Old articles on loading for the M-52 ....from the S&W Forum

[mikemyers]

I found this article in the S&W Forums.  I have a feeling most people here already know this from long ago.  There are two articles, the first I remember reading, I think in the Pistol Shooter's Treasury, but the second was new to me.



I'm not sure how much of it applies now, so many years later, but maybe all of it is as true now as it was then.  Apparently people struggled to make good loads for the Model 52 back then.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/doc/hebard_m52.pdf


I'm also wondering - how do bullets like the Magnus 515 compare with what was used way back then.  Do our new bullets perform better?

Also, the Bullseye powder that was used back then - I'm almost sure I read that at some point the powder was changed by the manufacturer.  Is that correct?

[sharkdoctor]

Format and Figs. somewhat different but this is in The Pistol Shooter's Treasury.  A must-read with which I think many of us are familiar - recommended if you don't have it!

[Wobbley]

These are re-hashes of stuff published elsewhere. Most of Hebard’s article was in the PistolmShooter’s Treasury. Ken Waters published an article on reloading 38 Wadcutters in the September-October 1976 issue of Handloader magazine. Waters was able to duplicate Factory ammo performance with the bullets and powders he used at the ranges and test methods used. He used a Colt Mid-Range Auto as well as two Colt revolvers and a S&W K38. One of his findings was that Bullseye was not always the noblest powder in any particular gun. He found that 3.7 Unique was best in his autoloader...and I used 3.5 Unique in my Python and it shot very well. So it pays to experiment.

https://www.wolfeoutdoorsports.com/handloader-63-september-1976/

[fc60]

Greetings Mike,

Many thanks for the link. While most of the article is in the Gil Hebard Pistol Treasury it contains a lot of additional information.

I may have missed the seating of the H&G #50 bullet. The #50 has a raised nose and unless the nose is seated flush to the case mouth, the loaded cartridge will not fit into the magazine.

There are several H&G designs that will work will with the Model 52.

Mr Bellah must have been an early Tacticool shooter with his terms "pills" and "caps". However, he does test at 50 yards.

Cheers,

Dave

[fc60]

Greetings Mike,

To address some of your initial questions, here are my thoughts...

The bullets offered in the past were generally hand cast in eight or ten cavity moulds. They were then inspected by sight prior to greasing one at a time. Mechanized machines might have been available; but, costly.

Hand casting offers a chance to inspect the bullets while the machine cast, ferris wheel type machines, merely crank out the bullets. (There are videos on U-tube.) These mass produced bullets are fed into a collator and sized and greased by machine. Very difficult for individual inspection.

I do not know the composition of Bullseye powder. I do know that it varies from lot to lot. This is why it is an advantage to buy a four pound keg. You develop your load and stick with it until the powder runs out.

Cheers,

Dave

[zanemoseley]

Anyone notice the guys trigger finger in the photo. I appears he's taking the "Zins" trigger finger to an extreme. Almost looks like the trigger is on his 2nd knuckle.

[Wobbley]

It looks like he and LenV have similar hands.

[Sa-tevp]

Anyone notice the guys trigger finger in the photo. I appears he's taking the "Zins" trigger finger to an extreme. Almost looks like the trigger is on his 2nd knuckle.

Ever shot a S&W DA/SA automatic pistol in single action? The SA trigger position is WAY back in the frame.

Froneck made me a trigger shoe for my M52, similar to what the AMU was running on their Berettas, so the trigger reach is reasonable.

[zanemoseley]

Come to think of it I've only shot a 52 a couple times. My buddy has one and I think he may have a shoe too,

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