Browning Hi-Power as a carry gun

imjin138

imjin138

US Veteran
Joined
Mar 28, 2004
Messages
1,272
Reaction score
195
Location
Racine Wi. USA
I don't want to start a firestorm today but since I have a few Browning Hi-Power pistols I have given some thought of making one an alternate carry gun. Anyone else use one as a carry gun? My plan is to use 124grn or 147 grn ammo as a defense round.

Any thoughts or suggestions?
 
Register to hide this ad
Don't know why it would cause a firestorm.
Mine carries just fine in a Safariland holster on a Looper belt.
I choose 124gr Gold Dots. Choose the ammo you prefer.

Not exactly a pocket gun, but easily covered by a sports jacket, shirt-jac, etc.
 
I have a couple of Hi-Powers and have carried them occasionally.
One of the holster I used was an old Dillon Leather LTD made for the 1911. One was made for the Hi-Power. Both worked well.

Ammo I've used includes 115 and 124 grain loads from Winchester and Cor-
Bon. I have also shot a lot of surplus FMJ ammo in practice.

I see no reason not to carry a BHP if you feel like doing so.
 
With the Browning my only concern was magazines. As long as you have good, reliable magazines, you should be all set. As for ammo, I have used two or three different types in my guns but always try to use the +P stuff sparingly. The norm for me is Federal 124 gr Hydra-shok +P and the Winchester Ranger 124 gr. SXT +P. I am not a big fan of 147 gr. loads in 9x19.
 
I've frequently carried a Browning. It carries pretty much like an M1911. I only carry IWB, in one of my handmade tuckable IWB holsters.

The BHP is a great CCW gun. I use the Winchester White Box 147gr. JHPs, with which it's both accurate and reliable.
 
The Browning Hi Power has always been one of my "must have" pieces. I've carried and used the Hi Power since 1970 or so, on 3 continents and in multiple roles in military and civilian life. I would never feel under-armed with a Hi Power in my hand or under my pillow in any circumstances.

Picked up a short case of Speer Gold Dot 124-grain ammo a few years back, and it is just as good as 9mm ammo can be.
 
I love the High Power, but I've never felt comfortable with it for concealed carry because the safety doesn't 'click' on or off the way a 1911 safety does. Sure, if the safety is up the gun's on safe, and if it's down it's on fire, but it doesn't 'tell" you that; you don't feel or hear it happen. Moreover, more than once I've holstered a High Power set on safe -- crossdraw, in a good IWB holster made for the gun -- and found it set on fire when I drew it.
 
Heck yes! Few firearms have the real world cred's of this gun. Among it's virtues are incredible ergonomics, fantastic reliability, slender and flat slide (aiding concealability) and better than average cartridge capacity. It's only the advent of the polymer gun that give the Hi Power a significant disadvantage over more modern pistols: weight. However, as pointed out many times above, a good holster pretty much eliminates the issue.

Out
West
 
Love and carry my HP. I have two, a "T" 1967 that is unfired{I dont carry that one} and a Practical that has a Bar-Sto barrel, C&S hammer and sear and Tru-glo sights {the carry gun.} I carry it for one reason...of all the handguns I own {about 50} it is the one I consistently shoot the best. I have a shoulder rig, a small of back, a Wilderness case and a "Day planner" when holsters just wont work. I do not carry it "cocked and locked." I figure if I got time to push the safety off then I also got time to pull the hammer back. Fortunately I have not had to find out and I am hopeful it will stay that way, but it is my carry gun in bear country {cabin in Virginia} or urban environment and everywhere in between. I prefer Winchester Ranger ammo but often carry with Federal Hydro-shok as well.
 
Hi Powers are proven, world wide, to be reliable, accurate enough, and powerful enough for general self defense. Perhaps the most commonly found pistol in military & civilian use in the free world during the Cold War (outside the USA).

9mm ammo is often cheaper, and 40 S&W ammo is commonly found around here.

Two problems are the lack of marketing and skyrocketing retail prices.
 
Gotta have good ammo............

I am in line for a Hi-power when finances permit. I carry around a Beretta brigadier now for the 9MM side of things. My only problem is I'm not a fan of the .40S&W and that leaves the 9MM. The ammo offered today is anemic at best. I have some IMI 9MM +P carbine ammo that is sufficient. Bargain 9mm ammo suxx for speed, let alone power. Critical defense or double tap should be ok, but it is not where it should be power-wise, as when the cartridge was incepted. A 16 pound spring(in my Beretta) and 1400-1450 FPS is good 9MM ammo in my opinion. Those HP's can be darned sexy pistols when set up properly. Again, JMO
 
I've never carried mine but I've carried full size 1911. Had a buddy who was a LRRP in "Nam. Preferred the HiPower over the 1911 due to magazine capacity. He said he carried his around town, concealed.
 
Still my favorite auto of all time...wish I could carry it but not allowed single actions. If you feel comfortable with cocked and locked, then go for it. On a related note, Jim Hoag called me yesterday and said mine is ready....can't wait to try his 4.5 pound trigger!

P1070484.jpg
 
The Hi-Power is one of my favorite "full-size" semi-autos (the 1911 being the other). I use a Galco IWB holster that is for a 1911 Commander and it fits the Hi-Power perfectly. A loose t-shirt in warm weather, or a jacket or sweatshirt in colder weather cover it up nicely. An excellent choice for concealed carry in my opinion. :cool:
Ammo-wise, I stick with 124gr or 147 golden sabres, gold dots, or rangers/pdx1.
 
Last edited:
Limey46 said:
I love the High Power, but I've never felt comfortable with it for concealed carry because the safety doesn't 'click' on or off the way a 1911 safety does. Sure, if the safety is up the gun's on safe, and if it's down it's on fire, but it doesn't 'tell" you that; you don't feel or hear it happen. Moreover, more than once I've holstered a High Power set on safe -- crossdraw, in a good IWB holster made for the gun -- and found it set on fire when I drew it.
Click to expand...

This may have been addressed in later engineering changes. My Mark III clicks noticeably, and can be felt when the safety changes position.
 
I have owned a Mark III for about 10 years now. Recently, I started carrying it instead of my Beretta 92. The Browning conceals easily here in Florida just under an untucked t-shirt in a strong side IWB holster.
 
Great pistol for all around use. I have owned Hi-Powers since the early 70's and would not be without. I have carried one at various times and never felt uncomfortable with it.
 
The one I plan to use is a 1973 Belgian made pistol, I bought used at Gander a few weeks ago. I am testing magazines now. I just ordered a Lobo snap on for my Glock 30 and now plan on looking for a holster for the Browning. I am not a fan of IWB but I think the Browning is Thin enough for me to try one. Otherwise it will be a standard OWB RH I order.

I have the Captain Model which I like but with the tangent sites I wouldn't use it for CCW. And I have a couple of German WWII guns I won't use either but do shoot.
 
As a rookie policeman in Cincinnati mid 60's the only semi auto's you ever saw in police service were the L&N rail Railroad detectives assigned to the Eastern Ky. branch of the L&N. The EK branch took in Revanna, and Hazard Ky. A very rough place in the 60's. The coal miners would go out on strike, their attitude was that the RR's were part of the coal operators. Only somewhat true. The EK branch at the time had two of the highest RR trestles in the country. Miners were knowledgeable with dynamite.... Not a good combination if you are a RR crewman. RR detectives had to ride and check those trestles during coal outages or problems between small independents and the large coal operators.
The RR detectives were about as popular as the revenuers in eastern Ky. Needless to say not popular at all. The detectives had a lot of authority in each state the main line or feeder lines were located in. Most of them carried BHP's an occasional 1911, and once in a while you would see the new S&W 39. Sometime we would go to Covington Ky. to shoot and we would see them there and watch them shoot..Generally pretty good shots....Their stories of Eastern Ky. were always colorful and somewhat true. They had some influence with us young cops and we started to shoot BHP's just for fun. I have loved them ever since. Have owned one or more for over 40 years....I would check with Steve Camp during later years when ever I had a question. Sad to see him go. He would tell you straight about the pistols with out worrying about magazine subscriptions and advertisers. Every thing you should know and nothing you shouldn't know. Great guns, everybody should own at least one or two. I have been looking at a 40SW caliber for sometime and trying to have some sense about buying or not....I really have never been a fan of that round for no good reason just didn't care for it......I would appreciate any info on that caliber as it relates to the BHP. I don't need it, but when has that ever kept me from buying a handgun...To Steve.... RIP
 
I carry mine frequently with Winchester Ranger in a Sparks Summer Special or VMII holster. Also carry an extra mag of 13 rounds. Installed Trijion night sights on it. Good to go.
 
Last edited:
I think the HP is a great 9mm; if I were where .45 ACP ammo was not available and forced to use 9mm, it would be high on my list for carry guns. I had this FEG HP clone customized at Cylinder and Slide to correct the few faults I find with the stock guns. The sights, the trigger pull, the safety, and the tendency for the gun to bite the hand that feeds it have all been addressed here.

John

HP-SMALL.jpg
 
HiPower!

I have had several P35's over the years. Currently, I have a Mk III that was moderately worked over by someone who knows how to do that. It has had Novak night sights added and the barrel recrowned and a round hammer and positive safety. The trigger was brought down to a smooth 5 lbs with the mag disconnect still there. It was coated with Birdsong Black T coating. It has a very nice, dark set of finely checkered walnut grips by a well know maker. Its a very nice and accurate pistol. It has run 100% on anything I feed it. I have 15 dependable mags for it.

It is carried infrequently because when I want to carry a pistol that size and weight I usually go for either a LW Commander .45 or my old Colt GM .45. If I am going to carry a smaller caliber I usually go smaller and lighter and pick my Kahr P9 Covert. Plus, the Kahr is easily replaced and the HP is not. I hate to get it worn from constsnt use. But, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the BHP. It is a very attractive and well balanced piece that is the only high capacity 9mm that fits my hand perfectly.
 
I carry my Mk III .40 when I'm travelling, and in a Miami Classic shoulder rig. It keeps it secure and easily accessable, and the twin mag pouch on the off side balances it nicely. I prefer a .40 over the 9, but that's just me. This is the softest shooting most controllable .40 I've ever used. The one drawback is taking it down for cleaning. They engineered the gun with a HEAVY recoil spring, and puttin it back together will flat wear out your thumb! And be prepared to put some Ooomph into racking the slide, too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

kimberst245
  • Locked
FS/FT Assorted Goodies...
Replies
14
Views
5K
kimberst245
kimberst245
jimmyj
9mm Magazine Alternating Cartridges
Replies
28
Views
3K
gunblade
gunblade
NCTexan
Rounding out the collection: Hi-Power Opinions
2
Replies
55
Views
7K
haggis
H
skeezix
  • Locked
**Withdrawn**For Sale: Grips, Rings, and Other Stuff
Replies
8
Views
2K
skeezix
skeezix
D
Need advice: which 9mm?
Replies
24
Views
3K
Double-O-Dave
D

Latest posts

Back
Top