Browning Hi Power Improving the Trigger Pull - BHSpringSolutions LLC.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Optimizing Springs, Tools, Polishing Kits, and Masters Grips available at www.BHSpringSolutions.com
Improvements to the Hi Power's Trigger Pull - FN/Browning, Kareen, FEG, FM, Arcus, Ingliss, Mauser)
"The owner and/or end user of all products provided by BHSpringSolutions assumes all responsibility for correct function of all aspects of the firearm in which these springs are installed, and it is the owner's responsibility to replace springs when necessary. Because firearms manufacturers’ production margins can vary, it is critical to test all functions, prior to use of the firearm. BHSpringSolutions advises that periodic inspection and analysis of proper function of the entire firearm, by a qualified pisolsmith or gunsmith is critical to safety and proper function of all firearms. Owner of these springs accepts this disclaimer of all liability on the part of BHSpringSolutions, and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless BHSpringSolutions, it's owners, and/or its’ employees, for any and all injury or loss that results from use of products provided by BHSpringSolutions."
Interesting information, even after 50 years of using the FN HP in both policing and the military in peacetime and in war, and now everyday carry in civilian retirement.
While I enjoy the nicest, most crisp trigger pull and letoff on all my pistols as much as anybody else and am happy to invest money to get it, the reality is that these highly prized and sought trigger pulls have very little relevance to professionals and the professional use of any general issue firearm in war, specialized counter-terrorism operations, and policing. There is a massive difference between enjoyment in recreational/competitive use and the reality of the two way range. The difference between the toys at play, and tools that go to work.
The trigger pull specifications for the FN High Power is that the trigger break is not less than 5 lbs and not more than 8 lbs. That is true whether it is the original WWII manufactured Inglis pistols still in service in Canada or elsewhere, or the more recent MkIII High Powers the UK purchased (prior to converting over to Glocks a few years ago) or other police and militaries purchased. The trigger pull specifications remain 5 - 8 lbs still today. I have no idea what it is for the current MkIII Turkish knockoffs being imported, but probably very similar.
Coincidentally (but almost certainly probably not), the trigger pull specifications for the M16 family of assault rifles as issued by the USA, Canada, the UK's SAS, etc is ALSO a trigger pull of between 5 - 8 lbs. It remains so today after 60 years of lessons learned in Vietnam, the Cold War, assorted brush wars, the Gulf War, and now during the continuing War On Islamic Terrorism throughout the world.
It would seem that the military and police professionals of the free world have come up with common 'lessons learned' regarding characteristics of the weapons they will issue to those in uniform who will be using them on the two way range where the losers go home in an aluminum box. They have concluded that, trigger pulls should be no less than 5 lbs and no more than 8 lbs to address the reality of fine motor skills being replaced by gross muscle strength from the effects of adrenaline, as well as heightened heart rate and blood pressure while under the stress of combat.
If any military, counter-terrorist unit, or police force feels that trigger reset, 'crispness', or other trigger pull attribute other than weight of pull is important enough to write specifications for it on the FN High Power or M16 variant service rifle, I am not aware of which country has done that.
The reality is that even among the world's most skilled counter-terrorist units, very few professionals are so skilled and so practiced that the optimal trigger pull characteristics desired by civilians would make a difference when those professional trigger pullers are engaged in a TIC. If it would - they would make that part of the weapon's specifications.
We are to a point that, almost universally now, the most professional units in the world are quite happy with double action striker fired trigger pulls. The crisp, 'breaks like a glass rod' trigger pulls of single action 1911s used in Bullseye competition, FN High Powers, etc are now just a delight for citizen amateurs and platform enthusiasts. That's still exactly what I want, and I don't see any striker fired pistol ever in my future no matter how high quality, but it's not prized by the professionals who go to the two way range.
As for the amateur kitchen table gunfighting experts and gunsmiths lamenting the "dangerous" magazine disconnect; one of the enjoyable privileges of being an amateur civilian rather than a professional police officer, military, or counter-terrorism operator is you not only get to choose whatever handgun you want, but whatever you want to do to alter it after purchase. You aren't stuck with what's issued. What's telling about the claims of the kitchen table amateurs regarding the magazine disconnect is who in the real world disagrees with their amateur assessment.
A short list of the world's professional users of the High Power who have chosen to keep the magazine disconnect rather than remove it as kitchen table amateur gunsmiths and gunfighters do includes:
- Britain's SAS, including their counter-terrorist unit 22 SAS.
- FBI Hostage Rescue Team when they were armed with custom HPs built to spec by Wayne Novak.
- Rhodesian military and Rhodesian SAS with their decades long border wars with Marxist terrorists.
- Australian SAS, including during the Malaysian Insurgency, Vietnam, Ireland and Afghanistan and Iraq.
- New Zealand Sas, also in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
- SADF, including their counter-terrorist units during their decades long brush wars with terrorists.
- Special Boat Service.
- Royal Marines.
Removing the magazine disconnect might result in a pistol the kitchen table amateurs believe is better suited to their civilian needs - their pistol, their choice. But the above is a long list of professionals who have carried the High Power into 80 years of wars and taking out terrorists that show the ridiculousness of those claiming it is either a danger to those professionals or leaves them at a tactical disadvantage.
If that claim were true, at least some of those on that short list above would have had their gun plumbers remove it. They didn't... and you can't claim they didn't because they're not as tactically aware as amateur kitchen table gunfighters and gunsmiths who only operate on the civilian one way range.
BTW, the complaint that the magazine does not fall free when the magazine release is pressed? That's a deliberately specified feature - not a "bug". Just as it is a feature on the M16 platform of weapons used throughout the world rather than a tactical bug.
On a weapon intended for combat rather than competition, professionals DON'T want magazines to fall into the mud, undergrowth, sand, etc at their feet whether standing or on the move. They want it retained so the user can stuff the mag in a pocket or a dump pouch to be reloaded for reuse when there is a break in fighting - that's why they also issue more ammunition before the fighting starts.
Anyways, I appreciate the knowledge and products this company brings to the table which is well beyond what will be found in the military and FN pams covering the High Power. Now as a civilian, I'm happy to be able to choose whatever modifications I want to make to my personal High Powers to make them more enjoyable for recreational pleasure use while still being good to go for everyday carry.
Thanks, BHSpringSolutions! For the springs and other products, as well as the background info.
(if you didn't make the end of the hammer on your SFS setup so fugly... I might even consider going that route if it looked more like the ring hammer. But on the svelte, classy High Power, it looks like dressing Farrah Fawcett in a Taliban burkha...)
The HiPower community owes you a debt for doing these videos. Thank you very much.
Also, I think your position about removing mag disconnect hazard device is wise; it really is a personal decision based on the owner’s requirements and assessment of their situation.
Very educational. Very to the point. No fluff. All in all, very nice. Thank you.
Informative and well organized presentation, thank you for posting. Helps to clear up some of the mystery behind the questionable trigger of, what I agree, is the worlds best semi-auto pistol. Personally, I took the easy route and removed the Magazine Disconnect and reinstalled the pin into the trigger just to keep things tidy. Hardly any noticeable take-up as it is so short, break is incredibly crisp and no over-travel that I can notice. On a previous Canadian built I owned, I tried the polishing to a mirror finish on both the face of the mag disconnect as well as the area of the magazine where contact was made. While this did help some it still never smoothed things out as well as just removing that disconnecter. 1911 fans will cringe perhaps but since I do also own a 1978 built Colt Combat Commander, I can state with experience that the Hi-Power is everything the 1911 isn't. Current Hi-Power by the way is a 1962 Belgian built in pristine condition.
Thank you for your comment!
Ok so I just bought an Arcus 94 KA-MKlll and I didn’t know anything about hi powers...and I’m super impressed with this new world of handguns that is opening up to me I feel I stumbled on to something awesome lol I love the vids cause they are helping me instead and my gun and how to optimize it...the wider trigger and changing out the return spring sound like the next step in my journey thanks I’m pretty sure that the hi power is what I’ve been search g for I love cz 75’s and 1911’s but th hi power is what really grooves with me
I just purchased a Girsan P35 and I can already see I'm going to be a regular customer! Lol
Outstanding..... can be used with the hungarian feg clone. The wide trigger etc
Excellent information. Thank you.
Thank you. I find these videos very informative.Please keep them coming.
Thank you
I don't file the sear, but I will take a few thousandths off the hammer, and then face match the sear to the hammer with honing stones, keeping a slight negative rake on the sear. I had ONE sear jump the halfcock ONCE. It was alarming and very disconcerting, but no one was in any danger. I actually like magazine disconnects, but it is very detrimental to the trigger pull.
I have a Charles Daly HP clone. I removed the magazine disconnect and replaced the sear with one from Cylinder and Slide, along with their non-bite hammer. It went from gritty to clean and crisp. I don't know the weight of the trigger pull, but it now matches almost exactly the trigger pull on my Charles Daly 1911A1. I wouldn't change it for anything! I wish all my other triggers were as nice. {!-{>
I have a 40 yr old High Power with a 3 1/2 pound trigger pull. A old time gunsmith from Germany did it for me for $20.00 in 1977.
I had a retired guy from walther do mine it is fantasric but sorry i started with a feg wish i had started with my real browning Belgium made.
The dark window background makes for difficult viewing of parts when holding them up for explanations.
That's a stock hammer on that first one?
My trigger pull is about 8lbs on my MkIII. How do I reduce that? I took out the mag disconnect already - not much reduced. So, do I change the Leaver spring in the slide or the hammer spring and recoil spring?
Link for suggested wide triggers?
I wish there was a better way to retain the mag disconnect and still have reliable drop free, outside of spending the $60 for mouse trap magazines.
Too bad theres not a darn thing we can do about the long trigger reset on them.
Why in the world are you wanting to retain the magazine disconnect? There are plenty of first rate pistols that do not have this stupid feature. I cannot understand why Fabrique Nationale has continued to use this idiotic feature. Why would a company continue building great handguns with such shitty triggers, for so damned long? And all because the French asked for this feature in the late twenties or early thirties. Guess what, the French now use Glock pistols and the Glock pistol DOES NOT use this dumbass feature. It is amazing how they could do so many things correctly with this pistol and yet they continue to do this one thing (the trigger, for God's sake) so horribly.
LarryC213
I believe it is so they can sell it in certain states that require that feature
The magazine is NOT supposed to drop free into the mud, underbrush, sand, or whatever is at your feet. Just as it's not supposed to do the same thing on issued M16/M4 rifles.
The retention of the magazine after release is a feature for a fighting handgun - not a bug as many civilians seem to think it is. The expectation was that the user would want to retain the empty magazine to be reloaded and available again during a break in combat. The final prototype prior to the adaptation of the version we know as the High Power was the 'Grand Rendement' - it had the magazine disconnect but also allowed the magazine to drop free when the release was pressed. The Belgians rejected that prototype because it did not retain the magazine and only adopted the P35 after the design was changed to retain the magazine.
For the recreational range IPSC type crowd, FN sometime around 1989'ish started offering the spring loaded magazines that will be launched clear of the pistol even if it's being held upside down.
For IPSC style high speed shooting where the competitor rides the reset (you won't be doing that in a TIC charged up on adrenaline and fine motor coordination replaced by gross physical strength), the High Power is a bit of a handicap compared to alternatives.
@@LarryC213 Why in the world would you think you're smarter because you're a rando kitchen table gunsmith as opposed to all the professionals and their supporting gunsmiths who DIDN'T remove what you call "this stupid feature"?
Here's a short list of the professional users of the High Power who DIDN'T tell their professional gunsmiths to remove the magazine disconnect:
British SAS, including 22 SAS counter-terrorism unit
FBI Hostage Rescue Team with their Wayne Novak built High Powers
Rhodesian SAS and counter-terrorism units
Australian SAS
Canadian SAS (later renamed the Canadian Airborne Regiment)
New Zealand SAS
SADF
Special Boat Service
Royal Marines
... etc.
I am not aware of ANY military or police force in the world who purchased High Powers from FN who ever instructed FN to remove the magazine disconnect from the pistol. If you know of one who did in your deep research into "this stupid feature", please share that information with us.
Now... the magazine disconnect may be irrelevant to amateur kitchen table gunsmith and gunfighting experts, but it just might not be quite the "stupid feature" you assume it to be when in the hands of professionals who used the High Power in wars, anti-terrorism, and policing.
I am at the 8:05 mark. You really need to add some lighting to this video. We cannot see what you were trying to show us.
If you remove the magazine safety, don't use the pistol for defensive purposes! If you have to shoot somebody with that gun, an unscrupulous and/or ignorant prosecutor will hammer you for removing a factory-installed safety feature and portray you as a bloodthirsty vigilante. Yeah, it's stupid, but that's what our courts are like. Don't take the risk. See Mas Ayoob for details.
Q: ever had a trigger pin that was loose on an older model? I've ordered a new one, but this one can be pushed out with finger-touch pressure from either side. Is this a bigger or smaller problem than I'm making it out to be? (it's NOT the magazine disconnect pin, I've removed that)
Suggestions?
Merry Christmas!!!
You cannot see any detail in the video at all. Recommend you redo this with a good like aimed on the internals you are trying to illustrate. Consider putting the gun on a table for your discussion (which seems good) and making sure that there is plenty of light.
I agree, he did a great job explaining everything, but you you couldn't see a single thing he was pointing to.
Mark, will your parts and tools fit the SA-35 by Springfield?
Hello, Slav's writing here. We plan to test the SA-35 for compatibility and more as soon it gets delivered to us. Thee will be videos uploaded. Make sure you're subscribed to our channel and newsletter :)
@@bhspringsolutionsllc555 I have an SA35 that I purchased in Apr '24. I have installed the SFS, wide trigger and mag eject. I did grind down the trigger lever to increase the take up. That's the only modification I made as the rest of the parts fit perfectly right out of the box. You have to fuss with the lever anyway, so it really doesn't count. Replacing the stock trigger return spring with one that came with the new wide trigger dropped the trigger pull to 6+, down from 7+ with the stock spring. I would like to go to the lightest trigger spring that came with the trigger to see if I can get the trigger pull down to 5+ lbs, but I can't get the target trigger out of the frame to make the switch. It went in so you would think that it would come out, but I haven't found the magic trick to do it yet.
hellofound your website and would like to order some grips, but there is no contact info on the page.. are you still making custom grips?thanks
Tried to order from your site and got a phishing detection from my virus protection software.
Our website is under constant surveillance by our hosting provider. Any attempts for hacking will be immediately discovered and blocked. Thank you for your information though, we will continue make sure that we and our customers remain protected. If you'd like to give us more information, please send us the info about the virus protection software you're using and the warning message you've received. Please use bhspringsolutions@gmail.com for that.
Best!
Great content poor video lighting. Can't see any of the internals being shown
Next time, add some more light to the subject
The dilema of the magazine disconnect feature is that it is not a true safety and is a tactical liability as far as discharging a single shot while reloading if unable to complete a magazine change. However, it is also a vital component in the trigger linkage for hammer drop and reset and for tht reason, though detestable, should not be removed without serious consideration of the operator's circumstances. To my best knowledge, except for modern retrofit custom triggers from Garthwaite and Cylinder & Slide, only German WW2 Occupation supervised guns deleted this feature. And they were losers. As far as the return spring question, a snappy reset is desirable. Have never heard of breakage in this part.
richard kluesek I had the mag disconnect hazard device removed on both my HiPowers by master pistolsmith. Triggers on both are excellent. I don’t doubt your point, I’m just saying it can be done properly.
"Tactical liability"
Lmao how are you alive without a brain in your skull
I just watched a video where an officer got in a struggle with a perp and the magazine fell out. He was only able to stop the perp with the one round remaining in the chamber -- because that pistol had no magazine safety.
@@robertbrandywine Meanwhile... (if we're going to cherrypick in hopes that we can use that as a proof of the whole) there's all the instances where an officer armed with a sidearm with a magazine disconnect was able to disable the pistol by pushing the magazine release while losing a fight with one or more assailants. BTW, you CAN fire the HP with no magazine in place... awkward, but anyone who says you can't is mostly signalling they don't know as much about the platform as they think they do.
Ever wonder why it's only amateur kitchen table gunsmiths and gunfighters who remove this feature, not the professional militaries and anti-terrorism units who carried/carry this pistol to fight with? A short list of the professionals who didn't remove the magazine disconnects on the service High Powers they issued:
- FBI Hostage Rescue Team and their custom HP's built by Wayne Novak
- British SAS - and their 22 SAS counter-terrorism operators.
- Rhodesian forces and their Rhodesian SAS counter-terrorism operators
- Special Boat Service
- SADF and their counter-terrorism operators.
It's a long, long list. What I've never heard of is anyone who can reference a single military, police, or specialized military or police force who agreed with the amateur kitchen table gunsmiths and gunfighters about removing the magazine disconnect.
I wonder why the professionals who took it into battle and/or took out terrorists disagree with the kitchen table amateurs? But then... they carried the pistol on the two way pistol range, not on an IPSC range surrounded by RSO's. Tools versus toys...
"The dilema of the magazine disconnect feature is that it is not a true safety and is a tactical liability as far as discharging a single shot while reloading if unable to complete a magazine change."
I'm not sure what the official definition of what 'a true safety' is.
But as for the claims of amateurs about the magazine disconnect being a "tactical liability", here's a short list of the professional tactical users of the High Power who DIDN'T tell their professional gunsmiths to remove the magazine disconnect:
British SAS, including 22 SAS counter-terrorism unit
FBI Hostage Rescue Team with their Wayne Novak built High Powers
Rhodesian SAS and counter-terrorism units
Australian SAS
Canadian SAS (later renamed the Canadian Airborne Regiment)
New Zealand SAS
SADF
Special Boat Service
Royal Marines
... etc.
I am not aware of ANY military or police force in the world who purchased High Powers from FN who ever instructed FN to remove the magazine disconnect from the pistol.
Now... the magazine disconnect may be irrelevant to amateur kitchen table gunsmith and gunfighting experts, but without exception (to the best of my knowledge) those who issued the High Power to their tactical professionals on the two way pistol range saw the magazine disconnect differently than the amateurs on the one way IPSC civilian ranges.
Tools versus toys...