S&W Model 52-2 classic Bullseye pistol

[LeftHand-Fu]

First mag fired out of the 1983 Smith Model 52-2 I picked up at Eddy's last weekend.

Two shots to get to know her, and then boom, boom, boom. It got better from there.



This is a .38, from an era when many used three guns in Bullseye competitions. Most use only a .22 and a .45 now.

The barrel is stamped "38 SPECIAL MID-RANGE", and she shoots only wadcutters, out of a 5-round magazine that will hold nothing else.

They literally broke the mold after this one was made. In 1993 the production machinery wore out, and was not replaced.

Her action is a bit temperamental (and aren't we all at a certain age?) but this is still a very nice gun to hold and to shoot.

[tbc]

25 or 50 yards?

[den888]

Nice!

[LeftHand-Fu]

25 or 50 yards?

Indoor style at 50', "rapid fire" (10 seconds). The range didn't have any of the official NRA targets that are scaled down to reproduce the same challenge as an outdoor course, so I picked the smallest available. Just having some fun and testing her out.

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[Pablo5959]

The bullet holes look soooo clean cut it looks like a hole punch was used. Is that something with the paper or the bullet?

[LeftHand-Fu]

The bullet holes look soooo clean cut it looks like a hole punch was used. Is that something with the paper or the bullet?

Isn't that beautiful? That's what wadcutters do! They're the best for target shooting. They make clean round holes that are more likely to cut into a nearby higher-scoring ring. Factory wadcutters like Federal Gold Medal Match .38 are hard to find right now. I found a very limited number of handloads at Eddy's Shooting Sports. May have to buy a press of my own if this situation continues.

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[tbc]

Nice group at 50' OP. It's going to take me another five years to have this kind of fun. LOL.

[Eddy's Shooting Sports]

Glad you like it!

I still have the beat up one if anyone is looking for a pure shooter and doesn't mind a poor finish.

.38 mid-range loads are still available from Winchester, Remington, as well as S&B and Fiocchi IIRC. In the current market they will be hard to find though and they have always been expensive.

Talk to me next time you are in the shop. You can maybe hire my brother (3 time California State pistol champion and distinguished civilian pistol badge holder) to load up some ammo for you. He could use some work.

Cheers!

[45acpfan]

Nice groups!

[H K corporate assassin]

Very cool.

[chino]

I enjoy shooting mine. Low recoil, incredible accuracy. Can be finicky with some reloads. Since the action is slow, proper hold is required. Trigger is amazing, clean, crisp overtravel may be adjusted. Designed to only do one thing and do it well: punch paper at up to 50 yards.
Confuses people when they see your brass. .38 pistol? Really confuse them when you let them shoot a group!

[ap3572001]

When I shot BE , I used a 52-2 with federal Gold Medal Match WC ammo.

VERY accurate out to 50 yards.

[Tom-ADC]

I probably have 10 boxes of Western 38 special super match full wad cutters, used to shoot my K38 with them.