Unsafe used Hi Power Question.

landsman · January 7, 2008, 11:32 PM

I just bought a used Browning Hi Power which had a trigger job done and mag safety removed at some point. My question: When I rack the slide and use the slide stop to release it, the web of my hand puts a little pressure on the back of the hammer and once the slide is released the hammer follows the slide. I think that's unsafe even though the half cock notch still engages the hammer. I also had 5 failures to fire with light firing pin strikes on the primers out of 150 rounds fired. I'm thinking about taking the gun back to the store to exchange it for something else. What do you guys think?

Dfariswheel · January 8, 2008, 12:07 AM

The gun is unsafe and should NOT be fired until it's repaired.

In addition to possibly firing or even firing a full-auto burst, the hammer slamming down on the sear will damage the hammer and sear.

See a good gunsmith or take it back.

landsman · January 8, 2008, 12:45 AM

Thanks for the input. I just read on the receipt that all firearms sales are final. I'll try to reason with them but I don't hold much hope. I'm sure they are willing to fix it but the owner is not such a great gunsmith. And the store is 50 miles away. I think I'm pretty much screwed. I'm going to have to take it to my gunsmith who overcharges but does good work.

Cowart · January 8, 2008, 04:51 PM

You could fix this yourself, and have an excellent trigger pull as well, by installing a pre-fitted hammer and sear kit - see https://shop.cylinder-slide.com/ccp5...tstr=HOME:6:20

DnPRK · January 8, 2008, 09:41 PM

Brownells sells parts needed to restore your Hi-power to operational status. Its not hard to replace the hammer, sear, springs and magazine safety.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/Sch...px?schemid=402

landsman · January 8, 2008, 10:19 PM

Thanks for the help guys. I went back to the store today and they exchanged the broken Hi Power for a new Beretta M9 which I also wanted. I've never owned a Beretta so here is question about the Beretta: When the slide is locked in the open position with the safety on, and then I manually ride the slide forward without too much force and without using the slide release, it gets stuck a little about 1/2 an inch out of battery until I push it forward, at which point it goes into battery with the hammer following the slide. Is that normal for a Beretta because the safety was on when the slide was pulled back? Now, when the slide is released forcefully, this does not happen. Here are some pics of it looks like:

DnPRK · January 8, 2008, 10:59 PM

Locking block under the barrel hasn't snapped into position. Chalk it up to a new gun not yet broken in. Once you put a couple hundred rounds through it, that issue will disappear.

landsman · January 8, 2008, 11:09 PM

Thanks. I forget to mention that this does not happen with the safety off.

Dfariswheel · January 8, 2008, 11:09 PM

Either the locking block, or the hammer dropping safety system, or probably both.

In that last bit before fully closing, the locking block has to elevate, and the hammer drop safety has to have enough inertia to push the hammer drop.
To find out which, put the safety OFF and lower the slide.
If it closes, it was the hammer drop assembly.

In any case, the gun is not designed to have the slide eased forward.

EEL92fs · January 8, 2008, 11:11 PM

This is normal for the 92fs because the way it decocks.

landsman · January 8, 2008, 11:14 PM

Thanks guys you put me at ease. After all the problems I had with the Hi Power, this would have been too much.

landsman · January 9, 2008, 12:02 AM

Another question: How do I switch to a lighter hammer spring to lighten the double action trigger pull? And where do I get a lighter spring?

RoscoeC · January 9, 2008, 08:05 AM

Quote:

I manually ride the slide forward without too much force

That is a misoperation.

Quote:

Now, when the slide is released forcefully, this does not happen.

That is the way it is supposed to operate.

landsman · January 9, 2008, 06:46 PM

Thanks again guys. Another quick question about the Beretta:
Is it normal for the ejector on new Beretta M9 to be just a little loose?

Harry Bonar · January 13, 2008, 04:13 PM

Sir:
I would not start changing springs! The factory made it safe. Learn how to properly and correctly pull the trigger and follow through!
Harry B.

Cochise3Texas · January 13, 2008, 09:45 PM

Hey, guy. The DA trigger pull will be stout in a new one. Run a couple hundred rounds through it and keep it clean and lubricated. It will wear in and will start to smooth up a lot. Don't get in hurry.
SOmetimes

Cochise3Texas · January 13, 2008, 09:46 PM

Hey, guy. The DA trigger pull will be stout in a new one. Run a couple hundred rounds through it and keep it clean and lubricated. It will wear in and will start to smooth up a lot. Don't get in hurry.
Sometimes the little instruction book that comes with new handguns is helpful and may tell you what sort of run in you need to look forward to.

landsman · January 14, 2008, 02:55 AM

I installed a 13 pound competition hammer spring from Wolff and it works great. The improvement of the double action pull is very noticeable, and the installation took 5 minutes. I already fired about 350 round with no problems. The only other thing that bothered me is the loose ejector but as far as I understand that's normal.

10-96 · January 15, 2008, 10:22 AM

Yes, the loose ejector pin is quite normal, all of our dept issue firearms are like that.

January 7, 2008, 11:32 PM	#1
landsman Member Join Date: October 27, 2007 Posts: 47	Unsafe used Hi Power Question. I just bought a used Browning Hi Power which had a trigger job done and mag safety removed at some point. My question: When I rack the slide and use the slide stop to release it, the web of my hand puts a little pressure on the back of the hammer and once the slide is released the hammer follows the slide. I think that's unsafe even though the half cock notch still engages the hammer. I also had 5 failures to fire with light firing pin strikes on the primers out of 150 rounds fired. I'm thinking about taking the gun back to the store to exchange it for something else. What do you guys think?

January 8, 2008, 10:19 PM	#6
landsman Member Join Date: October 27, 2007 Posts: 47	Thanks for the help guys. I went back to the store today and they exchanged the broken Hi Power for a new Beretta M9 which I also wanted. I've never owned a Beretta so here is question about the Beretta: When the slide is locked in the open position with the safety on, and then I manually ride the slide forward without too much force and without using the slide release, it gets stuck a little about 1/2 an inch out of battery until I push it forward, at which point it goes into battery with the hammer following the slide. Is that normal for a Beretta because the safety was on when the slide was pulled back? Now, when the slide is released forcefully, this does not happen. Here are some pics of it looks like: Last edited by landsman; January 8, 2008 at 10:21 PM. Reason: added info

January 13, 2008, 04:13 PM	#15
Harry Bonar Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: In the Vincent, Ohio general area. Posts: 1,804	trigger Sir: I would not start changing springs! The factory made it safe. Learn how to properly and correctly pull the trigger and follow through! Harry B.

January 13, 2008, 09:45 PM	#16
Cochise3Texas Junior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Location: Tishomingo, Oklahoma! Posts: 3	92 stuff Hey, guy. The DA trigger pull will be stout in a new one. Run a couple hundred rounds through it and keep it clean and lubricated. It will wear in and will start to smooth up a lot. Don't get in hurry. SOmetimes

January 13, 2008, 09:46 PM	#17
Cochise3Texas Junior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Location: Tishomingo, Oklahoma! Posts: 3	92 stuff Hey, guy. The DA trigger pull will be stout in a new one. Run a couple hundred rounds through it and keep it clean and lubricated. It will wear in and will start to smooth up a lot. Don't get in hurry. Sometimes the little instruction book that comes with new handguns is helpful and may tell you what sort of run in you need to look forward to.

January 8, 2008, 12:07 AM	#2
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	The gun is unsafe and should NOT be fired until it's repaired. In addition to possibly firing or even firing a full-auto burst, the hammer slamming down on the sear will damage the hammer and sear. See a good gunsmith or take it back.

January 8, 2008, 12:45 AM	#3
landsman Member Join Date: October 27, 2007 Posts: 47	Thanks for the input. I just read on the receipt that all firearms sales are final. I'll try to reason with them but I don't hold much hope. I'm sure they are willing to fix it but the owner is not such a great gunsmith. And the store is 50 miles away. I think I'm pretty much screwed. I'm going to have to take it to my gunsmith who overcharges but does good work.

January 8, 2008, 04:51 PM	#4
Cowart Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2007 Posts: 247	You could fix this yourself, and have an excellent trigger pull as well, by installing a pre-fitted hammer and sear kit - see https://shop.cylinder-slide.com/ccp5...tstr=HOME:6:20

January 8, 2008, 09:41 PM	#5
DnPRK Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2001 Location: LC, Ca Posts: 1,917	Brownells sells parts needed to restore your Hi-power to operational status. Its not hard to replace the hammer, sear, springs and magazine safety. http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/Sch...px?schemid=402

January 8, 2008, 10:59 PM	#7
DnPRK Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2001 Location: LC, Ca Posts: 1,917	Locking block under the barrel hasn't snapped into position. Chalk it up to a new gun not yet broken in. Once you put a couple hundred rounds through it, that issue will disappear.

January 8, 2008, 11:09 PM	#8
landsman Member Join Date: October 27, 2007 Posts: 47	Thanks. I forget to mention that this does not happen with the safety off.

January 8, 2008, 11:11 PM	#10
EEL92fs Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2007 Location: Dayton OH Posts: 155	This is normal for the 92fs because the way it decocks.

January 8, 2008, 11:14 PM	#11
landsman Member Join Date: October 27, 2007 Posts: 47	Thanks guys you put me at ease. After all the problems I had with the Hi Power, this would have been too much.

January 9, 2008, 12:02 AM	#12
landsman Member Join Date: October 27, 2007 Posts: 47	Another question: How do I switch to a lighter hammer spring to lighten the double action trigger pull? And where do I get a lighter spring?

January 9, 2008, 06:46 PM	#14
landsman Member Join Date: October 27, 2007 Posts: 47	Thanks again guys. Another quick question about the Beretta: Is it normal for the ejector on new Beretta M9 to be just a little loose?

January 14, 2008, 02:55 AM	#18
landsman Member Join Date: October 27, 2007 Posts: 47	I installed a 13 pound competition hammer spring from Wolff and it works great. The improvement of the double action pull is very noticeable, and the installation took 5 minutes. I already fired about 350 round with no problems. The only other thing that bothered me is the loose ejector but as far as I understand that's normal.

January 15, 2008, 10:22 AM	#19
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,160	Yes, the loose ejector pin is quite normal, all of our dept issue firearms are like that. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.