High Standard HD Military Problems - The Firearms Forum

ubepastillas · 10-22-2012, 12:45 PM

Hi Everyone, I'm new around here, but with all the good input I read, I hoped I might get some help with an issue. Have an HD Military that I picked up recently, but first trip to the range the pistol had issues. The hammer follows the slide down about every 5th shot. When I thumb the hammer back, it fires OK. I took it apart and the sear/hammer look like they have plenty of meat where they engage, so it does not look like worn out parts. Before I started spending money, I was hoping there might be an simple fix. Thanks for your input.

wv hillbilly · 10-22-2012, 01:46 PM

you might want to post this in Technical Questions & Information

Helix_FR · 10-22-2012, 05:30 PM

Its probably the hammer hooks are worn and not matching the face of the sear or the sear spring is binding up in the frame bc of rust or fouling. Its not a super hard fix but it can take some time bc the sear face must match the hooks

Jim K · 10-22-2012, 10:05 PM

It could also be a failure of the sear bar to disconnect. Hard to tell without seeing the gun.

Jim

ubepastillas · 10-22-2012, 11:22 PM

I will take a closer look at those sear components and see if that's it. thanks for the input

B27 · 10-24-2012, 05:49 AM

Are you shooting standard velocity or HV?
The steel frames on old HS pistols are not hardened.
They can and do crack with a steady diet of HV, I've got one right here to prove it.

SGVictor · 10-24-2012, 05:53 PM

Hello B27,

The cracked frame phenomenon is limited to only a few of the 13 High Standard design series. Historically the hammer letter series is not one with a history of frame cracks.

Actually the High Standard pistol frames were all made from AISI 1045 forgings and were indeed hardened but not to a high or medium hardness.

Which design series High Standard do you have that has the cracked frame?

SGVictor · 10-24-2012, 07:53 PM

One possible cause for the hammer not to reset is a sluggish sear. There are a couple of different configurations for the sear spring and plunger. Sometimes the one with the longer plunger gets gummy from old oil and is slow to reset. So slow as to miss catching the hammer notch. TI is also possible that the sear pin could have teh same gummy problem but it is less common.

B27 · 10-24-2012, 10:22 PM

The Supermatic Citation has a crack which so far has not caused any problem with functioning.
The crack was there when I bought the gun.

SGVictor · 10-25-2012, 03:09 AM

Yes, beginning with the large pushbutton 102 design series and later, the frames have a history of cracking. Keeping a fresh recoil spring in the gun will help as will using standard velocity ammunition. The spring will actually wear and its wire diameter will thus be reduced in effective diameter resulting in a reduction in force. It is suggested that when acquireing one of these that the new owner replace the spring with a new one and then change it every 12,000 to 15,000 rounds.

THe other frames that have a history of cracking are the letter series with the type I-A or I-B take down. The crack on these forms at the left rear of the frame between the slot for the pin that actuates the slide stop for takedown and the top of the frame.

The Model H-D Military does hot have a history of frame cracks but I do not recommend High Velocity ammunition for it. The part that fails is the stop lug at the thin section where the take down lever shaft passes through it.

10-22-2012, 12:45 PM	#1
ubepastillas Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: prescott, az Contributor Posts: 2	High Standard HD Military Problems Hi Everyone, I'm new around here, but with all the good input I read, I hoped I might get some help with an issue. Have an HD Military that I picked up recently, but first trip to the range the pistol had issues. The hammer follows the slide down about every 5th shot. When I thumb the hammer back, it fires OK. I took it apart and the sear/hammer look like they have plenty of meat where they engage, so it does not look like worn out parts. Before I started spending money, I was hoping there might be an simple fix. Thanks for your input. -->

10-22-2012, 01:46 PM	#2
wv hillbilly Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: mountains of wv. Posts: 2,016	Re: High Standard HD Military Problems you might want to post this in Technical Questions & Information

10-22-2012, 05:30 PM	#3
Helix_FR TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 3,618	Re: High Standard HD Military Problems Its probably the hammer hooks are worn and not matching the face of the sear or the sear spring is binding up in the frame bc of rust or fouling. Its not a super hard fix but it can take some time bc the sear face must match the hooks __________________ Only cowards shoot with their eyes closed.... helixgunsmith.com

10-22-2012, 10:05 PM	#4
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: High Standard HD Military Problems It could also be a failure of the sear bar to disconnect. Hard to tell without seeing the gun. Jim

10-22-2012, 11:22 PM	#5
ubepastillas Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: prescott, az Contributor Posts: 2	Re: High Standard HD Military Problems I will take a closer look at those sear components and see if that's it. thanks for the input

10-24-2012, 05:49 AM	#6
B27 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 415	Re: High Standard HD Military Problems Are you shooting standard velocity or HV? The steel frames on old HS pistols are not hardened. They can and do crack with a steady diet of HV, I've got one right here to prove it. __________________ "Do not stand beside the road and argue with a fool...lest others in passing take you also for a fool."

10-24-2012, 05:53 PM	#7
SGVictor V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 194	Re: High Standard HD Military Problems Hello B27, The cracked frame phenomenon is limited to only a few of the 13 High Standard design series. Historically the hammer letter series is not one with a history of frame cracks. Actually the High Standard pistol frames were all made from AISI 1045 forgings and were indeed hardened but not to a high or medium hardness. Which design series High Standard do you have that has the cracked frame?

10-24-2012, 07:53 PM	#8
SGVictor V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 194	Re: High Standard HD Military Problems One possible cause for the hammer not to reset is a sluggish sear. There are a couple of different configurations for the sear spring and plunger. Sometimes the one with the longer plunger gets gummy from old oil and is slow to reset. So slow as to miss catching the hammer notch. TI is also possible that the sear pin could have teh same gummy problem but it is less common.

10-24-2012, 10:22 PM	#9
B27 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 415	Re: High Standard HD Military Problems The Supermatic Citation has a crack which so far has not caused any problem with functioning. The crack was there when I bought the gun. __________________ "Do not stand beside the road and argue with a fool...lest others in passing take you also for a fool."

10-25-2012, 03:09 AM	#10
SGVictor V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 194	Re: High Standard HD Military Problems Yes, beginning with the large pushbutton 102 design series and later, the frames have a history of cracking. Keeping a fresh recoil spring in the gun will help as will using standard velocity ammunition. The spring will actually wear and its wire diameter will thus be reduced in effective diameter resulting in a reduction in force. It is suggested that when acquireing one of these that the new owner replace the spring with a new one and then change it every 12,000 to 15,000 rounds. THe other frames that have a history of cracking are the letter series with the type I-A or I-B take down. The crack on these forms at the left rear of the frame between the slot for the pin that actuates the slide stop for takedown and the top of the frame. The Model H-D Military does hot have a history of frame cracks but I do not recommend High Velocity ammunition for it. The part that fails is the stop lug at the thin section where the take down lever shaft passes through it.