I have a stock 76C. You know, the kind that all the modern shooters love to hate? Here's what I have found over the years: You can adapt to the gun.

Before I had cataract surgery, I had trouble seeing the sights. I learned that (for me), it was so much easier to just draw and shoot as soon as the gun came into view. It's sort of like the old FBI revolver draw in that video from the 50s. At most common self-defense ranges, that will suffice. For longer shooting, I can see the sights just fine now and they provide a very precise picture.

The old small safety takes practice. Once I learned it, it was fine. It's also extremely hard to have accidentally rub off, and if someone else grabs it, it's going to take them a bit to figure out. I'm ambi-clumsy, but strict lefties will have a problem, of course.

The trigger on mine is six pounds and very crisp, as long as I use either the original magazine or a mousetrap magazine (both of which have a phosphate-type finish. Blued MecGars drag on the magazine safety. I personally think a six-pound weight on a real-world trigger is just fine, although competition shooters like them lighter. Incidentally, the OEM Mousetrap magazines (also made by MecGar), feed the cartridges just a little higher. They are the only ones I have tested with hollowpoints in my example (a limited amount of +P Critical Duty), and they worked just fine.

I can take it or leave it with the magazine safety.

Overall, I find mine to be kind of like a three-inch barreled K-frame revolver in size and handling, but much more shoot-able.

Is the BHP a candidate for military or police issue today? Probably not.

Is it a viable candidate as a companion piece for personal defense if the shooter is willing to learn it? Heck yes!

My opinion. Yours may vary.

The Hi-Power is my favorite 9mm pistol. I currently own 5 versions of it.
Browning MK III
Springfield SA-35
FEG PKJ-9HP
FM Detective
Girsan PI



I got my SA-35 shortly after the first came out. Had to drive 75 miles and pay full MSRP ($699 at the time), but was glad to get it and have been very happy with it. They are excellent pistols.

BTW: I was at a gun show yesterday and only saw one. Asking price was $850.

The lines of the SA-35 look nothing like an original Hi-Power if you examine the details closely.

huh? If they don't look like a Hi Power, what exactly is it, that they resemble more closely?

Those FEG's are nice. My wife had one with Uncle Mike's grips, magazine safety removed. Decent trigger then. Didn't like my reloads though, very tight chamber.

I prefer the Browning with a nice polished finish. A Belgian one would be nice but the MkIII's assembled in Portugal are nice too. From a usable perspective the MkIIIs work for me. Nice sights and safety with the mag disconnect and you have a fine handgun when things get salty.

Like this one?

Exactly like that one. It really felt great in the hand.

That's exactly the kind of condition the FEG for sale I mentioned is in, if anybody's interested let me know and I'll run by there today and see if he still has it.
Tray

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

That's exactly the kind of condition the FEG for sale I mentioned is in, if anybody's interested let me know and I'll run by there today and see if he still has it.
The only reason I haven't already bought it is I'm finally getting my gun room finished and spending my money on cabinets and a gun display system.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

That's a nice FEG. Looks like it has those Speigel (sp?) grips on it that came on sale a few years back. I put them on mine as the wood grips on a Hi Power don't work with my skinny hands. Now if I could find some body who could tighten the slide on the frame, it would be great. The slide on mine positively rattles, but it doesn't affect the accuracy too much at 7 yards.

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Release the Kraken

This is my experience with the SA-P35, condensed version.

I got the gun a year ago. I was very excited. I really wanted to like this gun. It came with one mag and a 4.5 pound creepy, gritty trigger. The back of my hand got pinched or poked by the sharp corners of that stubby little beavertail.

The best I could do at 25 yards was 4.5 inch 5 shot groups. The barrel bushing lock-up, if you want to call it that, was very loose; I’m guessing 5-10 thousands. It also shot 4 inches low. I sent it back to Springfield Armory. Six weeks later I got it back with a 3 shot group of1.5 inches at 10 yards and the gun met their accuracy criteria.

The day I got the P-35 back, I did something I almost never do. I traded it off. I got a CZ75B. I put LOK Palm Swell Bogies on it. I sent it to Cajun Gun Works. $700 later I have fabulous 9MM; a single action trigger pull as nice as any Model 41. And it painlessly shoots to the POI. It has, several times, put 5 shots right at 1.5 inches at 25 yards, sitting braced just like God and Elmer Kieth intended. Was the CZ expensive? Yes, it sure was. Is my CZ a better value than the P-35? To me, no question, a resounding YES.

I forgot to mention both the wood grip panels on the P-35 developed a hair line crack.

That’s just one gun. I’m just one guy. If you had better luck with a P-35, I’m happy for you.

PS: I also bought a Shadow 2. It shoots every bit as good as the 75, maybe better.

I have .40 Hi-Power Mk III from 30 years ago. It shoots accurately and is reliable. My first pistol - many many moons ago - was a 9mm Hi-Power 9mm. At the time, not knowing any better, I thought it was the greatest handgun ever. But after shooting and learning about other pistols, it's shortcomings are significant, and I haven't shot my .40 Hi-Power in decades. Can't sell it, was an engagement gift from my wife!

Putting that aside, the LGS recently got a Springfield Hi-Power for stock. I guess the lust has faded, and from my examination I can see why. Sharp edges were everywhere (a Springfield Armory trademark), including the rear of the tang, which will feel great while shooting. Hard trigger, ho-hum finish.

Add to that the design issues, and as a shooter I just don't see the attraction. For collecting, I would think a person would want a Browning-marked pistol. To each his own!