Anyone else share a passion for the Browning Hi-Power?
- Thread starter Sparks1957
- Start date
Another here with a passion for the Hi Power. My first many years ago was an Argentine FM, a true FN licensed HP. Then a year ago I got a surplus Mark III which has much better sights than the older FM. The FM actually is marked Hi Power and the Mark III is marked Browning instead of FN. Both are fine pistols and a joy to shoot, even with the lame trigger and magazine disconnect. No hammer bite because I'm lucky not to have a fleshy hand. 1911s don't bite me either. Yes, a fine firearm!
But it wouldn't be my first choice for carry today. I now carry a much lighter G19 or G26.
But it wouldn't be my first choice for carry today. I now carry a much lighter G19 or G26.
Sparks1957
New member
You, sir, have a gift for understatement.
Thanks, tipoc, for the mention of Steve Camp's site. I will check that out.
For me no other 9mm fits my hand as well as the BHP. My latest one is an MKIII that I sent Jim Garthwaite for full house custom work. It should be back to me mid next week.
SIGHTS
Heinie Original 300/Slant Pro fixed sights
Machine Heinie Slant Pro sight for one hand clearing
Garthwaite 10 Karat-.080 Gold Bead insert
FRAME MODIFICATIONS
Texture (stipple) front strap
Texture (stipple) back strap
Bevel magazine well (standard)
Machine boarder around factory front strap serial numbers
THUMB SAFETIES
Garthwaite custom thumb safety
TRIGGER JOBS
Complete trigger job using Garthwaite Tool Steel Commander undercut hammer, hard sear, and Garthwaite straight trigger (includes frame and slide fitting)
BARRELS/BARREL WORK
Throat factory barrel, polish feed ramp and profile extractor
Lathe turn barrel flush with slide face, recessed 60 degree recrown
Craig Spegel Presentation Grip Panels
Wolff recoil/firing pin springs
Checker slide rear 40 LPI
Flatten and Serrate slide top 40 LPI
FINISHES
Matte blue rounds with polished flats.
Radius/deburr/soften all sharp edges prior to finish
SIGHTS
Heinie Original 300/Slant Pro fixed sights
Machine Heinie Slant Pro sight for one hand clearing
Garthwaite 10 Karat-.080 Gold Bead insert
FRAME MODIFICATIONS
Texture (stipple) front strap
Texture (stipple) back strap
Bevel magazine well (standard)
Machine boarder around factory front strap serial numbers
THUMB SAFETIES
Garthwaite custom thumb safety
TRIGGER JOBS
Complete trigger job using Garthwaite Tool Steel Commander undercut hammer, hard sear, and Garthwaite straight trigger (includes frame and slide fitting)
BARRELS/BARREL WORK
Throat factory barrel, polish feed ramp and profile extractor
Lathe turn barrel flush with slide face, recessed 60 degree recrown
Craig Spegel Presentation Grip Panels
Wolff recoil/firing pin springs
Checker slide rear 40 LPI
Flatten and Serrate slide top 40 LPI
FINISHES
Matte blue rounds with polished flats.
Radius/deburr/soften all sharp edges prior to finish
Also, from the perspective of competition, or anyone who values speedy reloads, it's surprisingly difficult to reload the HP.
There's something about the sharp corners of the magwell opening, and the angle of the taper at the top of the mag tube, but a surprisingly small misalignment will prevent the mag from going in.
Generally, hi-cap mags are thought to self-center and guide themselves in, but the HP is not that way.
I've always indexed single-stack mags by putting the flat rear of the mag tube against the flat rear of the magwell, and that works well with the HP, as it minimizes rotating the magazine out of "square" with the opening.
There's something about the sharp corners of the magwell opening, and the angle of the taper at the top of the mag tube, but a surprisingly small misalignment will prevent the mag from going in.
Generally, hi-cap mags are thought to self-center and guide themselves in, but the HP is not that way.
I've always indexed single-stack mags by putting the flat rear of the mag tube against the flat rear of the magwell, and that works well with the HP, as it minimizes rotating the magazine out of "square" with the opening.
Anothing thing to love and marvel at with the Hi-Power is it's distinguished, long and wide/varied service record across the globe. So many built and used for so many different nations.
I also thought the "safety clicked in to hold for field strip" was a fantastic idea that should have been replicated in other pistol designs.
I also thought the "safety clicked in to hold for field strip" was a fantastic idea that should have been replicated in other pistol designs.
This is true and well put...
It was also a requirement for a good many armies and so it was retained except for special orders that did not want it.
On a few objections, some of which come under the category of "I don't like those shoes because the laces are the wrong color" or "I won't buy this house because the walls are the wrong shade of white".
Hammer Bite is a problem for some shooters. It has never been an issue for most though. It is also easily and inexpensively (a few minutes and a file) corrected. Or a commander style hammer is available for the gun as well.
The magazine disconnect can be removed.
The trigger can be improved on and is not overly expensive to do so. Stephen Camp's website has some discussion of that and ideas for it.
The design of the trigger is "ridiculous" someone said. This was the first double stack pistol to be made and distributed internationally. Neither Browning or Saive could make a straight copy of the 1911 due to the magazine design, patents on the 1911, and military requirements. Despite it's being mechanically a bit more complicated that some more recent designs it's held up very well in hard service globally. It can be made smother and assist in accurate shooting. Not as good as a 1911? Well what else is? It can be better than many others out there or at least as good.
Sharp edges on the mag well. This is easily addressed with a set of Swiss files.
Someone here said that they shouldn't have to make such corrections on their own on a gun. If one needs to make changes and does not want to, then another gun is in order. Like most older designs it was intended that shooters who wanted to make changes did that on their own. Most folks did. When you bought a piece it was expected. That attitude had mostly changed recently, for good and bad.
It's completely normal and acceptable that some folks really like some guns and others don't. If a gun fits you, your hand and your eye then get it and learn. If not it's OK to move on.
tipoc
It was also a requirement for a good many armies and so it was retained except for special orders that did not want it.
On a few objections, some of which come under the category of "I don't like those shoes because the laces are the wrong color" or "I won't buy this house because the walls are the wrong shade of white".
Hammer Bite is a problem for some shooters. It has never been an issue for most though. It is also easily and inexpensively (a few minutes and a file) corrected. Or a commander style hammer is available for the gun as well.
The magazine disconnect can be removed.
The trigger can be improved on and is not overly expensive to do so. Stephen Camp's website has some discussion of that and ideas for it.
The design of the trigger is "ridiculous" someone said. This was the first double stack pistol to be made and distributed internationally. Neither Browning or Saive could make a straight copy of the 1911 due to the magazine design, patents on the 1911, and military requirements. Despite it's being mechanically a bit more complicated that some more recent designs it's held up very well in hard service globally. It can be made smother and assist in accurate shooting. Not as good as a 1911? Well what else is? It can be better than many others out there or at least as good.
Sharp edges on the mag well. This is easily addressed with a set of Swiss files.
Someone here said that they shouldn't have to make such corrections on their own on a gun. If one needs to make changes and does not want to, then another gun is in order. Like most older designs it was intended that shooters who wanted to make changes did that on their own. Most folks did. When you bought a piece it was expected. That attitude had mostly changed recently, for good and bad.
It's completely normal and acceptable that some folks really like some guns and others don't. If a gun fits you, your hand and your eye then get it and learn. If not it's OK to move on.
tipoc
Very, VERY, Very, nice WVsig. I'd gladly accept any or all of them...no kidding.
Many years ago, 1970 to be exact, I carried a much used Hi-Power for 7 months while flying as a FAC in lll Corps, Rep. of Vietnam. I loved it then and still do....would gladly pay nearly any price to have it back...relied on it many a cold drizzly night laying in a mud bottomed slit trench, listening to the beer cans rattle in the concertina, and hoping to God that the claymores hadn't been turned around toward us again.
It worked every time, carried a half a box of ammo in two magazines! It was strapped to my chest or waist so I"d have it if I used the nylon elevator. What a pistol....no handgun has ever fit me better.
I got it from my predessor, another FAC who believed the BS that some REMF would sieze it out of our hold baggage on the way home...and we'd be Article 15'd for trying to bring it back. The same BS was going on when I DEROS'd a year later and I passed it along to one of the Special Forces guys that I lived with. Never saw it again...alas.
Best Regards, and thanks for the memories, Rod BTW: my #1 son gave me a beautiful .40 S&W Hi-Power for Christmas several years ago. And it's a great shooter...but it's not THE HI-POWER of my youth.
Many years ago, 1970 to be exact, I carried a much used Hi-Power for 7 months while flying as a FAC in lll Corps, Rep. of Vietnam. I loved it then and still do....would gladly pay nearly any price to have it back...relied on it many a cold drizzly night laying in a mud bottomed slit trench, listening to the beer cans rattle in the concertina, and hoping to God that the claymores hadn't been turned around toward us again.
It worked every time, carried a half a box of ammo in two magazines! It was strapped to my chest or waist so I"d have it if I used the nylon elevator. What a pistol....no handgun has ever fit me better.
I got it from my predessor, another FAC who believed the BS that some REMF would sieze it out of our hold baggage on the way home...and we'd be Article 15'd for trying to bring it back. The same BS was going on when I DEROS'd a year later and I passed it along to one of the Special Forces guys that I lived with. Never saw it again...alas.
Best Regards, and thanks for the memories, Rod BTW: my #1 son gave me a beautiful .40 S&W Hi-Power for Christmas several years ago. And it's a great shooter...but it's not THE HI-POWER of my youth.
1969Colt1911
New member
The BHP is a fantastic gun, one of his last I think. I read no posts, but some of the beautiful pics. Nice guns and pics. I went out shooting with a work pal many years ago, I had one of my 1911s of course.
And he was having some failure issues, I said let me look. The gun at this point was a natural to me. Knowing JMBs 1911 I figured the issue, I really don't remember what it was. But also I remember it ran perfectly afterward I made easy fix. I just want to have same experience with a 1905 .45 or a 1903 .38ACP.
Would be cool to help with an older then 1911 design by the great. And yes my dad has a High Power also. Its like new, but been fired. I make offers now and then.
And he was having some failure issues, I said let me look. The gun at this point was a natural to me. Knowing JMBs 1911 I figured the issue, I really don't remember what it was. But also I remember it ran perfectly afterward I made easy fix. I just want to have same experience with a 1905 .45 or a 1903 .38ACP.
Would be cool to help with an older then 1911 design by the great. And yes my dad has a High Power also. Its like new, but been fired. I make offers now and then.
Sparks1957
New member
Some great posts and photos, guys! Thanks for sharing them.
I have only five Hi Power pistols: FN pre war tangent, Inglis, post war "E" series, Mk II, MkIII. Although I love my 1911's there is little so satisfying than to send rounds into tin cans, dirt clods etc. with your favorite Hi Power. Thank you Mr. Browning and Mr. Save for your expertise.
Seven High
New member
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