browning hi power sear problems

procrastinator · 06-26-2012, 09:47 AM

At the range one day it refused to fire, never had any trouble prior to this.

I took it home and found that if I watched closely when pulling the trigger I could see the sear raise up and the hammer move maybe 1/32 of an inch forward. I have tried to show this in the pictures.
Hammer and sear in place.

Sear raised up and reflecting on hammer face.

Any help would be appreciated.

dfariswheel · 06-26-2012, 03:41 PM

Sounds like a damaged hammer or sear.
Depending on what the hammer and sear are made or, or just plain defective parts, the sear or hammer notches may chip, break, or deform.

In any firearm you may see the hammer move backward a slight amount, but you should never see the hammer move forward even the slightest amount.
This is almost certainly unsafe to shoot and you should get it repaired before shooting it again.

Unless you're qualified to do hammer/trigger work, I'd recommend seeing a good gunsmith.
Hammers and sears require fitting to insure proper operation, proper safety engagement, and a good, safe trigger pull.

procrastinator · 06-27-2012, 06:52 AM

Thank you for the reply.

It cannot be fired since picture #2 is as close as it gets.

Took it to one smith in the area and could not figure it out.

I need a Browning qualified smith in West Central Florida or send it off to one.
I prefer the first.

danf_fl · 07-02-2012, 12:33 AM

I'm in the panhandle of Florida.

PM me through here if you would like me to check it out.

danf_fl · 07-02-2012, 04:03 AM

Just a question.
Is that a "Series-80" 1911?

Raymond759 · 07-02-2012, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danf_fl

Just a question.
Is that a "Series-80" 1911?

It's a Browning Hi-power from the sub forum and the looks, perhaps a Mk III.

Ray

procrastinator · 07-02-2012, 03:27 PM

danf fl
Thank you for the offer but still looking for a face to face smith around here.

danf_fl · 07-03-2012, 12:20 AM

My bad. The images looked like a 1911 (from what I could see on my computer).

Sorry for the improper response.

Wild Bill Caldwell · 07-03-2012, 04:02 AM

If this pistol has ever functioned before it will function again, that is if a fairly good Hand works on it....A Hi Power is not a complicated pistol to work on , May be just a little harder to re assemble than a 1911 but slave pins help out with that...I don't like Hi Powers and I cannot see that They are an improvement over a 1911 , I can't and no other smith I know of can get as good a trigger pull from a Hi Power as from a 1911....With all the unnecessary sayin said , Have You tried disassembly and puttin it back together , maybe try that several times 'till it works or You find the problem ....I don't know if Kuhnhausen has a book on Hi Powers, Maybe one of the vids from A G I would help You get it goin...nothin in it breaks that replacement parts can't be found to fix it....If the parts are in spec They should need no or at the worse very little fittin

Wild Bill

danf_fl · 07-03-2012, 09:54 AM

I'm still willing to look at it if need be.

06-26-2012, 09:47 AM	#1
procrastinator Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 8	Hammer / Sear problem At the range one day it refused to fire, never had any trouble prior to this. I took it home and found that if I watched closely when pulling the trigger I could see the sear raise up and the hammer move maybe 1/32 of an inch forward. I have tried to show this in the pictures. Hammer and sear in place. Sear raised up and reflecting on hammer face. Any help would be appreciated.

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06-26-2012, 03:41 PM	#2
dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 1,800	Sounds like a damaged hammer or sear. Depending on what the hammer and sear are made or, or just plain defective parts, the sear or hammer notches may chip, break, or deform. In any firearm you may see the hammer move backward a slight amount, but you should never see the hammer move forward even the slightest amount. This is almost certainly unsafe to shoot and you should get it repaired before shooting it again. Unless you're qualified to do hammer/trigger work, I'd recommend seeing a good gunsmith. Hammers and sears require fitting to insure proper operation, proper safety engagement, and a good, safe trigger pull.

06-27-2012, 06:52 AM	#3
procrastinator Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 8	Thank you for the reply. It cannot be fired since picture #2 is as close as it gets. Took it to one smith in the area and could not figure it out. I need a Browning qualified smith in West Central Florida or send it off to one. I prefer the first.

07-02-2012, 12:33 AM	#4
danf_fl Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 131	I'm in the panhandle of Florida. PM me through here if you would like me to check it out.

07-02-2012, 04:03 AM	#5
danf_fl Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 131	Just a question. Is that a "Series-80" 1911?

07-02-2012, 03:27 PM	#7
procrastinator Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 8	danf fl Thank you for the offer but still looking for a face to face smith around here.

07-03-2012, 12:20 AM	#8
danf_fl Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 131	My bad. The images looked like a 1911 (from what I could see on my computer). Sorry for the improper response.

07-03-2012, 04:02 AM	#9
Wild Bill Caldwell Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Louisiana Posts: 526	If this pistol has ever functioned before it will function again, that is if a fairly good Hand works on it....A Hi Power is not a complicated pistol to work on , May be just a little harder to re assemble than a 1911 but slave pins help out with that...I don't like Hi Powers and I cannot see that They are an improvement over a 1911 , I can't and no other smith I know of can get as good a trigger pull from a Hi Power as from a 1911....With all the unnecessary sayin said , Have You tried disassembly and puttin it back together , maybe try that several times 'till it works or You find the problem ....I don't know if Kuhnhausen has a book on Hi Powers, Maybe one of the vids from A G I would help You get it goin...nothin in it breaks that replacement parts can't be found to fix it....If the parts are in spec They should need no or at the worse very little fittin Wild Bill

07-03-2012, 09:54 AM	#10
danf_fl Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 131	I'm still willing to look at it if need be.