TargetTalk

I have a 52-2 that I cannot get to group well off sandbags at 50ft. I have seen fellow shooters shoot one hole offhand with the same gun. I am currently using 148 HMWC with 3.3 gr 231. Reddot is on a grip mount. Any suggestions on where the issue is coming from?

Could be the bullet or maybe the powder charge. You may be using an incorrect crimp. It might be the scope, if you are using an inexpensive one. The grip mount may be loose. You might try eliminating the cartridge by trying some factory match ammo.

Yes, try factory ammo but check your barrel for leading. I assume you meant HBWC.

Grip is tight. Ultradot matchdot scope. crimp seems good to mme. barrel is cleaned. Do these guns get shot out? Are they repairable if they do?

Try 2.7 BE and make sure you bell the case enough that you can insert the bullet by hand without any damage to the lead or lube on the bullet.

It is unlikely that a pistol which shoots only lead bullets could ever be shot out. Take a good look at the barrel's crown to make sure that there is no damage. What brand of bullets are you using? What type of crimp are you using, i.e. taper or roll? What brand of brass are you using? What primers are you using? Are you seating the primers to the bottom of the pocket? I don't use 231 powder. You should shoot (pardon the pun) for a velocity of about 730-760 fps. You say that you have seen fellow shooters shoot the same gun off hand very well. Do you mean this same type of gun or your gun?

Misny wrote:I don't use 231 powder.

Misny what is it about 231 powder you don't like?

2.7 gr. Bullseye behind a 148 gr. HBWC (Star, or Hornady), with Fed primers and "taper crimped" no more than .003 I shot this load for years and it would shoot X ring.

orionshooter wrote:

Misny wrote:I don't use 231 powder.

Misny what is it about 231 powder you don't like?

I have nothing against that powder. I was just stating the fact that I don't use it, so I can't comment on his load.

You might try swagged wadd cutters instead of cast. Some say the cast foul the throat too fast.

I've had good results with my 52-2 using 3.1g 231, 2.8g Bullseye or 2.8g VV N310.

Some say the amount and type of crimp is important to accuracy in the 52. I use a taper crimp but other's that know more than I do say a slight roll crimp is superior.

Then there's bullets, so many choices. I shoot cast wadcutters but have been advised that Remington HBWC's are very good.

There's a good read on the 52 and reloading for it in Gil Hebard's Pistol Shooters Treasury.

I also find the Foul Out electronic cleaner excellent for removing lead in my wadguns. I can get my 45 and 38 barrels perfectly clean in 10 minutes without all that brushing.

Your saying others are shooting one hole groups with the same gun should tell you where the problem lies.

I've had excellent results in mine with swaged HWBC's (Speer) and 3.2 gr. 700X.

2.8 gr. Bullseye and 3.3 gr. W-231 perforemd equallt well in my S&W52. I would suggest that it is the hold on the sandbags which is the issue.