Help needed: Hi Power with trigger shoe - want to remove shoe

tmurrayis

tmurrayis

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Hi all,

I am hoping the vast knowledge out there can help me sort out an issue with my first handgun.

I purchased a Browning Hi-power (1973) which came with a trigger shoe installed. I have put about 200 rounds through it with the shoe on and would like to try shooting it naked (so to speak).

I thought the shoe would be easy to remove but I cannot figure out the fasteners used to afix it to the trigger. I have tried all manner of allen wrenches both metric and imperial but nothing seems to fit. I don't have any torx small enough but I find it unlikely that would be correct in any event.

My youngest daughter's sharp eyes sees "just round holes with no notches around the outside". Could it be some sort of compression fitting?

Does anyone know what else I might try before I have to bring it to a gunsmith?

Here are some photos that show the culprit.

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjEMjeUd

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They were probably allen screws, were being the key word, they look like they are stripped. If it was my gun I would just slowly drill them out.

Have you tried putting any force on the shoe, those set screws can't be holding it that tight to the trigger, you may be able to slip it off.
 
looks to me like stripped out allen head screws that are clutching the trigger like a vice.
May be lock tighted in to help with the stripping process.
If you put heat to the screw head with a soldering iron it will soften the lock tight if there is some in there.
it would be handy to have a tool to bite into the head for removing the screw.
providing I am correct of course.

Jody
 
Good grief! I guess I will just leave it alone and learn to love the shoe. It is such a great gun I don't want to damage it in the process.

Thanks,

Ted
 
check with a local automotive jobber ,Princess Auto or CTC for a set of E-Z outs (tool for removing broken studs that have a small pilot hole to get a bite on) just screw in counter clockwise and ez it out. depending on size and depth of allen head you might have to grind the point of the removal bit off.(a little at a time ).
 
....if you don't care to preserve the shoe, a Dremel and a steady hand, cut real close to through, insert flathead drier and twist, probably snap off (I'm imagining an aluminium shoe).
 
09outlander said:
They were probably allen screws, were being the key word, they look like they are stripped. If it was my gun I would just slowly drill them out.
Click to expand...

With a LH bit, they work great for extracting problematic screws.


RockChucker said:
Left handed drill bit sure would work in removing stripped allen head screws.

RC
Click to expand...

I see I got here late... ;)


enefgee said:
Drill the heads with a drill press - no problem.
Click to expand...

This would be my second choice if a LH bit is not available.

Those screws are so small that broken bits may be an issue, OP. Take care to avoid that or you may end up removing a chunk of drill bit as well.

Have you tried hammering in a slightly oversized Torx bit to see if you can get enough bite to unscrew the screws? I have rescued a number of socket head cap screws using that technique.


Mark
 
Or, glue or epoxy a stub into the Allen screw hole. Let it set up for a week, then chuck into a handdrill and slowly twist unlocked. The idea is the epoxy will fill all the voids and rounds inside the hole, and with the stub in place not compress or fracture.

If you are really PO'd drill them out side to side and put in a new trigger! How much is your time worth?
 
I've had some success in removing allen heads like this by figuring out the next oversize allen key, aligning it as closely as I can with the flats (or, what remains of them), and tapping the oversize key into the socket with a small hammer. Once it's all the way in, firmly & smoothly unscrew it. The worst that will happen is...it's still stripped, and you're no further behind. On the other hand, I've found this method works around 70% of the time. Doesn't cost anything, either!
 
Personally I'd just use a dremel tool and remove it....CAREFULLY! Worst case, remove the trigger before you do the work to prevent damage to the gun. Brownings are user friendly to work on, just remove the magazine, then field strip the gun. Then remove the disconnect pin (the tiny pin in the trigger itself) and the main pin that holds it to the frame (the big pin directly above it). Slide it out and then remove the shoe. Reverse above and enjoy!

You'll need a 1/8 and 1/16 punch to do this.

If you google Browning Hi-power disconnect safety removal you'll find many pics/tutorials.

After thought...if you do this, you'll prob also do well to remove the disconnect safety, it will make your trigger much, much better. I did it to mine and the difference in pull is amazing!
 
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