Description

Bob Dunlap is a renowned expert on all of John M. Brownings pistols. He understands the design, function, and repair of the firearms of the unchallenged genius of modern firearms design better than anyone else alive today. We use a cut-away gun to let you actually see how the pistol and all of its components operate. If you want the quick course on how to get Brownings final pistol design apart, back together, and operating as intended, then this course is for you (if you want the “long course,” look into our basic 108 hour Professional Gunsmith Course.)

Among the items covered are:

History

• Designed by John M. Browning prior to his death in 1926, but not produced until 1935
• Addresses a number of the weaknesses of the 1911 design, such as the deletion of the straight line trigger, negating the effect of trigger surge
• Addition of the magazine safety
• Addition of the Modern staggered column hi-cap magazine
• Like so many of Brownings designs, it has been manufactured by many countries, has been the service weapon of many more, and is still in production today
• Production of the gun has been very long lived, like so many Browning designs, as the gun is extremely durable and reliable

Design & Function

• Explanation and demonstration of the Short recoil, locked breech, tipping barrel system
• Why the cam lock breeching system is superior to the swinging link of the 1911 design, and why the barrel and slide lugs last longer
• How the fire control system operates
• Operation of the trigger
• Function and operation of the trigger bar
• The trigger bars interaction with the sear, and how the sear moves in relation to it and the hammer
• Operation of the disconnector
• Operation of the magazine disconnector shown and explained
• Operation of the sear blocking thumb safety shown and explained

Disassembly

• Extensive disassembly, with discussion of what the various parts do
• How the recoil spring guide assembly also detents and loads the slide stop down
• Differences between early and later guns trigger bars and extractors, and their disassembly
• A simple tool you can make (for guns with a ring style hammer, and another one with the spur style hammer) to ease removal of the sear spring
• How to get a decent trigger pull (feel) with the magazine safety in place
• Why you really do not want to leave the magazine safety out
• The easiest way to get the trigger out and back into the gun, and it still aint easy at all!
• A good look at how they operate, with the trigger, connector, and magazine safety out of the gun
• Removal of the tangent sight, safety plunger, and trigger plunger described during the cleaning phase

Cleaning & Lubrication

• AGI cleaning & lubrication methods shown, along with the reasons for their use
• The condition known as loose breech is shown, what it means, how to spot it
• How to re-shape the early two-stage feed ramp to feed modern hollow points
• How to use a ramp gauge to make sure some earlier gun-wrecker did not over ramp the barrel
• How to spot the later two piece barrels and why they are made that way
• How to get lubricant into a hole without removing the spring or plunger
• How to properly shape the extractor hook
• Why the firing pin in 9mm guns is smaller than that in a .45ACP
• Maximum diameter and tip shape discussed
• How the shape should vary in guns with excessive headspace and/or loose breech
• How to know if the recoil spring needs replacing

Reassembly

• Brownings need to be assembled in the proper order. Pay heed!
• A new style ambidextrous safety shown and its assembly and fitting shown
• How to know if the safety is properly fitted
• Spec for trigger pull weight, and how to adjust it
• Making sure you have no parts left over
• How to clean the magazine, and properly load it

Tuning & Accessories

• Magazine lip spec
• What spare parts you should keep on hand
• What accessories are available, and what is best
• Youre in luck, 1911 sights fit!
• Simple trick to improve accuracy
• Other tips for improving accuracy

If you noticed how often the terms “explanation” and “demonstration” are used, you may be getting some idea of why this course is a must have for any Hi-Power owner, or someone who intends to be.