Browning Hi Power VS Springfield SA 35

I have a C-series from the mid-70s. Having read all the negative things about BHPs over the years, I have found that, at least in my hands and with my sample of one, my High Power is good enough to make it not worth going out and getting another.

Trigger: Six pounds and very crisp. It was never designed as a target gun, and I seriously doubt that any soldier carrying one would feel there is much difference between it and an issued 1911A1. I get the impression that late FN production triggers were a lot worse.

Safety: Yep, it's small. If you take the time to learn it, you have a lever that is extremely hard to have rub off by accident and (for me at least), works just fine.

The sights: I was resigned to being a point-shooter anyway, but cataract surgery has given me my old master-eye back and the sights are just fine now. In the unlikely event that I was to carry it, I would still just do an old-fashioned draw and point, because that just works really well for my particular situation. Sights and Weaver (with my cheek tucked into my arm like a rifle stock), are fun for longer ranges.

Magazine disconnect: I kept thinking I'd remove it eventually, but now I won't bother. As long as I use either the original magazine or the newer "mousetrap" mags, it doesn't affect the pull much. The bright blue Mec-Gars do drag on the disconnect lever. The "mousetrap" mags feed the rounds at a slightly higher angle and may be better for hollowpoints in an older BHP. I've only got two magazines full of hollowpoints through mine (no issues), so can't really definitively say.

Grips: Just fine as is, for my hand. If you like blue steel and walnut, this is a good 'un.

If you want a modern BHP, it sounds like an SA or a Girsan will do just fine. Since I have an older FN model (that isn't a collectible "don't shoot it" example), I'm good with mine. I feel like the High Power is the equivalent of a S&W K-frame .38 Special in terms of handling. I DO think its day as an issued weapon for large armed military and police forces is over, but so is the K-frame's. That doesn't mean both the BHP and the K-frame .38 Special can't serve individuals just fine.

I have no problem with those who customize their High Powers. I'm just more interested in learning the weapon as it was, whether it's a 1911, HP, S&W revolver, or whatever.

Just my opinion.

I seem to like mine OK.....

Mike said:

They did although it was somewhat different..Search Browning double action 9mm pistol.

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FN tried a few different updates on the Hi Power.

The pistol at the top is the BDM (Browning Dual Mode) which has a rotary switch with a “P” and an “R” that allows either traditional DA/SA “Pistol” operation or a DA only “Revolver” mode. It was developed as a candidate for one of the FBI pistol trials. It’s clearly intended for concealed carry use and has the thinnest profile I have never seen on a duty sized 9mm.

The pistol in the middle is the FN HP-DA, a DA/SA evolution of the Hi Power. It was introduced and failed, then reintroduced several years later in the US as the Browning BDA, and again was discontinued. FN/Browning felt that Hi Power fans would be thrilled with a DA version, but they were wrong.

The pistol at the bottom is the SFS Hi Power. It’s a Mk III high power with the Safety Fast Shooting system installed. It’s a drop in modification and you can get original FN parts for the conversion from Cylinder and Slide. They are a great idea in terms of allowing condition 1 carry with the hammer appearing to be “down” where it doesn’t freak out the general public when carried in a duty holster, and it also works really well for concealed carry. But it didn’t sell well and FN ended up selling off their SFS Hi Powers cheap through various distributors when they discontinued the pistol.





BDM width compared to the HP-DA.

BC38 said:

Never having even held one I bought a FEG Hungarian BHP clone just to see what all the fuss was about. Everything I've read says the FEG is a faithful reproduction of the original, and I like it just fine. Not my favorite of all time or anything, but still a decent sidearm.

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The FEG Hi Power pistols vary a bit.

The FEG P9 is a faithful pre Mk II Hi power clone with 100% parts compatibility.

The 1st generation P9M is a P9 with an extended safety, 3 dot sights, and a 1911 style slide stop in place of the Hi Power’s half moon shaped slide stop. Other than the slide stop and the slide with the smaller cut for the 1911 style stop, all the other parts are interchangeable with a Hi Power.

The 2nd Gen P9M used a S&W locking system and has a lot less parts commonality with a Hi Power.

Unfortunately when KBI imported them, they called them all the PJK-9HP.

FEG made Hi Powers to whatever specification the customer wanted, using round or spur hammers, wood or plastic grips, polished blue or parkerized finish, and P9, 1rst Gen or 2nd gen configuration - or a hybrid.

Again KBI was shooting for low cost so they’d take them with whatever parts FEG had on the shelf, and pistols like this one were common - a P9 with the 3 dot sights and extended safety lever of the 1rst Gen P9M. In polished and blued commercial form like this one, they are very nice pistols.



KBI also marketed a high end Hi Power designed to compete with Browning in the form of the Charles Daly Hi Power, which used FEG parts that were assembled in the US. I passed on one back when the were being produced as it wasn’t a “real” Hi Power, but that was a mistake made in ignorance.

At the other extreme you have the well worn and often abused military surplus FEG Hi Powers, most recently from Israel, where they sourced them as captures from other militaries, as pistols purchased directly from FEG in both FEG marked and counterfeit Browning marked form, and as parts kits assembled in Israel as the “Kareen” pistol.

CLMN said:

Likewise. I've been told that Springfield stopped shipping them with no restart scheduled. Anyone else hear that?

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I have heard they stopped production to fix a few quality issues, but as far as I have heard they plan to restart production when they get the teething pains worked out.

First, my Hi Power was the first handgun I ever bought, back around 1976. So it would be my sentimental choice. Second, I don't like Springfield Armory, and don't plan to ever buy any of their products. Not a huge 9mm fan anyway. I only own the one.

My 1974 vintage HP is my first handgun also. About 1985 or so, I had it worked on by the late Trapper Alexiu who was the armorer for several local PDs. He grafted S&W revolver sights on it, slicked up the action, and matted the top of he slide to reduce glare. And of course removed the magazine safety. Made a pleasant to shoot gun a whole lot better.

I've and shot a few High Powers, and carried a MkIII in 40 from 1993 or 1994 to retirement. The most reliable modification to improve the trigger in each was to carefully remove the mag safety.

I took the mag safety out of my rattlebox FEG once.

The improvement in the trigger was marginal, and I started having issues with trigger reset, so the mag safety went back in.

I've never seen an FEG in person.

biku324 said:

I've never seen an FEG in person.

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Owned two over the years...nice guns... wish I'd kept them as "truck"guns. Both bought used around $200-250 in the 90s.

But traded them off.... the second when I got a Browning MkIII.

Like I said above only 50rds through my SA35 but it's got a nice trigger!!!