Ignoring Hi-Power

[AJ]

The local gun dealer here has an importers license. About 5-6 years ago he imported about 500 BH's from Europe all police pieces. Had just about every type of one that had been made. Sold 90% of them on Gunbroker. passed on them also.

 

[Imissedagain]

Our old BHP cut my boy's groups in half after shooting the old M59 at 25yds, both in SA mode.
The Gold Cup did the same vs the GM.
I like 45s but switched to the M59 around '81.
More ammo and flatter shooting for solo fishing carry chores in the Keys.
Our old 9mm BHP, bought new, gets range time, with the Gold Cup, but both not carried.
Trigger on the BHP, mag disconnect removed, IIRC is 7lbs/2oz and has always been crisp.
Our Smith revolver triggers are perfect as well.
Sometimes ya gets lucky.

 

[Echo40]

The Browning Hi-Power is the premier Wonder Nine which began the trend before it became in vogue. It may not be the most attractive, the most reliable, or the highest capacity Wonder Nine, but it did it first and has remained popular ever since because like the 1911 before it, the HP is a true classic.

 

[Xfuzz]

Introduced to the Hi Power by an old copper as a rookie
in 1972.
He packed it in a cigar box front seat of the patrol car.
His reasoning if you rolled up on a rollin stolen back then
it was game on.

After the chase when the crooks bailed as they always did... your belt
gun was ready for the foot chase.

Convinced me..

 

[AJ]

Our old BHP cut my boy's groups in half after shooting the old M59 at 25yds, both in SA mode.
The Gold Cup did the same vs the GM.
I like 45s but switched to the M59 around '81.
More ammo and flatter shooting for solo fishing carry chores in the Keys.
Our old 9mm BHP, bought new, gets range time, with the Gold Cup, but both not carried.
Trigger on the BHP, mag disconnect removed, IIRC is 7lbs/2oz and has always been crisp.
Our Smith revolver triggers are perfect as well.
Sometimes ya gets lucky.

Would not call a 7 lbs/2oz trigger crisp. To me it is way to stout. Personal choice, I guess. However, I do agree with the removal of the mag. disconnect!

 

[minconrevo]

I've owned a few BHP's. One had the lower and the barrel "fall" into the hard chrome vat. That one was a real shooter! Recently I acquired a Springfield Armory SA 35. It's an absolute winner. SA updated the hammer so it doesn't "bite". Omitted the magazine safety in their version. Upped the cartridge count in the magazine from 13 to 15. More modern fixed sights. Extended thumb safety. All forged steel and nice wood stocks. Most parts interchange with a spec BHP. Barrel is now one-piece SS, not the two-piece carbon steel they used for years that would sometimes separate. Trigger pull is a crisp 4.5# on my digital gauge.

Yes it suitable for carry or duty.

 

[Golddollar]

I got to extoll the virtues of the Browning High Power in a court case I worked on. It involved an accidental shooting with an FEG pistol and I swore out an affidavit for a Motion to Dismiss stating that the Browning High Power, which the Hungarians copied to make the FEG, was a well respected and well designed pistol with numerous safety features, all of which worked on the pistol in question. Our client was dismissed out of the case before trial.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

This is mine, Bought New in 1972 for $114.00.....I was a youngun...I put it on layaway paid on it weekly till it was mine. I did upgrade the sights to Millet adjustables........It's bad news on raccoons and armadillos. It still sleeps in the original Browning rug with Booklet.

 

[Valmet]

I’ve always liked them. I really wish SA and Tisas would start making some of their HP clones with LW frames.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Biggest flaw of the BHP is since JMB designed it around the 9MMP it cannot be chambered in other rounds without a major redesign and retooling. From what I have read the ones chambered in 40 S&W had problems.

 

[hyena]

My Hi Power was the first handgun I bought, in the mid 70's. Still consider it the finest handgun I own. Thousands of rounds through it, and never a single malfunction with factory ammunition. Still has the original recoil and magazine springs.

 

[biku324]

Mine is a mere youth from '93/'94 when they built them in 40 S&W. Carried to retirement, uniform and SRT with complete satisfaction (once I removed the magazine safety). Qualifications 4x-12x annually.

 

[dsf]

I grew up on the 1911 but always liked the BHP as a nicer, better finished and fitted pistol - a few accumulated over the years ..

A MkIII version in 40 S&W fitted with a 357 Sig barrel


A 1970s made that I picked up for about $450.00 (few years back) because the hammer followed the slide - an easy fix.


An Argentine made and an import with a full length slab slide, which I didn't notice when I bought it.

 

[Rock185]

I've been a fan since the '60s, and owned several since. Still have one or two

 

[Hair Trigger]

I like them, always have. If a 1911 fits you well, the Hi Power is a double stack 9mm that will probably also fit you well, along with the SA/DA CZ 75.

All three are classics.

I have a Browning Hi Power, an 80s vintage Hard Chrome Hi Power:

Looks just like mine, but mine dates to 1995. Is that one 9mm or .40S&W? Mine's a .40. Mine came with the same Pachmayr grips as yours but I put a set of cocobolo Hogue grips on mine.

Biggest flaw of the BHP is since JMB designed it around the 9MMP it cannot be chambered in other rounds without a major redesign and retooling. From what I have read the ones chambered in 40 S&W had problems.

The only tooling changes for the .40 are machining for a slightly wider slide and the addition of a third locking lug on the barrel and underside of the slide. Initially, there were issues with the forged 9mm frame cracking on the .40 version, but after Browning went to a cast frame the cracking issue disappeared, as it is much stronger. Mine is smooth as glass; I removed the magazine disconnect which improved my trigger and it hasn't had a single function issue since I've had it and I shoot it a lot.

 

[stanmerrell]

This is mine, Bought New in 1972 for $114.00.....I was a youngun...I put it on layaway paid on it weekly till it was mine. I did upgrade the sights to Millet adjustables........It's bad news on raccoons and armadillos. It still sleeps in the original Browning rug with Booklet.

Great story. Great buy. Thanks!

 

[Imissedagain]

Would not call a 7 lbs/2oz trigger crisp. To me it is way to stout. Personal choice, I guess. However, I do agree with the removal of the mag. disconnect!

Weight and crisp are two different things.
Even before the mag disconnect was removed the trigger was, I should have said, heavy but absolutely crisp.
Seemed to be a bit lighter after mag disconnect removed, but it was never measured prior.
Just apply pressure and it breaks.
That's my definition of crisp.
"No such thing as a stock BHP with a crisp trigger", said many at the range.
"Try it for a beer", said I.
Markham Park usually had Root Beer in the machine.
I don't mind a bit stout, as you say, just a clean break with pressure applied.
Recently installed a Geiessle SSP in one of our 6920s.
No range time yet and put the T36 on top.

My boy's Marine Gunnery Sergeant buddy, with a stock 6920,
only missed a few times, prone at 300yds, down at Homestead, during their many trips while he was TDY.
Taught my boy to clean his firearms properly.
Almost passed my white glove.
Hope we can all meet up when we get together for my niece's wedding in Lake Tahoe next year.
Her retired Deputy Sheriff uncle lives there, has a horse ranch, and I'll be bringing a Smith 460 with the Leupold DPP.
Miracles may happen and I'll have the
X Frame grips ready.

The small thumb safety on the BHP is a mystery as to why.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Bought mine in 1967, still have it. Recently fire it mostly with a Ciener Conversion Unit. Bought a ported barrel of Ebay. Mine has always shot lead bullets well.

 

[AJ]

Markham Park usually had Root Beer in the machine.

Do you know Holden Kriss?

 

[BB57]

I’ve owned a lot of Hi Powers over the years, but last week I found this one in factory nickel from 1981, gorgeous pistol. First one I’ve come across in nickel.

Browning had a couple models that were sometimes confused.

Yours is correctly identified as the Satin Nickel model. Shiny nickel finish, gold trigger, beer can sights, and originally wood grips with circle B logo.

The Hard Chrome model had a flat finish, blued controls, a gold trigger and wrap around Pachmayr grips with the Browning stag logo. There is also a serial number on the frame under the ejection port on the Hard Chrome model.