39-2 Extractor Issues

[dddddmorgan]

Well, I've got a nice 39-2 I picked up used and the only issue is extracting.

It doesn't matter what handload I use and it will do it with the variety of factory ammo as well, just goes along and then will not pull an empty. No predictability to it.

I've examined the extractor carefully, without disassembling the gun and don't see any wear, no chips etc.

The only thing I can add is that it has a Wolff after market recoil spring, but I can't imagine this would hurt anything.

I'm pretty good with my firearms assembly/disassembly, I've had a Model 19 and 27 completely apart and back together. If I need a new extractor is this something I can tackle?

 

[gmborkovic]

Mr. morgan, start simple. Remove extractor and spring for clean and inspection. Try this first. Clean the chamber really well. Let us know.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

Just passing this along from experience , both myself and a buddy . Our 52's were not ejecting , not feeding , slide wouldn't go all the way forward . Our culprit ? For both of us it was mag springs . You wouldn't think a mag spring could cause all that , but it did . Some of the more experienced will be along and give you more ideas .

 

[dddddmorgan]

Mr. morgan, start simple. Remove extractor and spring for clean and inspection. Try this first. Clean the chamber really well. Let us know.

What is my best guidance for disassembly? I have a revolver manual but nothing for autos.

I can field strip the old girl with my eyes closed, it's beautiful, but I need more/better instructions if I'm going to be driving out pins and such.

Thanks

And yes; sound advice, I'll go through and make sure everything is squeaky clean.

 

[gmborkovic]

Ext. pin comes out from top to bottom. Just use the right size punch.
Gentle. This aint a Deere tractor. Mags come later.

 

[lkabug]

One of my 39-2 had problems electing intermittently. Not the same magazine. I only shot factory Lawman ammo. Disassembled, cleaned until it squeeked. Replaced recoil spring, no help. Replaced springs in two magazines, problem still there intermittently.
Replaced ejector and spring, everything now works as it should. I used a sight pusher with proper size pin (along with penetrating oil) to push ejector pin. Took care of the issue. 300 rounds and no FTE's.

 

[MattyD380]

I had a 39-2 that did that. Also intermittent. I replaced the extractor. That helped but didn't eliminate it. I ended up selling to a friend who didn't care one way or another.

 

[MattyD380]

I had a 39-2 that did that. Also intermittent. I replaced the extractor. That helped but didn't eliminate it. I ended up selling to a friend who didn't care one way or another.

 

[stansdds]

First thing to do is to make sure there is no gunk in the extractor channel. I once had a transitional Model 645 that occasionally failed to extract. It would leave the fired case seated or partially seated in the chamber. A cleaning of the extractor channel yielded a nasty mess of old oil, GSR, and general dirt. After that, flawless extraction. Beyond that, it could be a tired or modified extractor spring. Possibly tired magazine springs or a damaged ejector. Ejector tips have been known to break.

 

[PJO1425]

I had a similar problem with my 5906. I turned the slide upside down & soaked the extractor & vicinity in CLP while I cleaned the rest of the pistol. That seemed to take care of the problem (so far). I bought the 5906 used.

 

[paulj84003]

As was mentioned above the ext pin is driven out from the top of the slide, when replacing the ext drive the pin in from the bottom of the slide them use a rounded over punch to slightly upset the metal to prevent the pin from working out when firing. to check the extractor slide an empty case under the extractor claw to see if it will hold the case. The distance from the breach face to the back of the claw on earlier mod 39-2 is.055 to .065 on later 39-2's this distance was changed to .059 to .075 early on there were 3 diffrent extractors #'s 1,2,3. 2 being standard. the three diffrent ext's had a diffrent length from the back of the claw to the center of the ext pin hole to compansate for manf tollerances. later 39-2s and 59s used an ext that had a punch mark on the front of the ext claw. The early 39-2s also used two ext springs a plain metal color was standard a green spring was a little stiffer. If the tail of then extractor sticks out from the side of the slide very much you have a problem that is difficult to correct as you will not have good ext spring compression.Bending the ext tail in slightly to increase ext spring compression may help. Also mentioned above dirt and gunk in the extractor cut in the slide can be an issue.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Way way back when dinosaurs still roamed the earth I remember when the Alameda (CA) S. O. went from revolvers to semi-autos. They went with the S&W 39 and 59 at first. Got rid of them in a few months due to extractor problems. I forget if they went back to revolvers or went with something else.

 

[gmborkovic]

Are there just people who can not shoot autos? For one or more reasons.
Is their grip and resistance just to limp?