Hi Power

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Ivan the Butcher

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Picked up a nice condition Belgian Browning Hi-Power from 1954 with adjustable sights. I got a family discount that made it about 1/3 of Gun Broker asking price for a shooter grade. No box or papers, came with the Browning rug and holster.

My only question would be: 115, 124. or 147 ammo?

Ivan

See post #20 for corrected date.
 
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If your BHP has the stock barrel, with the skinny rifling, it may well prefer 115 FMJ's. Likely won't shoot well with 147's or even 135's. Also likely it won't like lead/plastic coated lead bullets. Still, every gun will have it's own preferences.
 
Ivan the Butcher said:
Picked up a nice condition Belgian Browning Hi-Power from 1954 with adjustable sights. I got a family discount that made it about 1/3 of Gun Broker asking price for a shooter grade. No box or papers, came with the Browning rug and holster.

My only question would be: 115, 124. or 147 ammo?

Ivan
Click to expand...
I have come to prefer the 124 grain Truncated Cone loads .

I reload a lot of cast bullet ammo and had NOE make a 124 gr. TC mould with a gas check for driving the cast lead 124 gr. TC bullets to 1000 fps ...or a little more ... good balance of bullet weight and velocity with the 124 gr. weight !
But thay's just me ... they all have a place !
Gary
 
Mostly warm Win 115 fmjhb through mine, with occasional plus p 124 jhp. If shooting lead, might want to slug the barrel. The only luck i had ( (Browning version) was with 125 gn rnfp .357 dia lead. Am of belief the hollow base on the win 115 fmj's expand a little with with quick warm loads to improve the accuracy.

Don't have any actual experience with that era, but have read they can be picky with hp's.
 
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zeke said:
. . .If shooting lead, might want to slug the barrel. The only luck i had ( (Browning version) was with 125 gn rnfp .357 dia lead. . . .
Click to expand...

I had a late 1960's BHP whose stock barrel shot well with 125 gr hard lead H&G #7 cone nose bullets, sized .358. I think that the "hard lead" and the "sized to .001 over bore was what made things work. The cone nose fed perfectly 100% to boot.

Slug your bore is a fine suggestion if you plan to run lead or coated lead.
 
Regardless of brand or model, all my nines shoot best with 124gr ammo.

My HP is one of the Springfields, which doesn't relate to your question at all. I just like bragging............ :D
 
Every firearm is a rule unto itself and the only way to find out what your newly acquired Hi-Power likes is to test the various bullet weights and ammo from different manufacturers. Not all 9mm pistols like 115 grain bullets and those that do may be more accurate with loads from one or two specific manufacturers.
 
I’ve only got one HP at present and it’s the Comp.model. Normally for 9mm I don’t bother to load. For this gun I did the whole meal deal. I tried a dozen cast bullets, sized 355, 356, 357. Also several Jacketed bullets and powders. The gun shoots excellent but not any better than 115 FMJ. Other HPs I’ve had all shot 115fmj the best. Once in 70s had brand new HP, M39
& Commander and shot them off rest with Remington 115FMJ. The HP was most accurate but off hand the 39 was easier to shoot because of the sights. The Commander was a lemon no matter what you fed it.
 
Date update: My brother told me it was from 1954 (and the incomplete SN would be, but with the date code adjusted SN, it's from 1972. 18 years younger than I thought. Real paper book beat out the internet again. That makes is 53 instead of 71. Not a deal beaker in any way.

The oldest S&W I own is and 1896 Lemon Squeezer (38 S&W), the oldest functional gun I own is a 1886 Spanish Reformado rolling block in 43 Reformado. The oldest gun in partial form I have is an 1855 Colt Root Revolver. These are all modern compared to my best friend that has owned "French & Indian War" guns and worked on much older Brown Bess Muskets. Things made from "Blue Steel and Black Walnut" will be here long after the polymer guns return to the earth, as I will too. We don't really own any truly durable thing. We are just the caretakers! I am at least the third caretaker plus at least two dealers for this gun, my nephew had no interest in it. I raised my kids to prize older technology. If I still have this when I return to the dust, I'm sure they will all desire for it to reside with them! Since I have a S&W M&P9c for carry, I doubt I'll carry this much (just like I seldom carry the Colt Commanders I own).

Ivan
 
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