I own a 1995 version of US Hi-Power. Mine shoots well but the hammer spur digs into my spare tire around my waist. I always carry it in IWB cross draw holster. But these days I carry my 66-2. As always never sell and keep in your family after you’re gone. Thanks S&W forum.
Looking at a 1989 Hi Power
- Thread starter zogger
- Start date
ridewv
Member
All of my HPs but one have had trigger jobs which involved removing the mag disconnect and changing to slightly lighter springs. I recommend this if you want to appreciate how nice these pistols can be to shoot.
Jäger1
Member
Sure, although you've already taken the plunge, apparently.
I've been carrying an FN High Power on and off the job since the mid 1970's when we were told we could purchase a pistol to carry instead of our Model 10s when working in plainclothes instead of in uniform. I headed off to the nearest bright lights where there were gun shops; the guy showed me one that I'm about 99% sure was a 1911 and another that was an FN High Power. I came home with a 69C High Power, which is pretty much my one and only pistol for everyday carry ever since then. On our property here next to Glacier National Park and anywhere else fishing or whatever, I carry a Dan Wesson CBOB in 10mm - grumbly bears are regular visitors here, a mountain biker was killed on a trail about 15 minutes away a few years ago by a griz. The CBOB 1911 styles feel almost the same in the hand as the High Power.
What you have purchased (you can determine the year of manufacture from the S/N) is a MkII or MkIII High Power, the chubby gals that replaced the previous T and C series pistols that are slightly more svelte in the hand. If you don't have any time in shooting the earlier series of High Powers, chances are you aren't likely to notice the difference. I accidentally ended up with three more High Powers, all MkIII pistols in 40 S&W; one a Practical, the other two standard models with adjustable sights that appear to sourced by FN from LPA in Italy. All three have become safe queens; they feel slightly heavy and sluggish in the hand compared to the original C series High Power.
From my experiences with both varients and holsters, if a holster will fit a T/C series High Power, it will also fit a MkII or MkIII - they are that close in size.
Some well known writers have said that the original High Powers are not strong enough for any regular diet of +P ammunition. However, the Canadian Inglis High Powers served from WWII until recently, when their replacement with the new Sig pistol began to filter down to the troops.
Those Inglis pistols were in service for 80+ years, and the only ammunition they were fed over that time was the NATO ammunition for use in both pistols and submachinegun guns. That NATO standard ammunition is just slightly below what is known today as +P working pressures - those Inglis pistols just kept feeding, firing, and ejecting that ammunition for 80 years.
The key to that longevity using NATO military ammunition is that those pistols go through a First Line Maintenance inspection and service at least once a year. One of the key things to inspect is the mainspring - I wouldn't be surprised if many of the civilian High Powers out there have NEVER had the mainspring inspected or replaced.
A lot of people in North America kick up a fuss about the magazine connect for assorted personal reasons. As with all personal choices in firearms, it's yours, your employer didn't issue it to you, so you can do what you want.
As an observation however, among those issued the High Power were the British SAS as well as the Australian and New Zealand SAS and the Canadian SAS which became the Canadian Airborne Regiment. Various militaries carried the High Power through WWII, Korea, the Malaysian Insurrection, Vietnam, Northern Ireland, Rhodesia and South Africa's bush wars, and finally the Gulf War and Afghanistan and Iraq.
With all the militaries and police forces in the world that issued the High Power, I'm not aware of any who chose to have their High Powers without the magazine connect (or the original safety modified). Not a single one of them over the life of the time they issued the pistols either ordered their High Powers from FN or built under license with no magazine disconnect, or had their military gun plumbers remove the magazine disconnect.
Doesn't mean leaving the magazine disconnect as is will be best for you, but after using the High Power through all those decades of wars, those military units decided that the magazine disconnect and the trigger pull were just fine as is when used by them in all those years of wars.
The High Power trigger pull, just like a revolver, will slick up a lot from dry firing and/or actual shooting. You will never get the proverbial 3.5# trigger pull that breaks like a glass rod, but this pistol was designed from the beginning to be used by troops in combat, being shot at on the two way range, and the trigger was designed for that use, not precision competition shooting use.
To give you some context on the trigger pull, the military specification for the High Power trigger pull is that it should be no less than 5 lb. and no more than 8 lbs. Which is about identical to the specified trigger pull range for the M16/M4 variant service rifles, which few complain about.
You can find and download the military pams for the High Power. The Canadian pams cover everything from operator's instructions, to First Line Maintenance in the field and finally, Fourth Line Maintenance for when pistols are backloaded for complex repairs at the armories.
About the only other thing I can think to add at the moment is that John Browning had very, very little to do with the development of what became FN's P35 service pistol. Other than Browning submitting two striker fired designs after the French turned down the first prototype designed by Saive, all the development work from the first prototype to the final design that became the P35 pistol was entirely the design work of Saive.
bananaman
Member
I have always wanted a High Power until I held one in my hand. The grip angle just felt FOREIGN to me. So.... just never bought 1. Bob
cowboy94916
Member
Between 1977 and 1991 I bought 4 9mm Hi-powers a fixed sight, a practical and 2 with adjustable sights, I loved the feel and how they handled, that is until I fired them and everyone caused hammer bite, Then I bought a Mark III 40 because I had to try one. Well to my pleasant surprise it didn't bite. I kept it and sold the rest. I am currently considering getting a 9mm barrel to make it dual caliber convertible.
Keep in mind there is no SAAMI standard for 9mm +P+ ammunition. Since no European country falls under SAAMI standards, I don't know how this German ammo could be rated as such, even if there were such a rating. Maybe +P+ is just the American importer trying to say it is very high pressure ammo; higher than +P. I don't know.
I doubt that this ammo will blow up your pistol. I am certain though, that it will cause premature wear.
I would not use it in any 9mm pistol.
This ammo is Hirtenberg or Hirtenberger 9mm 100grain used for auto machine guns I believe. I bought 6 boxes of 50 rounds and I shot one box in my Hi-Power years ago. I bought this ammo in the early 90’s.
