S&W 41 or S&W 52 - Which Would You Choose?

If you've got the dough buy 'em both. They're NEVER going to get any cheaper and the 52 will never be more available. They're two of the guns I will never part with (along with my 3 Model 14s) both are more accurate than the capability of 99.9% of shooters (including me).
 
lanis said:
And I know where you can find absolutely mint model 52!
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OK, now point us in the right direction.

I have both. Both are excellent. Built for NRA and UIT type of competitions, but both are old school compared to the European guns out there, which are a lot more $$ and more refined.

Mags for the Model 52 are expensive and hard to find. You can get new mags for the Model 41 for less than $50 if you look hard.

Agree on the CCI standard velocity for the Model 41. Cheaper than match ammo, just as good. don't waste your $$ on crappy cheap or high velocity ammo though.

Glockenspiel
 
I have both that haven't been used in 20+ years as bullseye and UIT shooting has been nonexistent around here. I have been thinking of selling to fund a rifle. What is the going price for a 41 and 52-2 with boxes in very good condition.
 
PYK said:
I have both that haven't been used in 20+ years as bullseye and UIT shooting has been nonexistent around here. I have been thinking of selling to fund a rifle. What is the going price for a 41 and 52-2 with boxes in very good condition.
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Older model 41s seem to be going in the $700-900 range depending on condition, accessories, etc. The few Model 52s I've seen recently are nudging over the $1000+ mark, again depending on condition. It's a fair bit of coin but as I said I can only see them getting more expensive with time.
 
I placed an ad in the EE a while ago, and picked up a PRISTINE 52-2, but they aren't cheap. The 52 and the 41 are 2 completely different animals, both very good guns for what they were designed for. As previously posted you should think about starting with the 41 as they are on the EE for $700-800 fairly often. A good to very good 52- will run you $ 1,300-1,500 these days. Another factor is the cost of 52 magazines, over $100.
If a 52 (.38 wadcutter) is your "thing", check out a Colt midrange wadcutter 1911's..there's still a few around, but again not cheap !
 
I am partial to the 52

here is my dash 2............

CIMG0552_zpsromtvjkc.jpg

CIMG0553_zpscpvuckae.jpg
 
Yodave,

Love to see a gun that's getting some use!

Brewster20 said:
If a 52 (.38 wadcutter) is your "thing", check out a Colt midrange wadcutter 1911's..there's still a few around, but again not cheap !
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Clark Custom used to convert some 38 super...

And Colt made a straight blow back.
1911-38.jpg~original


Fun and accurate pistol... But at 50M, the S&W M52 is more accurate.
 
The 52 is inherently very accurate, but is VERY unforgiving - if you do not carry through with perfect execution of the shot program, it will bite you viciously. That is, a microsecond of in attention, misalignment or a tiny twitch of the trigger finger and that called 10 will become a 4 or 5, or if really lucky a 7! The same failures with a Hammerli, Clark conversion, or a K38 will get you an 8 or a 9. The 52 is very definitely stabilized with the addition if the forward weight, becoming almost bearable. I have owned three, they are a "love-hate" relationship, the first and second attempts to live with their idiosyncratic behaviour ended badly, the current one carries a DJ Precision weight and since I no longer compete, I can relax and accept the foibles. I only owned a 41 for a year back in 1975, gave it up for a Unique DES 69, an enormously better pistol.
Dr Jim
 
Well, it's settled for now. I just bought a 41. Missed out on what looked to be a cherry 52-2 by a couple of minutes. Such is life. I'm sure the 41 and a few thousand rounds can distract me.
 
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