoot one of these. If I started competing, maybe I could justify owning one. However, I keep seeing really nice looking S&W 38 revolvers for sale locally and would probably go that route for a dedicated target 38 Special pistol.


I don't know if this applies to plated bullets, but "stronger load" doesn't go too well with HBWC. Try some Berry's 148 gr DEWC. They shoot great out of my 6.5" Blackhawk with 8.5 grains of HS-6, and are a true magnum load, if a bit on the light side of the category. It's probably not true, but I think they make even bigger holes than the same bullet from a 38 Special load. To date, they are also the tightest group I've ever shot from a centerfire handgun at 25 yards.

DEWC is my next venture into .357 Bear Load with a Ton of HS-6 (got 2 bottles)

 

[DMW1116]

Easy killer. I started flattening primers at 9.1 grains of HS-6. I still have the 9.3 and 9.5 grain loads to pull so I don't accidentally shoot them. It might be just my gun with HS-6 though. It gave me a scare before with HS-6 and 125 grain XTP bullets, but that was at around 10 grains. They were accurate though.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Easy killer. I started flattening primers at 9.1 grains of HS-6. I still have the 9.3 and 9.5 grain loads to pull so I don't accidentally shoot them. It might be just my gun with HS-6 though. It gave me a scare before with HS-6 and 125 grain XTP bullets, but that was at around 10 grains. They were accurate though.

not SCARED at alll! 8.5 sound good tho!

 

[halfmoonclip]

The S&W M52 and 38 Wadcutter 1911's are target pistols. They are not meant to be self defense pistols.

My 1911 with a Kart 38 Special barrel is a work in progress that I have not had time to really work at it. I have some magazines designed for 38 Special wadcutter rounds and a some magazines that I modified for the 38 wadcutter rounds.

Maybe someday, I'll get it figured out.

But what I can shoot through the gun is fun.

The 1911 wadcutter guns are reputed to be fussy. The 52s, not so much.

I grabbed mine at a gunshow, simply because the M39 grip feels so great in your hand.
The 52 ruled the Bullseye world for awhile, but the hardcore guys either went to .32 staple guns, like from Walther or Hammerli, or else just used their .45s for centerfire.
The 52s were made for a bunch of shooting; they are about a hard to wear out as a .22.
Oddly, mine runs perfectly on 3.0 B'eye/148 HBWC, but not on 3.5 B'eye/148DEWC ('full charge' WCs). Go figure.
Moon

 

[Mark_Mark]

The 1911 wadcutter guns are reputed to be fussy. The 52s, not so much.

I grabbed mine at a gunshow, simply because the M39 grip feels so great in your hand.
The 52 ruled the Bullseye world for awhile, but the hardcore guys either went to .32 staple guns, like from Walther or Hammerli, or else just used their .45s for centerfire.
The 52s were made for a bunch of shooting; they are about a hard to wear out as a .22.
Oddly, mine runs perfectly on 3.0 B'eye/148 HBWC, but not on 3.5 B'eye/148DEWC ('full charge' WCs). Go figure.
Moon

I’m running Berry 148 HBWC with HP38 3.1. it bearly enough so cycle the slide. I’m going to test 3.2 & 3.3 next

 

[cfullgraf]

The 1911 wadcutter guns are reputed to be fussy. The 52s, not so much.

I'll agree.

My 1911 38 Wadcutter gun was a project. If I get it to work great. If not, I can put the 38 Super barrel back in the gun.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I’m running Berry 148 HBWC with HP38 3.1. it bearly enough so cycle the slide. I’m going to test 3.2 & 3.3 next

The slide on mine virtually runs in slow motion, but it generally never malfs. It is a remarkably reliable package, for a blunt, rimmed cartridge.
There was a guy on another forum, who was excited at the prospect of a .38Spl autopistol...he'd never seen one, and didn't understand its limitations.
My trembles have really curtailed my efforts at Bullseye, but I still like to run the 52.
Moon

 

[Mark_Mark]

The slide on mine virtually runs in slow motion, but it generally never malfs. It is a remarkably reliable package, for a blunt, rimmed cartridge.
There was a guy on another forum, who was excited at the prospect of a .38Spl autopistol...he'd never seen one, and didn't understand its limitations.
My trembles have really curtailed my efforts at Bullseye, but I still like to run the 52.
Moon

yours run slow motion too! you can actually see it running, funnest thing ever. Well my eyes are getting worse, without lenses I have a small sliver of vision about 6” from my eyes. Got new glasses and they are coke bottles. Oooh well, could be worst