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S&W 52-2?: Good gun? bad gun? Good quality?

Aimhigh
I have a chance to buy a mint, S&W Model 52-2 for $700(But no box or papers!)and I would like to know how good(Or, bad?)these guns are? Are they somewhat collectible and/or worth owning? What do the owner's of these Model 52's say? I don't want to buy this gun, if they aren't good and reliable guns? However, the 52-2 in question, has the beautiful, original "Polished" bluing(As it was made in 1979-1980)rather than the downgraded finish I've seen on various Gun Forum pictures! The stocks are original and are also near perfect! So, please tell me anything that you can about rhe S&W Model 52's(Regardless of the dash number(-0, -1, -2)?
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • peabo
    Well,Aimhigh, I can tell you of my experience with a 52-2. Bought it new to shoot in matches. First time to fire it to sight it in, at the range by myself, I didn't hit the target at 25 yards!! I don't mean didn't hit the bulls eye, I mean didn't hit the target !![24"x30"] I thought I just couldn't see where it hit so a went down to look at the target. sure enough, no hole! Tried again from sand bag rest, still nothing. Didn't know which way to adjust sights as I had no reference point. Only thing to do was move closer to target. I had to get within 7 yards of target before it even hit the paper. It was shooting low and to the left. Adjusted sights as far as they would go and even moved the base in the dovetail before it would hit the target!! This was with factory ammo, not reloads. Called S&W, told to send it in. Got it back with a target they shot which was about a 3" pattern at 25yds. And they said that that pattern was within their limits!! Could not believe it!! All that money for a supposed target pistol and it would not hit a target! Needless to say, I sold it as soon as I could. S&W used to make a fine revolver, but Colt makes the best auto. Good Luck if you buy that boat anchor.

    Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see !!
    NRA Life Member
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    well, its a 50/50 split now. I had one, great shooter, 1" @50'. it liked rem fact. 148 w.c. ammo. My reloads did almost as well.
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  • Aimhigh
    Peabo:

    1)I'm sorry to hear of your inaccurate 52-2!

    2)I certainly hope that your 52-2 was just an "Isolated" case and therefore, doesn't represent the "Norm" as to how accurately, these 52-2's are supposed to shoot(Out of the box!)?

    3)It would seem very "Strange" to term EVERY S&W Model 52-2 as being a "Boat anchor"? I had "thought that these guns were highly regarded, among "Bullseye" competitor's? Someone, please correct me, if I'm WRONG? Or, CONFIRM, that this true(Superior quality guns, that are mostly, accurate?)? Thanks!
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  • peabo
    Sorry to sound so negative but also didn't want to take a chance on that being an isolated case. I didn't want to sell the one I had and buy a new one hoping it would be better. If it wasn't, I'd have 2 boat anchors and only one boat. I went back to my Colt (80 series even), installed a set of Bo-Mar sights and a bulls-eye trigger spring kit and with my 200 grain semi wadcutter reload, I outshot the 52-2 by a huge margin. The price of the Colt and the sights was a lot less than the 52-2 new. I bought the colt new at wal-mart for $375 and the sights were $65. I did nothing else to the colt, no polishing the feed ram, no flared ejection port, nothing. If I were you, I would buy a Colt!

    Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see !!
    NRA Life Member
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  • Pearyw
    The one I have is very accurate. It has always been reliable with good wadcutter loads. I have had mine for 20 years. Mine is a 52-2. A friend of mine has one also, and he has always been happy with it.
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  • MARVINR1
    I have owned several over the years and found them all very accurate. Also, they are a joy to shoot because of the light recoil. But mastering the 52 takes a little work. Follow through is critical because of the "slow" 148gr HBWC. I still own one and shoot it regularly. The only other "match" 148gr semi-auto is the Colt National Match MKIII Mid-Range. Only 7000 made. I have one, and don't believe it is as accurate as my 52
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  • abcguns2
    O.K. , not real sure about theprice ??? been a while since I priced one ...I have one put up in the safe that Ive had for apx. 22 or so years ? I used to shoot it on a regular basis , shoots GREAT , always heard about these (accurate!) and splurged once ...Happy I done it.
    Used to 'cheat' at the informal LEO comp. shoots and sneak it in ...
    Always shoot a "perfect" score with any of my 'smiths' I was shooting.
    Good Luck & keep us posted on this ...
    d.a.stearns
    Gunsmith / LEO
    Niota , Tn

    My dog is the best person I know...
    If only more people could be as loyal and honest as my dog!!!

    I love guns & Shooting!
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  • JAK71454
    Great gun, super trigger pull, well made. Can save it as a collector's piece for that price. Accuracy is excellent with the right loads. I tried several factory, several commercial reloads and my own handloads. The groups varied from under 1" to almost 4" in a ransom rest at 25 yards. It likes hotter loads. My favorite & most accurate load at 25 with a S&W PPC revolver is 2.6 gr of 231. This would not even work the action until I modified it and then it shot the worst groups. 3.2 of 231 worked the best for reloads. WW the best for factory. The thing I hated the most was the 5 round limit on the mags. Jim

    Jim Kammerer
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  • ATF
    The price is right in the ballpark.I have two Mod 52s with no dash first year of production and I love them both super accurate guns.The 52-2s are supposed to be even better, but I don't see how.[8D] [8D] [8D] [8D]

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    When a worm wants to relax,does he go fishing? "And remember a wet dog doesn't fly at night" "My memory's not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory's not as sharp as it used to be." ATF,Eagle Guns
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  • Aimhigh
    Well, I have been torn between the S&W Model 52-2 or a NIB, Colt(Series 80, MK IV, stainless, .45ACP)however, I don't think that I could handle the recoil of the .45(At least , at first!)and, this is another reason that I wanted to get all of the input(And, feedback?)from various owners of the S&W Model 52-2, so I could gain enough knowledge about this gun, to aid me in making the right choice? But, if my assumption is correct, it would seem that the discontinued 52-2, would be a more rare and unique autoloader, compared to the Series 80, MK IV, Colt(Stainless)Combat Commander? On the other hand, although I might not be able to find another NIB, stainless(Series 80)Combat Commander-since Colt is supposedly, making the "Improved" New(NRM)Model stainless, Commanders, that I could pick one of these up later on(If desired?)much more readily, than I could find another like new, S&W 52-2? Just my thoughts? Anyway, I do want to make the right choice? So far, the "Majority" believes the 52-2 to be a quality autoloader, worth investing in? I will continue to appreciate any more possible input, from you wonderful, Forum Members? The more knowledge that I can gain about the 52-2(Or, any Model 52?)will benefit me greatly, not only in assisting me in choosing the right autoloader(Colt versus 52-2?)but also, will give me much needed additional "Insight" about the 52-2?
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