Pulled the BHP out of the safe

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WR Moore

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Back in January did a short post on painting the front sight with Testor's metallic gold paint. Finally made time to try it out. Outstanding visibility in most light conditions, even with my normal glasses, and remembered why I love the thing. Did discover the wide meplat TC plated bullets I've gone to require the slingshot slide release from slide lock.

The trick to bite free operation of the BHP, for most folks, is how you get your grip on the pistol. You need to cock your wrist so the the first contact with the backstrap is the web between thumb and index finger. With slight downward pressure (in the holster), the wrist straightens and the web of the hand slides up to and under the tang while "wiping" the rest of the hand onto the pistol. With practice, it's fast and the low bore axis is simply wonderful.
 
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Do you have the ring hammer or the spur hammer. I have read that the ring hammer is more prone to hammer bite. Don’t know the validity of that statement.
 
Spur hammer and I doubt it makes much difference, but it might. The real issue is that the short tang can allow a ridge of flesh to stick up if you don't sort of iron the hand into it from below. The wiping motion pulls the skin of the web tight against the tang so there's nothing to get bit.
 
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I think hammer bite with the BHP is dependent upon how high you grip the frame and how hand size. The higher the grip, the more likely you will experience hammer bite. If you have big hands, the more likely the tissue between the thumb and index finger will roll up above the level of the beaver tail and get bitten.
 
I had a beautiful BHP made in Belgium (spur hammer) that I sold 25 years ago. At the time I was not enthralled with the 9mm cartridge and always thought the gun was too large and heavy for the caliber it fired.

Well, today I love the 9mm cartridge and realize I made sort of a mistake. Not buying another one now, but probably should have kept it. Won't be the last mistake I ever make!
 
jimmyj said:
In the 1990 era I was issued a BHP as a service weapon. It would not feed HPs. On advice I obtain "Ram Line" magazines and then the BHP would feed HPs.
Click to expand...

My experiences have been different. Over the years I have owned 3 Brownings (FN-Belgium in differing variants), a Kareen (Israeli), a FEG (Hungarian), and an Inglis (Canadian military). All have been consistently reliable with any ammo I've tried, including handloads with .357" cast semi-wadcutters from 105 to 140 grains (SWC lead bullets are usually the biggest challenge to reliable feeding).

Late 1980s I had a bullet mold made specifically for 9mm, 126-grain TC with a very broad flat meplat (point). Works like a charm for me.

The design of the Hi-Power includes a feed ramp built into the barrel, rather than the 1911-style grip-frame ramp leading to the chamber. In my experience the ammo most likely to result in failures to feed is the very short stubby cartridges (like the old Super-Vel 90-grain JHP), which can allow a stove-pipe feed failure because the forward portion of the bullet may not contact the chamber to guide the cartridge into the chamber.

Had a few boxes of 1990s vintage Israeli IMI 9mm ammo with frangible bullets, pre-segmented to break into 6 pieces on impact with a hard surface. Reportedly designed for urban use to limit collateral damages. Interesting design concept.
 
I have discovered two things about BHP magazines in my unaltered C-series example.

First, magazines with the phosphate-type finish (the grey ones), do not have the gritty take-up that my shiny blued ones do. With the grey magazines (the one original that was with the piece when I acquired it, or the newer "mousetrap" versions), my BHP has a very crisp six-pound pull. Target shooters may find that heavy, but I think that's fine for a real-world service pistol, and I'll bet most U.S. issued 1911s were about the same.

Second, those "mousetrap" magazines present the cartridge at a slightly higher angle. I believe this helps with hollowpoints. My only testing was a limited amount of +P Critical Duty 135 gr. and they worked fine.

Third: While the "mousetrap" magazines eject very positively of course, my opinion is that when you are wearing most duty/military gear, the difference between auto-ejecting and stripping the magazine disappears in the "noise" of getting the reload out of its pouch. The High Power is a service pistol, not a competition gun.

The longer I've have my High Power, the less inclined I have been to do anything to it.

Just my opinion. Yours may (and should), vary.
 
LoboGunLeather said:
My experiences have been different. Over the years I have owned 3 Brownings (FN-Belgium in differing variants), a Kareen (Israeli), a FEG (Hungarian), and an Inglis (Canadian military). All have been consistently reliable with any ammo I've tried, including handloads with .357" cast semi-wadcutters from 105 to 140 grains (SWC lead bullets are usually the biggest challenge to reliable feeding).

Late 1980s I had a bullet mold made specifically for 9mm, 126-grain TC with a very broad flat meplat (point). Works like a charm for me.

The design of the Hi-Power includes a feed ramp built into the barrel, rather than the 1911-style grip-frame ramp leading to the chamber. In my experience the ammo most likely to result in failures to feed is the very short stubby cartridges (like the old Super-Vel 90-grain JHP), which can allow a stove-pipe feed failure because the forward portion of the bullet may not contact the chamber to guide the cartridge into the chamber.

Had a few boxes of 1990s vintage Israeli IMI 9mm ammo with frangible bullets, pre-segmented to break into 6 pieces on impact with a hard surface. Reportedly designed for urban use to limit collateral damages. Interesting design concept.
Click to expand...

Lobo,

I'm not trying to be critical here, BUT, you said you've owned 3 BHP variants.

However, you then listed the variants you've owned - an original Browning FN, a Kareem, a FEG, and an Inglis. By my count that is FOUR variants on the BHP design. :D

Did I miss something? Do you view two of these as "one and the same"?

FWIW, I love my FEG, but it is the only one you listed that I was able to find at an affordable (to me) price....
 
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The Hi-Power is my favorite 9mm pistol. And yes, I have been known to carry one from time to time. :D

BA1ZXUo.jpg


Browning MK III
SA-35
FEG
FM Detective
Girsan PI
 
Never been bit by my MkIII BHP, I guess the area behind the web of my thumb isn't fat enough for the spur hammer to make contact. After about 3 magazines, I removed the disconnector and ditched the mousetrap magazine for Mec-Gar mags without the spring. Without the disconnector they drop free without issue and feed perfectly. The mousetrap magazine flies out almost faster than you can catch it with the disconnector gone, it's the only reason the spring was there. Trigger feel is much better, no creep at all. The take-up in the BHP trigger to me is like a 2-stage rifle trigger.

I had always wanted a BHP, but never cared much for 9mm and I knew I wouldn't shoot it much if I got one. Then I found one in .40S&W. It's a little heavier than the 9mm, but still lighter than a full-size 1911. "Only" holds ten+ one rounds, but it's one of my favorite semi's now. Takes any load I feed it, 155 grain JHP's are what I've stuck with, just barely subsonic.
 

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I've always admired the BHP and first shot one in 1970 - one magazine was all I could endure. Bloody hole in the web of my hand!
Over the course of time, I've fired at least four others with the different hammer styles. All gave the same result - bloody hole in my hand, BUT I like that darn pistol. I tried ones with different grips & grip positions with the same result.
No Joy - until I recently happened on a friend at the range shooting his new SA-35. Being the masochist that I am, I asked to try his new pistol (I even had 9mm to try as I was exercising my Sig 226). I experienced NO HAMMER Bite! None! That SA-35 was a joy to shoot!
After calling my local toy store, I made a detour on the way home to buy my very own SA-35. So my Sig 226 now has a sister to share space in the safe!

WYT-P
Skyhunter
 
The Browning-made BHP has a mixed bag of effect with the spur vs the round hammer. Different hand types have different results. With Browning-made ones, including a MK III, I could avoid hand web damage only by installing a spur hammer. The SA35 comes with a round hammer that has the round part located differently. It does not cause hand web eating issues. Lots of subtle improvements over a Browning original in the SA35. In this case, newer is better.
 
otis24 said:
Do you have the ring hammer or the spur hammer. I have read that the ring hammer is more prone to hammer bite. Don’t know the validity of that statement.
Click to expand...

The thing about hammer bite with the BHP or 1911s is people not gripping it properly. JMHO, but some people need to stick to revolvers.
 
BC38 said:
Lobo,

I'm not trying to be critical here, BUT, you said you've owned 3 BHP variants.

However, you then listed the variants you've owned - an original Browning FN, a Kareem, a FEG, and an Inglis. By my count that is FOUR variants on the BHP design. :D

Did I miss something? Do you view two of these as "one and the same"?

FWIW, I love my FEG, but it is the only one you listed that I was able to find at an affordable (to me) price....
Click to expand...

I was not communicating as clearly as I should. Three FN-Browning variants plus the Kareen, FEG, and Inglis.

To be more precise, here in North America we commonly refer to the "Browning Hi-Power" but elsewhere in the world it is simply known as the P-35 or Model 1935, originally manufactured by FN in Belgium and later produced in many other places.
 
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