Howcome The Browning Hi-Power Has Earned Very Little Respect Here At THR~?

[HorseSoldier]

It's quite interesting to see how different the prototypes Browning worked on look from the way the final design turned out. I have some pictures is one of my old books, and they are odd looking.

+1. Had Browning lived long enough to see the design through to its finish, it seems likely it would have been quite different than the High Power we're familiar with today. The prototypes from when he was alive are peculiar -- striker fired seems notable back in those days, I think -- but it may have been a fine pistol in its own right.

Please, all you need to to do make the BHP a world class pistol is take out the mag safty.

For whatever reason I think it is worth noting that the mag safety on the High Power is a curse inflicted on the world by the French (Browning and Saive were building the pistol to French military requirements), who apparently were fearful that without it they'd have an excess of lieutenants shooting themselves while doing magazine changes. What that says about French weapons handling or morale during the First World War is a rather open question . . .

 

[eldon519]

I often speculate as to how much money I could have saved myself had I first bought a BHP instead of any other gun. And for those of you who say the youngins don't appreciate them, I'm 24.

My shooting began with a Buckmark, but soon I developed a hunger for a centerfire. I spent my time renting guns, and was just about set on a Glock 21 when I happened to fire an old Colt 1911 Series 70 with a bad habit of double-fires. Besides the somewhat scary doubles, I decided I would save longer and get myself a 1911.

Anyway, I wound up with a first-year production SW1911 which I put around 10,000 rounds through before deciding to retire it should it have some collector value in the future (position filled by a SA 1911 Mil-spec). During that time however, my mom decided she wanted a handgun, and through plenty of rentals, it came down to a CZ-75 and a BHP. In those younger days (relative, I'm still a young gun), that .45-caliber was much more important to me than it is now, but I remember holding a real affinity for that BHP. My mother, who is a much more casual shooter, was more interested in the price tag, so a CZ it was. Regardless, I didn't forget that BHP feel.

Fast-forward quite a bit and several pistols later, and I recently acquired an FN HP. While I had grown to be a good shot with a 1911 and loved the gun (shot primarily steel, but could probably average 6 or 7 out of 8 shots on a 4" steel disc at 25 yds offhand), I'd developed some unorthodox habits to counteract a propensity to fire the 1911 to the left (I'd brace the left side of the trigger guard with my left index finger, firing right-handed). With the BHP, I have to make no such adjustments. While I"m confident my 1911 is mechanically more accurate than my HP (especially with some of my handloads), in my hand the HP takes the cake. At this point, it's my favorite pistol. While it is not a light gun given today's polymers, it is a trim and thin gun, and I often think of it as "The Gentleman's 9mm" due to its superb balance, beauty, and elegance. Designed as a true 9mm, it doesn't have the unnecessary bulk of a gun originally designed to be subjected to the .40 or 357 SIG, and I love it for it.

I'll end my pontification, but suffice it to say, a young man can fully appreciate Mr. Browning's genius as well.

 

[mindwip]

I bought my first pistol at 21 a bersa 380 to carry at work. My second and "real" pistol was a BHP at about late 21. I wanted a nice pistol that i liked and had some history.

As for the "high" cost of the BHP( or any other pistol) well if you are a shooter really how much do you save by not spending $200-300 on a pistol over the long run. 1,000's of rounds of ammo, 9 mags, 3 pairs of grips, 5 different type of holsters, cleaning kits and re-supplies, training classes and targets. For heavens sake spend the extra money up front,its so little in the long run. Enjoy life.

My 2 cents.

 

[tipoc]

Seems to me they get some respect.

They are not for everyone, but no gun is.

Seems that a few posters here are unfamiliar with the gun. It comes in two standard chamberings, 9mm and .40 S&W. Though in the past 30 Luger was available.

The trigger can be improved on.

Hammer bite can be dealt with.

Browning would make itself some money by offering some semi custom touches from the factory. But I won't hold my breath on that.

They are remarkably reliable guns that fit the hands of most folks very well.

tipoc

 

[JohnBT]

Okay, so I bought one years ago, removed the mag safety, bobbed the hammer spur and bought some stainless mags from Novak's (IIRC) and some good blue ones too.

The gun has been flawless and accurate.

Ho-hum, what's to talk about.

Okay, I put some Spegel stocks on it. Looks great.

John

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Never had any Browning that wasn't 100% out of the box. Period. Can't say that about Colt or S & W.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Not sure why really, it has always been my silent warrior. It is the only gun I can 100% rely upon but at the same time feel best to keep secret.

 

[atblis]

I've never found them all that remarkable. Apparently a good many others feel similarly.

 

[731rogers1962]

Hello everyone!
I'm a newbie,just discovered this site. I've got to say that IMHO the BHP is awesome! I bought my first one in the mid 80's while stationed at Camp Lejune. I think I paid a little less than $300 NIB. Outstanding reliability and accuracy! I've left this first one totally stock, just in case they ever increased in value. Lately, I've been carrying a CD copy. Darn near equal to the originals in just about everything. The trigger, sear, extractor,and their springs all interchange with C&S replacements.
Has anyone actually carried and shot these for more than a month or two? Comments, please.

 

[mattk]

Love the BHP. Both my wife and I have BHP's on our nightstands.

 

[Billy Shears]

Has anyone actually carried and shot these for more than a month or two? Comments, please.

I've carried the .40 S&W SFS trigger version on a daily basis for the past three years. It's a great gun. I'd prefer the standard trigger, but I'm a police detective with a department that will not approve ANY single action autoloader for off duty carry. The SFS really is a single action, but because FN technically calls it a double action, I managed to persuade my department to approve it. Incidentally, one other benefit to the SFS version is the hammer is contoured differently, and eliminates hammer bite, which is often a problem with the stock Hi Power.

I love the Hi Power. The only pistol I like better is the 1911.

I've no experience of the Charles Daly version though, if that's what you wanted feedback on.

 

[731rogers1962]

Billy,
Thanks for the reply. I don't have a .40 yet, but maybe one day?
I was really trying to see if anyone had used the Charles Daly copy. I've had mine for about four months now and it seems to be suitable for everyday wear. It gobbles my defense load without a hitch and it's combat accurate. I'm considering leaving my BHP's in the safe,where they will be safe and carrying the CD.

 

[texas bulldog]

i love it, and it seems to me that lots of folks feel the same way. in fact, it's pretty rare that you hear people knocking it on THR other than perhaps the price.

 

[Billy Shears]

Billy,
Thanks for the reply. I don't have a .40 yet, but maybe one day?
I was really trying to see if anyone had used the Charles Daly copy. I've had mine for about four months now and it seems to be suitable for everyday wear. It gobbles my defense load without a hitch and it's combat accurate. I'm considering leaving my BHP's in the safe,where they will be safe and carrying the CD.

If it digests your carry load without any problems, and you've fired enough of them through the thing to be certain of this, I can't think of any reason why you shouldn't carry it if you want. Unless you're worried about parts breakage or something, and I've never heard that that's a particular problem with Charles Daly products, though again, as I said, I've no experience with them.

 

[731rogers1962]

Billy,
I thank you for your input. As I mentioned earlier, I replaced most of the internals with replacements from C&S. I don't think parts breakage will be an issue. I guess what I wanted was for others to help me justify carrying the CD instead of one of my BHP's. If the worst case comes true, I'd rather have a copy sitting in the evidence room instead of one of my treasured BHP's. Does that make sense to anyone?

 

[Onmilo]

Yep, it's official.
The Hi-Power truely sucks as a handgun.

It is chambered for a puny .38 caliber cartridge, not a mans cartridge, you know, someting that begins with 4 and ends with a 5.
At 14 rounds the magazine capacity is far too low to get you out of a situation such as a full blown race riot.
The grip is so poorly designed that 99% of shooters, male and female can actually handle the gun.

Only some 70 countries have issued, or continue to issue, this handgun for Military and Police applications.
If it was a REAL handgun every country would issue it.

Now some of the real faults of the Hi-Power.

1. The sights on most versions are inadequate or hopelessly optimistic.
This can be corrected.

2.The magazine release spring is weak and prone to inadvertantly allowing the magazine to dump at an inopportune time.
This can be corrected.

3. Magazine safety, enough said.
This can be corrected.

4. Too small a manual thumb safety.
This can be corrected.

In fact most of these faults have been corrected in factory production pistols now.

As for my old Inglis Hi-Power, it isn't for sale.

 

[chriske]

My HP is one of my very favorite pistols.
Insane local gun laws notwithstanding, at least, I'm lucky in the respect that Hi Powers are less expensive than any 1911 imaginable over here and that 90 % of the local gunsmiths learned their craft on it.
Besides which (is it because we have European hands ?) no HP ever "bit" me, or any other HP user I asked, & I actually handle -even heavy- pivoting triggers such as the HP's better than sliding ones (like the 1911's).

 

[Matt-J2]

Quick question, who makes the mags with the mousetrap type spring at the bottom? I've got a HP tactical(practical?) 9mm on layaway, and it's only got the one mag with it. Need more!
I happen to like the trigger myself, I've never liked da/sa triggers much at all. The trigger on the one I'm getting has some play in it but not too much, and it still has the disconnect so it can get better. Need new grips, though.

Also, I read through this thread a day or two ago, then was amused when I found a concurrent thread in which the HP was mentioned in most of the opening responses as THE 'hi-cap' 9mm to get.

 

[Funderb]

I think the poorly made BHP knockoffs are the ones that get bad press here. As would any poorly made firearm.

 

[731rogers1962]

I think the poorly made BHP knockoffs are the ones that get bad press here. As would any poorly made firearm.
__________________
Funderb,
I don't know about other copies, clones,etc. but my charles daly HP seems to be just as reliable and accurate as my 3 BHP's. The trigger was excellent, OTB. I only added the C&S trigger to it because they have no provision for the only silly, useless part of a BHP:banghead:I replaceed the other internals, just as I did on all my HP's, except the first one. I admit, the finish on the CD is nowhere near that on my MKII, but I wouldn't expect it to be. Kinda like buying a Escalade or a GMC Yukon. I expect the Yukon to get me down the road without major problems for years just like the Caddy, just not as pretty
Matt-J2,
I've heard about those mousetrap mags, but I've never actually seen one. No clue on who makes them or where one could be purchased. Perhaps your local gunshop can help. Removing the magazine disconnect will allow your mags to fall free and improve the trigger at the same time

 

[Dienekes]

Not having waded through the previous 73 posts, I presume that the BHP's honor has now been defended.

Not that it ever really needed it.

 

[Matt-J2]

Matt-J2,
I've heard about those mousetrap mags, but I've never actually seen one. No clue on who makes them or where one could be purchased. Perhaps your local gunshop can help. Removing the magazine disconnect will allow your mags to fall free and improve the trigger at the same time

I have seen one, the only mag that comes with the BHP I have on layaway is a mousetrap type. I had no idea what the spring was for though when I was checking it out at the shop. Amusingly, it's also marked as LE only. I just figured if I could find more, the positive ejection is nice. Otherwise, I'll just get quality mags. Mec-Gar is a good company, right? Any others out there making decent mags?

 

[BikerRN]

From what I know, MecGar makes the magazines for FN and Browning imports the guns and magazines. I know of no place to purchase just the "mousetrap" to modify existing non-Browning/FN Magazines.

I have no problem using MecGar magazines, but they do not have the "mouse trap". That little feature is designed to ensure positive ejection of the magazine when the Hi Power has the Magazine Disconnect in place. If the Magazine Disconnect is removed I have found that MecGar Magazines eject with no problem. I am in the process of having a Cylinder & Slide Wide Combat Trigger installed on my Hi Power, so mine will not have a Magazine Disconnect.

My issue gun, at work, nor any of my Autoloaders at home, have the Magazine Disconnect feature, so for commonality I am changing the Trigger and that will remove that feature from my Hi Power. I also shoot better with the wider trigger. The shooting better feature is why I am changing the trigger and Sights, YMMV.

BikerRN

 

[JB Books]

I have several BHP pistols in different variations and love every one of them. They were the standard for many years when wanting a high capacity 9mm.

 

[731rogers1962]

Mec-Gar is a good company, right? Any others out there making decent mags?
Matt-J2,
From what I've seen first-hand, Mec-Gar is the OEM supplier for companies such as Kel-Tec, Beretta, FN Browning, Colt, Sig, and S&W. I would trust their magazines waayy before any other brand. So I don't think you have any worries in that department. As far as the 'mousetrap mag,' I'm at a loss

BikerRN
I've installed a C&S wide trigger on 2 of my BHP's and 1 Charles Daly Hi Power. Wonderful invention It eases the trigger pull and has no provision for the magazine disconnect. Thusly, you shouldn't get accused of disabling a safety feature. None of my other pistols have a magazine disconnect. I think that it would be a non-issue