Colt National Match 38WC

kokanee king

kokanee king

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Didsbury, Alberta
So I bought myself a Colt NM 38 WC slide assembly plus 4 mags from a seller on here....David L.....anyways after reloading some rounds i headed to the range. Here is my results:

10yds; 5 shot string; benchrest
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20yds; many shots; right handed
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I like my 10yd "string" and know that with more practice I will be able to tighten my groups at 20yds.
As for the Colt NM slide, it mounted to my Colt 38 Super frame like it was meant to be there.
 
the national match is a nice gun what do you intend to do with it? Plink? Competition? Perhaps you know this but any autoloader chambered for .38 wadcutter only isn't allowed in PPC. I have a s&w 52-2 a few steps up from your colt. It is the example given in the rule book of what you can't use it's too accurate. From a ransom rest it will shoot 2-2 1/4" groups at 50 yards all day.

None the less have fun practice makes perfect.
 
gwagen said:
the national match is a nice gun what do you intend to do with it? Plink? Competition? Perhaps you know this but any autoloader chambered for .38 wadcutter only isn't allowed in PPC. I have a s&w 52-2 a few steps up from your colt. It is the example given in the rule book of what you can't use it's too accurate. From a ransom rest it will shoot 2-2 1/4" groups at 50 yards all day.

None the less have fun practice makes perfect.
Click to expand...

All good..... But I dunno if I'd say a S&W 52 is "a few steps up" from a Colt National Match, though.... ;) :p

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NAA.
 
I am currently reloading with 3.1grs of HP38 with federal primers and Speer 148gr HBWC cast bullets.

Forgot to mention, in our club we only do club shoots. Right now we have no big events like the ones you mentioned. So the only competition is amongst about 6 fellow plinkers.
 
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best wadcutter load there is 148 gr. Wadcutter of your choice that Speer bullet your using is a good one. But the tried and true load is 2.7 gr. of bullseye. Super accurate.

As for those people who say the 52-2 isn't a step up, that's only because they haven't shot one.

The 52-2 is superior in all aspects.

Frame to slide fit
Barrel bushing
Best trigger to ever come on a handgun the break is as thick as a hair width.
Painstakingly hand fitted
Treated as a custom shop production.
Wasn't let out of the factory unless it could shoot a 2 1/4" group at fifty yards or better
Better sights.

And so on
 
Moparlover said:
how well do the two mentioned semi's feed the wadcutters?
Click to expand...

Never had a problem with my 52-2. But then my guns don't get out much. :redface:


gwagen said:
As for those people who say the 52-2 isn't a step up, that's only because they haven't shot one.

The 52-2 is superior in all aspects.

Frame to slide fit
Barrel bushing
Best trigger to ever come on a handgun the break is as thick as a hair width.
Painstakingly hand fitted
Treated as a custom shop production.
Wasn't let out of the factory unless it could shoot a 2 1/4" group at fifty yards or better
Better sights.
Click to expand...

While the SW-52 is a hell of a gun I would still prefer to shoot a Colt set up for 38 Special FWC. It just sits better in the hand.
 
my 52 sees lots of shooting and as it was designed for wadcutters only if feeds my reloads with out a hitch.

Yes the colt would have the 1911 grip angle but the 52's grip is just as good better fir one handed bullseye.

Custom grips help a lot too.
 
They both work great... when clean.



My 1911 works best with 'hotter' loads. 4gr of HP38, vs 3.6gr HP38 for the M52... under a 148WC (Not hollow base)

1911-38.jpg


I didn't think you could mount a WC slide/barrel onto a regular frame... since it's a straight blow back. Oddly enough, I never thought of comparing the frames...

At 20Y, both the 1911 and 52 will shoot one big ragged hole. At 50Y, the 52 wins. While the 1911 will keep them in the 10 ring, the M52 will keep them in the X ring.
 
I wouldn't say that you can't make a 1911 as accurate as the 52, but it's a lot easier to start from the bottom up and make a whole new gun than modify a 1911 to be accurate. You can spend thousands on your 1911 accurizing it. But at the end of the day the 52 in .38 wadcutter will still probably kick it up and down the street.
 
Well, somebody's sure on the S&W 52 kool-aid.... :p

Okay, to re-cap.... It'll kick a Colt National Match in .38 Spl wadcutter "up & down the street".... but you have to have custom grips on it to do so? :confused:

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NAA.
 
I do not use custom grips on mine. I just suggested that for those who prefer the 1911 grip. As for the 52 koolaide someone had to drink it.

I would invite you anytime that you are in southeastern bantario to come and shoot my 52 at my expense.

Though if you are not a good shot, and I'm not implying anything, it would be pointless as you wouldn't be able to see the difference it makes. Though I will say anyone decent shooter can pick it up and instantly see better results.

Cheers gwagen
 
I might just snatch up the next one that appears on the EE and find out for myself. I've been loading .38 Spl ammo for years [including 148 gr flush seated full wadcutter] but my launchers of choice have always been the S&W wheelguns.

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NAA.
 
The frame to slide fit of my 38Super slide is kind of loose. I know if I sent it away that the slide could be "squished" slightly to make it tighter. When i put the NM 38 WC slide onto my frame it fit like it was meant for that frame. The slide is tight with no sign of looseness whatsoever. Id like to try the 52-2 but know it will be a frosty day in hell before i slide my ass over to Bantario anytime soon. When i was adjusting the sights I used the benchrest we have at the pistol range. I wanted to make sure that the sights were adjusted properly, yes i know i can get that group tighter.
Ive always loved and wanted a 1911, now I have the good ole 2 for 1 special.
As for how the WC's feed, well after tons of research on how far to seat them and how much crimp to apply to them they feed great.
 
The S&W 52 is a hell of an accurate gun. The trigger is light and crisp. A common reaction of pistol shooters to the trigger pull is wow! (small quiet reflective wow) Usually they have to try it a second time because the completely missed it the first time.

But like I said, the 1911 format fits better in my hand. I even found a set of Hogue rubber grips for it which improves the 52 but still I like the 1911 better. I've also got a S&W 745 that is also very accurate (but not quite up to the 52) and it still has the same S&W odd feel to it. If I had my choice I would rather shoot an accurized 1911 in 38WC. But this is kind of cheating since the 52 is great out of the box. As long as you do your part the 52 will put the bullets into the same hole. And that's the problem. You do anything wrong and your shot is gone. And you know it. Somehow the 1911 is a little more forgiving. ymmv
 
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