Browning Hi-Power failure to feed

[Rio Laxas]

I picked up a 60s era belgian Browning a month ago, and it has been having a lot of problems feeding. This one does rattle quite a bit when shaken, and it may have seen a lot of use.

I went ahead and cleaned it and replaced the recoil spring and firing pin spring with Wolff springs, but that didn't do the trick. It seems to fail to feed, fail to eject, or stovepipe just about every round. Is this an extractor problem?

My first instict was to blame myself and consider maybe I was limp wristing, but I shoot a 1911 quite a bit with no problems. Even when focusing specifically on my wrists, the problem persists. So I don't think that is it.

 

[rbernie]

What magazines, and what ammo?

 

[Rio Laxas]

The magazines are newer and unmarked. The ammo was sellier bellot and Remington UMC ball ammo.

 

[rbernie]

Extraction issues can be caused either by a weak extractor spring (assuming it's got an external extractor) or a chipped/broken extractor claw. Feed issues, especially with ball ammo, are almost always a magazine issue.

When troubleshooting feed issues, it's generally a good idea to try to keep track of which rounds failed to feed- first round, last round, second round, etc.

If the magazines aren't marked Mecgar somewhere on them - go buy a MecGar and see if that affects the feed issues.

 

[10X]

rbernie gave you very correct advice.

 

[Rio Laxas]

Thanks for the info. I think both may be the problem then. One thing I have noticed is that the slide doesn't always lock back on an empty mag when firing.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. Push the rear of the external extractor toward the frame with your thumbnail. It should be difficult to move. If it moves easily, the spring needs replacement. Hi Power extractor springs need to be quite strong. I've been using the extra strength ones from Wolff with very good results. If the pistol has not been used in years, the extractor, spring and the notch it rides in might very well need scrubbing.

If interested, you might take a look at them here:

http://gunsprings.com/SemiAuto/BrowningNF.html#1935Extractor

As has been previously suggested, try a different magazine. My vote would be for Mec-Gar, too.

It is difficult to diagnose from a distance, but it does sound like the magazine is part of the problem along with some sort of extraction woes. If I might ask, what strength Wolff replacement recoil spring did you use?

This sort of thing is frustrating, but it can usually be fixed w/o too much effort.

Best and good luck to you.

 

[Rio Laxas]

I used the springs that Wolff listed as factory standard. I did notice that the recoil and firing pin springs from Wolff were noticeably longer than the ones that were on there from before (not that I think that has anything to do with it).

I just took a close look at the external extractor and found that it does indeed have a small chip out of it.

Thanks!

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I'd go ahead and replace the extractor spring along with the extractor and good luck.

Best.

 

[Rio Laxas]

Will do. Does this barrel look original? Would a hi-power from the 60s have had a magazine disconnect? This one does not have one, or it has been removed.

 

[rcmodel]

Several things about that gun strike me as wrong for a 60's era Browning HP.

I think it should have had a ring hammer, mag safety, really nice checkered walnut grips, with a high gloss finish on everything.

But I ain't no Browning HP expert.

rc

 

[Rio Laxas]

The person I got it from said it was a 60s model. This is just a shooter so I am not concerned if it isn't really one, but I am curious about it. SN is 76C25XXX. The rollmark on the slide says "Browning Arms Company Morgan Utah & Montral PQ" "Made in Belgium".

The grips are replacement ones that I put on it. There were some checkered grips with it, but they were actually painted kind of orange on the inside. The finish is/was gloss blue, though it is pretty worn in a lot of places. I'm not sure what to make of the hammer. What time period did they use the spur hammer or make one as an option?

 

[rcmodel]

Go here and check the serial number:

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/detail.asp?id=35

I really don't remember the commercial Browning HP's not having a ring hammer until some of the more recent "enhanced" models came out in the last 10-20 years.

Some of the military FN models made in WWII and later had a spur hammer if I remember correctly.

rc

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

If the serial number has the '76C, it was made in '76, so the spur hammer is correct. T-series Hi Powers have a "T" in the serial number.

It would have had a magazine disconnect. If it is not there, someone has removed it. It came with one from the factory. That is what the little pin at the rear of the trigger was for; it held in the magazine disconnect plunger and spring. Many of these were removed to better the trigger pull or just because the owner didn't care for it and wanted the magazine to fall free when the magazine release was pressed. The magazine disconnect could hinder that.

The barrel does appear to be the factory barrel from FN/Browning.

Best.

 

[stevemis]

There were some checkered grips with it, but they were actually painted kind of orange on the inside.

Could red be kind of orange? Every original classic HP I've come across has had a red paint/stain on the backs of the grips. Those might be factory grips.

 

[10X]

The gun and parts look correct for a 1976 (76Cxxxxx serial).

The wood grips with the red on the inside would be correct for that era.

As best that I can tell the magazine looks Browning. Many did not have any markings. I am going by the finish. A new magazine spring from gunsprings.com would go a long way to helping the slide staying open and feeding issues, so long as the follower is not beat up. I don't know if they have an extractor spring. If not, I would call Browning.com.

I would not worry about the mag disconnect being gone. It is not causing the problems that you described.

 

[g.brew]

I did notice that the recoil and firing pin springs from Wolff were noticeably longer than the ones that were on there from before.

this is my concern. the recoil spring that ive taken out of my BHP for replacement measures 4.3" (110mm), and the new wolf spring measures in at 5.3 (135mm), a whole inch longer! can this be right? wolf says so. i dont have a stock barrel, nor are there any markings on it. i believe its a bar-sto. it pokes out 1/8 inch and is a one piece. I can barely get the new spring in and it looks crooked no matter how i adjust it. any thoughts? (trying to a avoid a new thread here).

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. New recoil springs from Wolff are longer than expected due to not having taken the initial set. They will look crooked until this occurs. I have not seen any Barsto barrel that was not marked as such. The earliest ones were one-piece, but later ones were two-piece.

Best.