BPLE 115 +P+ in Model 59 question for ISPCpt and others

[imarangemaster]

Dusting off my 1975 vintage S&W Model 59 to use as a carry weapon on days I work at the local gun shop. Probably just a touch of 73 year old nostalgia, as I have other fine 9mms to choose from. I am a fan of 9BPLE (see below), and was going to carry it in my 59 as "duty loads." It won't be a steady diet, as I use Speer Blazer Brass 115s for practice with my 9s.

I searched, but can't find the thread where some range master shot thousands of rounds of 9 BPLE (or its predecessor 9BPIL) from a 59 or 39, with no ill effects. I think it was ISPCpt that mentioned it. Can anyone share the link to that conversation?

When I started carrying a 59 as an off duty as a Deputy sheriff from 1978 to 1979, then as a duty weapon at a southern Washington State PD from 1979 to 1981, I used the fine old Speer Lawman 100 grain JHP truncated cone style. From 1981 to 1989, I carried a department issued Model 59 as a duty weapon at another PD in the Seattle Area, and we were issued WW Silvertip as duty ammo.

Currently, 9BPLE 115 +P+ is my main carry ammo in my Glock 19 and Springfield Armory Hellcat. I also use it in my Ruger PCC 9 carbine, where it gives 1650 fps!

My second choice is federal the 147 grain HST, followed by 147 grain WW Ranger T-Series (Black Talon without the black paint)

Thanks in advance

 

[jsbethel]

Some discussion here - https://smith-wessonforum.com/threa...5-grain-in-2nd-3rd-gen.418287/#post-138398264

 

[ispcapt]

We never issued the 59. We went from the 39 to 439 then 459/469 for a short time then 5904/6904. We issued the BPLE when we were issued the 439 and then 459/469.
The story you are referring to with 80,000 rds involved one of our range guys shooting the W-W 115 gr +P+ in our issued 5904. I shot a lot, like many thousands of rds, of the W-W +P+ thru my issued 5904 and 6904 and my personally owned 459. We were issued the 439 at the time but those of us on SWAT could carry 459 if we bought our own. So I ran a lot of rds thru the 459. During those years we didn't shoot reloads or reduced power rds. Everything was duty ammo. I never had any problems with any of those guns with either the BPLE or W-W+P+. Can't recall anyone on the team that had gun problems either. That was over 40 years ago and I still shoot that 459 a lot.
The only thing I recall with the 59 was some cracked frames at the hole where the slide lock goes thru. They weren't our guns but some from another dept in the area. If you compare the 59 frame to the 459 frame you'll see that around that hole the frame is different.
I'm down to my last few boxes of BPLE. I need to order some more while it's still relatively cheap. Sort of, kind of cheap. It worked well for us.

 

[imarangemaster]

I have been using 115 grain 9BPLE for almost 10 years now. I agree it is surprisingly soft shooting. I shoot it better than the Speer Gold Dot 124 +P I used to shoot before I switched. The last time I compared the two, was shooting the 469 I had a couple years back. Rapid groups were about 1/3 to 1/2 smaller than the 124 grain Gold dot.

I suppose for grins, I could load it with the 100 grain Speer Lawman JHPs I used it the late 70s and early 80s. I found about a 1/3 of a box of the 100 grainers in my junk drawer

 

[imarangemaster]

I say my decision to carry it at the shop is nostalgia more than practicality. While I have an Armory full of new technology, my favorites are vintage, to say the least,

-Colt New Service .455 Webley (1915)
-Smith and Wesson Military and Police 4th model (1921)
-Colt 1911 Comercial (1921)
-C96 Broomhandle Mauser w/ stock (1930)
-USGI Saginaw M1 Carbine (1943)
-Early (walnut stock) Ruger 10-22 (1972)
-Smith & Wesson Model 59 (1975)
-Ruger LEO Mini-14 GB Model (1981)

 

[Rick H.]

My old agency used 115 +P+ and 127 +P+ Winchester loads for several years. I liked the load because the speed they generated was substantial at the time and it still is. Something like 1300+ FPS out of a pistol. I still use these rounds in my EDC Glocks and CZ's. In fact just yesterday I shot an HR-218 qualifying course with them and they worked great. No complaints at all. If you don't go crazy with the +P+ loads your pistol should do well with them, just watch for any unusual wear and replace the recoil spring regularly.

Rick H.

 

[imarangemaster]

I just found. box of Winchester Silvertips, too. Thats what I carried 1981 to 1989 in my issue 59 and 439. The original Silvertips (with aluminum jacket) got a well deserved bad reputation in the Miami FBI shootout. The current generation of Silvertips perform on a par with Gold Dot and HST.