In another thread about trigger pull, you mentioned not "letting 1911s go out at less than five lbs" or similar words. I assume as armorer for your department, is that correct?

If they allow single action, does your department also allow the Browning Hi-Power as a duty weapon? If so, how do you handle requests to pull the mag disconnect? Does department policy dictate yes or no, or do you make a recommendation based upon your experience or preference. I've heard that a lot of PDs who authorize the BHP refuse to allow an officer to pull out the mag disconnect.

Our local S.D. used to OK the Hi-Power but pulled it from the authorized list about five years ago. I think they went to issuing Glocks to everyone both uniforms and plainclothes.

Regards,

Rabbi

__________________
Never Again!
-Mier Kahane

While I have no say on what the dept. carrys, I have input and they rely on me for the legal garb that goes with it.

Our dept. issues HK USP 45's (12 rounds), and for those with smaller hands the compact USP 45 (8 rounds). If one so chooses to carry something else, it must be .45 caliber.
This was the decision of the higher ups, not me......I'm just happy to be here!

So the browning is a moot point at this dept. Although our Sheriff carries a SS Baretta 92 9mm.........go figure.........

When the mag safety was introduced sometime ago, correct me here, by S&W I believe, they also offered their guns to L.E. without that safety.

Should a Deputy here decide to carry something other than the issued firearm and should it have the mag safety, the mag disconnect can be taken out as it has no direct bearing on the function, overall safety and legality of the firearm.
Its been researched by more authoritive figures than myself, that when doing a tactical re-load, that one round in the pipe could save ones life should something go wrong.
Although on the other hand one can say that during a fight for the firearm, one can release the mag and render the gun useless. I put it down to personal choice, nothing more........nothing less.

It would be much harder to make a case to disconnect the mag safety if all guns had them, since they don't (and few have them) its not a major thing.

Our HK USP's have the ability to be carried condition 1 C&L'd, and since working with several of the Deputies on the range and showing them the downside of DA to SA trigger pull, nearly all carry C&L'd. Scores have come up, as well as more interest in shooting and trust in the firearm.

I'm in the process now of building a Colt SS Series 80 Commander for one of the Deputies for duty use. The barrel length is that of our USP's, so the length is a moot point. It will receive fixed Novak night sites, Brown BT GS, Nowlin adj trigger,a S&A MS hosing with mag well, a Wilson narrow extended tac thumb safety, Wolff springs. The original hammer, sear & disconnector will be left and stoned for zero creep, and the let off will be @ 5 1/4 - 5 1/2lbs. The hammer hooks will be left between .023 & .025 All sharp edges taken off, and the extractor will be tuned. Feed ramp & barrel throat will be polished. The trigger will have a consistant trigger pull of the above weight for the minimum of 10 pulls.
The gun will have a minimum of 100 rounds thru it (duty ammo - Either Winchester Ranger or Federal L.E. tactical 230 gr. JHP) with zero malfunctions before I will release it for duty use. The receiving Deputy will put a minimum of 200 rounds (duty ammo) thru it (witnessed by me) before they are allowed to carry it. I put them thru various tac. shoot situations to be sure the gun will function for them. Since the USP and the 1911 function close to the same, there's not much transition.

A bit much you might say? Well in a way, my signature is on that gun, and I won't allow one life to die because of something I did. I'm confident in the product I put out, but I also know I'm still human too........and the gun is an inert piece of brainless material.

For the answer to your last Q, yes I'm a 'smith for my dept and will not allow a gun to carried with less then 5lbs on the trigger. Our USP's measure on average about 6lbs on the SA side, (some are down to 5 1/2 and one is at 6 1/4, that's quality control for ya) and that's factory........I've not messed with them.

Hope this helps.........

Yezzir, it does. Thank you. I have a 1961 Herstal Browning Hi-Power that is roll marked in Spanish "Property of the Buenas Aires Argentina Policia". I got a certificate with it stating that the mag disconnect was removed by the department armorer. It is stock except for a factory ambidextrous safety and thin grips and it shoots with the most accurate and reliable pistols I own. The only other change I will make in it is to get Wayne Novak to install his Lo-mount Combat fixed sights with tritium.

Regards.

__________________
Never Again!
-Mier Kahane

You'll love the Novaks. I only use 2 diffferent styles of night sights on the guns I build. Either Novaks or Heinie.
I just picked up a SA Loaded with the Novaks. Its nice to see production guns using high end parts. I hope it's a trend that will continue.

You also brought up a very good point that I failed to address. That is a letter from the armorer certifying what has been done to the pistol.

I keep strict records of all work I do on the dept. firearms, as well as any work I do for the individual Deputies on their personal guns. A bit of CYA in action............

The best to you sir.