I know im grabing at straws here but i would like to know if it is possable to find an aftermarket barrel for the aboved mentioned pistol.
My father in law left this and four other Smiths to me and i realy like this firearm it feels good in hand and is a straight shooter. But i would like to be able to shoot +p ammo out of it if its possable.
This gun looks new seriously i think he fired it a few time and put it away and it sat in a safe for 30 years.
The barrel is not the problem. The problem is that semiautos of that era were not built for the battering that excessive use of +P ammo may give them. Recoil springs aren't heavy enough, frames and small parts not beefy enough, etc. Occasional +P probably won't hurt anyhing too much, but why bother? There are pleny of fine standard loads out there. I use the classic Federal 9BP 115 gr. load in mine, a proven performer that is a standard-pressure load and very accurate.
I totally agree with pisgah on the model 39. I have fired some plus P 9mm through it without any issues but would not make a steady diet out of it. There is an abundance of standard 9mm that does a great job for your fabulous 39!
Randy
I wouldn't even risk trying it with any number of rounds, the alloy frames of that era were thin (by today's standards) around the area where slide stop lever goes through the frame, and is susceptible to cracking.
That's why S&W beefed up that area of the frame when they came out with the 2nd gen pistols after reports from PD's of the M59's in the field experiencing cracked frames.
Why risk a vintage M39 to +P when there is really no reason to use it when there are modern 9mm loadings that will inflict enough damage to get the job done without the added strain.
Replacment barrel 39-2
Linear Mode
