My favorite. If you consider shot-placement vital, this is the master.

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Death? Smile back...

I'm a 1911 guy. But the 1911 shouldn't be chambered in 9mm. You actually have to scale back Ol' Slabsides to make it work with the 9mm cartridge. No, a 9mm 1911 is nothing more than blasphemy and for wussies who can't handle a real pistol.

OTOH, The Hi-Power is a world class combat pistol designed specifically for the 9mm cartridge. Its proved its bones in countless conflicts all over the world for close to 90 years now.
I completely agree that its the greatest 9mm pistol ever made.

https://smith-wessonforum.com/attach...1&d=1710086146

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1 BHP
2 German made Sig P228.

I didn't care for Sigs when Browning was importing them as the BDA45. Never looked at them again.

The Hi Power has been produced almost exclusively with steel frames, a big +++ in my book, and compared to the M1911 it'is a breeze to field strip.
Only design flaw is since JMB and Dieudonne Saive designed it around the 9MMP it cannot be chambered in other rounds without a major redesign and tooling. IIRC the 40 S&W chambering wasn't that sucessful.

I knew a former VIP protection guy from the British army. He said they used Sigs because in their testing the Brownings were found to have shot loose before the completion of their training regimen. That was enough of a real world review to convince me that the H Power legend should be treated with caution. It's not the last firearm I've come across where the reality and the legend don't necessarily join up.

I've handled or fired quite a number of 9mm pistols from a wide variety of manufacturers and countries. They all have their features and quirks, but never have I found myself saying, "Oh no, not this, I'd much rather have a Hi Power." I own superior designs (IMHO) myself, but whether any of them will ever be successfully used in combat will be a matter for history long after I'm dead.

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Release the Kraken

I'm 75 and this is the first time I've seen "greatest" and "9mm" used in the same sentence. At least the BPH is all steel.

There was a time when I’d have agreed with you.

But 9mm hollow point performance has dramatically improved to the point that many of the, offer excellent expansion and penetration.


When I saw that begin to occur, I started rethinking my choices and weighed 9mm versus 45 in the context of A zone hits in practical pistol stages of fire.

Power factor differences aside, in terms of number of A zone hits in a given period of time I can land 4 A zone hits with a 9mm in the same time it takes me to to land 3 A zone hits with a .45 ACP, and that was after 20 years of shooting the .45 ACP in matches.

There’s a reason they penalize the 9mm with the minor power factor. And yet the effectiveness of a modern, well designed 9mm hollow point in a defensive shoot isn’t significantly different than the effectiveness of a .45 ACP hollow point.

Now, if we were limited to shooting FMJs then absolutely, the .45 ACP is king.

My EDC in a 9MM

If someone says “Miller Lite Lager is the greatest of the budget lite beers”, they are still talking about budget lite beer.

I’m going to take it in that context and not add or take anything away from it.

Objection!
Relevance…

With all due respect to JMB, I’ve never had any interest in the BHP, I think there are much better choices in double stack 9mm.

Beretta
Glock
Sig…

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213th FBINA

LOL

This old argument again!

I have/had somewhere between "a bunch and most" of the guns mentioned.

Still have a lot; but the Glocks are all gone! Perfection! Then why are they on Gen 5?

I've had HPs for over 30 years now..... great gun, but I prefer DA/SA over SA in a carry gun.

Todays Beretta 92s are not the M-9 of 1985.

Today my choice is the Beretta 92 in either the now 15 shot Compact or 18 shot Centurion Models.
G- model decocker only, ultra-thin G-10 grips and short trigger. Ameriglo front sight, with the radiused backstrap of the post 2000 guns.

Interestingly the SAS used until a decade ago.

I ask that all the time.

Beer is beer.

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA

I've always thought that was just a silly Glock basher comment. Like the 1911 hasn't been updated/upgraded in it's production run, or even variations on the BHP for that matter (you know, internal vs external extractor). There are several variations on John "the gun god" Browning's Colt model M, so I guess he didn't get it right the first time on that one either. Or how about the very popular S&W model 686-5, yes dash 5. That means there was a 686 no dash then a dash 1, 2, 3, and 4 before it got to a dash 5.

Funny how the Glock bashers find it objectionable that Glock continually works to enhance their products, but tend to ignore it when other's do the same. Yeah, I find that odd.

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Live long and prosper

I've never shot a HP but have many of the others mentioned here.
Sig P210 (German) is the 9mm that I shoot the best. HK P7 is also right up there.

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Super Snooper

If’n I knew I was going into a gun fight, I would take a long gun over any handgun no matter the caliber.

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Possum—The other white meat!

I own 12 9MM pistols (Browning, Glock, S&W, Taurus, SIG, Rex, CZ, etc), many of the ones discussed in this thread, it would be hard to really pick a favorite from the bunch.

If it came down to only one pistol that I would have to rely one to the end of days, and therefor had to keep it in working order (spare parts, etc)...it would be the Glock.

However, to solidify the OP...the HP is one of the best ever made, I love mine!

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Life Member GOA and NRA

Lighten up......just jurkin your chain.

Things can always be improved.... I liked my Beretta 92 F Compact in 1988 like my 2018 Wilson Combat Centurion even better.

Like my Browning MkIII and my SA35

Glock folks have been claiming the 17/19 as the "final iteration" / pinnacle in handgun design as long as I can remember. Same as some 1911 guys......


As to the S&W the -s are often ways to make the gun cheaper to make vs trying to improve them. Many consider the 686-3 the best of the L-frames.

Supposedly, one of the best renditions of the High Power was the Springfield Armory P35.

I wouldn’t give you a nickel for a truck load of them (if I had to shoot them).

There a lot of better 9s than that thing.

Now you've crossed a line!!!!!

For me, preference depends on usage, so I can't limit it to just one.

Aspirational for me given prices, but for target shooting I would favor the Sig P210 or any of the several Smith & Wesson PPC 9mm pistols. Should have bought them when I was still working and had more discretionary income.

For both duty and off-duty use, I favor the S&W 6906. That double stack grip frame fits my large hand better than any other handgun, pistol or revolver, I have ever picked up, and my scores reflected that. Mine has an action job, which makes it extremely smooth and clean. On our departmental qualification course, which was the FBI modified course which goes out to 25 yards, I could shoot that compact light weight pistol better than our then-issued 4" Smith 686.

But my only EDC handgun now is the Glock 26. Even more compact and lighter in weight than the 6906, double stack grip frame with an assist from a Pearce magazine extension, so similar to the 6906, similar payload.

Glocks are known for their durability and reliability. I have not yet seen any comparison test data where any other pistol has exceeded Glock in durability and reliability. The scariest sound in the jungle is 'click'. I think the Glock gives me the best odds against never hearing that sound.

I have no interest in rotational carry. I want one pistol that I can totally depend on and that I can indeed carry every day (the definition of EDC).

The Glock does that the best for me.

Did you mean 6906?

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Release the Kraken

Yes. Good catch. I went back and corrected it.

Thank you.

From the several times I've shot one I am convinced that the Hi Power is just about the best ergonomically designed handgun I've ever held. It just feeeels good in the hand.

As far as shooting a 9mm, though, I prefer the G19.

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- Change it back -

I'll join you with my 5906 tsw

The P-35 High Power is a Great handgun, but for me my ultimate 9M/M is my Smith and Wesson model 39, as it's the one I shoot best with.

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Always Stay Strong!

Another "which gun is best" thread devolves into another "My Dad can beat up your Dad" thread.

We've seen them come, we've seen them go. But for a 90 year old design the HP has come back in a big way, all fueled by Demand. There's a reason why that has come to be.
It's an iconic pistol in service by more countries, LE agencies for longer than any other combat pistol bar none. The only pistol that comes close is another JMB invention the 1911.
The only other 9mm pistol that can hold onto this title is the CZ75 which is still a HP inspired derivative, so we're still back to home base. Opinions and personal preferences are great, but in the end Facts always prevail...

SAID THE PROPHET.......

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S&W Accumulator

I eschew any plastic, striker fired, or internal hammer pistols. I'm not a detractor, they're just not for me. I'm basically a revolver fan, but I have a several 9mm semi-autos. They include a P5, P6, P228, P229 Elite, 75BD Police (CGW enhanced), BDM, and a Hi Power. My preference is for DA/SA guns. The HP is a great piece and a seminal design in firearms history, but I think many of its successors are better guns. It is, however, the prettiest of the lot.

Typically I find I need to rack my CZ75 just once (for the 1st 16 rounds)...

From then on it only requires a jab at the slide stop for the next magazines!

I can live with that...

Cheers!

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Sit Reloader Sentiret

Well, since this IS a Smith & Wesson forum, how about the S&W Model 39-2? Fits my hand better than any other 9mm and mine never malfunctioned. Yeah, it is only a single-stack.

My favorite 9mm.

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

just my personal thoughts of 9mm pistols after 40 years of fumbling around with guns (let's leave plastic guns out of the discussion)

the BHP is a special pistol in its own right because it combines many positive virtues in a design that is almost 90 years old (and thus remains just as up-to-date as a 1911)

but

best accuracy out of the box = SIG 210 (swiss made)
best handling characteristics and pointability = Walther P88 (not compact)
best combat value (sum of balance, handling, firepower)= Steyr GB (a beast esp. with factory comp and if you have larger hands than average)

regards from Germany
Ulrich

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Life is too short to own a bad gun

In my reloading days I found my Browning HP shot lead bullets very well, my S&Ws somewhat fussier.

I’m with you, have several 228 and never have they not gone bang.

The problem with that non-endorsement of the Hi Power is that it’s a case study of one. I also wonder how old and well used that British Army Hi Power was when he came across it. The major reason they replaced their Hi Powers was that they were WWII vintage pistols that were worn out.

The choice of a Glock as a replacement was unfortunate but not all that surprising, especially from a per unit cost perspective.

In contrast to your experience I have fired and own a large number of reportedly superior pistols and often find myself thinking “I prefer the Hi Power”. Then, it’s usually a matter of size, but that’s a concealed carry issue that doesn’t apply to a duty pistol.

I have two of them, one blue and one nickel. One of them is very reliable the other is not.

They do fit my hand well, almost as well as a Hi Power and much better than a S&W 59 or 6906. However, the Model 39 is large for a single stack 9mm.

I agree with the statement but not so much with the pistols in the picture.

The Beretta 92 doesn’t fit smaller hands well at all, making it harder to shoot well and harder to retain.

That was the major “miss” in the XM9 trials. Where the 1911A1 fit just about everyone well, the M9 did not. That fit was not adequately considered in the trials, but it is one of the fundamental requirements of a service pistol.

The Hi Power also has the advantage of fitting a very wide range of hand sizes.

Why is nobody mentioning the other HP…… Hi Point baby !

If the goal is to have a handgun that is nice to look at, the Glock doesn't make the list.

If you have to fight with a 9mm, the Glock is a very solid choice.

I have to agree with Glenn the Browning is the one hi cap 9mm auto that fits my hand perfectly.

I'd rather have gun that is reliable and looks good. Similar to the idea that a katana is a weapon and a work of art.

The only 9mm I kept for years was a HP. I’ve had most of the other highly known models from Lugers on up. I only go by accuracy and durability, not interested in tactical features. The HP I have will shoot right with a K38 for accuracy. That’s not bad, never had a SIG 210 but at this point in the game don’t think I could benefit by anything it would provide. Having had several HPs, only one bought new, never had any serious malfunctions or breakage.

Based on the history, the feel, fit...
I will go with this. 1973 "C" series.

Yes I agree 100%. But I was playing along with the OP’s handgun premise.