New to me, 39-2 jam issue

[mgbug]

I just picked up this from a dealer. Nickel, in the 321,xxx range. I fired it and had many jams. Seemed to be a combo of fail to extract/fail to eject. Factory mags using factory S&B 115gn FMJ and same in Federal ammo. At least 2 times in an 8rnd mag. I have zero experience with this model but always wanted one. Upon inspection, I find the barrel and chamber to be clean and free of any pitting. The extractor is clean and free moving with no chips. The spring is a little bit weaker than I would have expected but free moving. The same with the ejector, free moving with light spring action but appearing to function. Any thoughts/suggestions appreciated. Thank you.

Bob D

 

[Sevens]

If this were my pistol and exhibiting these issues, this would be my plan and why:

Go to Wolff Gun Springs and get a bunch of new springs. I would get a recoil spring, a main spring (hammer spring) and mostly -- I would get an extractor spring.

Recoil spring is obvious and easy to swap. Main spring requires that you tap tap tap out a pin to install.

The extractor spring is the most difficult. You need a very small punch to drive the extractor spring DOWNWARD from the top and out of the underside of the slide.

While you have the original extractor out, clean the area fully. Re-install with the new spring.

If you are buying from Wolff anyway... sure, grab a new firing pin spring. I would not bother with other springs inside the pistol unless/until you need them because the tear down is much more involved.

Why would this be my plan? Because this is very low cost and not difficult to do. The recoil spring and the hammer spring work together to slow the rearward travel of the slide, which can surely affect the ability of the extractor to do it's job. The extractor spring is often the culprit of this issue.

If these new springs don't fix the issue, it may be time for a replacement extractor, and that can be more involved.

NOTE on extractor pin removal:

A good tool for this is an undersized drill bit or drill bit shank. The hole in the top of the slide is a smaller diameter than the extractor pin. This design ensures the pin can not walk upward and out of the slide. The pin cannot walk downward and out of the slide because it has nowhere to go when the slide is installed on the frame.

The undersized drill bit needs to be free in the top hole, you do NOT want to hog out that hole by mistake. This may seem silly until you buy a used gun where some previous owner has done exactly that.

 

[mikerjf]

The Wolff plan sounds good… I’d add a couple mag springs.

 

[stansdds]

I once had a new-to-me S&W 645 (transitional model) that routinely failed to extract and/or completely eject. I was amazed at the amount of gunk that had filled the extractor cut in the slide. A thorough cleaning solved its reliability issues.

In addition to making sure it is clean, check the extractor hook for chipping. Also make sure the ejector tip is not broken. Do replace the recoil spring. Factory weight is 14 pounds, but many people will put in heavier springs, thinking that will slow the unlocking of the pistol when firing +P or +P+ ammo. Heavy recoil springs do very little to help with higher pressure ammo, but they can turn the pistol into one that will jam with standard pressure ammo.

 

[oysterer]

That's why they were the original jamo-matic

 

[stansdds]

I can't say that the S&W pistols are or were jam-o-matics. Early production Model 39's had a feed ramp similar to the Browning Hi-power and were not reliable feeders with hollow points, but S&W changed the feed ramp design and solved that issue. Unless something is broken, gummed up, or messed with by Bubba, they tend to be very reliable pistols.

 

[BE Mike]

I always clean and oil new and new to me guns. Deep cleaning, with special attention to the extractor, is the easiest and least expensive first step.

 

[jem102]

Is it #1, trying to partially or completely re-chamber the spent case or, #2, is it catching the case sideways or vertically, "stovepipe", in the port?
If #1 the advice already given should cure it or might need some extractor tension. Will it keep a spent case against the breach face when given a fairly good shake?
If #2, thoroughly clean the magazines and replace the springs with Wolf's. The dirty mag and/or weak mag spring is not getting the next round up in time.

 

[USBP SW]

You have indicated that the pistol is new to you. If you have not had much experience shooting autoloading pistols, the first order of business is to make sure you are gripping the pistol properly. A loose grip can induce failures to function regularly. You might consider having someone else fire the pistol to see if they experience similar results, if it continues to malfunction, then proceed with the other recommendations. Good luck!