I've run up on a 1980 nickle plated Belgium Hi Power with gold trigger that looks in pretty good shape to me, bore is very clean $875

Also a Smith 4006 with original box papers, etc. $460.

HELP? Which or both? I'm a little tight on money but man I think I like um both!!!

Smith or both. :-)

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MSP - Retired

4006 is best choice

4006's are fairly common, you can to gunbroker for one anytime.

The hi-power, a little less common.

I will say the 4006 was designed for the round, and if the hi-power is .40 too, it won't hold up as well...

You give the option of "both" in your question???

Here???

What answer do you expect? Normally, when someone asks "which one" here, the answer is both!

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Because of the metric system?

Obvious answer... BOTH!

[/thread]

????????? Really!

Could you tell us a little bit about the High Powers in 40 S&W that didn't "hold up as well"? What High Power-centric forum did you go to where you read about all those failing 40 S&W High Powers you speak of?

The reason I'm asking is I own three 40 S&W HP's, primarily fed either heavy 180 grain or 200 grain loads, and I haven't managed to break any of them. I also haven't heard of any owner who has had the problems you speak of, nor Don Williams speaking of encountering that problem.

You do know that FN not only beefed up the frame, but changed from a cast to a forged frame, different steel characteristics, and upped the recoil spring from 17 lbs to 32 lbs in the 40 S&W version, right?

That 1980 nickle is a good deal at that price, although not a smoking deal. ALL High Powers are Belgian. The assembly in Portugal (under FN specifications and quality control) began long before they began roll marking them as such.

Being the classic High Power of forged construction rather than the new Mk III cast versions, it will have the svelte handling of the originals, rather than the slightly more beefier feeling and handling of the new Mk III's.

The difference between the two in feel and handling is deciding whether you want Rosie ODonnell on your arm or Nicole Kidman. This is the S&W forum, but I would take the HP every single time (except I dislike nickle) over the 4006. If the 4006 looks just as good to you and feels just as good in your hand as the High Power - you should not buy the High Power.

I'd buy the Browning all day over the 4006.

First decide whether you want a pistol to carry or use in matches cock & locked or a pistol that you will fire double action for the first shot. After making that decision select from pistols that have your chosen trigger action and fit your hand.

High Powers are known for short trigger reach. The double stack Model 40xx and 59xx series pistols have long trigger reach making it difficult to fire that first double action shot accurately unless you have long fingers.

I hope this is more helpful than writing which one would suite me.

Being no fan of the .40, I'd get the HP if it's some other caliber. Before anyone questions my dislike of the .40, I'm a brass scavenging reloader and there's just too much Glocked brass out there.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

I'm a Hi Power fan, collector, shooter and student of Stephen Camp. I agree with you regarding the slightly re-engineered Hi Power beginning with the MKIII to very adequately handle a steady diet of .40 cal. Structural up-grades include changing from forged steel to cast steel ( not the other way around), increasing the width of the slide to add weight and keep the slide velocity within design criteria, increasing the recoil spring strength from 17 lbs to 20 lbs. ( the 32 # spring you refer to is the mainspring shared by both the 9mm and .40 cal.), slightly modifying the extractor, beefing up the ejector, and adding a wider trigger. All-in-all, a well engineered ( as to be expected of FN engineers) upgrade for the .40 cal. BTW, the .40 cal. and 9mm share the same frame

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John

Hi FDW:

I own a Browning Hi-Power chambered in 9mm, and I used to own a Model 4006 years ago. I purchased the 4006 many years ago at the height of the .40 S&W craze. I liked the piece, but I found it to be heavy and bulky. Also, I frankly found the polymer framed pistols (Sigma and M&P 40c) to be more practical and functional than the 4006, and they seemed to provide less recoil as well (my theory is that the polymer frames flex under recoil helping to mitigate the impact of the recoil).

Unfortunately, by the time I decided to trade the 4006, the .40 S&W craze was ending, and it took me a couple of years to divest myself of it. The good news is that I ended up trading it, plus $100.00 for a pristine Model 13-3 with a 3.0 inch barrel.

Bottom line, I'd go for the Browning if I were in your shoes. It will probably have more resale value than the 4006, and will probably be more accurate and handle better than the 4006 - on top of simply being a better looking and more refined pistol. In my opinion, nothing handles like a Browning Hi-Power.

Finally, in my opinion, the price on the Browning is okay, but I'd try to get it for around $750.00. I think the price on the 4006 is ambitious. I'd suggest a more realistic price would be in the $375.00 - $400.00 range.

Good luck,

Dave

From the money perspective the 4006.

From every other perspective a HiPower

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Neither one is a deal. Keep shopping

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

Both-eat beanie weenies for a week.

I think you could do better on the HP. Be patient and keep looking, unless the nickel and gold are what you're looking for. You don't see those every day. I know nothing about the 4006. Good luck.

Had a S & W 40.
Still have a 9mm Hi-Power

Nuff said.

No, the change to 20lb springs from 17 was done on both 9 & 40. Yes, wider slide and the addition of 3 locking lugs up from 2. All these upgrades resulted from failures in earlier converted guns. Ive had both, and never said the hipower was prone to failure, just that the S&W will outlast it, because the 4006 is still a beefier gun.

Thanks all for the responses, good information. Still thinking it over.