Browning Hi Power

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I have my dads BHP in 9mm. He got it used in trade for some dental work about 1976. I couldn't see the factory sights so had the rear sight changed to an adjustable sight and a trigger job. It's a fun gun to shoot and I've never had a problem with it.
 
Picked up this MkIII in .40 S&W recently. It was made in 1995, the 2nd year of the 40. So glad it is a standard model that is blued instead of coated with black epoxy. Swapped out the OEM grips for some Hogue goncalo alves grips.




I have it’s twin from 1994. I’ve started shooting it more than my 9mm HP’s. Previous owner changed rear sight to an adjustable sight off another HP(appears to be made by Millet but has the Browning logo) and also changed the front but it’s a little low. Finally found a taller front sight in stock and will be here end of the week. Once I figured where to aim, it has produced some groups that are surprisingly tight.
 

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Just never had any interest in the flat black
painted Brownings, with grips to match.

Caught a new beautiful deep blue one,
close to the last availability of them.

Trigger was heavy beyond shootable for me,
did the year wait for Cylinder & Slide, and then
a couple months for return.

Came back with an incredible clean crisp 3 lb. trigger,
couldn't be happier with it.

Been on Spegels grips waiting list for well over a year.
I'll have him make a set when he calls, and probably sell
them on the Forum, the BHspring solution grips
really grew on me.
 

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When the .40 Hi Power came out I attended law enforcement day at the NRA headquarters in Northern Virginia. Among other guns being displayed by manufacturers was the then new .40 Browning. I tried it and didn't really like it...at least compared to 9mm Hi Powers. The recoil was a bit snappier which was normal for the .40...but the pistol really twisted in my hands...again I'm comparing to the 9mm Hi Power. The bore axis was somewhat higher for the bigger round and that made the difference.
 
Picked up this MkIII in .40 S&W recently. It was made in 1995, the 2nd year of the 40. So glad it is a standard model that is blued instead of coated with black epoxy. Swapped out the OEM grips for some Hogue goncalo alves grips.

Beautiful! I have a .40 BHP made the same year as yours, mine came with wraparaound Pachmayrs, which looked fine on the silver chrome finish mine has, but they made the grip thicker than I like. I put a set of smooth cocobolo Hogues on mine. I had wanted a BHP for years and specifically the .40S&W version, finally found mine at a gun show. It was by itself in the corner a glass case that was full of little .25 and .32 Saturday Night Specials, and was absolutely filthy inside.

I only got one magazine with it, the mousetrap type like you have. I ordered a couple more 10-round Mec-Gar magazines without the mousetrap, as I removed the magazine disconnect from mine when I took it apart for the deep cleaning it needed. Without the disconnect, magazines drop free and don't need the little spring, and it improved the trigger feel. Mine also has the target sights, and I love shooting this gun. It will take about any .40 load you want to feed it, and it's the most accurate pistol I own. Congrats on a very nice and less common BHP.
 

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Nice find! A 40 HP helped remind me of the need to check for setback of handloads and factory rounds. As i get older, it gets tougher to dissemble and reassemble.
 
Very nice, like the improved sights and safety lever. I only have one left, my 1st. Got it at the Tupperware gun show, when they had them over 40 years ago. 245PZ prefix. Joe
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I have several High Powers, and this one is my latest acquisition. It was customized with a Bar-Sto barrel and the workmanship is really great. The accents on the hammer, thumbs safeties and slide release are a nice constrast to the hard chrome finish.

I bought this gun on a Gunbroker auction. To better my chances, I put in an oddball bid instead of a round number. It turned out I beat out the next bidder by 22 cents.
 

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Several years ago I had a 9mm with epoxy finish.
Nice gun. Son has it now.
Time is running out so if I come across a glossy
blued one it better be soon.
 
I had a Belgian Browning Hi Power made in the late 70's or very early 80's that had been worked on by Cylinder & Slide (bought it that way). It had the best trigger I have ever felt on a Hi Power and the bluing was a beautiful high gloss.

The only reason I sold it was back at that time I wasn't really interested in 9mm calibers and did not reload that caliber then. The only reason I bought it was because a friend could no longer keep it and gave it to me for ridiculous price I just couldn't refuse. I sort of regret selling it.
 
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