fnbrowning
Member
Hello everyone;
First off, was that not a catchy title? I will explain it in a minute.
I currently own a 1986 Browning Hi Power Mk II. I had it customized by Jim Garthwaite in 1999 with all the usual carry refinements. It has had a 18.5pd spring and buffer since ‘99.
I do not shoot IDPA, or other pistol disciplines, but I try to stay competent with the gun. In the time I’ve owned it I can only guess at the round count, which might be in the neighborhood of several thousand rounds.
The title: Lately I’ve been reading about Brownings, and everywhere I stop to visit, pistoleros are making unfavorable comments about the Mark II series and how those pistols are all destined to calamitous failure and an early grave due to the soft steel in the forged MK II. One poster in a forum actually used the epithet "Velveeta-steel" regarding the forged BHP.
The criticisms have me despondent, and anxious to replace the pistol.
If you’d like to help me chose a replacement for the Browning, please read on!
I am a long time and committed single action pistol shooter. All my experience, and muscle memory is tuned to that platform, and that’s where I want to stay. As I have a perfectly fine carry pistol, the replacement for the BHP Mk II would be a combat sized pistol for open carry. So weight or length aren’t compelling issues.
I want to continue throwing 9mm. (AKA europellets in some forums!
) The catch is that as a reloader, I can make “warm” 9mm loads as easily and inexpensively as downloaded ammo, and see no reason not to train with the ammo I’d have to shoot defensively with.
Therefore the pistol I replace the Browning Hi Power Mk II with should be resistant to wear from high power 9mm. Disclaimer: I do know and accept that all pistols with wear faster with hotter loads. I’m just asking the pistol not show grossly accelerated wear with heavy NATO rounds.
Ergonomics. I noticed the Sig P226 226 X-Five Tactical comes in SAO, so I sought out a standard P226 to try on for size. However, coming from a BHP, when I picked up the Sig, my hand felt like I was grasping a hand cannon, or the wrong side of a baseball bat. . .
So what are the criteria I’m looking for?
Service or combat style in 9mm, in Single Action Only or readily convertible to SAO.
Very reliable out of the box, and decent factory or aftermarket support.
Minimum 10 round magazines.
Accuracy: My BHP shoots to 3" or less at 15yds so that’s a standard I like.
Durability: Resistant to wear from warm loads, like NATO Spec 9mm.
Good trigger out-of-box or tunable trigger.
First off, was that not a catchy title? I will explain it in a minute.
I currently own a 1986 Browning Hi Power Mk II. I had it customized by Jim Garthwaite in 1999 with all the usual carry refinements. It has had a 18.5pd spring and buffer since ‘99.
I do not shoot IDPA, or other pistol disciplines, but I try to stay competent with the gun. In the time I’ve owned it I can only guess at the round count, which might be in the neighborhood of several thousand rounds.
The title: Lately I’ve been reading about Brownings, and everywhere I stop to visit, pistoleros are making unfavorable comments about the Mark II series and how those pistols are all destined to calamitous failure and an early grave due to the soft steel in the forged MK II. One poster in a forum actually used the epithet "Velveeta-steel" regarding the forged BHP.
The criticisms have me despondent, and anxious to replace the pistol.
If you’d like to help me chose a replacement for the Browning, please read on!
I am a long time and committed single action pistol shooter. All my experience, and muscle memory is tuned to that platform, and that’s where I want to stay. As I have a perfectly fine carry pistol, the replacement for the BHP Mk II would be a combat sized pistol for open carry. So weight or length aren’t compelling issues.
I want to continue throwing 9mm. (AKA europellets in some forums!
) The catch is that as a reloader, I can make “warm” 9mm loads as easily and inexpensively as downloaded ammo, and see no reason not to train with the ammo I’d have to shoot defensively with.Therefore the pistol I replace the Browning Hi Power Mk II with should be resistant to wear from high power 9mm. Disclaimer: I do know and accept that all pistols with wear faster with hotter loads. I’m just asking the pistol not show grossly accelerated wear with heavy NATO rounds.
Ergonomics. I noticed the Sig P226 226 X-Five Tactical comes in SAO, so I sought out a standard P226 to try on for size. However, coming from a BHP, when I picked up the Sig, my hand felt like I was grasping a hand cannon, or the wrong side of a baseball bat. . .
So what are the criteria I’m looking for?
Service or combat style in 9mm, in Single Action Only or readily convertible to SAO.
Very reliable out of the box, and decent factory or aftermarket support.
Minimum 10 round magazines.
Accuracy: My BHP shoots to 3" or less at 15yds so that’s a standard I like.
Durability: Resistant to wear from warm loads, like NATO Spec 9mm.
Good trigger out-of-box or tunable trigger.
