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06-15-2011, 09:10 PM
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Browning Hi Power in .40 S&W
I have been kind of looking for a Browning Hi Power. I have a WWII Nazi marked one, with tangent sights. I like the newer ones with the ambidextrous safety and the adjustable sights. I found a used one in .40 S&W. Fixed sights, ambidextrous safety, and Pachmayr grips. It looks new. I am sure it has been fired, but not much. He wants $450.00 for it. If it was a 9mm I would jump on it. I have other 9s and reload for it. But I don't have any .40S&Ws. I have heard that .40S&W is pushing a Browning Hi Power. The slide was real stiff, I think they used a real heavy recoil spring. Does anyone have any experience with a Browning Hi Power in .40S&W?
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06-15-2011, 09:36 PM
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I have a .40 Hi-Power Practical. It does have a heavy duty recoil spring, making the slide harder to retract than my .40 Glock, for example. My problem is I don't have experience with a 9mm Hi-Power, so I can't say how they compare. I'm sure others here can.
I think that's a great price if the pistol's in good shape.
Last edited by LedFowl; 06-16-2011 at 12:14 AM.
Reason: Add photo
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06-15-2011, 09:49 PM
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$450 is a very good price....
I've got 9's and .40's... they are both great guns.
The .40 seems right at home in the P-35. The slide dimensions are slightly larger in the .40 however....
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06-15-2011, 10:07 PM
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I have one of each. The one you are looking at is 1/2 price of a new one. I prefer a 9mm to the .40 S&W, but both are fine pistols.
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06-15-2011, 11:21 PM
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I must differ from the above posts. Based on the 40 Hi-Power that I own I would advise against buying it. I also might add that I have several 9MM Hi-Powers that I would not give up. Of the nines , 3 are customized by "famous" gunsmiths who are commonly recognized as top craftsmen. The 40, which was an early one, will not group at all but rather patterns more like a shotgun. I will tell you that it was written up in a gun magazine and the tester , to his credit, reported it exactly that way. It had also been thru the hands of one of the very top pistolsmiths and he and I both feel that the gun is as many that are being reworked into calibers that they were never intended to use, not the way to go. If you want a Hi-Power, and who wouldn't, my recommendation would be to buy a 9MM and pass on the 40.
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06-15-2011, 11:30 PM
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I like the 9 in general over the .40 in any pistol...I find the .40 very snappy in the recoil dept. And ammo is much more expensive...get the HP in the caliber it was designed for....
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06-16-2011, 12:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Kent
I must differ from the above posts. Based on the 40 Hi-Power that I own I would advise against buying it. I also might add that I have several 9MM Hi-Powers that I would not give up. Of the nines , 3 are customized by "famous" gunsmiths who are commonly recognized as top craftsmen. The 40, which was an early one, will not group at all but rather patterns more like a shotgun. I will tell you that it was written up in a gun magazine and the tester , to his credit, reported it exactly that way. It had also been thru the hands of one of the very top pistolsmiths and he and I both feel that the gun is as many that are being reworked into calibers that they were never intended to use, not the way to go. If you want a Hi-Power, and who wouldn't, my recommendation would be to buy a 9MM and pass on the 40.
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I agree. Thr BHP was not designed to be a 40. If I recall correctly the chamber is not fully supported in 40 SW ( a la Glock) the frame also takes a beating. In 9mm it is a excellent gun. One of the most accurate 9mm I have and a pleasure to shoot.
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06-16-2011, 12:37 AM
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The .40 S&W Hi Powers were designed from the ground up for the caliber. I'm on the hunt for one at a good price. I have a Browning Practical in 9mm. I'd love to get a Practical in .40 S&W.
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06-16-2011, 06:51 AM
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The HP in .40S&W is one of those folks either love or hate.
Those who hate it find the recoil too stiff, the slide too heavy and the recoil spring hard to manipulate.
Put me in the camp of those that like it.
I acknowledge that the recoil spring is stiff and the gun has a distinctly heavier feel than it's 9mm brother, but mine is the most accurate .40 caliber I've ever owned and for my part, very comfortable to shoot. I personally find it very controllable and for whatever reason it is one of the easiest guns for me to shoot racks of steel plates with 'at speed'. "Snappy" is the mini-Glocks in .40 (or in just about any other caliber). I also have an HP in 9mm and love it, as well. But the mistake is hoping for the increased value of the larger caliber and power of the .40 and expecting it to feel and perform like the 9mm. Not realistic.
I say get one of each
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06-16-2011, 10:14 AM
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I had a HP in 9mm and loved it, but traded it off for something else. I recently bought one in 40 S&W and really like it. It is slightly beefier than the 9mm, but so far has proved to be an excellent gun.
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06-16-2011, 10:34 AM
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I have 5 hi powers and have been using my HP .40 in USPSA Limited 10 for the last year and very much enjoy shooting it. It is very accurate, reliable, and a hoot to shoot. Recoil is no big deal, yes, the recoil spring is stiffer than others, but that is not a problem at all for me....just be more aggresive with chambering the first round.
Randy
BTW...that seems to be a great price, I would pounce on it in a heartbeat.
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06-16-2011, 11:25 AM
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I have 2 HP .40.
I have shot one of them for tens of thousands of rounds in USPSA matches and practice. I first thought it was inaccurate until I found it liked Precision Delta 180gr FMJ over Titegroup, and will shoot 2" at 25yds. I keep a good recoil spring in it, and it has been extremely reliable with my major power handloads. It has a MecGar adjustable rear sight.
The other is a HP Practical .40 that shoots to point of aim (fixed sights)with 165gr FMJ. It has only a few thousand rounds throught it.
Both HP .40s are fitted with the Cylinder and Slide combat trigger assemblies which are just under 5#.
The only problem I find with the .40 HP is the recoil becomes tiring with major power loads after a couple hundred rounds.
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06-16-2011, 12:00 PM
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Like a couple...
...of others, I own two in .40 S&W. I've shot Hi Powers in both calibers, and I prefer the .40. The recoil doesn't seem any worse than 9mm's.
I have one in black epoxy finish, and a second in hard chrome. I've run hundreds of rounds through each, and the Hi Power seems an ideal platform for the round.
Not to stray too far, but it seems that the 1911 platform would be ideal for the .40 S&W. However, it's really hard to find one, especially used.
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06-16-2011, 05:11 PM
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Had one , the Practical Model , but traded it off. Put a set of Speigal grips and a C&S small ring hammer on it , but still never got to like it. The weight they added to the slide ruined the perfect balance and feel of the original 9mm version.
Traded it for a CZ-75B-SA in .40. Couldn't be happier.
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06-16-2011, 06:11 PM
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Hi-Power 40
The previous post is correct, the .40 was designed to be a .40 from jump street. There is some good information available on the net. Flapjack.
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06-16-2011, 06:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amazingflapjack
The previous post is correct, the .40 was designed to be a .40 from jump street. There is some good information available on the net. Flapjack.
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Thge only difference I could detect was the added weight of the slide. Comparing the frame with one born a 9mm showed no diff. Perhaps you could shed light on the details.
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06-16-2011, 10:04 PM
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A friend has a HI-POWER in .30 Luger. That is a pretty smooth operating piece.
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06-16-2011, 10:49 PM
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Great price on a great gun...just do it
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06-16-2011, 11:56 PM
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Hello Waldo, I have owned quite a few Hi Powers over the last 40+ years, to include a .30 Luger and an early .40 S&W. The .40 was done right IMHO. FN added slide mass, about two ounces, and a third locking lug. The frame is the sameas the 9MM cast frame guns. Mine was 100% reliable, the chamber was well supported, overall a very nice gun. But, as Joe Kent mentioned with his .40, not real accurate. I noticed, as maybe some of you other .40 owners have, that the there was about .4" of bore diameter freebore ahead of the chamber, before the actual rifling leade began. I always wondered if the freebored area was the reason for the less-than-great accuracy and if the later .40 Hi Powers also had the "freebored" barrels. There was mention in a gun magazine a few years ago that gunsmith Richard Heinie had also noticed the accuracy issue in the .40 Hi Power. It was reported that Mr. Heinie was considering having to include an after market barrel, BarSto ?, in his .40 Hi Power packages to provide the expected level of accuracy to his customers. Anyway, that's a good price for a gun in good condition. I might even own one again someday, if I found a clean one for a very reasonable price...
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06-17-2011, 12:28 AM
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.40 S&W HP's.
For their intended purpose, I've never had a complaint with my .40's in the accuracy department.
The lower left gun in this trio is an early hi-polish .40 "Target Model" that I pulled the ridiculous adjustable sights off of an had fitted with Mepros and a ring hammer. Everyone that has shot it says it's a "Happy Pistol". To me it's about on par with a SiG220, which is very good company....
Drew
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06-17-2011, 12:50 AM
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Rock185, my 40 Hi-Power was the first that Dick built and the one that Walt or Frank {I forget which we sent it to} wrote up in the gun mag. Workmanship was first rate as you would expect and it was very reliable, just not accurate. Accuracy and what is "acceptable" will vary with different shooters and perhaps others would not be displeased with 12 inches at 25 yards, but I am.
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06-17-2011, 07:42 AM
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Another satisfied .40 hp owner, blued with adj sites. Recoil spring is heavy enough to drive bullets deeper into rem brass. Am now using Lee's undersize die to reload for it. A little picky about loads and bullets for best accuracy, but 6.8 grains unique, Rainer 155 gn flatpoint, Fed 100 primer at 1.119 col is quite accurate. Bout 1150 fps from BHP.
With new brass, am using 7.0 grains unique with Hdy 155 xtp at 1.124 col or Speer 155 gd at 1.119 col. Very accurate in BHP (bout 1190-1200 fps) and S&W 646.
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06-15-2014, 08:43 PM
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Lots of Experience with .40 s&w weapons
Quote:
Originally Posted by Waldo
I have been kind of looking for a Browning Hi Power. I have a WWII Nazi marked one, with tangent sights. I like the newer ones with the ambidextrous safety and the adjustable sights. I found a used one in .40 S&W. Fixed sights, ambidextrous safety, and Pachmayr grips. It looks new. I am sure it has been fired, but not much. He wants $450.00 for it. If it was a 9mm I would jump on it. I have other 9s and reload for it. But I don't have any .40S&Ws. I have heard that .40S&W is pushing a Browning Hi Power. The slide was real stiff, I think they used a real heavy recoil spring. Does anyone have any experience with a Browning Hi Power in .40S&W?
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Hello and thanks,
The Browning Hi-Power is a great shooting gun in the .40 s&w caliber. It's like trying to stop a buffalo in full run when it comes to racking the slide, however. This is due to the 20lb.? recoil spring. Sure feels heavier. I also own a S&W 4006. The 4006 was Smith and Wesson's platform for the various government agencies when the .40 round first came out. I consider the S&W to be quite a bit more user friendly, carries 12 or 13 rounds, and is just as accurate even with the shorter 4" barrel. It is double action and, heavier as it carries more rounds and is stainless steel. It is also much easier to dismantle and clean. If you don't like the plastic grips on the 4006, Hogue makes some wonderful wooden grips in many different varieties both smooth and checkered. The Browning is one of my favorite .40's, but the S&W 4006 is more fun to shoot. You can still find a slightly used (stay away from law enforcement trades) or new old stock 4006 for under $450.00. This is less than you will be able to get the Browning for in the same condition. It's your call. If you are a collector go for the Browning. If you like a gun that is easy to shoot, has more rounds,easy to handle, has less recoil, is easier to rack, disassemble, and reassemble go for the Smith and Wesson.
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06-15-2014, 09:43 PM
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My .40 BHP was very accurate and totally reliable.
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06-16-2014, 01:53 AM
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Does anyone make an aftermarket barrel in .357 SIG for this gun?
Just thinking that it might, overall, be more accurate. But costly.
Could it use the same springs and magazines?
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06-16-2014, 07:12 AM
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I missed this post the first time around 3 years ago but have a 40 Browning but no one has mentioned having the HP-SFS (Safe-Fast-Shooting) variation on the Hi-Power Mark III modified firing mechanism.
Basically after the weapon is loaded to make the gun safe the hammer is pushed forward with the thumb which automatically activates the safety lever.
When the shooter is prepared to fire, the safety is pressed down releasing the hammer to spring backwards into the single-action position, Really neat system.
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06-18-2014, 05:35 PM
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Lordy its a .40 ..Hi-Power Mark III HP-SFS modified firing mechanism
You can ID the 40 by the unique slide stop and channel cut in the slide
Last edited by Engine49guy; 06-18-2014 at 05:41 PM.
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06-18-2014, 08:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Engine49guy
Lordy its a .40 ..Hi-Power Mark III HP-SFS modified firing mechanism
You can ID the 40 by the unique slide stop and channel cut in the slide
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Never seen this mentioned or pictured before. FN's PR people must be lazy. Do they even have a publicity program?
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06-19-2014, 03:18 PM
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I must admit I had never heard of it either and wasnt looking for one until it kinda found me,
IMO the problem with the BHP has always been the single action trigger, Although DA models are out there this system kinda bridges the gap for those that prefer the 1911 system but do not like carrying hammer down on half cock ,
The spring tension that raises the hammer is pre loaded when the hammer is pushed down to the safe position and no force is necessary to lower the safety lever, simply lowering the safety lever allows the hammer to "Spring up" cocking the hammer for a SA trigger pull,
Last edited by Engine49guy; 06-19-2014 at 03:22 PM.
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12-18-2018, 09:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dennis The B
...of others, I own two in .40 S&W. I've shot Hi Powers in both calibers, and I prefer the .40. The recoil doesn't seem any worse than 9mm's.
I have one in black epoxy finish, and a second in hard chrome. I've run hundreds of rounds through each, and the Hi Power seems an ideal platform for the round.
Not to stray too far, but it seems that the 1911 platform would be ideal for the .40 S&W. However, it's really hard to find one, especially used.
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To the contrary, manufacturers such as Colt and Kimber have dropped the .40 from their 1911 lineups. Reliability was dreadful. The slide went too fast, creating feeding problems, extraction problems, and even sometimes live rounds squirting out of the ejection port. I've seen this happen.
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12-18-2018, 10:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Univibe
To the contrary, manufacturers such as Colt and Kimber have dropped the .40 from their 1911 lineups. Reliability was dreadful. The slide went too fast, creating feeding problems, extraction problems, and even sometimes live rounds squirting out of the ejection port. I've seen this happen.
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You are replying to something written in 2011. A lots changed since then...
Return of the zombie thread
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