Hello bottom feeder fans,
I am an active poster on the wheel gun side and therein lies most of the passion, and collection, however I'm not really a stranger to semi's having owned, sold, traded several 1911A1's, Browning HP's, Lugers, Colts over the last bucoo years, but I just came into my first Smith & Wesson brand.
It is a Model 39-2, in very decent condition as far as I can tell. For what it's worth came with blue Bangor Punta box and some documents, and a well used cleaning rod that I'm pretty sure wasn't even used on this pistol and it is too long for the box.
So.......general feel for this 1977 pistol (per SCSW 4th) is that I like it. It has a real great feel when held in right hand (strong side) and my Browning Hi-Power held in left, or even vice versa.
With a couple snap caps in the Smith trigger break is very, very "late" compared to the BHP (almost like it's touching the trigger guard). The alloy frame and 4 inch barrel blend very nicely in my case making the sight picture better than my BHP on these old eyes. The stippled back strap feels great too.
Some questions that I know you guys (and gals) can help with.
I've heard rumors about alloy frame cracking issues...I don't see any, but are people talking hundreds or thousands of rounds down the pipe? Where on the frame do you inspect and what exactly are you looking for (hairline, black coating disturbance, crack propagation path, etc.).
Another question, did these guns ship from factory with one or two mags? Where best to get a spare that isn't worn out spring wise? When I hit the range for pistol exercise I don't like to spend all my time loading mags so preferably 2 is minimum, more if I got em, and since the BHP is double stack, this will be more like my 1911A1's or the old Luger byf and 8 rounds go so quick.
Those of you that shoot the M39-2...what factory ammo (brand and bullet weight/style) does it like for paper punching/plinking? Dislike? I usually run whatever is cheaper today if I'm low on ammo.
My next range outing is to definitely leave the wheel guns at home
and take both the BHP and the new-to-me Model 39-2 and give them a good side-by-side functional exercise program and to see what the real time results are on paper. Neither of these semi's are in my EDC rotation cause I don't do rotation (same old J frame for decades), but again the Smith feels like it's going be fun, maybe more so than the BHP.
Sorry for the ramble, and the crummy pics, but I'm hoping that this whole Forum is not made up of "wheel" gunners only and that some of you will pass on some of that valuable know-how and "been there, done that" experience.....so I can get the T-shirt too.
I am an active poster on the wheel gun side and therein lies most of the passion, and collection, however I'm not really a stranger to semi's having owned, sold, traded several 1911A1's, Browning HP's, Lugers, Colts over the last bucoo years, but I just came into my first Smith & Wesson brand.
It is a Model 39-2, in very decent condition as far as I can tell. For what it's worth came with blue Bangor Punta box and some documents, and a well used cleaning rod that I'm pretty sure wasn't even used on this pistol and it is too long for the box.
So.......general feel for this 1977 pistol (per SCSW 4th) is that I like it. It has a real great feel when held in right hand (strong side) and my Browning Hi-Power held in left, or even vice versa.
With a couple snap caps in the Smith trigger break is very, very "late" compared to the BHP (almost like it's touching the trigger guard). The alloy frame and 4 inch barrel blend very nicely in my case making the sight picture better than my BHP on these old eyes. The stippled back strap feels great too.
Some questions that I know you guys (and gals) can help with.
I've heard rumors about alloy frame cracking issues...I don't see any, but are people talking hundreds or thousands of rounds down the pipe? Where on the frame do you inspect and what exactly are you looking for (hairline, black coating disturbance, crack propagation path, etc.).
Another question, did these guns ship from factory with one or two mags? Where best to get a spare that isn't worn out spring wise? When I hit the range for pistol exercise I don't like to spend all my time loading mags so preferably 2 is minimum, more if I got em, and since the BHP is double stack, this will be more like my 1911A1's or the old Luger byf and 8 rounds go so quick.
Those of you that shoot the M39-2...what factory ammo (brand and bullet weight/style) does it like for paper punching/plinking? Dislike? I usually run whatever is cheaper today if I'm low on ammo.
My next range outing is to definitely leave the wheel guns at home
and take both the BHP and the new-to-me Model 39-2 and give them a good side-by-side functional exercise program and to see what the real time results are on paper. Neither of these semi's are in my EDC rotation cause I don't do rotation (same old J frame for decades), but again the Smith feels like it's going be fun, maybe more so than the BHP.Sorry for the ramble, and the crummy pics, but I'm hoping that this whole Forum is not made up of "wheel" gunners only and that some of you will pass on some of that valuable know-how and "been there, done that" experience.....so I can get the T-shirt too.
