Bill Hebert
New member
Anyone have any comments on this pistol. I'm looking a used - seems to be in good shape asking $455. How the felt recoil etc? Any feedback would be appreciated.
Browning High Power Practical 40 ?
- Thread starter Bill Hebert
- Start date
Stephen A. Camp
Staff In Memoriam
Hello. The 9mm HP remains my favorite handgun, but being a Browning afficianado, I had to have one in forty at least. I have the standard MkIII rather than the Practical, but they're nearly the same gun. First, with loads it likes, the Browning is accurate compared to other forty caliber guns. I assume it's because of the heavier slide, but felt recoil not any worse than Plus P 9mm loads in the original gun. There is more "shove," but it is in no way abusive. My forty is not as reliable with as wide a variety of bullet styles as my 9mm HPs, but that could just be my particular weapon as many here have related no such problems. I think that if you like the basic HP, but prefer a "better" caliber than 9mm, the forty might be for you. Best.
AF Shooter
New member
Bill,
I have a BHP MkIII in 40. It's my primary IDPA gun and I've shot it in IPSC matches as well. Compared to my wife's BHP in 9mm, I don't see a lot of difference in felt recoil. The heavier slide seems to make up for the sharper recoil of the 40. Mine is a great shooter and reliablity is excellent with the right loads. Mine doesn't like SWC releoads, but cycles every thing else just fine. For me, the BHP is the most natural pointing weapon I've ever shot. Many people who have small hands like I do say the same. The only drawback I've found with owning a BHP in 40 is the lack of Hi-Cap magazines. Hope you pick it up. Every BHP needs a good home
Tom Whitman
SSgt, USAF
[This message has been edited by AF Shooter (edited April 10, 2000).]
I have a BHP MkIII in 40. It's my primary IDPA gun and I've shot it in IPSC matches as well. Compared to my wife's BHP in 9mm, I don't see a lot of difference in felt recoil. The heavier slide seems to make up for the sharper recoil of the 40. Mine is a great shooter and reliablity is excellent with the right loads. Mine doesn't like SWC releoads, but cycles every thing else just fine. For me, the BHP is the most natural pointing weapon I've ever shot. Many people who have small hands like I do say the same. The only drawback I've found with owning a BHP in 40 is the lack of Hi-Cap magazines. Hope you pick it up. Every BHP needs a good home
Tom Whitman
SSgt, USAF
[This message has been edited by AF Shooter (edited April 10, 2000).]
Mark Freburg
New member
The Browning Practical is available in both fixed and adjustable sight versions. I highly recommend the fixed sights as the adjustabe sights stick up too high and are not as sturdy. If you want adjustables on a Browning, aftermarket seems like the way to go, probably with something like the MMC adjustables.
Other than that I agree with the other comments. Recoil is certainly not troublesome for most and reliablity on mine has been exemplary.
To the fellow who commented on the lack of hi-caps: the original .40 caliber Hi-Power design was only intended for eleven round magazines, changed to ten rounders when the mag ban came into effect. Frankly I see no practical difference between ten and eleven round magazines.
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--Mark
Other than that I agree with the other comments. Recoil is certainly not troublesome for most and reliablity on mine has been exemplary.
To the fellow who commented on the lack of hi-caps: the original .40 caliber Hi-Power design was only intended for eleven round magazines, changed to ten rounders when the mag ban came into effect. Frankly I see no practical difference between ten and eleven round magazines.
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--Mark
I have the .40 Practical and love it. I do not care for the ring hammer as it bites my hand (that will be changed soon because all the internals are being changed over to C&S parts). The trigger is the best HP trigger that I have ever felt come directly from the factory, excluding the GP Comp. I am going to have BarSto hooded barrel fitted in the future for reliability. It does have a HEAVY recoil spring, but by adding the Sprinco recoil reducer I was able to go to a lighter spring, feels much better to shoot now too.
Bill Hebert
New member
Thanks for the replies. No one mentioned the $455 asking price. - Jeff, what do you mean the hammer bites you? I read an article that mentions it-but only that getting a makeover clears the problem. How does the hand "get past" the beavertail area where I'm assuming the web of the hand is pinched when the hammer cocks? The weapon I'm considering has the adjustable sights installed and they are not loose or damaged. Finish is not scratched and there is almost no finish wear. Makeovers would add >$200 to the cost. That's awfully close to a new Kimber....
On some shooters the hand is wedged up tight against the tang and rises a bit above it. The problem is the ring on the hammer. On cycling the ring comes down over the back of the tang and pinches the web of the hand. I do not have that problem with the spur hammer because the spur does not go down as far as the ring. The spur on a C&S hammer sits higher so does not pinch my hand.
Condition One
New member
I have had a 40 Practical for a couple years now. It probably is the most relilable hand gun I own. The wepon has had over 4000 rnds of my reloads put through it and still is tight and like new inside. Just got it back from a gunsmith. Had high visability Henie sights installed and a Cylinder and Slide thumb safety. Also had the slide Hard cromed to match the frame. Looks like a new gun.
Last year I took a 5 day defensive pistol course at Chapman Academy. The gun digested 2000 rounds in one week with no stopages what so ever. I can not say enough about this gun. Shoot Safe..... CO
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Never saw an gun I didn't
like
Last year I took a 5 day defensive pistol course at Chapman Academy. The gun digested 2000 rounds in one week with no stopages what so ever. I can not say enough about this gun. Shoot Safe..... CO
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Never saw an gun I didn't
like
bad_dad_brad
New member
Gee you guys are making me pine for a HP. Always wanted one in 9mm, for fun only.
I have read a few magazine articles that implied that the early HP's in .40 cal had a few bugs so I don't know how old the one you are looking at is but you might want to research. Whether this is true or not, only owners can say.
Where I come from most people buy HPs sorta like they buy 1911s. That is for fun and contests. Prefer the Glock or Kahr for personal defense myself.
I have read a few magazine articles that implied that the early HP's in .40 cal had a few bugs so I don't know how old the one you are looking at is but you might want to research. Whether this is true or not, only owners can say.
Where I come from most people buy HPs sorta like they buy 1911s. That is for fun and contests. Prefer the Glock or Kahr for personal defense myself.