Browning Hi Power slide lock problem

[DontBurnMyFlag]

Hey all,

I have a 1991 manufactured Browning Hi Power. I bought it used so the history on the gun is unknown. I took it to the range today and put about 150 rounds through it. I used 3 separate magazines. 2 were factory and one was a MecGar. I fired 9mm FMJ from various manufacturers.

My issue is that I had the slide lock back with rounds still in the magazine. I had this take place probably 10 times during my shoot. The slide would lock back with rounds still in the magazine after firing a few times. The slide always locked back on an empty magazine however.

I was using the standard thumbs-forward technique. So assuming that I was accidentally pushing up on the slide lock, I switched my grip to the traditional thumbs down. I still had the issue occasionally. It appeared to happen on all three magazines, thus leading me to believe the issue is with the gun itself. I also experienced one FTE. The round was in the chamber loose and the extractor appeared to have missed the rim altogether.

So...whats going on here?


I have inspected the extractor and it is still sturdy and requires a lot of pressure to move it. Its not flimsy at all. I don't know anything about the recoil spring that is installed. I also inspected the spring on the slide lock and it appears to be functioning normally.

Help me diagnose my sick gun. I will take her to the doctor soon. But if I can fix it at home, I will try.

Thanks a lot ahead of time!

 

[newfalguy101]

Check the slide stop for a burr on the edge that engages the mag follower.

 

[rcmodel]

Take the slide off.
Put the slide stop back in the frame.
Insert a loaded mag with the ammo that was causing problems.

Now, push the top round forward and see if the bullet is in any way, able to contact the slide stop tab that engages the magazine follower?

If it can, or does, file off & polish it enough it doesn't.

rc

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I had a similar problem with my second CZ (an 85 Combat) many years back.

I noticed marks on the slide stop where it was seemingly being nudged by the top round in the mag. I took a very little metal off the slide stop in the area where I saw the marks, and the problem went away.

That may not be the cause of the OP's problem, but it's worth taking a look at the nub of the slide stop.

 

[DontBurnMyFlag]

So I took the slide off and inspected it by putting a loaded mag in the well to see if it activated the slide lock lever. There are markings on the side that are consistent with something rubbing against it. I doubt that the magazine follower would cause that. Its probably hitting a round at some point over time.

I can't tell for sure, but the round is very close to activating the slide lock lever. Its maybe less than a millimeter away from the lever. Which during firing could probably activate it.

I could probably shave a little bit off of the lever and not have it be an issue.

Additionally, the previous owner said that the gun does not have the original slide on it. Both are factory FN Browning, but the original slide was cracked and had to be replaced. Its possible maybe there is some slight deviation between the two that might be causing this. But I'm just guessing at this point.

So I have no experience in polishing any internal parts on a firearm. Would you recommend a manner in which to do it?

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I used some very fine sandpaper on mine.

It could also be that the mag spring(s) are getting a bit weak, and allowing the rounds to move forward as the slide slams shut. If the mags are well-used, that might be a possibility, too. (But working on the slide stop nub might solve the problem anyway -- as they ought not be hitting the slide stop...)

 

[DontBurnMyFlag]

I'll check the mags, but I don't think thats the issue. I was using one brand new magazine and two used ones. And the issue occurred on all three mags.

Today I will be shaving some metal down slightly and will give an update soon. Thanks for your help so far guys!

 

[DontBurnMyFlag]

Also, upon loading a magazine into the frame without the slide, I can tell that the magazine itself is touching the slide lock lever. The magazine edge is touching the lever slightly. Not enough that it is even pushing the lever up. This occurs with all three magazines.

So maybe thats how its supposed to be. But I just figured that any contact with the lever itself might cause a malfunction. All the other auto pistols I have inspected don't have any contact with the slide lock lever and magazine until the last round is fired. But like I said, I'm no expert.

Even then, the magazine doesn't move freely enough to activate the lever in my opinion. I'm just offering additional observations in case it helps you guys out.

Thanks

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Also, upon loading a magazine into the frame without the slide, I can tell that the magazine itself is touching the slide lock lever. The magazine edge is touching the lever slightly. Not enough that it is even pushing the lever up. This occurs with all three magazines.

With my BHP, the slide stop rests ON the follower when an empty mag is inserted. If it didn't rest on the follower, it couldn't be pushed up by the follower when the mag was empty and lock the slide back.

If there's a round in the gun (but not chambered) there shouldn't be any contact between the follower or mag itself and the slide stop. It may be that when the top round is chambered, the next round is nudging the slide stop lever UPWARD just enough to engage the notch on the slide (either as that round moves up after the top round is chambered, or because it is moving forward due to slide force).

See what happens when you remove just a little of the material from the stop in the area where you see marks. (Removing metal THERE should not affect the function of the slide stop, as that's not where the mag follower engages it.)

 

[Drail]

Just remove a very small amount where it shows rubbing and keep trying it. Blacken the part you filed/stoned on with a Magic Marker so you can see if it is still rubbing. Keep removing metal until the black marker stops wearing off. Eventually it will stop locking before empty. Having a gun lock open with rounds in the magazine is one reason many serious competitors modify their slide stop to NEVER lock open on empty and learn to reload the gun before the magazine is empty. I have seen guys lose a match they were winning because of this problem. On the street it could be a very serious problem to have. Number your magazines - if it locks before empty on all of them then the problem is undoubtedly the slide stop.

 

[aafirearms]

Replace the spring

If there are no clearance issues with the rounds in the mag bumping the slide stop, there could be another issue. On a Hi Power, there is a small spring inside the guide rod for the recoil spring. This spring pushes on a detent that engages the slide stop and keeps it "down" while the gun is being fired, to prevent the slide from accidentally being engaged until the magazine follower pushes up on the slide stop and overcomes the force of this spring. You will need to take the gun to a gunsmith to have a new slide stop detent spring fitted and test fired to make sure that this was the actual problem.
-Patrick, All American Firearms
Master Gunsmith
www.aafirearmstraining.com

 

[Jim K]

Aafirearms has a good point, but one that is easily checked. With the slide off and with no magazine, the slide stop should be spring loaded downward; if pushed up, it should pop down once the pressure is released. If it doesn't, either the detent in the guide is not working or the slide stop is worn.

Jim