I have a problem with the Series 80 firing pin safety.
On several occasions I have examined a pistol where either the lock plunger or firing pin were battered because the lever system was not raising the plunger high enough to clear the firing pin. The usual cause was a backlash screw in the trigger restricting the trigger’s full travel, but in one case the lever (or levers) were at fault. In theory, if not practice, this could cause the firing pin to make a light hit, or to not hit at all. While this situation may be improbable it is certainly not impossible. The setscrew in the trigger is easy to fix, the other causes may be less so.
If, over it’s long history the pistol had developed a reputation for accidental discharges attributable to the original Browning design I would feel differently, but I think such incidents are very rare - particularly when the firing pin and spring are well maintained.
The safety was designed to meet legal concerns, and to be something that could be assembled quickly without hand fitting beyond changing out levers and/or the firing pin stop. John Browning’s thinking was not dictated by a bunch of attorneys. Unfortunately today’s decisions often are at the manufacturer level. As far as I’m concerned they can keep their perceptions away from my personal sidearms. The drive for endless and questionable safeties is coming from the anti-gun movement, not from users.
On several occasions I have examined a pistol where either the lock plunger or firing pin were battered because the lever system was not raising the plunger high enough to clear the firing pin. The usual cause was a backlash screw in the trigger restricting the trigger’s full travel, but in one case the lever (or levers) were at fault. In theory, if not practice, this could cause the firing pin to make a light hit, or to not hit at all. While this situation may be improbable it is certainly not impossible. The setscrew in the trigger is easy to fix, the other causes may be less so.
If, over it’s long history the pistol had developed a reputation for accidental discharges attributable to the original Browning design I would feel differently, but I think such incidents are very rare - particularly when the firing pin and spring are well maintained.
The safety was designed to meet legal concerns, and to be something that could be assembled quickly without hand fitting beyond changing out levers and/or the firing pin stop. John Browning’s thinking was not dictated by a bunch of attorneys. Unfortunately today’s decisions often are at the manufacturer level. As far as I’m concerned they can keep their perceptions away from my personal sidearms. The drive for endless and questionable safeties is coming from the anti-gun movement, not from users.
