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

[larryh1108]

I have large and meaty hands, XXL. I have been biten by 1911s and BHPs. I have a permanent scar on my hand from the shooting and I have a hole in my shooting gloves from them as well from when I use the gloves. I USED to have a high grip but the pain and blood caused me to change my grip and I went to beavertails on my 1911s. I still love shooting my BHPs but I have learned to shoot with a lower grip.

 

[Stringfellow]

I like the look of ring hammers, but they are a definite no-go on Hi Powers for me; I get hammer bite just racking the slide. For perspective, I had to add a beavertail to my 1911 because a single 7 round mag's worth of shooting was enough to draw blood on the stock tang (actually I think the first round drew blood, and the next six just made the situation more clear).

I assumed that the traditional spur hammers would be worse on an HP, but they are actually no problem at all. The curve of the spur follows the curve of my grip so that the point of the spur will never contact the web of my hand.

Definitely ditch that mag safety. I got a trigger job from Bill Springfield on mine, and the trigger is absolutely perfect--perhaps better than my 1911.

Stephen Camp addresses this in a lot of detail: http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/HiPowerandHammerBite.htm

 

[JustinL]

I own two Inglis Hi Powers and have never been bitten by either. I guess it is merely a combination of grip and the shape of your hand.

 

[wrench]

Ring or spur hammers, I've never been bitten. Try it and see.

 

[Coltdriver]

I have owned two HP's.

I used sprinco plate plus, treated the trigger group including the mag safety and got the trigger to work as smooth as glass. They will always have a lot of creep unless you get a smith to fix it but it will never be a 1911 class trigger.

I got hammer bite from my first HP. Then learned how to hold it. There is no reason to cinch your hand up under the hammer. None. Its just a 9mm.

Once I learned how to hold the pistol I never got hammer bite again.

A 1911 and a HP are the only two pistols I ever detail stripped. The HP is not hard to take apart and it goes back together very easy.

If you are going to pull the mag safety anyway give the plate plus a try.

 

[bannockburn]

I have rather small hands and I have never been bit by MK.II Hi-Power. It wears Pachmayr wrap-around grips.

 

[PabloJ]

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.

Using inexpensive jewelers file set from PRC will make the problem go away.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I think I got bit a time or two.. been a long time since that happened - both spur and ring. I still really choke up on any given gun but it's not a problem.
I had a 4" M-29 with Pachmayr's and loaded heavy for it.. that thing would bark my thumb bone with the cylinder release pretty good.

 

[johnnydollar]

No hammer bite problems here, ring or spur hammer. But I do have small hands.

 

[GunNut]

My MKIII that the wife has claimed as hers gets me from time to time. I was thinking about using it for a carry gun, but can't stand the hammer bite, so i'll just let my wife keep it for protection.

 

[Certaindeaf]

The Renaissance bites hard.

 

[HPShooter]

Try adjusting your grip

I've had both Inglis and Inglis clones with the round hammer. I used to get the bite.....but experimented with a high and tight grip, and haven't been bitten in quite some time. I have medium to large hands.

Since these pistols have been stone reliable with everything.....including jacketed hollow points despite the humpbacked feed ramp......I haven't made it any kind of priority to change to a spur. I'd say, if it is a problem that deters you from shooting these naturally pointing, extremely reliable, slim pistols, change to the spur.

In my experience the current production Mk III's with spur don't bit at all, non-issue.

 

[Ky Larry]

Probably about as common as "Garand Thumb." I own a CZ-83 in .380 ACP and it bites me but not my wife. As soon as I save enough pennies, I'm going to buy a BHP and see how it works.

 

[rellascout]

In my experience the current production Mk III's with spur don't bit at all, non-issue.

People report hammer bite with all vintages of BHPs.

Novak is another option for a not bite hammer.

 

[gyvel]

The Renaissance bites hard.

OK. I'll bite: You ACTUALLY shoot a Renaissance???