I recently purchased a model 39-2. I have not chambered a round yet. Is the safest way to load her to 1. lock the slide in place with the safety on and no magazine in place. 2. insert the loaded magazine and release the slide stop to chamber a round.3. the hammer will fall. but will it be on the hammer block? 4. remover the magazine and load another round and re-insert the clip so that there is a full load.......all of this with the safety on. Also what ammo do most of you use for the best feeding and ejecting. I know that some 9mm's are finicky, thats one reason why I got rid of my Kimber. I love the feel of this beautiful little gun.

I can only speak for myself, but when I load a TDA automatic, I lock the slide open, insert the magazine (with the safety in the "fire" position, use the slide release to chamber the round (keeping your finger away from the trigger!), then drop the hammer with the decocker/safety. I'm sure others do it differently, but it un-nerves me when the hammer falls with the slide going forward. Just one of my quirks.

I've had very good luck with both HPs and FMJs in my 39-2, although admittedly, it doesn't get as much range time as it should. It's almost too pretty.

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Because of the metric system?

I load my 39-2 by first making sure the safety is on and insert a full magazine,pull the slide back and release it to put the round into the chamber. I load my 9c in the same manner,but it does not have a manual safety. As always keeping my finger out of the trigger area on both pistols.

. . . and it goes without saying, or should anyway: Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction!

I don't have a 39 but I do have a 4566, same idea ...bigger bullet.

I insert the mag, release the slide, drop the hammer using the safety and then top off the mag

I have several Stainless Smiths in my gun cabinet and all are loaded with one in the chamber and the safety on,but my carry gun is a stainless/alloy 457. I top off the mag put it in the gun and release the slide lock putting one in the chamber,then drop the safety then drop the mag then top it off but it back in the gun and then take the safety off. I own several stainless from 9mm to 10mm and I load them all the same. The 457 is on my nightstand when I'm not carrying it,all my kids are grown so I have no worries.

Some 39s do not the higher spring tension of a full mag. I would load the mag, drop the slide by pulling the slide to the rear and releasing it, drop the hammer and not top off the mag. If you can't get the job done in eight rounds one more probably won't help.

There was a thread on here last week about an AD with a model 59. Apparently, the first gen Smiths didn't have a FP safety so the thumb safety/decocker is very important. Its a little different from the third gens. No reason to carry on an empty chamber, but the safety is necessary and one shouldn't rely on only the DA trigger if the 39 is like the 59.

S&W offers free manuals for their firearms.

Owner's Manuals - Smith & Wesson

Your Model 39 should be covered by the manual titled "Metal Frame Centerfire Pistols" in the "Archived Owner's Manuals"

Pages 17-19 cover Loading and "Topping Off"

Be safe and shoot well