Hey guys. New here on this forum but thought that I would get started with a question:

I just picked up a fine M39-2 last weekend and want to use it for the occasionl carry. One reason that I wanted it was that it was single stack and easier to hold and pack. I know that the original M39 dates back to the early to mid 1950's when only ball ammo was available. I would like to know if there is any modem ammo that I should stay away from with my gun and is there any kind of performance ammo that works well in them. I know that there are more modern guns that will feed anything and everything that you feed them, but I have a soft spot for these fine guns and want to carry mine on occasion and know that I can depend on it.

Thanks for any help.

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Rusty 44

Welcome from Western Massachusetts.. The only way to find a good one is you'll have to spend a few bucks. Buy a box of a few NAME brands of ball,hp plain old lead and see what YOUR gun likes. What my 5943 likes may not work in your 39. Thats one of the fun parts of gun ownership.. Again welcome.. Shoot safe. Stash

Mine do not like 147 gr anything. You can use +p occasionally but a steady diet of it will cause problems.

All I have shot thru mine is Walmart Federal 115 gr. FMJ and it has yet to fail with them.

edit to add: It seems to me like the -2 model incorporated some feed ramp changes? Hopefully more knowledgeable people will chime in.

I'm relatively new to this forum as well, but not to the 39-2. I have owned 3 of them. The first was bought new in 1975, the second sometime in the mid-90's (both of which I sold for some dumb reason) and the most recent I purchased 3 months ago. This one had never been fired so for all practical purposes it is a new gun. It has also become my carry gun. I agree with jdh, none of mine have liked the 147 gr. And I've found a steady diet of 115 gr, ball or jhp to be best for range shooting. However, for defensive purposes I've found the 124 +p to be best.

I'm not an expert on M39s but I do know the early guns had a feed ramp with two slopes. Around serial number A110XXX this was changed to the single slope feed ramp. The latter style would feed the lighter bullets much more reliably.

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Dick

I had an original 39. Very smooth and compact, but had feeding and reliability problems. Traded it off.

The Illinois State Police(greetings from the Peoples Republic of Illinois; along with our Chicago anti-gun mayors-outgoing one and new one) were among the first to use a 9mm automatic duty pistol. S & W 39's.

Winchester loaded a special high pressure 9mm round for them after they signed a disclaimer as this was, I am told almost like a proof load. The ISP were supposed to return their guns to the armorer after every 1000 rounds for inspection, and replacement of any needed parts.

We had a massive gun batttle here locally, (in the 70's) involving the ISP and a local individual, which I had the opportunity to hear on my police scanner. Afterward, I heard that these ISP bullets blew up on windshield glass and changes were made.

The perpetrator, after receiving 5 9mm torso hits (and a load of 12 ga. buckshot) recovered and did his time, and was released.

I am aquainted with three ISP officers, friends of the family.
Two carry .40 cal Glocks and the other, a SWAT officer, carries a Kimber .45.

Bottom line: (1)There are better defensive calibers than 9mm.
(2) There are now some very good 9mm loads in
+p and +p+
(3) I would not be afraid to use LIMITED
amounts of high pressure ammo in a 39.
(4) I would buy a 39-2 in a heartbeat if the price was right. They are nice guns.

+P+! Don't use that in a 39-2, the pistol was never rated for it!
As for a good all-around load, try Federal 115gr JHP (product code 9BP), it's standard pressure and before +P and +P+ came along was THE load to carry. Second choice would be the Wunchester Silvertip 115.
Any ball load will sufice for practice, but avoid NATO ball as it's loaded too hot (124@1275fps!).
As too +P usage; I would shoo a mag or two at the end of my range session just to acclimate myself to the recoil. The Speer Gold Dot 124+P is whats in my 669 at the moment and it's nasty stuff. Dale

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"