BHP Magazine Disconnect

tompehret

tompehret

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The wife & I went by our LGS yesterday and found a really clean 1969 vintage BHP. Numbered box, 2 factory mags, original numbered grips and in overall VERY nice shape.
But, the magazine disconnect trigger has been removed. This seems to give the BHP a rather nice trigger pull (for a BHP) but since I intend this for CCW use I think it prudent to re-activate this safety.
Anybody ever have this done?
 
It is a simple matter to put the mag safety back in ,however, the trigger pull will increase and the magazine ejection may also not be as smooth. All of my using Hi-Powers have the mag safety taken out for those very reasons. All my best, Joe.
 
I'd put one back if looking to resell. Otherwise the benefits are obvious and it's utility as a safety device is little.
 
I appreciate the comments. I must admit I like this trigger a lot better than the last BHP I bought (new) in 1985. My concern is the liability issue that is often discussed concerning CCW. I'll have to give it some thought as to what purpose the BHP will be put to. As nice as they are I've never considered them a target pistol.
 
If you polish-up the mag-disconnect part's working surface and the front spot on the mags where it rubs...makes for a much smoother trigger-pull without removing any parts
 
Removing the magazine disconnect was a pretty common thing for BHP owners over several decades. I'm guessing there are a bunch of them in ciruculation that have had this modification done to them...... If the LGS is comfortable selling it that way, I personally wouldn't be to worried about it.
 
I have two BHPs and I removed the magazine safety on both. Since
some autos don't have the safety I see no problem with removing one
from the HP.
 
The mag disconnect can be as much of a liability as a benefit. I removed it from my HP and now enjoy the much improved trigger as well as having the mags drop free. My guess is that there has never been anyone prosecuted in a self defense case over the mag disconnect being removed from a HP. It would be a pretty far stretch for event the most rabidly antigun DA to prove that modification made the gun anymore dangerous or that doing it proved any sort of malicious intent on the part of the person wielding the gun.

Heck, even the IDPA is okay with that mod now.
 
I used to remove the magazine disconnect on all my BHPs, based on my thought that the improved trigger and concomitant improved precision with the weapon justified the removal - never was concerned about criminal problems arising from this, but your situation may somehow be different than mine was. I was always aware that there was an increased danger of a finding of liability in a civil trial if some idiot shot himself or another with one of these guns (the plaintiff's theory being "This gun had a safety device intended to prevent this from happening and you removed it, so we're going to claim that you're partially liable for [the idiot's] actions."). I know we all lock away our guns whenever they're not on our persons, but things do happen.
 
I installed one in a used Practical that I bought. Getting the trigger in and out was not fun (especially since I was trying not to scratch anything), but overall installing the disconnect was not a big deal. I didn't notice any difference in trigger quality once the disconnect was back in. I find that the finish of the magazines makes a bigger difference than anything else, but that's JMO. As far as whether not having the disconnect would be a factor in court; I think maybe in a case where there was an accidental/negligent discharge that caused an injury it could be. Not sure about in a valid self-defense situation but I prefer not to chance it. I'm not a lawyer, so again, that's JMO.

Practical.jpg
 
My first auto pistol was a 1911, so I learned all my safety procedures around a platform not including a mag safety. Since then, I usually remove them, or, in the case of one particular Spanish auto I really like, had to irreversibly modify a part. I would prefer to have the safety removable (so it could be returned to stock condition), but if I should lose the magazine, at least I'll still have a single-shot.
Sorry if I've hijacked the thread, but I've never cared for a mag safety.

Larry
 
Last edited:
I appreciate all the feedback. As always, Forum members give a lot of food for thought. I'll post some pictures after I get this one cleaned up.
 
I always left it in when I had BHPs. It can make a difference in the trigger pull, some more than others. But not enough that it mattered to me to be honest.

I don't like disableing a safety on any firearm no matter what the intended use is.
I could see where removing it may be an issue in a case of the pistol left unsecured and loaded in the chamber (but mag removed). A person/child shoots themselves or someone else with it and the argument is made that if the pistol was left in it';s factory condition, the discharge would not have happened.

As far as some you vs. thug on the street thing happening, I can't see the removal of the mag safe making a difference,,,but I'm no lawyer of course.
Maybe if a burglar steals your modified pistol and shoots himself w/it,,they can sue you,,like tripping over your coffee table while carrying your big screen out the door,
JMHO.
 
Personally, I won't carry a gun for protection that can't be fired without a magazine, but that's just me. I understand the reasoning behind it, but when it can effect my well being I choose no magazine safety. Oh, and by the way, did you know the trigger pull on the High Power is greatly improved when that pesky magazine disconnect is removed. ;) Yeah, everyone knows that! :D
 
Actually the mag Safety not only worsens the trigger pull, but on a CCW gun I'd personally want the gun to be capable of being fired without the magazine in place. If you need to dump a magazine and insert a fresh one you want the ability to shoot the gun in between should you need to.

By having a gun with no magazine safety there is a possibility of discharge when the Magazine is not in the gun, but that exists on many 1911's right out of the Factory.

This removal on a BHP is a very common thing and the bottom line is you need to be comfortable in how your BHP is set up. Most BHP's I have encountered no longer have them.
 
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