Any problem with +P 9mm ammo in a 3913?

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Still Running Against the Wind

A gracious armorer friend here on the forum told me it was okay but to keep an eye on certain things (I've got the list, but it's at home). Based on this, my little brother keeps +P 124-gr Gold Dots in his 3913NL, but tends to not shoot them more than once a year. I think this is fine practice; be sure to have decent springs on board.

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It wouldn't be a steady diet only if I decide to carry it.
What does the NL stand for? I know there was a LS, mine is just 3913 Nite Sights.

Thanks

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Still Running Against the Wind

When I owned a 3913 and a 3953, they never carried anything but +P, but I did not shoot lots of it. It's mainly a matter of increasing the rate of wear, just as is true of +P .38 Special.

Re "NL": http://www.thegunzone.com/3913nl.html

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I have read that article many times in the past but must have glazed over on the "New Look" part. I wonder if any of the guns really have NL stamped on them?

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Still Running Against the Wind

Nah, but it's on the box end label.

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I've got some +p+ for my 3913 but it's for carry only;too pricy to use for anything else I would imagine the wear would be a lot more severe than target ammo

I carry Speer GD 124 grain +P in my 3913 all of the time. I don't practice with it due to the price, but I did sight in with it to determine POA. I haven't had any problem with this ammo either in my 3913 or my converted 637.

My carry load is also the Speer Gold Dot 124 Grain +P JHP round. It's definitely manageable in my 3913, but I routinely shoot 115 Grain FMJ standard pressure 9MM in mine simply because I have tons of that ammo and it is just a pussycat to shoot it.

The term "New Look" is a new one on me, I always went with the "Non-Ladysmith" or "No Logo" names. I thought there were some marked 3913NL on the frame though, does anybody have one so marked?

I have a 3914NL and Erich is correct there is no NL marking on the gun at all. When I purchased it in approx 1990-91 I was told that NL stood for Novak Low which were the sights mounted on the gun as it came from the factory. As far as +p I wouldnt worry about it Illinois state police fired +p+ from their Smiths for many years without incident. I would estimate that mine has fired probably 500 +p or +p+ rounds without a problem. Since ball is cheaper you will end up shooting mostly that anyway. The Lady Smith version wasnt produced until years after the first NL's. Other thing about the NL is originally they came with only one safety lever and that was on the left side to accomodate righties.

I like others believe the 3913-14-53 series were the best S&W had to offer. What others are striving for SW did years ago. ie; a slim 9mm that was reliable and accurate for a pocket sized pistol. Why O why did SW abandon one of the most successful designs ever thought up. Many I being one of many always believed the 3913 was a very good and better than the pistol that started the series the ASP. A cut down M39 designed by the late Paris Theodore. Because of my love of custom? (reliable guns) I have friends that make their living doing upgrades on certain pistols. the 39 series have always been a great gun to Tweak. All seem in accord that +p+ and even +p are injurious to long life. The key to success in my opinion is the number of hits creating the needed shock value to the torso. Three or four hits in the torso are far more important than two misses with super ammo. Think about it, almost all manufactures are coming out with slim pistols for concealed carry. All along we have had one in our midst. You can't get much thinner than the 3953 or if you don't like double action only the 3913 with only left side safety. The regular 9mm para isn't a man dropper! that's what you hear, then explain why you can't get 380 ammo? Truly a mouse round but all of a sudden LCPs, Kel tec, and the like are selling like crazy even though you can't get ammo.......Don't over shoot the hot stuff. Example: local PD went from SW steel 40s to Glock Sig 357 caliber. Range qualification exposed some frame cracks, and worse yet, lower scores. Reports were a more violent and sharper recoil. I can't attest to that as I have never fired a 357 Sig but Glock replaced pistols with 9mm. by all standards (I guess) a step backward, however higher range scores....As my 8 year old granddaughter would say "go figure" I have heard many reports about Cor Bon being to hot, I personally don't know if that is the truth or not but seems plausable. I think investigation and questions to large departments that practice and qualify with what they carry would be a good educational
study for one a lot smarter than me. I doubt if you can really trust what you read in gun mags as they rely on advertisers....

Maybe like K frame .357s the "MASTER BLASTER" mentality of shooters who are in love with +P, +P+, "load it even hotter" for range blasting caused companies to drop models designed for ordinary ammo?

I liked it better when companies were not expected to take the blame for outright abuse of their products. I think we often got better products, even if not so "idiot proof." ( Is idiot proofing even possible?)

Nah. Idiots are surprisingly ingenious.

I carry Winchester Ranger +P+ 127gr SXT in my 3913 . I fired a few rounds to see where it would print and thats it .

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