How common is “Hammer Bite” with a Browning Hi Power?

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2ifbyC

2ifbyC

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One of the changes I plan on making to my BHP is the removal of the magazine safety and possibly some spring changes to reduce the trigger pull; the pistol is for target shooting only.

I’ve read that hammer bite on the BHP may be an issue. Having a M1911, I have experienced this problem and it isn’t pleasant. In concert with the above changes, I may purchase a new hammer/sear as well.

I would like to know if any of you with shooting experience with the BHP have had hammer bite and what solution you may have taken. Thanks.
 
I have a 1911 that was made in 1918 and I get hammer bite from it. I try not to "choke up" on the pistol as high on that particular pistol to avoid the hammer since it was made before the beavertail safety was put on 1911s to protect the webbing of your hand. If you have decent sized hands the webbing of your hand will squish upward a little and thats where the hammer gets you so I try to keep it lower.
 
I have a MKIII with the spur hammer and have put around 6-700 rounds though it since when I bought it this past January . Iv never had hammer bite

I guess I have small hands.
 
I have an older model with the ring-style hammer which bites pretty good. Doesn't cut the skin badly but leaves a nice blood blister after a range session.
 
I have a MKIII with spur hammer as well and have never had hammer bite either. I also own and frequently shoot a 1911 and utilize a high-hand grip for both pistols.

FWIW I wear large-size gloves.
 
My Hi Power had the ring style hammer and bit so bad that I would put a piece of duct tape on the web of my hand when shooting it. I finally cut a portion of the ring off and made it into a traditional spur type hammer. Looked good and allowed me to enjoy the gun without taping up my hands.
 
This would be an interesting poll. I bet the incidence of hammer bite on a BHP of any given hammer configuration is directly proportional to a person's weight (not necessarily fat weight, but muscle mass too, i.e, how beefy a person's hand is). I'm pretty slender, and my BHP's spur hammer doesn't come anywhere close to biting my hand.

Hammer bite shouldn't be any reason for anybody to be wary of buying a Hi-Power though, as it is very easily fixed.
 
I agree with Lothar’s assessment.

I wear XXL gloves. This causes me to have a high grip for my hand to feel comfortable. I notice the skin on the web on my hand is protruding above the shortened beavertail of the BHP; this condition would likely be prone to hammer bite as it was on my old M1911.:eek:

However, as stated, this can only be proven by firing the gun to determine if it takes a bite out of me. The BHP is a keeper. I won’t let a little blood letting diminish the smile this classic puts on my face.:)
 
Lothar said:
This would be an interesting poll. I bet the incidence of hammer bite on a BHP of any given hammer configuration is directly proportional to a person's weight (not necessarily fat weight, but muscle mass too, i.e, how beefy a person's hand is).
Click to expand...

Hmm, I'd bet there's a significant correlation with how high one's grip is, too. My grip has gotten progressively higher over time, and some pistols that used to be comfortable to shoot are now uncomfortable, either because of hammer bite or because a short-and-low tang digs into the base of my thumb.
 
I'm surprised so many people complain of hammer bite with the 1911. I have fairly large hands and I am a decent amount overweight (6' 290 lbs), and even with the highest possible grip I cant get any amount of my hand underneath that hammer.

Maybe with an original M1911 it could happen, but not with a A1/MK.IV style grip safety.
 

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I've only ever been bitten by the desire to own more BHP's:D

I have average size but thin hands and the web between my thumb and trigger finger seems to stay well clear of the danger zone. My friend has really beefy hands and he can't shoot the HP at all because it bits him so much.
 
Shoot it and find out.

It is not so much just hand size, but how much tissue you have on your hands and how you hold the gun.
 
Looks like an Anniversary Edition, 2ifbyC. I have one too, but mine's a Mark III with the black epoxy. I'd love to have one that's blued. Very nice photo.
 
Maybe with an original M1911 it could happen, but not with a A1/MK.IV style grip safety.
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I'm here to tell you it is real, and it happens with 1911A1's.

I went home many times while shooting with 5th. Army AMU pistol team with a bloody hand. A band-aid can was a importent part of my shooting box equipment.

And I have fairly small hands.

I think it has more to do with how loose your skin is and how much of it can roll up over the tang at full recoil then hand size though.

rc
 
I've had two Hi-Powers. Both bit. One was spur hammer and one lanyard-type hammer. If it weren't for that I would still have them.
 
I would agree with the comment that it depends on how you hold it. I have a Mk III with a spur hammer and very large hands (5 in wide by 8 in long, size XXL golves), and through thousands of rounds I've never had a bite.

YMMV.
 
Here is the ultimate cure for hammer bite ....

1.jpg
 
Nice Al Mar SERE there Rella, and nice BHP.

I have a 1994 MK III BHP, and large hands and never experienced hammer bite.
 
Nice Al Mar SERE there Rella, and nice BHP.
Click to expand...

Not mine... I cannot bring myself to drop that much coin on a BHP. Yost does excellent work but I cannot justify it. I don't own the knife either. LOL

My poor humble BHP custom build looks like this:

wwg-bhp2.jpg

wwg-bhp.jpg

wwg-bhp-7.jpg

wwg-bhp-8.jpg

wwg-bhp4.jpg

wwg-bhp3.jpg
 
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