Question about Hi-power mags dropping free

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hutch77

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I recently acquired a MkIII Browning Hi-power and I absolutely love it. The problem is the mags won't drop free. The mag disconnect has already been removed. So far I've tried the 2 mags I got with it, 3 practically brand new Mec-gars, and 3 10 round mags with the little "mouse-trap" spring that came with my FN Hi-power. None of them will drop freely from the Browning, but they all drop just fine from the FN. The one thing I have noticed is that the mag well seems just a little tighter on the Browning. Not to the point of having to force the mag in or anything like that. Just that when I insert a mag, there is less wiggle than there is in the FN. Anybody got any ideas on what could possibly be wrong or how I could fix it?

Thanks in advance!


hutch77
 
I had this same issue and question several years back... it is the ONLY thing about my BHP that I wish was better...

I was told that the BHP mags were NOT DESIGNED as Drop Free mags... I do not know this to be a fact or not, but it has held true, for me anyway.

I have tried several mag techniques over the course of several years and none has been capable of dropping with the push of the mag release button.

Please let me know if I m in error - I HOPE SO!!!
 
Thanks for the reply

Thanks for the reply. While at the range this weekend I tried all the mags in a rental Browning and they wouldn't drop free in that on either. Hopefully someone can shed a little more light on the subject.


hutch77
 
Cylinder and Slide gunsmiths/American Pistols Smiths Guild

I'd look into going to a well known pistolsmith like Karl Sokol, www.chestnutmoutainsports.com , or Bill Laughridge, from Cylinder and Slide gunsmiths. These professional gunsmith shops are known for work on High Powers. They can help you with the problem of magazines not working smoothly. NOTE; the wait times may be long. Many High Power/BHP owners go to them because they are the best. For more highly rated pistolsmiths check the website for the American Pistolsmiths Guild.

All the best;

RS

:D
 
Hello. You might check the rear of the magazines. In some cases the sear spring can be touching them, which can impede their dropping freely.

Best.
 
Sear spring

Hello. You might check the rear of the magazines. In some cases the sear spring can be touching them, which can impede their dropping freely.
Click to expand...

I think this might actually be part of the problem. If I push on the sear spring from inside hte mag well there is quite a bit of movement/flex to it, especially compared to my FN. it also looks like there is a little wear on the back of one of the mags near the bottom. If thi sis causing the problem, do I need to replace the sear spring or can it be bent a little so that it doesn't touch?


hutch77
 
sear spring

Just checked out the sear spring with the grips off. It is definitely touching the back of the magazine, especially once the hammer is pulled back. If the hammer is down, I can reach into the mag well and push the spring toward the baclstrap and it seems to settle in just a little bit. Once I do that the mags drop free no problem. My question is do I need to put in a new sear spring or can the one I have be made to work. Thanks in advance!

hutch77
 
Hello. It's hard to say w/o seeing the gun, but the sear spring might can be made to work. It may be that it's not seated properly or could just be bowed outward a tiny fraction too much. Disassemble the frame (you have to in order to remove the sear spring), bend it inward until it doesn't touch the magazine and then reassemble. Slam the slide shut on an empty chamber three or four times and see if the hammer follows. If it does, too much tension's been removed from the sear spring. Before bending it, make sure that it is seated properly. If nothing works, you may need a new sear spring.

Best.
 
Hello, while you're at it, you may want to check the inside of the grip panels for signs of rubbing on the mags. I have a set of Spegel grips that sometimes cause the mags to stick. Good luck!
 
I have a brand new FN Hi Power (see my recent thread about buying an SFS Hi Power) and only the FN magazines with the little springs on the back drop free. I ordered a handful of MecGar magazines from Midway last week (13 rounders were on sale for $17 each) and they arrived today. I tried all of them in the HP and none of them would drop more than about half an inch on their own. The magazines that came with the gun show some scraping on both the back and the front, near the tops from when I took the gun out to shoot it the other week.

As far as I can tell, the sear spring is not bulged and binding the magazine, nor are the grips.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks.

Janos
 
Hello. Is the magazine disconnect ("safety") still in the pistol? If so, it can prevent the magazines from falling free.

Best.
 
Hello. In many instances removing the magazine disconnect does allow magazines to drop free that didn't before.

Best.
 
Original Hi-power mags are designed not to be drop free.
It's a European thing to keep soldiers from loosing mags.

Unfortunately, on most Hi Powers this makes the trigger pull heavier and grittier. Unless the magazine has the mousetrap type spring on the follower to eject it, the magazine "safety" usually prevents the magazine dropping from the pistol when released.

1. Its removal frequently reduces trigger pull by about 15% and might eliminate a trigger job.
2. Magazines usually drop free with the removal of the magazine disconnect.
 
Can this problem be fixed without removing the magazine safety?
Click to expand...

Sometimes, yes. However, it often means removing the magazine disconnect, polishing the face, and reinstalling it.

To be perfectly honest, I don't know why you'd want to do that when you can just leave it out. You'll most likely solve the problem of your mags dropping free, and your trigger will be sweetened. :) ;)

If you absolutely MUST leave it in, take some time while watching TV (or something) and just pop the mag in and out. You might "wear it in" to the point that they will drop. I still have 1 HP that has the mag disconnect in place, and it will drop most mags.

Wes
 
I had an FM, and the mags would drop free whenever I removed the grips, but not with em on. If you have rubber grips, try taking em off and trying it.
 
BHP(high power models)- magazine safety design

I say DO NOT tamper or remove the Browning High Power model magazine safety feature. This can cause major legal hassles for you later on. A documented case involved a civil trial where a High Power owner was questioned about this subject and it was an issue at his court trial.

The man shot his office assistant by accident with a 1911A1 .45acp and killed her. The guy also had a High power 9mm with the mag safety feature removed.

Also beware; let only trained, professional gunsmiths or the factory fix or make custom work to any handguns you plan to use for protection/security/concealed carry/etc. Mistakes or poor work could cost you your life!
 
Also beware; let only trained, professional gunsmiths or the factory fix or make custom work to any handguns you plan to use for protection/security/concealed carry/etc. Mistakes or poor work could cost you your life!
Click to expand...

Don't scare people needlessly. Removing the magazine disconnect is super easy.
 
A documented case involved a civil trial where a High Power owner was questioned about this subject and it was an issue at his court trial.
The man shot his office assistant by accident with a 1911A1 .45acp and killed her. The guy also had a High power 9mm with the mag safety feature removed.
Click to expand...

Seems to me, the fellow having a negligent discharge and killing someone is what caused him the trouble, not the fact that he'd removed the mag disconnect from a hi-Power...

Still, I'd like to see documentation on this particular court case. Got a link to it?


J.C.
 
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