Looking at a browning high power mk3 we tech
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EDcase
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- Jun 24, 2017
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They have a particularly bad design for a piece which breaks very easily.
It is part #30 here
B Series Hi-Power (MKIII) #30 - B Series (MKII, MKIII) Hi-Power Browning - WE Pistols (GBBP) - Parts (kyairsoft.com)
As you can see the parts are available and not hugely expensive but it took almost 2 months to get mine back in 2019.
When a magazine is inserted into the gun it catches the spring (#31) which is also the valve knocker.
Because the spring is mounted to part #30 by a small pin it only takes a few of these hits from the magazine to break the pin rendering it unable to fire.
There are two solutions.
1. Always rack the slide BEFORE inserting a magazine. This retracts the valve knocker so it does not get hit by the magazine when inserted.
This means that the hammer would have to be carefully lowered afterwards to prevent its spring becoming fatigued.
2. Make a stronger part #30 out of steel. Its possible as its not a complex part and using an original as a template would make it much easier but I've not heard of anyone doing this though.
WE Browning Hi-Power MK3 failure and how to avoid breaking it. - YouTube
The trigger spring also broke on mine so don't manipulate the trigger a lot.
Other than this its an OK pistol. I love mine but wouldn't use it on a game day.
It is part #30 here
B Series Hi-Power (MKIII) #30 - B Series (MKII, MKIII) Hi-Power Browning - WE Pistols (GBBP) - Parts (kyairsoft.com)
As you can see the parts are available and not hugely expensive but it took almost 2 months to get mine back in 2019.
When a magazine is inserted into the gun it catches the spring (#31) which is also the valve knocker.
Because the spring is mounted to part #30 by a small pin it only takes a few of these hits from the magazine to break the pin rendering it unable to fire.
There are two solutions.
1. Always rack the slide BEFORE inserting a magazine. This retracts the valve knocker so it does not get hit by the magazine when inserted.
This means that the hammer would have to be carefully lowered afterwards to prevent its spring becoming fatigued.
2. Make a stronger part #30 out of steel. Its possible as its not a complex part and using an original as a template would make it much easier but I've not heard of anyone doing this though.
WE Browning Hi-Power MK3 failure and how to avoid breaking it. - YouTube
The trigger spring also broke on mine so don't manipulate the trigger a lot.
Other than this its an OK pistol. I love mine but wouldn't use it on a game day.
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EDcase
AF-UK patch owner
- Jun 24, 2017
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Yeah think so. Its exactly the same as their earlier Hi-Power P35
The spring is meant to be able to bend out of the way when a mag is inserted and still act as the knocker when fired but the pin holding the spring is just too weak.
I still can't believe no other company is making the Hi-Power considering how ubiquitous it was in the 80's
The spring is meant to be able to bend out of the way when a mag is inserted and still act as the knocker when fired but the pin holding the spring is just too weak.
I still can't believe no other company is making the Hi-Power considering how ubiquitous it was in the 80's
Stratton Oakmont
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Cyberlawyer
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- Jan 1, 2020
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I have two of these that I do skirmish and I love them for the look and the cool factor. Why do I have two, simply because even as a backup sidearm I wont trust one to last a whole game day........
I also have a stock of Part #30 (I order them 10 at a time and will order another 10 when I get down to 5 left) as I basically regard them as a service item like 'o' rings, its not a case of if it will go bad just a matter of when.
Also the hop-up is terrible, it works ok, but is awful to set and doesn't hold adjustment well and is reliant on a non-standard little rubber 'patch' and a minute brass grub screw that loves to work its way out and get lost. Again I hold a small stock of these so I can skirmish the pistol.
In short if you are really committed to them they can be skirmished and perform ok, but a WE Glock cost less, shoots better and is far more reliable and uses a readily available hop rubber when it does need maintenance.
P.S. Just to add this isn't my main skirmish pistol, but on the rare occasion I break out the MP5 and black overalls it would be rude not to...
I also have a stock of Part #30 (I order them 10 at a time and will order another 10 when I get down to 5 left) as I basically regard them as a service item like 'o' rings, its not a case of if it will go bad just a matter of when.
Also the hop-up is terrible, it works ok, but is awful to set and doesn't hold adjustment well and is reliant on a non-standard little rubber 'patch' and a minute brass grub screw that loves to work its way out and get lost. Again I hold a small stock of these so I can skirmish the pistol.
In short if you are really committed to them they can be skirmished and perform ok, but a WE Glock cost less, shoots better and is far more reliable and uses a readily available hop rubber when it does need maintenance.
P.S. Just to add this isn't my main skirmish pistol, but on the rare occasion I break out the MP5 and black overalls it would be rude not to...
Nick G
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- Mar 18, 2018
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View attachment 86274
View attachment 86275
As above, the valve knocker is prone to breaking, I do plan to see about getting some steel ones cut when I can get to a local engineering place. They are very cool, mine has full British army trades, and can be skirmished but the knocker will fail at some point.
Get one !
View attachment 86275
As above, the valve knocker is prone to breaking, I do plan to see about getting some steel ones cut when I can get to a local engineering place. They are very cool, mine has full British army trades, and can be skirmished but the knocker will fail at some point.
Get one !
G
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Nick G
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I had them added. Jim at LC's engineering did them for me on mine and a mate's one. they were the first ones he did so he spent wuite a bit of time getting fonts etc as close as he could to the referance pictures I sent him. Have to say I am very pleased with the result. I've added real steel grips and the small single safety for a more specific look.
EDcase
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Nick G
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Will do, I suspect there would be a demand. Was thinking about getting a dozen or so, one each for myself and the mate with one, couple of spares and then a few that others can buy.
Cyberlawyer
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Just to add also don't store the pistol with a magazine in. Prompted by this thread I dug out my Browning for a quick plink and realized I had left a mag in it since its last outing. This was enough pressure over time to bend the chinesium metal pin that holds the spring that forms the valve knocker.
Good job I have spares. It really is a crap design.
Good job I have spares. It really is a crap design.
Cyberlawyer
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I don't normally must have packed up in a hurry last time it was out. Still got to scratch the itch as I have 2 for exactly this reason, but now I have to remember to fix this one before its next outing (or more likely forget to do so and only remember at the last minute and decide to just take a more reliable pistol instead!!!!)
Nick G
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Afraid not, I just sent Jim a load of pictures and left it to him. I do know he spent quite some time matching them as closely as he could.
Is the single safety from the old WE Browning with tangent sights mate ?
Nick G
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Thanks mate, I had the safety on order from KY on hunch, good to know it won't go to waste.
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