Got my first Hi-Power

[bannockburn]

WVsig

Had a friend of mine who had to remove the trigger on his Hi-Power to get to the mag safety and after that, he had a continual problem with the trigger pin walking out of the gun.

 

[WVsig]

WVsig

Had a friend of mine who had to remove the trigger on his Hi-Power to get to the mag safety and after that, he had a continual problem with the trigger pin walking out of the gun.

The pin is tapered I bet he drove it out the wrong direction.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

For you Hi-Power experts, what is your opinion of the magazine safety? I’m not sure I understand the purpose.

Get rid of it.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Welcome to the Hi Power Club, Nature Boy!!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

The pin is tapered I bet he drive it out the wrong direction.

More likely he damaged the spring, which sits in the trigger pin groove for retention. I may be wrong (its happened, like, twice.....), but I don't think the HiPower trigger hinge pin is ever tapered or press fit. People start hammering on it, not realizing the spring retains it.
Now, the mag safety retainer is an interference fit, but, once again, don't think its tapered- just really tight.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

For you Hi-Power experts, what is your opinion of the magazine safety? I’m not sure I understand the purpose.

The purpose was to prevent accidental discharges during disassembly and maintainance. The first step in the manual of arms is to remove the magazine.
In the real world, it also prevents the magazine from dropping free.
Hence the little helper spring at the base of later magazines, lol.

 

[Mizar]

I would love to see how the trigger spring, that has about 0.04" lateral play, can prevent the trigger pin from removing... And yes - that pin is both tapered and press fit, making it quite hard to remove sometimes, especially on the epoxy coated Mk III.

 

[444]

Probably my favorite 9mm handgun. It's one of those guns that feels good in the hand. And naturally points right where you want it to.

I own three: an Israeli surplus, a "Practical" (the two tone one), and a really beautiful one with adjustable sights that has a very stunning blue on it. That last one is obviously from the golden age when things were made just a little bit nicer than they are now. I seldom shoot it. In fact I think I may have only fired it a couple sessions.

That Israeli gun is kind of beat up. And I guess for that reason, it was the one I used the most. I have shot literally hundreds of jackrabbits with that gun and a few coyotes. I have gone out and shot 20 or so jackrabbits with it in one day. When I lived in the desert and spent my free time exploring dirt roads, ghost towns, and old mines; that gun was carried a whole lot.

 

[Nature Boy]

The first step in the manual of arms is to remove the magazine.

Then clear the chamber. I guess if someone felt that step carried an inherent risk of NDs, the magazine safety gives a "belt and suspenders" piece of mind, but it seems superfluous to me.

In any event, it doesn't bother me enough to risk jacking up the gun to remove it. I was just curious about it.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Then clear the chamber. I guess if someone felt that step carried an inherent risk of NDs, the magazine safety gives a "belt and suspenders" piece of mind, but it seems superfluous to me.

In any event, it doesn't bother me enough to risk jacking up the gun to remove it. I was just curious about it.

Seems common sense to you and me, but apparently the German cops had so many AD with lugers after WW1 that some districts ADDED a mag safety! Mine has this and the sidplate interference modification (for the same reason).

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I would love to see how the trigger spring, that has about 0.04" lateral play, can prevent the trigger pin from removing... And yes - that pin is both tapered and press fit, making it quite hard to remove sometimes, especially on the epoxy coated Mk III.

Guess I'm lucky, or my T-series pin is grossly undersized, but I pulled up on the spring and it fell right out. It would also go back in from either direction, though of course the nub is on the RH side. I can't see any frame distortion, as if the pin was driven out backwards....but who knows on a 30 year old gun.
It does have a bit of lateral movement when installed, but you can't pop it out with finger pressure. Has never had an issue when shooting, either. Doesn t look like anybody had ever monkeyed with it, but its possible, I guess. In any case, lovin my drop free mags now, lol.

 

[WVsig]

I would love to see how the trigger spring, that has about 0.04" lateral play, can prevent the trigger pin from removing... And yes - that pin is both tapered and press fit, making it quite hard to remove sometimes, especially on the epoxy coated Mk III.

This is correct. Nightlord40K is wrong on most of points in his post regarding mag disconnect. He believe is incorrect referring to magazine safety pin and spring, #17, which does retain the mag disconnect lever while I am referring to the actual trigger pin, part #45. The part numbers referring to the Browning/FN factory parts list. Also he is wrong as to the intent and reason for the mag disconnect.

Guess I'm lucky, or my T-series pin is grossly undersized, but I pulled up on the spring and it fell right out. It would also go back in from either direction, though of course the nub is on the RH side. I can't see any frame distortion, as if the pin was driven out backwards....but who knows on a 30 year old gun.
It does have a bit of lateral movement when installed, but you can't pop it out with finger pressure. Has never had an issue when shooting, either. Doesn t look like anybody had ever monkeyed with it, but its possible, I guess. In any case, lovin my drop free mags now, lol.

You are describing the removing the magazine safety pin and then removing the magazine disconnect from inside the magwell without removing the trigger from the gun. This can be done in most BHPs up to the early MKIIIs. At that point the mag disconnect cannot be removed this way and in order to remove it you have to remove the trigger with involves driving out the tapered and press fit "trigger pin".

 

[WVsig]

Then clear the chamber. I guess if someone felt that step carried an inherent risk of NDs, the magazine safety gives a "belt and suspenders" piece of mind, but it seems superfluous to me.

In any event, it doesn't bother me enough to risk jacking up the gun to remove it. I was just curious about it.

IIRC there is an urban legend that says the French wanted it for ease of inspection of the weapons. You could remove the magazine even with a round loaded and cocked and locked the gun would not fire and could be presented for inspection. I do not know it that is true. I do know that is was a contract requirement of the French and if the French had asked for the design to incorporate a pink bayonet JMB/Saive would have complied.

The more modern explanation for magazine disconnects is that if you are involved in a struggle for your gun you can disable it by removing the mag so you do not get shot with your own gun. IIRC this was one of the reasons they are found on many S&W gen 3 semi-autos which were the LEO Glocks of their day.

I personally would remove it as it is one of the hindrances to achieving a nice trigger on a BHP. IMHO

 

[If1HitU]

Looks nice congrats!

 

[If1HitU]

So true. Enjoy it.

View attachment 769355

Sweet,very nice collection of pistol there.

 

[bannockburn]

WVsig

I personally would remove it as it is one of the hindrances to achieving a nice trigger on a BHP. IMHO

You know I thought about it when I got my Mk.II but the trigger was so nice, clean, and light when I tried it for the first time, I didn't feel it needed any changes to it. Something about that old saying: "That if it isn't broke, don't fix it" came to mind and I just left it in.

 

[WVsig]

WVsig



You know I thought about it when I got my Mk.II but the trigger was so nice, clean, and light when I tried it for the first time, I didn't feel it needed any changes to it. Something about that old saying: "That if it isn't broke, don't fix it" came to mind and I just left it in.

View attachment 769479

I fully understand that. If you are happy with the trigger I would not mess with it!

 

[bannockburn]

WVsig

I am very happy with my Hi-Power trigger, especially compared to most every one I tried prior to getting mine!

 

[WVsig]

WVsig

I am very happy with my Hi-Power trigger, especially compared to most every one I tried prior to getting mine!

This is my best BHP trigger. Mr. Garthwaite does good work.

 

[WVsig]

Double post

 

[bannockburn]

WVsig

I would say so! Beautifully crafted; I especially like the sunken rear sight and the well designed thumb safety.

 

[444]

WVsig



You know I thought about it when I got my Mk.II but the trigger was so nice, clean, and light when I tried it for the first time, I didn't feel it needed any changes to it. Something about that old saying: "That if it isn't broke, don't fix it" came to mind and I just left it in.

View attachment 769479

That is a thing of beauty.
The clean lines of the BHP are gorgeous.

 

[Stringfellow]

In any event, it doesn't bother me enough to risk jacking up the gun to remove it. I was just curious about it.

With all due respect, before you settle on that position, you should find someone who has removed the mag safety. Mine had the most awful, knashy, gritty trigger imaginable...until I removed the mag safety. Now it is one of my best triggers. Don't deprive yourself of this without checking it out...

 

[Nature Boy]

With all due respect, before you settle on that position, you should find someone who has removed the mag safety.

Good point.

I’ll keep an eye out for someone at the range that might be shooting a BHP, however, It’s hard to pick them out in a sea of Glocks and Sigs

 

[Ironicaintit]

I have a T series and a mkIII that are both mostly stock, but with the magazine safeties yanked out.
On both of them, the feel of the trigger before and after the mod was like night and day! I'm not a trigger snob at all, but man did it sure improve the feel of the thing.

Get decent punches, and a good block to support it all, and it shouldn't be too tough. I highly recommend it.

Very nice score! My mkIII was assembled in Portugal as well. Maybe that makes it not as desirable to purists....but at least on mine, the fit and finish is fantastic. Makes me want to get another.