Browning Hi-Powers for dummies (me)

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BanderaBoy

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I'm about to finish my 3rd enlistment in the USAF. I'm returning to Texas (home), but I've been in England these last three years, which is to say (sadly) I haven't even held a gun in that long. I want a pistol when I return, and I'm particularly interested in the Browning Hi-Power/ FN P-35 that Her Majesty's boys carry over here. I understand the mechanics of the thing (done my homework), and I've checked it online. The MSRP seems a bit steep. Any thoughts on clones (such as FEG), their reliability vs. the Browning model, value for the money, etc? Also, any thoughts on tuning/ using out-of-box? Any comments from owners/ users will be appreciated.
Thanks,
BB
 
This thread tells a lot about them. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=303929&highlight=hi+power

As far as pricing goes you have to be patient. Back in Dec '08 I paid $525 (+ shipping & FFL fees) for a NIB Browning Mark III. Prices may have gone up slightly. But you just have to wait. Check gunbroker. The only major complaints I've read out of the box is the trigger pull. It's said to do with the magazine safety.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=127351079
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=127376299
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=127105616
 
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I am not an expert nor a gunsmith. However I am very fond of the Hi-Powers and own two myself. One is an older military model made in Belgium. And the other is a Practical Model with the dull blue finish and ambi safety(parts made in Belgium and assembled in Portugal). My old time gunsmith and friend has told me that there is not a lot you can do to the Hi-Power unless you want to turn it into a IPSC Race Gun. The two basic things you can do with this great pistol is to remove the magazine safety and give it a throat job. Removing the magazine safety with lighten the trigger pull by several pounds and smooth it out somewhat. You could have a liability issue if you ever used this pistol for SD however. A good throat job will insure that your pistol with function reliably with modern softnose or hp ammo. You may want to change out the sights also for larger combat ones, but that changes the compactness of tht P-35. Why not search the 'net for a quality used pistol?
Good luck and God bless. :)
 
They are hard to find new, but if you are patient they do pop up used at reasonable prices. By the way, if you haven't already seen it, Stephen A. Camp has an excellent website with a lot of Hi-power information on it (http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/index.html). One last thought is to consider a CZ75; it has a lot of the desirable features of the Browning, similar ergonomics, and is both available and a lot cheaper. Good luck with your search, thanks for serving, and welcome home, (Almost).
 
The Charles Daly clones have a good reputation. They were made by FEG in Hungary. They're no longer being made, but are seen from time to time.

The Argentinian FM clones have a mixed reputation. Some are good and some bad. Sarco has the shorter "Detective" model in stock.

Keep an eye out for real Brownings and Charles Dalys in CDNN's online catalog. They've had real Brownings for ridiculously low prices in the past. I should have bought a .40 S&W when I had the chance.
 
Find one like this one, made for Browning in 1991 (I switched out the wood grips), and you will be very happy. The Hi Power is a classic gun that has had an aura of the legendary for me since first reading about it in Serpico many moons ago. I'm not fond of the new SFS version which has a very different manual of arms, but some love it. I traded my MKIII SFS some time back and just acquired the gun that you see below to replace it.

Some say the Hi Power is a little long in the tooth, but I disagree.

img5608.jpg
 
IF you're coming back to firearms, do it right & get a real BHP. There are usually some nice ones on the pre owned market & 1/2 the fun is the quest!
Thanks for your service & welcome to THR ;)

P1030196.jpg
 
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Thanks to all who've posted... I've still got a lot of reading yet to do, but I think I might be learning a bit. Anyone else with more to add, your comments are welcomed!

Regards,

BB
 
Here's another vote for the recent Charles Daly guns (made by FEG). I've had all kinds of High Powers over the years -- Belgian, Belgian/Portugese, Canadian, Israeli, Bulgarian, Argentinian -- and honestly, I think the Hungarian-made FEG guns have always been just as good if not better than the best the Belgians have done. The Charles Daly model is particularly attractive because it has what a lot of other High Powers don't -- great sights, a good single-side safety, and slim grips. It ain't very pretty, but it works just fine, and the price is wonderful.
 
New 9mm Browning/FN Hi Powers(by 'new' I mean from Browning/FNH via a dealer, not a piece that someone bought and stuck away) are almost impossible to find, and I am afraid they soon will become completely impossible to find. Any Browning/FN Hi Power that has an external extractor and clean, square locking grooves in both slide and barrel is a good start. Parts are readily available (Cylinder & Slide, Brownells are two that come to mind). Mine is a T-series Browning which I purchased in 1968 after my first flying cruise to Vietnam in 1968, and carried as my personal weapon on two more flying cruises there. It then sat in my sock drawer, still loaded with Navy ball, for thirty-some years until I became interested again in loud noises. I shoot it weekly, and have fired off about 4,000 standard pressure rounds from it. Its locking grooves are perfect; its external extractor is also. I replace its recoil spring every 2,500 rounds or so and its hammer spring less often (Wolff Springs provides both together in a very inexpensive package). According to what I have read, main springs seem to be immortal. I have yet to replace mine.

Shop for a beatup-looking Browning/FN with good lockup, and treat it with tender loving care.

Cordially, Jack
 
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I picked up a CD HiPower from CDNN back when whey were under $300 along with some cocobolo grips for $19 also from CDNN. Though there were some teething issues, the pistol is both reliable and accurate these days. It doesn't look half bad for an inexpensive pistol either, IMO.

3458019006_9d4fb83004.jpg
 
The Belgian models in good nick are incomparable to the copies. They are also very expensive. Some folks report very good reliability and satisfaction with the FEG versions. The only copy that I have felt, I can't recall the make, was not even close. A similarly excellent, full size, military grade 9mm is the CZ-75. For something more modern, the FNP-9 is hard to beat.
-Bill
 
All I can say is that if I had to get rid of all my guns one by one, my hi-power would be the last to go. I'd keep looking until I found one at a decent price, you won't regret it.

Thank you for your service!
 
I'd suggest a copy of Stephen Camp's book on HPs for reference.

Shot my first one, an Inglis, in 1962 courtesy of the Canadian Army; eventually got one of my own. Added a Mk III Israeli to that; both fine guns.

I would look for a Browning, preferably Mk II or III. The Argentines were made under license, and are ok.

I know I would rather have a BHP than an M9 any day!
 
Last time I was looking around, it seemed like you could find a very good condition used FN built pistol (FN or Browning roll mark -- no actual difference under the hood, so to speak) for $400-600. Prices for new ones are somewhat high compared to, say, a Glock, but aren't wildly out of line for 1911s -- which are kind of appropriate points of comparison, since we're talking all steel construction and designs that aren't really streamlined for modern production techniques and such.

Anyway, the things I consider essential are:
  1. Replace the stock sights with Novaks or similar.
  2. Get a no-bite hammer style from Cylinder and Slide (not an issue for some people, but I get occasionally bit by the standard HP spur hammer)
  3. Swap out the stock safety for a replacement from C&S
  4. Drop the magazine safety if you don't have concerns about liability issues relating to "removing a safety device."

That's the main work I had Cylinder and Slide do on my current MkIII (plus some reliability tuning, beveling the mag well, and some other odds and ends), and the end result is a pistol that runs fast and accurately.

HighPowerMkIIIS.jpg

I know I would rather have a BHP than an M9 any day!
Click to expand...

+1 on that.
 
I just posted a thread in the same vein, and then I stumbled across this one.

I'm stuck between the Browning or the Charles Daly/FM. Bandera, let me know what your pick is and how it works for you.... I will probably follow soon after.
 
let me know what your pick is and how it works for you.... I will probably follow soon after.
Click to expand...

While most will say that the only difference with a Browning is the finish, I have never felt a Hi Power that feels as good as my 1991 BHP.
 
Wow... I'm 85% sure I've fallen into good company, and 15% suspicious I might be getting recruited into some kind of cult (have you tried Harai Krishna?)... lol! After lots of reading and research, I have to thank mbr and virginian... you're right about the CZ-75.... I still admire the clean simplicity of the SA-only P-35, but I'm a pragmatist, and the fact that the CZ design apparently merits the blessing of Col Cooper is impressive enough for me. SHusky, I accept no responsibility for anything that happens if you follow my lead, but if it works for you, I'll gladly take some credit ;). Deinekes, as a Texan and a gun lover, I gotta give you your due on two points- Stephen Camp is, in fact, the man- and yes, M9s bite. The safety is all wrong, and I'm happy to say the slide has never blown off the frame at ME.
Cheers, and don't drink the Kool-aid,
BB
 
FEG made a great pistol, thing is they are NOT all compatible with BHP (there were several versions of the PJK9HP, some with slides modified for easier mfg). The Charles daly was a great buy, still kick myself once in a while for not getting one while the getting was good.
 
As usual, lots of comments about the CZ in this HP thread. My two favorite nines are the BHP and the CZ 75B. I have a tendency to grab the CZ more often for pleasure shooting and think I like it a bit more. That being said however, if I could only keep one it would the BHP for the following reason alone. The BHP is timeless class that I want to pass down to my son. It's just a pleasure to own one.

100_1282.gif
 
I have had almost every version out there except the Israeli Kareen.

I still have every FN/Browning HP that I've ever owned.
I have had 3 FM Argentines, still have one, and kick myself for ever getting rid of the other 2.
I have had a couple of FEGs. IMO, they weren't worth the headache. Somewhere, buried here on THR, is a full list of all of the parts I had to replace with Browning parts.

If you really want to enjoy what the design has to offer, get one of the real ones.

Anyway, the things I consider essential are:
Replace the stock sights with Novaks or similar.
Get a no-bite hammer style from Cylinder and Slide (not an issue for some people, but I get occasionally bit by the standard HP spur hammer)
Swap out the stock safety for a replacement from C&S
Drop the magazine safety if you don't have concerns about liability issues relating to "removing a safety device."
Click to expand...

Every gun needs to suit its user, but I have found that I don't really "need" any of those things but dumping the mag disconnect.

Don't get me wrong, I have Novaks on one, and I love them, but I prefer the MkIII extended safety over the C&S, and I don't get bit (thankfully).

Wes
 
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