Larry from Oklahoma - model 39 jamming

Hello everyone. I'm Larry, a newbie to both handguns and this site. I registered to respond to some other thread I found by googling a problem I was having with my wife's Beretta PX4 sub. But since I'm on here is there anyone with advice on the Model 39 jamming or "stove piping"? My mother in law wants to rely on this weapon from her father's garage. So I took it to range - it jammed. Took it apart and cleaned and oiled it - same result. She's thinking of taking it to a gunsmith but I sort of like to make things work if I can. Any advice or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. It jams about 1/2 or more of the rounds mostly stove piping . It has a stiff spring and we could be shooting it too limp-wristed but the new Beretta .40 doesn't jam. Should I post this question on some other forum ?

I left out that it's a S&W model 39 9mm. It has a 6023 on it which I think means it's blued and double action and stuff like that.

Welcome to the site!

Before you try a gunsmith for the 9mm, I'd recommend trying it again with several different types and brands of ammunition. If you're using the less-expensive target-shooting ammo, it may just be that the particular ammo you are using is incompatible for the gun. I'd recommend using full-power ammo from Remington (not UMC MC/FMJ), CCI (Gold Dot defense loads, Lawman practice ammo, and the aluminum-cased Blazer target ammo is pretty good stuff), anything from Federal's defensive ammo line-up (but not the Federal Champion target ammo), Winchester (PDX-1 or Ranger), or similar loads. The good stuff is always more expensive, but it's also more powerful, reliable, and often has flash-retardant gunpowder so you don't get a huge ball of flame muzzle-blast if you have to shoot in low light.

Thanks for the response. Your advice makes a lot of sense and I'm sure it's probably going to work.

You may want to replace all the crucial springs such as the recoil spring and magazine springs for a starter as well. Also, things like the extractor if worn, chipped or broken and it's spring are good things to check and replace if needed.

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Originally Posted by Lightning

I left out that it's a S&W model 39 9mm. It has a 6023 on it which I think means it's blued and double action and stuff like that.

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Stop using cheap ammo get some of the name brands. Walmart won't do.

The advice on ammo was correct. Probably went overboard on a box of Winchester supreme elite bonded pdx1 ... However I didn't have a single jam out of the whole box (25). I don't know how hot 9mm should be but these were labeled as 1000 fps at 147 grains. Thanks.

That model 39 is a fine weapon; and if it's in great shape, it is worth good money to a collector. The model 39 was innovative in many ways. I would almost suggest you clean that weapon up and put it away. I have to of them and love them; I have found with mine that using only S&W mags and using 124 gr ammo makes them run like a top. Be advised that that weapon was built and esigned before +P ammm existed, and you are taking a risk using it in it. Go with 124 gr ammo, and make sure the mags are OEM. Also, you may want to polish the feed ramp as well.