My 39, 639 and a Trigger Issue

[bbftx]

Hello,
I'm relatively new to the S&W forums.
My favorite handgun is a 39-2 I inherited from my father. It was probably unfired when I got it a few years ago, but it instantly became my favorite. It shoots very well and fits my hand better than any other pistol.

It's pictured below, along with a used, but nice-looking, 639 I recently bought.

The 639 has one slight problem I was hoping to get some help with. The trigger pull is rough --- it seems to catch slightly about 3-4 times as you pull it through its range of motion. It looks like it might be each coil of the drawbar plunger spring catching slightly as it compresses into its recess in front of the trigger. A burr in there I'm guessing? Anybody ever have a similar problem with a 39 family semiauto?
Thanks,
BB in Texas

 

[bbftx]

Hello,
I'm relatively new to the S&W forums.
My favorite handgun is a 39-2 I inherited from my father. It was probably unfired when I got it a few years ago, but it instantly became my favorite. It shoots very well and fits my hand better than any other pistol.

It's pictured below, along with a used, but nice-looking, 639 I recently bought.

The 639 has one slight problem I was hoping to get some help with. The trigger pull is rough --- it seems to catch slightly about 3-4 times as you pull it through its range of motion. It looks like it might be each coil of the drawbar plunger spring catching slightly as it compresses into its recess in front of the trigger. A burr in there I'm guessing? Anybody ever have a similar problem with a 39 family semiauto?
Thanks,
BB in Texas

 

[WR Moore]

Maybe just burrs on the action parts that will smooth up with use or dryfire. The factory did make a special reamer as part of the armorers kit that deburred the drawbar plunger recess.

 

[Retired in 2001]

Originally posted by bbftx:
Hello,
I'm relatively new to the S&W forums.
My favorite handgun is a 39-2 I inherited from my father. It was probably unfired when I got it a few years ago, but it instantly became my favorite. It shoots very well and fits my hand better than any other pistol.

It's pictured below, along with a used, but nice-looking, 639 I recently bought.

The 639 has one slight problem I was hoping to get some help with. The trigger pull is rough --- it seems to catch slightly about 3-4 times as you pull it through its range of motion. It looks like it might be each coil of the drawbar plunger spring catching slightly as it compresses into its recess in front of the trigger. A burr in there I'm guessing? Anybody ever have a similar problem with a 39 family semiauto?
Thanks,
BB in Texas

 

[Retired in 2001]

Sorry for the double post...
bbftx That was an excellent picture of the Model 39 where did you get it

 

[bbftx]

Retired in '01
The cutaway view originally came from the S&W website, but I'm not sure it's there anymore. It has been posted here in the S&W forums before, as well as showing up in other internet sites. I believe it shows a model 5906, but not positive of that. It is a great diagram. (You can save it on your computer by just right-clicking on the picture and saving it.)
There's a similar one of a S&W revolver you might like too. Google "Revolver cutaway" and you might find it.

 

[bbftx]

Originally posted by WR Moore:
Maybe just burrs on the action parts that will smooth up with use or dryfire. The factory did make a special reamer as part of the armorers kit that deburred the drawbar plunger recess.

Mr. Moore:
Thanks for the info. Interesting that such a tool was provided to gunsmiths.

With the slide off the gun, I now find that the plunger spring's interference with the recess pretty much disappears if I push down slighltly on the top of thetrigger assembly as I pull the trigger through its motion. So, it seems it's the top of the plunger spring just barely catching something at the edge of the top of the recess.

This 639 was bone dry when I got it. It hadn't seen many rounds, that's for sure. It got a little better once I lubed it, but the trigger action is not nearly as smooth as my 39-2.

 

[conn ak]

I've owned a 639 for years. I've shot other peoples M639s as well. More often than not, the 639 trigger is "crunchy", as my gun dealer states it. It's the best pistol I've ever owned. I've put 1000s of rounds through it and the trigger still has that gritty feel to it. No matter, it still rips out the 10 ring every time. But, no, the Model 639 seems to function flawlessly without trigger modification. I'm sure it probably needs to be smoothed, but why mess with perfection?

 

[bbftx]

Conn ak -
Crunchy is definitely a good term for my 639 trigger. I can't consider my 639 perfection, since my 39-2 trigger is as smooth as butter! The 39-2 is my perfect gun right now. The 639 is number 2, followed by all my non-S&Ws.
Merry Christmas!
BB

 

[conn ak]

The crunchy trigger hasn't hurt the accuracy at all-by that I mean perfection. I've owned many semiautos, Glock, S&W, Taurus,Ruger,etc., none as able to put the bullet where I want it like the 639. I've always asked the salesman to look at any 639 I see in the used gun cases. Every 639 has that crunchy trigger feel, without fail. I always try them and it always feels like mine, a gun I've had since '91. My 639 is accurate even when shooting with a rapid follow up. Mine has a fixed rear sight, with your adjustable rear sight you should be hitting the bullseye all day. The 639 is a great gun. Can't go wrong with the 39 family anyway. The trigger is crisp, but the crunchy feel never feels right. I've just grown accustomed to it, I guess.

 

[george minze]

Actions by T Sugar Land TX..Is a master with 39s of all variations and can make them so slick you would think it was a different piece. Novak's can also do great with 39s. probably the best of Smith and Wesson. They were finely finished, ergonomically beautiful and with a little action upgrade the finest thing Smith ever made. Remember Smiths model 52 target gun was a visual duplication of the 39s....I just had a NIB 39-2 done..reduced dbl. action fro 19 to 8 lbs. and single from 9 to 4 1/2 lbs. crowned barrel, smoothed feed ramp, and it shoots like a dream and feeds every thing.....Damn good pistol....Steel and wood how quaint!

 

[bbftx]

George,
I hadn't heard of Actions by T before. Perhaps I'll give him a call, since I get over Houston-way several times each year.
Thanks,
BB

 

[conn ak]

Originally posted by george minze:
Actions by T Sugar Land TX..Is a master with 39s of all variations and can make them so slick you would think it was a different piece. Novak's can also do great with 39s. probably the best of Smith and Wesson. They were finely finished, ergonomically beautiful and with a little action upgrade the finest thing Smith ever made. Remember Smiths model 52 target gun was a visual duplication of the 39s....I just had a NIB 39-2 done..reduced dbl. action fro 19 to 8 lbs. and single from 9 to 4 1/2 lbs. crowned barrel, smoothed feed ramp, and it shoots like a dream and feeds every thing.....Damn good pistol....Steel and wood how quaint!

Steel and wood is what it's all about.