Rounding out the collection: Hi-Power Opinions
- Thread starter NCTexan
- Start date
bmcgilvray
Member
The only serious 9mm is a Hi-Power. I'm another who admires the Hi-Power.
Walter Rego
Member
Every handgun aficionado should own one. I bought one of the Austrian Gendarmerie trade-ins that appeared on the market about 12 years ago at very reasonable prices. It was made in 1955 and has the concealed extractor and "thumbprint" slide. I liken it to a 5 screw S&W in that it was made back before cost reductions and so called "improvements" were initiated. It gets out to the range for a box of shells occasionally and has never malfunctioned although all I have fed it is ball ammo too, in deference to the period from when it was made. The best of the modern era P-35's are the T-Prefix serial number series. You'll pay a premium, but they are beautiful.
LedFowl
Member
I recently bought a used .40 caliber. It's a heavy duty piece. No power steering, no air. Definitely a keeper.
NFrameFred
Member
Yeah, the increase in slide weight and corresponding extra poundage of the recoil spring are not for everyone - I know a few guys and a lot of women who can't cycle the slide easily; but that is the most comfortable shooting and accurate .40 cal I've ever owned. Deadly on racks of steel plates all the way back to 25 yards.
cmort666
Member
CDNN were practically giving those away a few years ago. I'm still kicking myself for not buying one.
I have the HP Practical. It is by far the easiest and most accurate 9mm I own to shoot. It is a tack driver. I like the looks of the traditional ones also and went to buy one they other day but was 10 minutes late.
I wanted a Hi-Power for years - and finally bought this one several months ago. I'm only sorry I didn't buy one sooner. This one is a real pleasure to shoot, and goes to the range with me fairly often.
Jerry
Jerry
I just read on the Sig forum that a number of hp's from Israel are now available. There are stories of prices under 400. If you look on auctionarms there are several listed there.
george minze
Member
Still one of the best. Mine is mint condition and has been tweaked, shoots almost as good as a target pistol...I have a Belgium with some Camp recommended up grades. Read the articles by Steve Camp undoubtedly the foremost expert on the ageless BHP It is a steel pistol, that gives it a head start in my book...Of course I'm old,wish I aged as well as the High Power. Sometimes tried and true is better than every gimmick no matter how good the idea is.
I suppose it's a tossup as to which Browning creation, the 1911 or the BHP, is more of a classic. Probably depends on which hemisphere you're in.
For people with my hand size, the BHP is just about as good as a 1911, which is to say great. And it does this with 12-14 rounds in the mag. Although the grip is a bit thicker, the rest of the gun is the same size as the 1911. In fact, you can usually get away with using the same holster.
I have found the BHP to be one of the fastest-recovery full power pistols made, probably because the axis of the bore is pretty close to the axis of my forearm. Although I seem to be a bit slower these days, I can still remember how impressed I was the first time I fired one.
I am one of those who is cautious in response to rumors that the 1911 and BHP can discharge if dropped (this probably requires that at least a few other things be wrong or go wrong), so I prefer Series 80 Colts or Para-Ords, and the later BHP models with a somewhat similar firing pin block. Those who don't see a need would probably be better served with the simpler models.
Great gun. Classic. I was very fortunate to find a 1987 Belgian MkII after all these years, although I'm quite sure that the Portuguese-assembled ones are just as good. In fact, my Belgian was the first factory Belgian I ever saw with a decent safety. Until that time, I thought that proper fitting of safeties was done only by the Portuguese factory and American after-market gunsmiths.
For people with my hand size, the BHP is just about as good as a 1911, which is to say great. And it does this with 12-14 rounds in the mag. Although the grip is a bit thicker, the rest of the gun is the same size as the 1911. In fact, you can usually get away with using the same holster.
I have found the BHP to be one of the fastest-recovery full power pistols made, probably because the axis of the bore is pretty close to the axis of my forearm. Although I seem to be a bit slower these days, I can still remember how impressed I was the first time I fired one.
I am one of those who is cautious in response to rumors that the 1911 and BHP can discharge if dropped (this probably requires that at least a few other things be wrong or go wrong), so I prefer Series 80 Colts or Para-Ords, and the later BHP models with a somewhat similar firing pin block. Those who don't see a need would probably be better served with the simpler models.
Great gun. Classic. I was very fortunate to find a 1987 Belgian MkII after all these years, although I'm quite sure that the Portuguese-assembled ones are just as good. In fact, my Belgian was the first factory Belgian I ever saw with a decent safety. Until that time, I thought that proper fitting of safeties was done only by the Portuguese factory and American after-market gunsmiths.
Everybody needs a BHP ;^)
The fit in my hand is perfect . I have worked in a gun shop for 25yrs and have handled "them all" . The BHP just feels good . Like an old leather glove that you're worn for years .
I've owned 15-20 over the years . I'm down to just this 9mm (never owned a .40) . It still feels better to me than all the poly framed pistols with new contours and back straps . I've had this HP since about 1995 . Picked it up used and sent it off to Novak's . Bought the folder from Pat Crawford at the Houston? SHOT show about the same time .
The fit in my hand is perfect . I have worked in a gun shop for 25yrs and have handled "them all" . The BHP just feels good . Like an old leather glove that you're worn for years .
I've owned 15-20 over the years . I'm down to just this 9mm (never owned a .40) . It still feels better to me than all the poly framed pistols with new contours and back straps . I've had this HP since about 1995 . Picked it up used and sent it off to Novak's . Bought the folder from Pat Crawford at the Houston? SHOT show about the same time .
OP
NCTexan
US Veteran
OK Folks... You've done it.
I thought that it was just 'hot flashes'.... now I know that I have a full blown case of Browning Fever.
Looks like there's only one Hi-Powered cure. Thanks!
I thought that it was just 'hot flashes'.... now I know that I have a full blown case of Browning Fever.
Looks like there's only one Hi-Powered cure. Thanks!
sipowicz
Member
A little trigger work, nice sights, an extended safety and you are good to go...and honestly, if you don't plan to carry it, the safety and sights aren't even necessary...I can shoot bullseye much better with the little stock half moons than with the novaks.....
ChuckS1
US Veteran
I have a T series form the 60's and I think it's one of my favorites. Just feels good in my hand and shoots pretty good at 25 yards
BruceHMX
Member
Many great options here.
I have owned three.
An Inglis with fixed sights, West Germany Police FN from the 50's and a Browning from the 60's.
The best shooter was the Inglis. Ugly with black Brit paint but shot like a ball of fire.
You need to get one!! Any type of Hi Power they are the bomb.
I have owned three.
An Inglis with fixed sights, West Germany Police FN from the 50's and a Browning from the 60's.
The best shooter was the Inglis. Ugly with black Brit paint but shot like a ball of fire.
You need to get one!! Any type of Hi Power they are the bomb.
With apologies to Mike Carmoney. my shop is where "magazine disconnects go to die." The one on the High Power is particularly egregious because of the bad effect on trigger pull. Removing it certainly improves that.
Of the six I have, the one with the best trigger pull from the factory (w/o the mag disconnect) is on an Indian MK 1A from the old Ishapore Arsenal. The pistol is an unlicensed copy of a Canadian Inglis, has an ugly parkerized finish, and can put everything into an inch at 15 yards. I put a Dawson Precision light pipe front sight on it which improved the sight picture (the Inglis front dovetail is the same as the old Para-Ord - must be a Canadian thing, eh).
Buck
Of the six I have, the one with the best trigger pull from the factory (w/o the mag disconnect) is on an Indian MK 1A from the old Ishapore Arsenal. The pistol is an unlicensed copy of a Canadian Inglis, has an ugly parkerized finish, and can put everything into an inch at 15 yards. I put a Dawson Precision light pipe front sight on it which improved the sight picture (the Inglis front dovetail is the same as the old Para-Ord - must be a Canadian thing, eh).
Buck
OP
NCTexan
US Veteran
S&W Forum Members... You have all been formally charged with "adding and abetting" by my wife.
Due to overwhelming positive responses, much gratuitous encouragement, and my weakened emotional state... I took the plunge.
Now "Moses" has been added to my collection. I would not (ever) say that my collection is complete... but it certainly is much better "rounded out" with the addition of a BHP.
Thanks again for all the great comments and suggestions.
BTW, my wife just shook her head and said that "I am to guns... as the Crazy Cat Lady is to cats!"
Due to overwhelming positive responses, much gratuitous encouragement, and my weakened emotional state... I took the plunge.
Now "Moses" has been added to my collection. I would not (ever) say that my collection is complete... but it certainly is much better "rounded out" with the addition of a BHP.
Thanks again for all the great comments and suggestions.
BTW, my wife just shook her head and said that "I am to guns... as the Crazy Cat Lady is to cats!"
NC, if that one crossed my path, I wouldn't be able to resist. That's a beauty, for sure.
Tracer_Bullet
Member
I held off on getting a BHP for a long time and when I finally gave in I could have kicked myself for not buying one sooner. I find that the finish of the magazines really has a lot to do with the trigger pull. Mine is rough with blued mags, but much smoother with the factory parkerized mags. Lightly polishing the trigger lever and the surface of the magazine disconnect helped a lot too.
That's a fine looking HP you got there NCTexan, enjoy!
That's a fine looking HP you got there NCTexan, enjoy!
semperfi71
US Veteran
Some very good info here. I too have always thought about an HP and wondered, "Which variation?"
Sounds to me like almost any variant has the potential to be a great weapon.
Sounds to me like almost any variant has the potential to be a great weapon.
Like any handgun, it is all in how it feels in your hands. While it looks like the grip would make it feel "clunky", I found it to be just the opposite and I bought one on the spot. While John Browning's M1911 is a workhorse, the Hi-Power feels like a finely tuned watch. I thought the trigger would cause me problems, but I found in high-intensity shooting scenarios, you don't even notice the trigger pull. A great example of fine gun making!
sipowicz
Member
First handgun I ever owned and would be my last (if I were allowed to carry it)
cjwils
Member
About 30 years ago, I bought a new at the time BHP. With thousands of rounds of hardball ammo, it worked perfectly every time, but would often jam with hollow points or even round nosed soft points. Bullets being pushed forward would stick at the bottom of the ramp. The only hollow point that worked reliably was a Remington round that looked like a hardball bullet with a small hole in the front. My BHP was stolen in the mid 1980s, and I haven't checked to see if those Remington hollow points are still available.
My jamming problems with hollow points were worse if the gun was stored with a full magazine. Perhaps long-term compression of the magazine spring made the magazine function less reliably.
Other than that, a great gun.
My jamming problems with hollow points were worse if the gun was stored with a full magazine. Perhaps long-term compression of the magazine spring made the magazine function less reliably.
Other than that, a great gun.
bennettfam
Member
Similar history with my BHP. Many years ago I read that the LAPD used Remington hollowpoints in their Berettas for the same reason: feeding reliability. For that reason I only keep Remmy hollowpoints around for my High Power. But shoot ball ammo for practice by the hundreds.
