[uglymofo]

Pardon my ignorance; I'm a 1911 user. What does BHP's magazine disconnector do? and why is it recommended that it be removed?

Thank you.

[FPrice]

The BHP magazine disconnector prevents the BHP from being fired with the magazine removed from the firearm. I do not know why John M. Browing designed the BHP with this item (unless it was added after his death) but it is most likely some sort of safety device.

Basically it is a part that is depressed when the magazine is inserted fully into the magazine well. If you remove it, the trigger pull is supposedly lightened/smoothed out a bit. Some people recommend that instead of removing this part that you polish the area where it contacts the magazine to try to accomplish the same.

[SouthpawShootr]

The magazine safety will prevent the gun from firing when the magazine is removed. This has dubious value and I, personally, don't like it. Unfortunately, the browning design puts this in the trigger linkage which results in a nasty trigger. Also prevents the mag from dropping free. You can clean it up to some degree, but you will never get anything close to a match quality pull from it. I would never recommend disabling a factory safety device. You could create legal problems for yourself down the line if you have to use the gun. If you desire to get the very best trigger pull possible from this design, you can get achieve decent trigger pulls by removing the magazine safety. Some gunsmiths refuse to do this, by the way, and some make you sign a release stating that you understand the risks involved in disabling a safety device.

[ACP230]

The mag disconnector keeps the BHP from firing when the magazine is removed.
Some folks take it out because removing it smoothes up the BHP trigger a bit. Leaving it in can keep some aftermarket mags from working in a BHP too. HTH.

[Coronach]

Ok.

I understand the idea that a Tilecrawler can, and will, use anything about you, the situation, your weapon or your ammo against you in a court of law in order to seperate you from your money. This is oft-repeated in reference to handloads, trigger jobs, and removed safety devices. So, yeah, this comment is on-point.

However...

Does anyone have any references where this made a difference in the outcome of a civil or criminal case? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Mike

[BHPshooter]

Yep, the guys have it right. BHP triggers are sadly a tad heavy from the factory, usually.

And the disconnect is a real ????? to take out... or at least it's tough on mine. :cuss: If you do it, you might as well just get a gunsmith.

Wes

[Old Fuff]

The purpose of the safety was to prevent an unintentional shooting if someone: (1) cycled the slide, ejecting a round but feeding a new one, and (2) removed the magazine and thereafter thought the pistol was unloaded - which of course it wasn't. Later production .25/.32/.380 Colt pocket pistols had this feature, as do model 39 and 59 based Smith & Wesson automatics.

Browning also intended that one could leave the gun somewhere, such as a bedside table, with the magazine removed and the pistol couldn't be fired even though the chamber was still loaded. When clearing the gun, if the magazine was removed first (as it should be) the pistol couldn't be fired while ejecting the round in the chamber.

Now all of this may seem like overkill to some, but Browning was dealing with organizations, military forces, and police departments that sometimes had less-then-bright members. There are many stories within the U.S. military establishment about .45 pistols going off when they weren't supposed too. (Of course it was the gun's fault, right?)

Anyway, the magazine disconector can be removed without effecting the operation of the pistol, other then the obvious.

Another option is to polish the surface that rubs on the magazine and to shorten the spring. This will help both trigger-pull and free-dropping of magazines. Europeans incidentally, don't want the magazine too fall, and any soldier or cop that has that happen may find himself in trouble.

[C.R.Sam]

Two negatives re the magazine disconnect.

Prevents tactical reload with one in the chamber and ready to fire.

Makes a mediocre trigger worse.
_______________________________________________
Positives...

Covered well by Old Fuff.

Sam

[Country Boy]

How to remove the magazine disconnect (http://www.fnhipower.com/modules.php?name=FAQ&myfaq=yes&id_cat=1&categories=Hi+Power+Mechanicals) .

[Coltdriver]

I have an 89 MK III. I left the trigger disconnect in it.

By polishing and moly coating the front of the magazine where the disconnect rubs and by polishing and moly coating the face of the disconnect itself my trigger is smooth. It is not light. That works for me.

The other item in the MKIII that makes the trigger a bit heavier is the firing pin block. I understand that the trigger mechanism also moves it out of the way in conjuction with the movement to fire the gun.

But the other little interesting fact about the disconnect is that if you get into a tussle with someone who is trying to take your gun away and you have the presence of mind to hit the mag release, then the gun is not going to be used to shoot you anyway, even if you do get whipped with it:D

[Bren]

JOHN MOSES BROWNING didn't have the mag disconnect in ANY of his prototypes or designs. It was added after his death.

To me, it is a usless part and could get you killed if the parts fail or if your mag drops in a firefight. In court one could ask why the MD has anything to do with what happened unless there was an AD. OR theb police use Glocks and they don't have them! :rolleyes:

Bren

[bubbygator]

If you take your HP to a gunsmith, ask for a trigger job. After you get the price, say "Oh, how about taking out the MD while you're at it?" That way you get the best trigger situation at perhaps the lowest cost for removing the MD.