NEW FN Hi Powers!!!

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Glad I bought a new Hi-Power a few years ago. Don't even recall what it cost (because I could afford it).
If you buy stuff you can't afford, you will never be able to afford to buy stuff.
 
Fine Figure of a Man said:
Glad I bought a new Hi-Power a few years ago. Don't even recall what it cost (because I could afford it).
If you buy stuff you can't afford, you will never be able to afford to buy stuff.
Click to expand...
Its been my experience, that you're better off, in the long run, buying what you cant afford, than to keep buying cheap stuff you think you can, that you have to buy over and over because it doesn't hold up. By once, cry once. ;)

We always seem to find a way to get what we need, if we really want it. At least some of us anyway. :)
 
danez71 said:
So which is the best of the 3 new 1.0's in your opinion?
Click to expand...

  • I passed on the Regent/Tisas. I almost bought a SS one but just did not want to put the money into it to make it what I really wanted. Hammer, sear, trigger, better sights etc.... There was no real warranty support after 1 year even when they were still being imported and there were reports of parts failures. These are no longer available.
  • The EAA looks like a basic no frills gun but I hate the billboard WARNING! Too early to really know what it is.
  • The SA-35 has the best sights and the best thumb safety of the bunch. It is a MKII non FPS which I am fine with. It appears to have no MIM and solid company behind the gun.
  • The jury is still out on the new FN High Power. I think it is a High Power in name only. It does not mean it is a bad gun. It is just not at BHP to me. If the price comes down to sub $1000 I will buy one just to run it. If I like it I will keep it. If I don't I will practice catch and release.
Of these these 3 I would buy the SA-35 but that said I am not a fan of any of the clones. I only own one sort of clone which is a FM Detective slide and barrel which rides on a FN frame. For me I want the original. The BHP is a very avg pistol in its stock formation. You need to put some money and work into it to really make it special. For me it points better than any other pistol even the 1911. I was shooting at the range the other day and they have a 16" steel target at 100 yards. I took out my FM Detective and took a shot. I could see where it hit the ground and adjusted for elevation and then rang the steel. I can't do that with the same ease with other pistols. So for me it is worth the investment to make them mine.


So if you are going to put money into a BHP the difference between starting with a clone as a base gun vs using a FN/Browning is a couple of hundred dollars. If you build on a clone you will never get your money out. If you build on a true FN with the right smith you will never lose money. You might not make money but you won't lose money if you have to sell. If I was buying a stock BHP that I never intended to change I would buy the SA-35. It is the most complete of the bunch.

I bought this for $575 in 2018. This was after FN discontinued the gun. Prices had not gone nuts yet. It is a forged frame MKIII.

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I turned it into this..... It would be crime to build a gun like this one a Tisas, EAA or even a SA-35 IMHO. If you are going to buy a classic to make better buy the original. IMHO

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WVsig said:
  • I passed on the Regent/Tisas. I almost bought a SS one but just did not want to put the money into it to make it what I really wanted. Hammer, sear, trigger, better sights etc.... There was no real warranty support after 1 year even when they were still being imported and there were reports of parts failures. These are no longer available.
  • The EAA looks like a basic no frills gun but I hate the billboard WARNING! Too early to really know what it is.
  • The SA-35 has the best sights and the best thumb safety of the bunch. It is a MKII non FPS which I am fine with. It appears to have no MIM and solid company behind the gun.
  • The jury is still out on the new FN High Power. I think it is a High Power in name only. It does not mean it is a bad gun. It is just not at BHP to me. If the price comes down to sub $1000 I will buy one just to run it. If I like it I will keep it. If I don't I will practice catch and release.
Of these these 3 I would buy the SA-35 but that said I am not a fan of any of the clones. I only own one sort of clone which is a FM Detective slide and barrel which rides on a FN frame. For me I want the original. The BHP is a very avg pistol in its stock formation. You need to put some money and work into it to really make it special. For me it points better than any other pistol even the 1911. I was shooting at the range the other day and they have a 16" steel target at 100 yards. I took out my FM Detective and took a shot. I could see where it hit the ground and adjusted for elevation and then rang the steel. I can't do that with the same ease with other pistols. So for me it is worth the investment to make them mine.


So if you are going to put money into a BHP the difference between starting with a clone as a base gun vs using a FN/Browning is a couple of hundred dollars. If you build on a clone you will never get your money out. If you build on a true FN with the right smith you will never lose money. You might not make money but you won't lose money if you have to sell. If I was buying a stock BHP that I never intended to change I would buy the SA-35. It is the most complete of the bunch.

I bought this for $575 in 2018. This was after FN discontinued the gun. Prices had not gone nuts yet. It is a forged frame MKIII.

View attachment 1053398

View attachment 1053399

I turned it into this..... It would be crime to build a gun like this one a Tisas, EAA or even a SA-35 IMHO. If you are going to buy a classic to make better buy the original. IMHO

View attachment 1053400

View attachment 1053401

View attachment 1053402

View attachment 1053403
Click to expand...

Thank you. I've been considering the SA35 as a shooter (my version of shooter is a lot less that yours)

I have a MK3 circa 93-94 that I bought new. Near perfect condition and still in stock form.

I'd send it out for some minor work (mainly mag disc & hammer) but I can't stomach sending it away for 6mo to 1+yr for such minor work & don't know of anyone around me that I trust. It's my baby.
 
There’s just (barely) enough visual similarities to the original to make intrigued. There’s different aspects to it that turn me off. Many of those differences are a byproduct of design changes that I don’t need or want (I don’t suffer with hammer bite and don’t need a 17 round capacity)

The net result of the above leaves me indifferent to this “reimagined” High Power and appreciating my 3 originals that much more
 
Kinda funny to read posts about how much better the “old” Hi Power was, you know, the one that was discontinued because no one was buying it? Crummy trigger, bad ergonomics, not enough rounds compared to modern plastic pistols, finicky HP feeding, poor sights. Suddenly the beloved old war horse has become superior to this new fangled job- despite the extra capacity, lighter trigger, easier takedown, and better sights of the new model.
 
Zone Five said:
Kinda funny to read posts about how much better the “old” Hi Power was, you know, the one that was discontinued because no one was buying it? Crummy trigger, bad ergonomics, not enough rounds compared to modern plastic pistols, finicky HP feeding, poor sights. Suddenly the beloved old war horse has become superior to this new fangled job- despite the extra capacity, lighter trigger, easier takedown, and better sights of the new model.
Click to expand...

FOMO
 
Criticism's of the old HP....
  • SAO is obsolete
  • it's not ambidextrous
  • 13+1 isn't really high capacity
  • 15 round BHP mags are unreliable
  • +2 mag extensions stick out too far and are ugly
  • mag. disconnect blows
  • trigger is too heavy
  • the frame is weak
  • there's no rail
  • the sights suck
  • you have to pay a gunsmith to get a nice trigger
  • their heavy
  • you can't checker the front strap
  • the serial number is in the wrong spot
  • they're not drop safe
  • the MK3 FPB makes take down a PITA
  • The stock wood grips are fat and blocky feeling
  • The high gloss bluing isn't durable
  • Their made in Portugal
  • They're too expensive
  • yada, yada, yada.... you fill in the blank
Common Praises:
  • Points naturally
  • feels good in the hand
  • reliable
  • easy take down
  • classic
  • there are after market parts and capable smiths available to address most of the noted discrepancies.

It sure seems like FN is attempting to address the issues of the first list with this new release.... but now all of a sudden, that's sacrilegious. :eek::scrutiny::cuss::uhoh:

Life lesson... if you try to please everyone, you'll be a frustrated and miserable person.
 
SSN Vet said:
Criticism's of the old HP....
  • SAO is obsolete
  • it's not ambidextrous
  • 13+1 isn't really high capacity
  • 15 round BHP mags are unreliable
  • +2 mag extensions stick out too far and are ugly
  • mag. disconnect blows
  • trigger is too heavy
  • the frame is weak
  • there's no rail
  • the sights suck
  • you have to pay a gunsmith to get a nice trigger
  • their heavy
  • you can't checker the front strap
  • the serial number is in the wrong spot
  • they're not drop safe
  • the MK3 FPB makes take down a PITA
  • The stock wood grips are fat and blocky feeling
  • The high gloss bluing isn't durable
  • Their made in Portugal
  • They're too expensive
  • yada, yada, yada.... you fill in the blank
Common Praises:
  • Points naturally
  • feels good in the hand
  • reliable
  • easy take down
  • classic
  • there are after market parts and capable smiths available to address most of the noted discrepancies.

It sure seems like FN is attempting to address the issues of the first list with this new release.... but now all of a sudden, that's sacrilegious. :eek::scrutiny::cuss::uhoh:

Life lesson... if you try to please everyone, you'll be a frustrated and miserable person.
Click to expand...

This is true but the main complaint that I am seeing from the educated BHP shooter is that the guns looks are not in line with the classic clean lines of the original. It is heavier at 40 oz and its MSRP is 30% higher than the last MSRP on the MKIII BHP.

These are my issues with it. I am sure eventually I will put my hands on one for if nothing else a catch and release evaluation. I am trying to do the same with the SA-35 and maybe even the EAA gun but in the end I do not think any of them are going to replace my FN BHPs but I am heavily invested in them. The best ones I own cost a lot more than this new offering from FN will cost. I think the proof will be in the shooting of the new guns. I will add this to the discussion.

For most of us this is all pure speculation but someone who has actually seen one and who knows something about the original platform and guns in general said this but what does Mr. Christiansen know.....


Ned Christiansen:

I handled a couple of them at SHOT. It's not the old BHP with a couple changes, it is a different pistol that strongly resembles the BHP. I mean in my mind it IS a BHP, it qualifies as such by virtue of its basic mode of operation and, of course styling. As to its manual of arms it is only slightly changed, pretty much only in take down. I'm not sure the percentage of interchangeability until I can get with one for a period of time but at this time I would say "if any". For sure not interchangeable, at least in the ones I saw:

barrel / slide
frame (has two additional pieces comprising the backstrap)
slide stop
safeties / detents
magazine
mag catch, I think
guide rod
recoil spring (I hope)
grips

In the strictest of terms in the viability-as-fighting-gun context, it is better, assuming it's well-done inside. You know, reliable, safe and durable, accurate enough and ergonomically acceptable, it'll be an upgrade as a "gun" but as an addition to a collection, that'll be up to the individual. As with the 1911 or anything retro / nostalgic / collectible, purists will find it abhorrent I reckon.

A few things I didn't think were as I'd have done it might not matter to other people and are / might be easily remedied: The rear sight is in need of edge rounding and I'd rather not have a big hole in the front of the slide (a little one for draining, OK). Take-down is now via a lever on the right side; the safety does not lock the slide to the rear ( I looked stupid trying it a few times before I realized it was not set up for that).

I was not allowed inside it due to ITAR regs, as it was told to me. I think it's also possible that they aren't really quite done with it yet and didn't want the guts exposed yet. I mean SHOT is a deadline for releasing new products and it's common to announce them at SHOT and not have them available or even fully developed yet.

A few further comments:

I wish I'd had a magnet along when I was at the FN America booth. As I mentioned, the backstrap on the High Power (no longer Hi Power) is formed by the frame and two separate pieces. I expect this to be a boon to the person wanting to customize the gun. I suspect one or both pieces might be aluminum; it doesn't really matter though. The top one, it almost looks as if it was purposely made to make it easier to do a beavertail, I'll be looking into that.
 
Anybody here got High Power fatigue yet?

can’t find the cheaper SA35 and the FN is too expensive. I’m over it! back to 1911’s, they don’t get old.
 
Hope this is on track... I've been interested in a double-stack 1911 9mm ('2011') but the cost is a bit high. I wonder if the new FN High Power might satisfy that itch?
 
Jim Watson said:
I think that is the market for the FN, not the nostalgia business. But whether a $1300 FN can substitute for a $3000 Staccato, only you can say. Maybe they will get some on the shelves in time for you to handle and consider.
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I like them better when they were STI with lots of cool guns and colors… and their Single Stack 1911 we good!
 
Rich Phelan said:
Hope this is on track... I've been interested in a double-stack 1911 9mm ('2011') but the cost is a bit high. I wonder if the new FN High Power might satisfy that itch?
Click to expand...
Rock Island double 9 is very good. Tight slide and decent trigger
 
WVsig said:
This is true but the main complaint that I am seeing from the educated BHP shooter is that the guns looks are not in line with the classic clean lines of the original. It is heavier at 40 oz and its MSRP is 30% higher than the last MSRP on the MKIII BHP.
Click to expand...

Based on my experience, in real dollars, a new MKI FN HP from the mid 1980’s works out to the same MSRP as the new FN High Power today.

Whether we acknowledge it or not, the MkIII’s got to the point where they weren’t selling, so this in an attempt at a more modern design that might do better. I hope it does. This seems to be marketed towards the type of person that might favor a Wilson 9mm 1911 style (whatever they are called now) handgun. More likely to be carried a little, and shot a lot as a range affectation.
 
I’m on a waiting list for one… my favorite regional law enforcement oriented gun store had them in their sales flyer. Then I called and they have zero in stock. The store manager put me on the waiting list. I then called a friend at corporate and asked to be notified when they arrive there so I can be sure I’m notified when they arrive.

Stay safe.
 
Springfield and FN had two choices. Improve it and hope it will sell or don't attempt to revive because they obviously were not selling before and wouldn't sell now. Too many in circulation. Kudos to them for trying to market a non-polymer or AR type firearm.
 
When FN discontinued the original, it was pretty well talked about that FNs tooling was worn out and they didn't want to retool for it at the (then) current rate. It was talked about in a few threads - here's one.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/bye-bye-hi-power-says-browning.832266/


In hindsight, FN probably decided that if they were to spend the money to retool, they'd get a better ROI by tooling for a new HP 2.0.
 
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