My One and Only Browning Hi-Power

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Paid $110 for mine in the Fall of 1967, bit of a stretch for a PFC E-3. Still have it. Bought a Ciener Conversion Unit for it a few years ago, another worthwhile investment.

 

[LMLarsen]

Years ago I had an Argentine FM that was mildly tuned and tweaked by a local guy. Had to sell it when the money ran out, and still miss it...

 

[sodacan]

They are terrific pistols. Interestingly, I also owned a model 59 at the same time I bought my Hi Power. The 59 was supposed to be the first S&W " wonder nine", and it was. I wondered why I bought it, but never wondered why I sold it. Always wished the HP came in 45acp.

 

[wx7b]

Careful with the old beer can sights, the screws can loosen up and fly off easily. Use blue locktite after sighting in. Also, don't tighten too much, as it can squeeze and break the notched portion due to the sharp corners stress cracking. Ask me how I know these things....Parts are getting harder to find. I have spares!

 

[bdGreen]

They are terrific pistols. Interestingly, I also owned a model 59 at the same time I bought my Hi Power. The 59 was supposed to be the first S&W " wonder nine", and it was. I wondered why I bought it, but never wondered why I sold it. Always wished the HP came in 45acp.

Ha. That right there.

Never warmed up to the 59.

Love just about everything on the Hi-Power. The safety is a bit cranky.

bdGreen

 

[bdGreen]

Careful with the old beer can sights, the screws can loosen up and fly off easily. Use blue locktite after sighting in. Also, don't tighten too much, as it can squeeze and break the notched portion due to the sharp corners stress cracking. Ask me how I know these things....Parts are getting harder to find. I have spares!

When I purchased this particular gun it was at a time in my life that all guns had to have adjustable sights. I have deviated from that considerably through the years. But, my Hi-Power has a permanent place in my home.

Thanx for the info on the rear sight.

bdGreen

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Yep, just one, tuned to group at 25 yards.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I often joke that the Browning HP was JMB/Dieudonne Saive's one mistake. Since they designed it around the 9MMP, it cannot be upgraded to larger calibers without a major redesign-sort of like the S&W M639 and 645.
I found my Browning HP always gave me good accuracy with lead bullets.

 

[sipowicz]

I think its perfectly balanced, sleek with gorgeous lines as is. I think a redesign would be a bigger mistake than Mickey Rourke's upgrades by his Plastic Surgeon.

 

[rincar]

I like High powers. I have 2 Inglis High powers, 2 Feg High power, and 2 FN high powers. and would not turn down a Argentine High power or a Tisas High powers. If I could find one at a reasonable price.

 

[pasound]

A friend at work traded a Glock .45 for a Hi-Power 9mm, straight up. I'm jealous.

 

[Bill Bates]

I had the Hi-Power out this afternoon. My eyes are struggling to focus on the fine factory sights. I had to trade out my shooting glasses for my reading glass to tighten up my groups.

I think it is time to get some bi-focal shooting glasses.

 

[MCorps0311]

That's very nice.

 

[M29since14]

You guys are making me want to drag out my High Power and shoot it. I believe I will. There's no law against it - yet!

I particularly like the C&S hammers on 153's and BlueRidgeBoy's HPs. When I first saw those hammers years ago they seemed odd, but now everything else looks odd to me.

 

[Short_Round]

Paid $110 for mine in the Fall of 1967, bit of a stretch for a PFC E-3. Still have it. Bought a Ciener Conversion Unit for it a few years ago, another worthwhile investment.

Damn, that investment has increased in value like bitcoin since then!

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Mastercylinder]

More than a few years

Nice buy. I got one for 220 a few years ago. None fits my hand better. It was more like 15 years ago and I was happy to get it for that price. The hi power is one of my favorite pistols though. It even has some dings on it and wear but was one of my best purchases.

 

[rincar]

One of my FN high powers was gifted to me. By a little old lady that my wife and I had assisted several time. The High Power was her deceased husband. I tried to get her to let me pay her for it. But she would not let me pay her for it. It is a real nice 73C series.

 

[gregintenn]

I've never owned one, shot one, or even held one. You guys are making me jealous. Maybe I can find one sometime and correct this travesty.

 

[Heinz]

I owned one years ago. It was produced in FN under the Nazi occupation and had a tangent sight and a slot for a shoulder stock. It was a wonderful example of what skilled gunsmiths could do when they wanted to produce a bad gun. I could not keep 10 rounds on a 12-inch target at 50 feet from a rest. We took it apart and every tolerance was on the loose side, either slightly over or right at the no-go line. The barrel was tighter at the breach than at the muzzle. It only jammed about once in two magazines. It actually ruined me on High powers for along time. Now I wish I had it because it was, in its own way, a work of gunsmiths art. Now that I know it was not representative I should get one from the late 20th century.

 

[rincar]

I have read that the workers in occupied nations. Would try to sabotage as many of the weapons they were forced to produce as possible. So maybe that was the case with your High Power.