Browning Hi Power, Discontinued

[John_R]

I think BHPs are very good looking. The price always turned me away, otherwise I'd have bought one long ago. There's a mystique to them.

 

[Hanshi]

Just about all the guns I own, hand AND long guns, are no longer available; certainly not in the original format. The used gun racks are now the only source for them. I really like the BHP. It fits my hand much better than any other Hi-cap pistol.

 

[bgw45]

Guess I'll just have to suffer along with my CZs.

 

[JR24]

So I gotta bump up my plans to buy an old hi power and have c&s slick it up earlier?

Or just get a trigger and hammer job on my MK III and have done.

While my favorite feel in the hand, my Hi Power has the sad distinction as my worst shooting 9mm (I shoot all 3 size Glock 9mm better) and least likely to carry.

But I just love it and never will part with it.

 

[Pilot]

My factory silver chrome MKIII BHP is my most accurate centerfire handgun, and it is totally stock. My CZ-75's are about equal to it, but Browning/FN did not keep all the models they once had in the 90's. When I bought mu solver chrome I could get several variants like the two tone Practical model, as well as others. I guess they will focus on their plastic, FN pistols.

 

[RA40]

Times change and for the pistol to have lasted this long is pretty remarkable. The HP definitely had a great production lifespan! For the fans this is a sad time. The prices in the $900's is a lot of money when the strikers are several hundred less and trendier for many shooters to buy. Good part is that for as many years this was in production, the Hi Power is out there.

This had me thinking of the BDM.

 

[csa77]

the mkIII's cast frames were not a move to make production cheaper. they cast them because the forged frames couldn't take the abuse from 40S&W. the mkIII cast frame is a much harder steel then the forged frames.

 

[Prijador]

the mkIII's cast frames were not a move to make production cheaper. they cast them because the forged frames couldn't take the abuse from 40S&W. the mkIII cast frame is a much harder steel then the forged frames.

I love love love my BHP 40's...

 

[Panzerschwein]

I had a new in box early 2000's production Mk III. It was okay. Very reliable, unimpressive trigger, mushy safety, didn't fit my hand and didn't point as well as some said it would.

I sold it and don't miss it, I think it's time is well past due. Apparently some armies still use it to this day which is impressive, most likely poorer or smaller armies. Now that it's being discontinued I imagine it won't last too much longer in military circles due to lack of parts and service... though I'm sure some backwoods African or South American country will still be arming their soldiers with them decades from now!

Soon set to be a collector's pistol once any surplus dries up, something that it's been threatening to do for years now. Another retired design signalling change in the firearms industry, for better or worse...

 

[lsudave]

Guess I'll just have to suffer along with my CZs.

I think the chilling reality is that CZ, Sig, and Beretta are all now making and promoting plastic striker-fired guns, too. If the Hi Power shoe drops, who knows what may be next. Beretta is losing it's contract with the US Military, and Sig won with a polymer, not a classic P226 or similar. Market trends are hard to overcome- new guns are often sub-$500, polymer CCW, and the used market is full of surplus steel at affordable prices. Makes the higher prices we see in these guns less palatable, and buying used guns don't make the manufacturer any money.

I have less than $1200 invested into owning a CZ 75, Beretta 92FS, Sig P226, and FEG HP clone. I love my guns, wouldn't dream of approaching even half that price for any one, because I know what they cost. And that hurts sales of new guns.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I think the real killer with the BHP is the price tag.

Browning makes very, very nice stuff, but they don't make cheap stuff. I think being able to get a professional-grade (in terms of durability and reliably) Glock for $500 killed all appeal for the $1000 Hi-Powers.

 

[Morgo]

Hmm, time to get that two tone practical and silver chrome model I've been wanting to round out my BHP collection before they disappear.

 

[Spats McGee]

I've had the BHP on The List for quite some time. I can't really see carrying it, but that could change once I had it in hand for a while.

 

[JTQ]

But dealers don't stock Hi-Powers because the demand is low... The features that attracted me most to Hi-Powers, like the classic design, clear lines, that strict "service gun" look, are it's drawbacks - general public seems to favor more dressy (if I can use that word) guns, with more "enhancements".

The guns that are beating the Hi-Power in the marketplace are the Glock, S&W, HK, FN's own FNS/FNX, XD, etc. These all have the "service gun" look.

 

[Speedo66]

I acquired both a WWII Rem. Rand 1911 and a nazi marked FN Model 1935 (Hi-power) about the same time in the 70's, bring backs purchased from brother officers. I thought the 1911 was a blunt instrument compared to the Hi-Power. The fit to my hand, the capacity, etc. caused me to get rid of the 1911 and carry the Hi-Power off duty.
When we transitioned to Glocks, I re-evaluated the Hi-Power for its weight, size, and action and discovered I no longer needed it.

While the HP is a nice gun with an historic background, there are better choices now. What surprises me is how the 1911 has held on this long in popularity. Obviously, there is an historical aspect, and I guess there is a certain steampunk appeal to all the external appendages.

 

[Mizar]

JTQ, those have the "tacticool" look. Well, maybe except the gen. 2 Glock. I don't think that people attracted to the BHP will consider a striker fired gun as alternative, as something instead of. Hi-Powers are just the last of it's kind - all steel, single action, safety, blah, blah, blah... Because plastic guns are all the rage now. In guns, just like in everything else, there is fashion. Fashion dictates everything - remember the 1911 craze? Same with modern strikers. Who knows what will be fashionable 10 years from now?

 

[BigBL87]

I think if they could get the price down to a little more reasonable range, they would be alot more popular. Getting it down to even $700-800 make a huge difference, IMO.

People who want an all metal 9mm can get a Sig P226, Beretta 92, or CZ-75B for $150-400 less than what you can get a Hi Power for. The biggest reason to get a Hi Power is as a collector, IMO.

 

[JTQ]

I think if they could get the price down to a little more reasonable range, they would be alot more popular. Getting it down to even $700-800 make a huge difference, IMO.

People who want an all metal 9mm can get a Sig P226, Beretta 92, or CZ-75B for $150-400 less than what you can get a Hi Power for. The biggest reason to get a Hi Power is as a collector, IMO.

I don't think you can buy a new SIG for less than a new Hi-Power. If you can, you're just splitting hairs between the price of a SIG and a Hi-Power.

 

[tark]

The BHP is a far more "useful" gun than a 1911, but you can't get one that looks great unless you like traditional looks.

Can't believe this statement hasn't aroused the wrath of the 1911 crowd. They must not be reading this thread.... I love em' both!

 

[L-2]

Here are the current weblinks for Browning's Hi Power as of today:
-still being produced: http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/pistols/hi-power-pistols/current-production.html

-discontinued: http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/pistols/hi-power-pistols/discontinued.html

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I dont think it has anything to do with weight, capacity, safties, etc. It has everything to do with price. They cut corners where they could (Cast/Portugal/etc.) but still cannot get prices down to be competitive with the slew of 500 dollar wonder 9's.

Its had its day and the fact that a vast majority guns are based off the same action and double stack magazine is still a testament.

Looking at the links above, it looks as though at least two 9mm versions of the Hi-Power may remain in production...

Most guns share many design features with the Hi-Power (which uses the Browning short-recoil, locked breech design), but most use a simpler recoil spring assembly than the Hi-Power and they DON'T use the Hi-Power's SEAR LEVER IN THE SLIDE (which seems to be the functional equivalent of the trigger bar.)

I don't understand why FN went that way with "sear lever" in the Hi-Power slide -- and whether that part of the gun's design was a JMB or Saive idea. It may, initially, had to do with patent restrictions, but some of the final Hi-Power features weren't introduced until the basic Colt (Browning-created) patents had expired.

I'd agree that the Hi-Power's (possible) demise has MUCH to do with price. The MSRP for the remaining models are around $1200, but they can be had new for $800-$900. You can get a LOT of gun for that much money.

But it also has to do with FNH's focus - -which has, in recent years, been primarily military weapons, and FNF has done a great job with that! FNH doesn't currently have a market presence in the U.S. civilian market. They have started to make some LEO sales (with both the FNS and FN-509 lines), and they've been advertising the new FN-509 -- but they've got a long way to go to match Glock or S&W.

I'm not sure that the decision to change from CAST to FORGED frames was primarily a cost reduction move -- it might have been -- but it came about after the forged-frame .40 version of the Hi-Power didn't hold up as expected. (If I was an FN decision maker, I'd have to ask if it was really necessary to have two frame production methods if you HAVE to have a "cast" frame that works with the .40 round? (Indeed, most gun can use the same frame for both 9mm and .40.) Whether FNH really needed a .40 version of the BHP/FN Hi-Power is a different question.

I've had a T-series BHP for almost 20 years, and it's a fine gun, and I'll probably keep it. But I've got a number of other guns that are as good (and possibly better) that could be replaced for far less money than the BHP. Several of those "possibly better" guns are partially or fully polymer-framed, and a couple are striker-fired. Folks say "sacrilege" when folks say nice things about polymer-framed weapons, but its hard to argue with results -- and with the gun-maker's need to make a profit.

Some of the newest FNH designs, while NOT Hi-Powers, ARE pretty darned good guns. And prices are now coming down and I suspect they will be very competitive with the weapons from other major gun makers. FNH seems to be courting after-market vendors, too -- which seems to be needed for the U.S. market.

 

[Demi-human]

- remember the 1911 craze?

I like to think of it as a way of life.

 

[BigBL87]

I don't think you can buy a new SIG for less than a new Hi-Power. If you can, you're just splitting hairs between the price of a SIG and a Hi-Power.

Using gun.deals, the cheapest I can find the Hi Power for is $949, and I found a Sig P226 E2 for around $769.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love a Hi Power, I just can't justify the price pragmatically. There are alot of other firearms I'd spend that much on before a Hi Power, since my CZ-75 already fills a similar niche.

 

[Demi-human]

Hi- Powers are very sleek. Veritably a classic. But when I finally have enough for a Browning I am longing for it will be an A-5.
Hmm, another classic.

 

[RPZ]

But dealers don't stock Hi-Powers because the demand is low... The features that attracted me most to Hi-Powers, like the classic design, clear lines, that strict "service gun" look, are it's drawbacks - general public seems to favor more dressy (if I can use that word) guns, with more "enhancements". I realize that there are just handful of lunatics like me, who prefer to carry a full sized all steel gun. And let's be honest, for a range gun the Hi-Power sucks - sure the ergonomics are great, but the heavy trigger without positive reset just kills it. Browning just failed to address the needs of the civilian shooters - they kept the design as basic and true to the original as they can, which is something I really like, but people simply don't want that. If I can make that comparison - it's like offering a nice, British style dress oxfords to some guy that wears parrot-colored sneakers... No way.
AND it has a safety...

This assumes that demand is based on what people have in mind to go into a LGS and buy before they go in there. Universally not true. A great many people go into stores with the desire to buy a gun, for various reasons, but have no idea what they want. If there is a pistol - like the High Power - on hand, they might decide to buy one in preference to other pistols on hand. But if they don't have one, these people are not going to buy one.