Browning Hi-Power: small changes make a big difference.

[sigp220.45]

I've had this Browning for a little while. I like it but two things bugged me about it - the hard-to-hit thumb safety and the magazine safety.



The only thing that bothered me about the mag safety was that it kept the mags from dropping free during reloads. The thumb safety was just a total no-go. Hard to put on (no biggie) but really tough to get off, which could be a problem. With this safety I'd probably carry it Serpico-style: hammer down on a loaded chamber.



I can't carry the thing until I retire anyway, so I wasn't in a big hurry. Then I found out a local detective was an emigrant from Great Britain and had been an armorer for the Royal Something Or Others. I got a Cylinder and Slide thumb safety and handed it off to him yesterday. He called me today and said come get your gun.

Wow, what a difference.



No mag safety so the magazines drop right out and the trigger pull was noticeably better. But the revelation was the thumb safety.



It snaps right off like a 1911 - no more fumbling for it. All of a sudden this gun is good to go.



I wish I had done this sooner. I know a lot of folks replace the sights, but these are fine by me. I may treat it to some Spegel grips!

 

[RobertJ.]

Thanks for the report. My BHP is my favorite handgun, but I'm not going to carry it until I replace that safety! It's nice to know that the Cylinder & Slide safety works great, I'll be ordering one.

JMB passed away while working on this pistol, and it's obvious that he hadn't gotten to the safety yet!

 

[gdogs]

Looks good. I've never used the C&S safety, but I've upgraded a couple of my Hi Powers with the factory ambi safeties (C&S definitely looks better). Besides removing the mag safety, the only other thing I have to do to a Hi Power is dish out the back of the hammer to stop any chance of hammer bite.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

I like that C&S safety! I just purchased the C&S ring hammer kit to upgrade my MKII, I may need one of those safeties too!

 

[bopilar]

I replaced the safety on my Hp with the C&S and it is great. I couldn't swipe the small safety on mine off either and it was stiff, this one took care of those problems.

 

[federali]

Cylinder and Slide Safety a Must

I too have the extended safety and it works great. The gun is not carry-ready without it. Brownings also have a tendency to bite the web of the shooting hand and reams upon reams of verbiage have been expended on the value or lack thereof of the magazine safety, often called the magazine disconnect.

For those desiring to keep the disconnect, simply polish the face of the disconnect, then use Meg-Gar magazines instead of Brownings. Their hi-gloss blue finish minimizes drag of the safety against the magazine.

With just a little work, S&W Model 59 magazines work just fine in the Browning hi-power with 100% reliability. I had an S&W 20 rounder for my Browning HP until the mags became contraband in NYS.

 

[WVSig]

Very nice! I like the C&S safety on my BHPs too. In general I agree the small safety of the originals, They series and C series are too small for serious work?

That said I have a particular pistol that I need a old school safety for. If anyone has one they are looking to sell let me know. It is for a retro build and only the original will look right IMHO. PM me if you have one you are willing to part with.

 

[410bore]

very nice! I need to order one of those for this custom Hi Power from long ago. (note the chopped barrel and slide, S&W Rear Sight, Hammer, etc.)

Its a Nazi proofed gun and does not have the mag disconnect.

 

[tekarra]

I changed my safety as well and also installed an extended slide stop lever.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have owned eight BHP's, still have # two.

I gave the last BHP I bought, a MK III .40 S&W, to my son a couple of years ago. I did not care for the cartridge.

 

[Rick_A]

My wife is the proprietor of a 40S&W MKIII. The magazine safety came out, eliminating the grit from the trigger, and Spegel grips enormously improved the feel in hand. I'll probably be swapping the mainspring soon, as I've got other springs that need ordered as well.

20141222_152812 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

She'd like like her frame hard chromed and a ringed hammer. One of these years I'll surprise her.

My 1911 looks big, clumsy, and awkward beside it. They are probably the last of the truly elegant auto pistols.

 

[WVSig]

The only thumb safety I like better than the C&S is Don Williams custom safety which can be seen on this Hi Power.

 

[sailor723]

I just had the MDS taken out of my 2003 Mk III .40 S&W....big improvement in the trigger.

Safety isn't an issue up here in Canada as carry is prohibited.

 

[Engine49guy]

Mine is also in .40 S&W caliber but what impressed me most was the improved safety system where the hammer is simply pushed down to make the gun safe, The action of pushing the hammer down spring loads the safety lever so that when it is depressed it snaps down and releases the hammer which springs back up to the cocked and ready position....
Awesome !

 

[Saigon1965]

All beautiful pieces Gentlemen -

I do not own one but found this picture out there -

Anyone know a bit more about the conversion that's been done to her?

Sexy beast and one day I'll have a twin of it -

 

[alwaysoutdoors]

They are great guns

 

[WVSig]

All beautiful pieces Gentlemen -

I do not own one but found this picture out there -

Anyone know a bit more about the conversion that's been done to her?

Sexy beast and one day I'll have a twin of it -

Looks like a "FM" HI Power with a C&S extended slide stop. Looks like a C&S ring hammer. I would guess they used the C&S hammer and sear set. I believe it is grip tape not stippling on the grip straps. Sights are stock. The grips look like Nils but the do not have the KN logo on the left panel. My guess is the mag disconnect safety has been removed because the pin in the trigger is missing. Other parts look stock.

The FM is a Argentina clone or licensed copy depending on when it was made. They are good guns made on FN equipment but I would get a real "FN" or Browning.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

Here is my Mauser version from the early '90s:



It is finish "challenged". But, it is much more accurate than I am & I do believe it will feed empty cases.

 

[JohnRippert]

This one has a 4.5lb trigger with the magazine disconnect removed. I refuse to call it a "safety". It needs new sights and I would like a MKII ambi safety installed.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

This one has a 4.5lb trigger with the magazine disconnect removed. I refuse to call it a "safety". It needs new sights and I would like a MKII ambi safety installed.

That looks GREAT to me. Just broken in....... What year was it made?