Which is the better gun for self defense? S&W 39 series or Ruger Pseries? I prefer it im 9mm as I already have a .45. Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Main purpose would be for self defense and plinking at the range.
S&W 39 Series Vompared to Ruger P Series
- Thread starter Mr. H
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P95Carry
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Hi - (only 5 posts this year? !! 
) .... I have P95 (revelation!) and P97 - good guns - robust reliable but ''fugly'' ... that doesn't bother me - plus they are IMO good value for the buck.
OTOH ... I regard Smiths as superior in a quality sense - trigger and fit and finish - that said there is invariably a cost penalty. I admit - no experience first hand of the 39 tho - I have a 99 and like it a lot apart from some ''ergonomic'' considerations.
Better for SD? Hmmm - that's tricky, if only because frankly - if you like a gun and get proficient with it then I reckon it'll do ''the business''. You can get higher cap' mags for the Rugers and so no need to be disadvantaged there.
You pays the money and .... takes ya choice etc .... large budget I'd take a Smith probably but defensive quotient - it's what works for the individual.
) .... I have P95 (revelation!) and P97 - good guns - robust reliable but ''fugly'' ... that doesn't bother me - plus they are IMO good value for the buck.OTOH ... I regard Smiths as superior in a quality sense - trigger and fit and finish - that said there is invariably a cost penalty. I admit - no experience first hand of the 39 tho - I have a 99 and like it a lot apart from some ''ergonomic'' considerations.
Better for SD? Hmmm - that's tricky, if only because frankly - if you like a gun and get proficient with it then I reckon it'll do ''the business''. You can get higher cap' mags for the Rugers and so no need to be disadvantaged there.
You pays the money and .... takes ya choice etc .... large budget I'd take a Smith probably but defensive quotient - it's what works for the individual.
gbundersea
Member
I bought a Ruger P-94 9mm long ago, before I knew anything about how a pistol should fit one's hand. Although I qualified for my CWL with it, it never felt right. Location/accessibility of safety is poor IMO.
The biggest problem by far was that regardless of how clean or dirty it was, or what type of ammunition used, it jammed far too frequently to be reliable.
I replaced it with a 9mm all-steel EAA Witness in Wonderfinish. Perfect fit, accurate, and flawless with about 1500 rounds of all types of ammo through it, and in varying states from immaculate to filthy.
I love it more each time I shoot it!
The biggest problem by far was that regardless of how clean or dirty it was, or what type of ammunition used, it jammed far too frequently to be reliable.
I replaced it with a 9mm all-steel EAA Witness in Wonderfinish. Perfect fit, accurate, and flawless with about 1500 rounds of all types of ammo through it, and in varying states from immaculate to filthy.
I love it more each time I shoot it!
RON in PA
Member
You are talking about different generations of semiautos. The Smith 39 was their first attempt at a service auto and its design goes back to the 50s and has a single stack magazine of 8 rounds. They work well with ball ammo, but I wouldn't trust them with HP ammo. Smith has had two more generations of autos based on the 39 and the 59 series autos hold 15 rounds. If you want a Smith I'd advise getting a used police surplus 5906, all steel and very reliable with any type of ammo.
Compared to a Smith 39 the Rugers are more up to date, are very reliable with any kind of ammo I've fed them and hold 15 rounds. They are more comparable to the above mentioned Smith 5906. The Ruger 95 has a polymer frame which is no disadvantage as far as I'm concerned. The Smith trigger is better especialy in the reset area.
The fact is you can't go wrong with a Ruger semi-auto or a recent or current generation Smith. How the gun feels and looks to you are the most important items of choice.
Compared to a Smith 39 the Rugers are more up to date, are very reliable with any kind of ammo I've fed them and hold 15 rounds. They are more comparable to the above mentioned Smith 5906. The Ruger 95 has a polymer frame which is no disadvantage as far as I'm concerned. The Smith trigger is better especialy in the reset area.
The fact is you can't go wrong with a Ruger semi-auto or a recent or current generation Smith. How the gun feels and looks to you are the most important items of choice.
a smith M39-2 was my first semi-auto pistol and will always hold a place in my heart...it was sold off years ago to fund another gun purchase.
my 39 would feed anything i fed it as long as it had a bullet weight of more that 100grs. it was very accurate out to about 25 yards and was a great fit in my hand with the factory stocks. my only complaint was its more complicated take-down, compared to a sig or beretta, much like the 1911 or p35.
i never got the hang of the M59 family(459, 659, 5904, 5905, 5906) or the M69 family (469, 669, 6904, 6906) as the handles were just too different from the 39 family (439, 639, 3904, 3906, 3913, 3914)
now the ruger centerfire pistols i have handled have just never felt comfortable to me and their accuracy was always a little disapointing...until the p90 (.45 ACP). the p90 was very accurate but still felt blocky in my hands.
the first i was tempted to buy was the p97. same accuracy as the p90 but with the superior feeling ploymer frame. the newly introduced p345 is making resistance harder still.
my 39 would feed anything i fed it as long as it had a bullet weight of more that 100grs. it was very accurate out to about 25 yards and was a great fit in my hand with the factory stocks. my only complaint was its more complicated take-down, compared to a sig or beretta, much like the 1911 or p35.
i never got the hang of the M59 family(459, 659, 5904, 5905, 5906) or the M69 family (469, 669, 6904, 6906) as the handles were just too different from the 39 family (439, 639, 3904, 3906, 3913, 3914)
now the ruger centerfire pistols i have handled have just never felt comfortable to me and their accuracy was always a little disapointing...until the p90 (.45 ACP). the p90 was very accurate but still felt blocky in my hands.
the first i was tempted to buy was the p97. same accuracy as the p90 but with the superior feeling ploymer frame. the newly introduced p345 is making resistance harder still.
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