Loading for S&W 52

[Kp321]

Just bought my first S&W 52 after lusting for one for at least 35 years. I need some reloading help if anyone out there has experience.
1. I know HBWC's are recommended. Do regular solid base wc's shoot as well as HBWC'S?

2. I plan to use 3.0 gr. of 231. Good load? Better to use Bullseye?

3. What about crimping? Light roll crimp, heavy roll crimp or taper crimp?

Any other tips or tricks I need to know about making my 52 work like the fine machine it is?

 

[Edarnold]

OAL is going to be critical, both for fitting in the magazine and fitting the chamber. At the time the 52 was introduced, factory wadcutters were seated flush with the casemouth and partially retained by a gnurled or crimp ring about halfway down the case that stopped the bullet from going further into the case. This was finished off with a light roll crimp at the mouth. I'd certainly suggest the 'plunk' test with the removed barrel to make sure your loads chamber freely.

The HB wadcutters might be a bit long for flush seating, and given the lack of a cylinder jump I would think they'd be unnecessary.

The load with 231 sounds fine ballistically, as long as you get no unburned powder particles that could foul the chamber or action.

A great classic pistol, hope you get a lot of enjoyment from it!

 

[ReloaderFred]

Hollowbase wadcutter bullets are designed to be seated flush with the case mouth, which is one of the reasons they don't have crimp grooves. When I was shooting PPC, I was going through about 1,500 rounds of HBWC per week in practice, and another couple hundred every weekend in matches. The standard load was 2.7 grains of Bullseye, and everyone I shot with used the same load.

There are some brands of brass that are thicker, and won't lend themselves to loading wadcutters. In fact, Winchester used to make a special case just for the HBWC bullets. It has two cannelures and a thin wall. I've still got some of the once fired brass we used to buy to load our match ammunition in.

You should use a moderate roll crimp over the nose of the bullet. This helps the flat case mouth ride up the feedramp and chamber more reliably. The Model 52 was invented by Joe Foster, along with the Model 39 and 59 pistols. I worked with him for two days back about 1978, when S&W brought him back out of retirement to fix a feeding problem with the Model 59's.

Don't hotrod your ammunition for the Model 52. It was made for one purpose only, to shoot midrange .38 Special ammunition, using HBWC bullets seated flush, for punching paper.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[TonyT]

The old standy load for my S&W Model 52 was 2.7 gr. Bullseye behind the 148 gr. Remington LHBWC seated flush with a very slight roll crimp applied. Never expeinced any feeding failures with that load. Some people have had to bump up to 2.8 gr. Bullseye for relaible feeding.

 

[leman]

My dad and I both shoot Model 52s for a Bullseye league. You are going to want a light load. Try the starting load listed in your manual, and see that it cycles your gun properly. If it doesn't, bump up the powder until you get enough to cycle every time. You don't want hot loads in a 52.

I have tried both roll crimps and taper crimps, and have found the taper crimp feeds much better in both of our guns. If you have trouble with a taper crimp, switch to a roll.

 

[Kp321]

Thanks for all of the responses. I took inventory and find that I have two lifetime supplies of Bullseye so will work loads around it. Spent the afternoon setting up to reload, had to make a new seating punch to seat the bullets I have flush with the case mouth. No wiggle room there! Tried different crimps and had better luck feeding with a taper crimp. Will put powder in the measure and go "live" tomorrow. Will report on results, if anyone is interested in a dinosaur pistol made for an obsolete competition.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've loaded for and shot a couple of M52's. Wonderful pistols for what they were intended.
I was using one for PPC, but they "outlawed" it, so it's strickly a "bullseye" proposition.

I found that besides Bullseye, they "love" HP38/Win231. I also found that with ~3.1gr of HP38 and a double-end wadcutter that they are less wind sensitive at 50yds...
In fact, it was this load that got the M52 "outlawed" for PPC.....Too accurate..!!! Go figure!!

BTW; the same "issue" exists with the PPC-9, the out-growth from the M52. It is "outlawed" from the NRA PPC- "Service Semi-Auto" class, (It "Owns" the "Limited-1500 class, except for a few 3+,$$$ custom M1911's), whereas ANY M1911, even a custom gun even with adjustable sights is allowed....as long as 5"bbl or shorter. Yes, the "Smith's" shoot that good!