Gentlemen:

I have my eye on a fine condition Smith & Wesson model 39 autopistol. It will be solely for concealed carry/defense, probably with 115 or 124gr. standard pressure or +P ammo, whichever it likes best.

I have heard that earlier models had ejection problems.
Is that true, and is there a manufacturing series-2 0r -3 that is better than others? Not the ones with the sight deeply machined into the slide, please!

Alternatives are the Ruger SR9, CZ 75, or the Browning Hi-Power short barrel "Detective".

What advice would you give?
Thanks

I haven't heard of problems with the 39s but I was never interested in them so I couldn't really tell you. I'd try to find out if it had been shot much and maybe that could help you decide.

Interestingly enough my choices for defensive guns have been the HP (in .40 S&W), the CZ and the SR9! Currently I carry the SR9 most of the time, loaded with 124 gr JHPs. My daughter really likes the SR9 too so I see another joining the family at some point. I still switch around some between those three though.

I have a 39-2 that was my first auto loading hand gun. It has some neat history as it was the first Auto loader adopted by a police department for service issue. Mine is a very reliable pistol. I cannot count failures to feed or fire on one hand after thousands of rounds fired. It has some limitations though.
It is single stack so you better be able to get hits on target. I can shoot expert level on PPC courses with 115 FMJ ammo but it is by no means a target pistol.(I shoot master level with my Kimber) DA pull is long and hard but SA is nice. Sight are windage only adjustable. If you are point shooting it is not a big deal but if you are using the sights they are on the small side. Safety/decocker is not ambidextrous. And being a S&W are upside down form most others (Up to fire down for safe/de-cock) be aware of that if you have another pistol that you would use too.

Handle them all and see what you feel most comfortable with.

cz75 look at the mid-sized ones for a blend of concealment without sacrificeing natural point

I owned a Model 39-2 when I was in college and traded it for something. A few years ago, I found another one new in the box and bought it. I have shot these handguns a lot and have never had a problem. It is one of my carry guns. All the best...
Gil

The Model 39 changed the attitude of law enforcement about carrying autos vs revolvers. At the time of its introduction there were limited types of good personal defense ammo. Evenso, with HiVels the Model 39, and later, the Model 59 were trend setters.

I have one in blue and one in nickle and have always felt they were natural pointers for me and have been reliable. The 39 is reasonably light and there are great holsters that continue to be available for them.

Go get it .Good gun there.

One of the few guns I've gotten rid of was a S&W Model 59. It functioned fine but that grip felt like a 2x4 to me. I never could shoot it well but the guy that bought it from me did fine. Gets back to how well a handgun fits your hand.

Pumpkinslinger wrote:

. . . Gets back to how well a handgun fits your hand.

Pumpkinslinger: you would think that would be an obvious thing, but, for many buying a handgun, they are overly influenced by the gun rags or the opinions of others when making a handgun purchase. The point you make is, IMO, far more critical than many other considerations.

At the extreme of examples, someone my find a 1911 fits perfectly but they only have a Glock or XD budget. This is where a decision needs to be made and I try to influence the buyer to use the $500 they would willingly spend as a deposit on a LayAway for the handgun they really prefer.

Sidenote: I am often impressed by how many buyers, when handling a current generation CZ, will often find a fit that is differentiated and more appealing to them. Likewise, with SIGs. That said, some prefer the fit of different handguns and the importance of the excercise.

When I went to buy my first auto-loader I knew I wanted nothing but a Glock..................until I got one in my hand !!!

It hasn't been too long since I handled a Glock and a Springfield XD side by side. I was impressed with how much better the XD fit my hand. The next .40 I buy will be an XD.

That is my thinking exactly...the 39 fits my hand really well, and the SR9, too. The CZs I have handled do almost as well, but the absolutely best fit is from the HI-Power, followed closely by the Colt Combat commander with arched mainspring housing. All very close, tho.
I really wanted a SIG 225 back in the day..tillI found out the magazine extension was too uncomfortable in my hand. The search goes on!