M39-2 Failure To Eject (UPDATE, GOOD NEWS)

[max]

Thirty or so years ago, a friend and co-worker asked my assistance in purchasing a handgun. We went to the F.J. Vollmer store and I spotted a very nice used nickel 39 in the display case. My friend spotted it also and said that was what he wanted. If he had not chosen it, I was ready to buy it as I was actively buying nickel Smiths at the time.

He only fired it once or twice in the ensuing years and I was present both times. I doubt if he fired more than 50 rounds. I advised him to buy extra magazines and an adequate supply of ammunition. I was bringing back lots of Blazer from Academy Sports while going to and from Talladega.

He notified me about 3 months ago, his health was deteriorating rapidly and he was terminal. He asked my assistance in helping him to dispose of some guns that had belonged to his father and an unfired AR he had purchased. I did these things for him and be asked if I still wanted the 39. I told him I did and would be glad to pay him a fair price.

He asked me to meet him at his home a few days later and I took possession of the Smith, 5 magazines, and 11 boxes of ammo including 1 I had reloaded many years ago. I told him I would never sell the Smith, we parted company, and he died a few days later.

I shot the gun today for the first time in many years and had a lot of failures to eject. I was firing some reloads and a box of Herters I recently purchased from Cabelas. I had cleaned and lubed the gun prior my trip to the range. There were some stovepipes, but mostly just fired brass staying in the chamber. It was easy to remove by turning the gun up and slapping the slide.

Any suggestions as to what the problem might be and who to send the gun to?

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello Max, I like 39s and have a few. Dont start buying new parts just yet.
Put the reloads away for now. Buy some fresh factory ammo. Clean under the extractor and clean the mag. Just a start. Go shoot. And dont limp wrist when you shoot. Make a deliberate effort to stiff arm it to give resistance. If it has only been fired 50 times, you are just burning the factory burrs off it. Use fresh ammo, factory, clean mag and charge the chamber from the mag. Posts will follow about all kinds of new parts.
The gun is brand new. Take their advice and have a ball! Mike

 

[Alk8944]

Does it extract and eject normally when you manually cycle the slide. Was the ammunition the old hand-loads you did for him years ago? Like gmborkovic said, buy some first quality factory ammunition and see how it does.

For the record, "limp-wristing" is absolute B.S, especially for the Model 39. Mid 1970s I was Dept Armorer for my department. Were the second department to adopt the M-39, and I supported more than 300 of them. The department had bought some real junk commercial re-loads when we had recently purchased M-39s, and we were having real issues with function and someone dreamed up "limp-wristing" as the probable cause, not the **** ammunition. To prove this was not the reason I several times demonstrated this by firing the gun holding it as loosely as possible by tying a lanyard onto the trigger guard so the gun wouldn't fall to the ground, then held the gun between my thumb under the knuckle on the back-strap and my index finger on the trigger then simply "pinched" the shot off. As was expected the gun would always fall from my hand and hang on the lanyard when fired. BUT, the gun would always cycle completely normally!!!!! it would fire, extract, eject, and load the next round from the magazine. In numerous demonstrations the gun held this way never failed to cycle normally, just as if it had been held normally in a firm grip! I never had a failure in any of the times I demonstrated this. So, FORGET THIS LIMP-WRISTING B.S, it isn't the problem, at least with the M-39!

Check the extractor for a chipped/broken hook, and make sure the ejector is OK. The ejector is a step on the magazine disconnector.

Other than ammunition issues I have no idea. Whenever you have a cycling issue, with any semi-automatic, try changing ammunition first, then worry if there is any other issue.

 

[gmborkovic]

Limp wrist is a fact of fundamental physis. The same as a firm grip. What auto does not have a limp wrist problem? You agreed with everything I said. A chipped extractor? Come on! What are you shooting old steel 9mm frow WW2? Im sure you are quite accomplished on the Gating gun and trap door 45-70. Having been a gunsmith since 1861. Hey, POPS, leave the new stuff to us young 74 yr. old kids. Its a new mod-39!

 

[armorer951]

Before you do anything else, try changing the recoil spring to a new OEM one. S&W part number 06048.

Smith & Wesson Recoil Spring S&W 5903TSW 5906TSW 5943TSW 39 3904 3906

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

When buying a used self-loading pistol with an known round count I replace all the springs. In this case I would try factory ammo as already suggested. The reloads could be underpowered and unable to fully cycle the slide.

Try that before condemning parts or blaming it on a limp hold.

 

[armorer951]

I believe the OP already indicated that he tried 'factory' ammunition.......


"I was firing some reloads and a box of Herters I recently purchased from Cabelas."


On a side note.....there is apparently a recall on some Herter's 9mm 115gr ammo:

HERTER’S 9mm Luger 115 grain Full Metal Jacket Recall | Winchester Ammunition

 

[max]

I fired 50 reloads and 50 factory. The reloads were put together in April of last year. It does seem to work fine when cycled by hand. I am pretty positive I am not limp wristing.

I will fire it some more with some different ammo. I will also do some more cleaning. The gun was very clean when he got it and I cleaned it after the last time he fired it. I cleaned it last week and lubricated it.

It seems that it was working better when I first started shooting and it got worse as I fired it more.

 

[stansdds]

Two possibilities immediately spring to my mind. First, the extractor hook is damaged, this often occurs when a round is placed in the chamber, then the slide is let go and the face of the extractor hook gets pounded as it goes over the cartridge rim. Second, old, gummy lubricant in the extractor channel is preventing the extractor from keeping consistent tension on the case's rim. Third, rusty, worn, or broken extractor spring. Well, that's three things, evidently I can't count.

 

[LVSteve]

I’m a broken record, I know, but 124gr ammo is what you need to run many 9mm pistols. If the OP’s gun has no mechanical faults, my money is on weak sauce 115gr loads being the issue.

 

[Dave_n]

I’m a broken record, I know, but 124gr ammo is what you need to run many 9mm pistols. If the OP’s gun has no mechanical faults, my money is on weak sauce 115gr loads being the issue.

Steve is correct particularly for P08s and other 9mm from German service in 9mm calibre. The 124 (aka NATO Standard) is what the P08 Luger in 9mm was designed for before WWI. Dave_n

 

[310Pilot]

About 15 years ago, I bought a nickel 39-2, cleaned/lubricated it, then went shooting. New factory 124 grain ammo. Numerous FTF and FTE, a real han-o-matic. I checked the extractor, no damage. Installed a new Woolf extra power extractor spring and a new standard weight recoil spring. Problem solved, never another problem. I later bought a blue 39-2 which was unfired and absolutely flawless cosmetically, but it just wouldn't run consistently, again failures in extraction, ejection and feeding. I replaced the same springs and it operated flawlessly. Those springs apparently get tired, even just sitting around. I would replace those springs if for no other reason than they are simply quite old, can't hurt anything, and it ma very well cure the problem. BTW, there is also a spring for the ejector, but replacing it requires some frame disassembly, and may not be needed. Hope this helps.

 

[max]

I took the gun to a good smith and he replaced the extractor and spring. I took it to the range this morning and it was flawless. I fired some JHP reloads from 20 years ago, some Winchester white box JHP'S and some factory 115 gr FMJ'S.

I am very happy and am planning to trade with my son. I gave him a new Smith when he graduated from law school almost 30 years ago. He is not a gun person, but he really liked the 39-2 when he saw it at Thanksgiving. Hopefully he will find the time to come visit during warmer weather so we can shoot together.

Thanks for your suggestions. I did buy 500 rds of 124 grain FMJ's when Natchez had a special 2 weeks ago.

 

[gmborkovic]

max, good news. Glad it worked out for you. Tenacity pays off.

 

[ispcapt]

Excellent news Max. Glad it was a simple fix.

 

[max]

Today, after almost 2 years, my son took possession of the nickel 39 and I have his 3906. He couldn't find the box for the 3906, but said he will look again when he gets home.

I think my friend Bill would be happy.

 

[Sevens]

Some will disagree with me and I say this half-jokingly so please do not be offended… but you snaked your Son! Both are terrific pistols but the 3906 is a much more scarce and much more stout pistol.

I like both models and across both together I own five examples but I would select the 3906!

 

[Brian Parrish]

Quiet please!

Some will disagree with me and I say this half-jokingly so please do not be offended… but you snaked your Son! Both are terrific pistols but the 3906 is a much more scarce and much more stout pistol.

I like both models and across both together I own five examples but I would select the 3906!

Hush that! What if the son is listening??!

 

[max]

He has no particular interest, just wanted a pistol. I gave him the 3906 in 1992 when he graduated from law school. I also plan to give him the money I get from the 3906. He is a very successful attorney and the money won't matter either.

Some will disagree with me and I say this half-jokingly so please do not be offended… but you snaked your Son! Both are terrific pistols but the 3906 is a much more scarce and much more stout pistol.

I like both models and across both together I own five examples but I would select the 3906!