Browning Hi Power malfunction ??? - The Firearms Forum

Cary Lang · 08-15-2011, 04:38 PM

A friend of mine has an older Belgium made Browning Hi Power 9 mm. He was telling me he was at the range over the weekend and his Browning wasn't functioning properly. It would fire a round and rechamber the next round but the hammer would be in half cock and not full cock and ready to fire again. This happened at least once on each of the magazines he fired. Anyone ever have this happen? Anyone know what might be wrong? Thanks in advance.

ka64 · 08-15-2011, 05:32 PM

Did it have any work done, Trigger job etc?

Cary Lang · 08-15-2011, 06:07 PM

No. He has not done anywork to it. He told me that it has done that ever since he bought it (used) about 10 or 15 years ago. He is planning on taking it to a gunsmith but I was wondering if anyone here might know what the problem could be.

lanceb152 · 08-15-2011, 06:17 PM

what kind of ammo? your friend might want to change.

Cary Lang · 08-15-2011, 06:24 PM

I don't know what kind of ammo he used. He just mentioned it to me today. He was concerned that the slide came back far enough to expel the spent cartridge and feed a new round into the chamber but the hammer was not fully cocked but only on half cock. Is it possible that ammo could cause what he describes? Do these guns have a decocking mechanism built into the safety? My first thought was that maybe during recoil his thumb hit the safety/decocker???

Jim K · 08-15-2011, 08:43 PM

It is impossible for a BHP to extract and feed without fully cocking the hammer. Either the disconnector didn't work or the hammer fell off cock, probably due to a worn or broken hammer or sear or a weak sear spring.

Jim

Cary Lang · 08-15-2011, 08:48 PM

He will be taking it to a gunsmith. I will try to post the findings of the gunsmith.

ka64 · 08-16-2011, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim K

It is impossible for a BHP to extract and feed without fully cocking the hammer. Either the disconnector didn't work or the hammer fell off cock, probably due to a worn or broken hammer or sear or a weak sear spring.

Jim

Yep thats what I would say, it's in the Sear mechanism.

Cary Lang · 08-16-2011, 06:53 PM

Jim K, you were absolutley right in your diagnosis about it being in the sear mechanism.
Last night one of the guys at the range who does all of his own pistol smithing looked at it for him. Apparently before my friend bought the gun many years ago someone tried to lighten the trigger pull by monkeying with the sear notch. This caused the hammer to drop into the half cock position. He removed and installed the suspect parts in his own gun and it did the same thing in his gun...dropped to half cock. I just wanted to let you know that you were right and how much I appreciate just how knowledgable you guys are here in the forum.

popgun · 08-16-2011, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim K

It is impossible for a BHP to extract and feed without fully cocking the hammer. Either the disconnector didn't work or the hammer fell off cock, probably due to a worn or broken hammer or sear or a weak sear spring.

Jim

+1 on this fake it to a gunsmith, while your at it have a C&S hammer, wide combat trigger and sear put in.

Cary Lang · 08-16-2011, 06:55 PM

Forgot to mention thanks to you to Ka64, you were right on the mark with the suspected trigger work.

08-15-2011, 04:38 PM	#1
Cary Lang V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 50	Browning Hi Power malfunction ??? A friend of mine has an older Belgium made Browning Hi Power 9 mm. He was telling me he was at the range over the weekend and his Browning wasn't functioning properly. It would fire a round and rechamber the next round but the hammer would be in half cock and not full cock and ready to fire again. This happened at least once on each of the magazines he fired. Anyone ever have this happen? Anyone know what might be wrong? Thanks in advance. -->

08-15-2011, 05:32 PM	#2
ka64 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Michigan Contributor Posts: 1,412	Re: Browning Hi Power malfunction ??? Did it have any work done, Trigger job etc? Last edited by ka64; 08-15-2011 at 05:33 PM..

08-15-2011, 06:07 PM	#3
Cary Lang V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 50	Re: Browning Hi Power malfunction ??? No. He has not done anywork to it. He told me that it has done that ever since he bought it (used) about 10 or 15 years ago. He is planning on taking it to a gunsmith but I was wondering if anyone here might know what the problem could be. Last edited by Cary Lang; 08-15-2011 at 06:10 PM.. Reason: additional information.

08-15-2011, 06:17 PM	#4
lanceb152 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: s.w.fl Posts: 18	Re: Browning Hi Power malfunction ??? what kind of ammo? your friend might want to change.

08-15-2011, 06:24 PM	#5
Cary Lang V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 50	Re: Browning Hi Power malfunction ??? I don't know what kind of ammo he used. He just mentioned it to me today. He was concerned that the slide came back far enough to expel the spent cartridge and feed a new round into the chamber but the hammer was not fully cocked but only on half cock. Is it possible that ammo could cause what he describes? Do these guns have a decocking mechanism built into the safety? My first thought was that maybe during recoil his thumb hit the safety/decocker???

08-15-2011, 08:43 PM	#6
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Browning Hi Power malfunction ??? It is impossible for a BHP to extract and feed without fully cocking the hammer. Either the disconnector didn't work or the hammer fell off cock, probably due to a worn or broken hammer or sear or a weak sear spring. Jim

08-15-2011, 08:48 PM	#7
Cary Lang V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 50	Re: Browning Hi Power malfunction ??? He will be taking it to a gunsmith. I will try to post the findings of the gunsmith.

08-16-2011, 06:53 PM	#9
Cary Lang V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 50	Re: Browning Hi Power malfunction ??? Jim K, you were absolutley right in your diagnosis about it being in the sear mechanism. Last night one of the guys at the range who does all of his own pistol smithing looked at it for him. Apparently before my friend bought the gun many years ago someone tried to lighten the trigger pull by monkeying with the sear notch. This caused the hammer to drop into the half cock position. He removed and installed the suspect parts in his own gun and it did the same thing in his gun...dropped to half cock. I just wanted to let you know that you were right and how much I appreciate just how knowledgable you guys are here in the forum.

08-16-2011, 06:55 PM	#11
Cary Lang V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 50	Re: Browning Hi Power malfunction ??? Forgot to mention thanks to you to Ka64, you were right on the mark with the suspected trigger work.