The Best Hi-Power?

[Drakejake]

I have read so many good things about these pistols. My gun nut friend swears by them. I have fired a few rounds through them. I think that a Hi-Power is in my future. Which one do you think is the best, taking into account quality of materials, workmanship, reliability, finish, sights, etc.? The Mark III with adjustable sights? Polished blue?

Thanks,

Drakejake

 

[Marshall]

If your talking about Browning, all three of today's production guns are the same in relation to what you're asking. Sights are a little different on the Standard, theirs don't have the white dots, all black. You might have to care for the finish on it a little more because of the polished blueing.

 

[Dienekes]

A Mark III with fixed sights and Spegel grips. For some reason I like the phosphate/enamel military finish well enough. It's a serious using pistol and it gives that appearance.

 

[Josey]

I chose a Browning MKIII in 9MM. Finish is no maintenance. Three line sights work fine. Hi-caps work well. It fits my 1911 holsters. Ammo is plentiful. I did polish the feed ramp so JHPs fed smoother.

 

[natedog]

I'm interested in a BHP as well. I think I'm going to get an FN version. It's about $100 cheaper than the Browning. The guns are identical, save for the Browning having a different rollmark than the FN.

 

[RatFink]

I'm interested in a BHP as well. I think I'm going to get an FN version. It's about $100 cheaper than the Browning.

Check this thread

corruptone
and I both just recieved our FN-HP's I paid $450 shipped and $15 for the FFL transfer fee from my dealer, that's $465 total for a pistol I've personally seen being sold for as high as $800, the lowest is $600. It's brand new and comes with both an FN 10 rnd mag and a KRD 15 rnd mag and a cleaning kit. You just can't beat this deal.

 

[corruptone]

corruptone
and I both just recieved our FN-HP's I paid $450 shipped and $15 for the FFL transfer fee from my dealer, that's $465 total for a pistol I've personally seen being sold for as high as $800, the lowest is $600. It's brand new and comes with both an FN 10 rnd mag and a KRD 15 rnd mag and a cleaning kit. You just can't beat this deal.

AMEN to that! I'm seriously buying another one and put it back in the safe as an investment. I'm figuring I can probably resale it locally and make about $150 on the deal The email flyer said the sale was good through June 21st, but maybe I could talk my rep into another one at the sale price.

 

[RatFink]

I considered trying that, but those things never work out for me, I suck at super-duper business deals.

 

[BHPshooter]

The best, in my opinion, are either FN or Browning... because they're the same gun. Seriously though, they are the highest quality of any HPs, which is fitting since they're the real deal.

I've also got a FEG which has been decent. It has posed a few problems for me (due to bad machining and materials), but it was cheap enough that I tinker with it. And it has been very fun to tinker with.

If you want a gun that's ready to rock, (except for, perhaps, removal of the mag disconnect) go with a Browning or FN.

Wes

 

[mattx109]

removal of the mag disconnect

That took me by surprise.

Is this a feature of current production models only, or has it been part of all Hi-Powers? Anyone offer a Hi-Power without this "safety" feature?

 

[corruptone]

I'm not 100% certain that the magazine disconnect has always been there, but I 'think' it has since the introduction. And, as far as I know, all current production Hipowers have the magazine disconnect.

 

[natedog]

I believe it was originally designed without the disconnect, but the biggest buyers of these pistols in the 30's was the French, and they wanted the disconnect. It's been their since. The only BHPs that don't have it are Nazi ones. The Germans didn't like the feature, and removed it as a cost saving feature.

 

[BHPshooter]

Is this a feature of current production models only, or has it been part of all Hi-Powers?

All Hi Powers, except for those produced under Nazi forced-labor in WWII, have them in place when new.

I believe it was originally designed without the disconnect, but the biggest buyers of these pistols in the 30's was the French, and they wanted the disconnect. It's been their since.

A couple of points:
The HP was made to compete for a French Military contract... but they didn't WIN that contract. France, TO THIS DAY, has not puchased a single Hi Power... unless you talk of the prototypes that they bought and stole design traits from.

"originally designed" is a loaded term... the Grand Puissance, I believe, didn't have it. The French wanted it, so FN put one in there in the next rendition of it. There were many differing variations up until the Hi Power as we know it was born.

The mag disconnect has remained in place because the many countries that bought and issued the Hi Power liked it. In today's world, it's just a useful lawsuit preventative for FN.

Wes

 

[Jeff Timm]

I'm currently drooling over a .40 S&W version of the Hi-power. If I only get 10 round magazines, I want bigger rounds. Besides, I don't have a .40 in the battery.

Geoff
Who traded his 9mm Browning for a Colt Mk IV series 70. Many many moons agone.

 

[RatFink]

Only 10 rounds? I currently have two KRD 15 rnd, one KRD 17 rnd, one FEG 13 rnd, and one FN 10 rnd for my Brand new FN-HP.

I'm set-up for the "Calito's Way" Bullet Hose defense if required.

 

[Steve F]

Only 10 rounds?

Yup , the .40 S&W's are only available in dime rolls Excellant firearm though,I have a .40 and a 9mm,love them both!

 

[Catbird]

I'm rather partial to the Browning Hi Power PRACTICAL. I bought two in the past 6 months, a 9mm and a .40.

 

[mattx109]

I'm a Hi-Power rookie, as you might have gathered from my question concerning the mag disconnect. Another question:

Will all current Hi-Powers from Browning and FN accept preban magazines? I'm guessing they will, courtesy of:

I currently have two KRD 15 rnd, one KRD 17 rnd, one FEG 13 rnd, and one FN 10 rnd for my Brand new FN-HP.

 

[corruptone]

Will all current Hi-Powers from Browning and FN accept preban magazines?

Yes and No. FN now also makes some DA/SA, DAO, and compact variants that use propriatary magazines so they cannot accept pre-ban magazines. However, the traditional SA and the newer SFS FN's/Brownings will indeed accept pre-ban mags.

 

[RatFink]

Only 10 rounds?

Yup , the .40 S&W's are only available in dime rolls Excellant firearm though,I have a .40 and a 9mm,love them both!

By the way he said;

If I only get 10 round magazines, I want bigger rounds.

I was guessing that he thought you could only get 10 round mags for the 9mm variety and that this was why he was looking at the .40 version.

 

[BamBam-31]

Dunno why, but I've always felt that the best Hi-Power was the one in Stephen A. Camp's hands.

 

[Jeff Timm]

Ratfink testified: "I was guessing that he thought you could only get 10 round mags for the 9mm variety and that this was why he was looking at the .40 version."

If you limit yourself to new factory magazines, yes. Therefore, if I'm hauling around a big item like the Hi-Power, I want bigger rounds. In a 9mm I'm looking for something compact and concealable.

Geoff
Who is large enough to conceal a considerable battery.

 

[Drakejake]

The "Standard" Hi-Power with polished blue finish, walnut grips, and adjustable sights looks good to me. Any comments? What about the Argentine Hi-Powers? Are they the best for the money? What does FM mean?

Thanks,

Drakejake

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. The Standard (walnut grips and polished blue finish) is a very fine version of the of the Mk III Hi Power. Subjectively speaking, it does look awfully good to me. It should perform the same as the lower-priced Mk III or the Practical. It's difference is in the finish.

Adjustable sights can be a good thing on autos including the Hi Power, but I've not been too happy with those on the Hi Power as supplied by FN. They're too high for my tastes. Early ones that had windage adjustments made via loosening one screw and tightening the opposing one simply didn't hold zero for me when set unless I used loctite. I'm not sure what version's being used by FN at the moment. Though the adjustable sights might be too high for my tastes that does not mean that they won't work. Should they be of the older style I mentioned, they can be "fixed" to hold zero pretty easily as I mentioned. It just depends on what you personally want.

The "FM" Hi Power is a licensed copy of the FN Hi Power and is made in Argentina. I THINK the letters are the initials for what translates "Military Factory" or something similar. Though I have never owned one for long-term observations, the ones I have shot over the years have worked. Accuracy has been acceptable as has been reliability. I only shot ones having fixed sights and they were well-regulated from the factory. Finish was not so nice on most, but as they were intended for military use, this was not a priority. Many Hi Powers from FN, FM, and the non-licensed makers are generally not known for stellar trigger pulls out of the box...which is a pity. There are very nice exceptions, but usually a Hi Power trigger is not all that great. Likewise, the FM's I've shot had triggers of varying weight. Some were acceptable with a couple being pretty darned rugged. I prefer the FN-made guns, but were I going to do a project gun, I might very well try an FM-manufactured gun if the price was significantly lower.

Best.