Does the original BHP (in 9mm) have a practical place in today's world?

F

FUD

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I own a BHP -- it was a gift from my wife's uncle. I've kept it because (a) it was a gift; (b) it's a classic pistol; (c) it's a fun gun to shoot. But I often wonder if it has a practical place in today's world?

It's too big for concealed carry (at least for me) and even if it wasn't, carrying a gun cocked & locked with a grip safety seems a little dangerous (NOTE: I don't have a problem carry a 1911 cocked & locked because of the added grip safety).

For uniform carry or home defense, I feel better armed with either a higher caliber (.40, .45) or one of the more modern guns (S&W, SIG, Beretta, etc.).

So the question is: Does the original design BHP in 9mm have a practical self defense place in today's world?

Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD
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[This message has been edited by FUD (edited August 01, 2000).]
 
Greetings FUD and all,

As another member has pointed out, the problem with military combat pistols chambered in 9mm for CCW is that they are bigger and heavier than other available pistols in the same caliber.

For non-CCW purposes, size and weight aren't necessarily detrimental to defensive use of the weapon. The evildoers may see it better and run away faster, and the recoil is likely to be less of a problem, even with the hottest loads. Also, more metal means longer service life.

Plus, it's a JMB classic.

Regards,

Ledbetter
 
I have carried my HP on a few occasions. I have not carried it more because of my inability to find a holster I like for it. With the Hogue fingergroved grips it is the most comfortable pistol I own. I personally know one other person who carries one daily as his primary and have read several other posts that suggest others do as well. My main carry is a full size 1911 but I would not feel ill armed with a HP.
 
Hello, FUD and all! I cannot speak for all folks, but the 9mm HP will always have a prominent niche in my firearms' needs. Perhaps it is because I'm just so familar with it, but NO handgun handles quicker for me and accuracy at speed is best for me with this gun...even over other pistols in the same caliber although I get closest with the P7. My HPs feed practically any high-performance loads so reliability is not a problem and the things will group, not like target guns, but under 3" @ 25 yards from a rest, so "practical" accuracy is fine. They have very few moving internal parts so replacement of parts is not tough as detail stripping is not complicated. Others may prefer Glocks, etc and that's fine, but for me the HP will remain a trusted, useful friend. It is bigger than many, but with a proper holster and belt, it's not tough to carry all day, at least in my experience. Anyway, just my thoughts. Best to all.
 
I took a pistol course once where I needed to shoot with accuracy and with as much speed as possible... Recoil hampers the speed a bit so I looked at a 9 (Just for this course). The Hi Power fit the bill PERFECTLY.
 
FUD, take another look at the size of the HP. Not much different from a Glock 17, which many people carry concealed. While I also prefer bigger calibers (my personal HP is a .40), there are an awful lot of folks who depend on the 9mm to defend themselves, and wrongdoing is halted by a 9mm every day of the year.

I think the most valid objection you raise regards the lack of a grip safety for cocked-and-locked carry. I've used my my HP for CC, and have been a little concerned about that point as well. My answer: Be careful.

Guns come and go, but there are very few if any that fit my hand as well as the HP. No, it's not perfect, but neither are any of the other guns I own.
 
David, since moving to the hot & humid southern Florida swamps a little over a year ago, the BIGGEST thing that I can effective conceal (because of the weather and mode of dress to account for the weather) is a S&W 3913 or a SIG P239. Even a S&W4013 or 4513 (which are only slightly larger than the 3913) will bulge/print -- and both of those guns are smaller than the BHP.

I recognize that the gun is a classic and very accurate but (at least for me under my current situation) it's too big for concealed carry and for home defense, I tend to grap one of my more modern gun -- it might be psychological, but I seem to have more confidence with a S&W4006, P14-45, S&W5906, etc., than I do with the BHP and confidence plays a big role in self defense shooting.

It is a fun gun to shoot and I take it to the range rather frequently.
 
Hi FUD,
The following is a quote from the FN web site. Maybe it will help boost your confidence in the HP.

"In this modern world of evolving technology and changing times it is good to have an old and trusted friend at one's side.

That is where the FN Herstal High-Power will find it's place. Since 1935 and for over half a century later the HP was so far ahead of its time it still represents a valid option for modern law enforcement agencies in spite of many other fashionable developments.

The steel frame, ambidextrous safety, magazine safety and famous ergonomics explain the unmatched service life in over 100 countries worldwide.

After making over 10 million pistols it is the most widely used handgun ever made and will remain so for years to come."

Really now, what more could you ask?
 
Yes it does. With proper holster selection its not that hard to conceal. The HP is still a very viable candidate as a CCW for people such as myself, who prefer C&L carry in a slim (compared to most others) package as well as love the inherent "natural" pointing of the HP.

Now, if FN would just design a polymer frame....
 
I think it still has plenty of life in it.
More so now since the 10rd ban mag ban, you aren't giving much if you don't have hi-cap mags. The thin profile and small grip aren't that bad to hide, depending on body type.
Also the feel of it can't be beat (except maybe by a luger, which I'm not going to pack).
 
bk40, if you visit FN's site, you'll see that they do make one with a polymer frame and I've seen it written about in a few gunrags -- although it isn't exactly the same gun as the Hi-Power as they've incorporated some improvements into it.

cghammo, mines a much older model -- doesn't have an ambidextrous safety or a magazine safety and won't feed hollowpoints. I've received suggestions on what to do to get it to feed hollowpoints but I've decided to listen to the other suggestions that I received about not modifying the "classic" gun that I own. As such, I really only feed it FMJ and use it only at the range.

ED in PA, sorry about slacking off ...

FUD
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[This message has been edited by FUD (edited August 01, 2000).]
 
Hmmm, I find the Hi-Power to be a great CCW gun. It is so much slimmer than many of the guns put there that it is one of the few full-sized handguns I can conceal easily. My experience though is that you need a good IWB holster with a cant on it. I carry mine down in Texas (more heat although less humidity) and usually just wear an untucked shirt over it.

Now, it certainly doesn't conceal as well as my Glock 26 does; but it does offer a few things the Glock doesn't too.

As for carrying cocked and locked, the trigger on my Hi-Power is around 5lbs with an external safety. The trigger on my Glock is a little heavier (5.5-6) with no external safety. On both of them, there isn't any problem as long as you keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot (and the holster properly covers the trigger) - in fact the Browning even offers the extra margin provided by an external safety.
 
FUD, have you tried Remington's 115 grain jacketed hollow point in your HP?
I have a HP made in 1940 with Finland's SA marking, it feeds them without a hitch.
They work very well in my newer HPs too.
 
Hud,
try carrying the hi-power in a holster with a retention strap, that might help ease your mind with regards to accidential discharges....it sounds to me like you have an older classic, with the advent of hollowpoints they did require a good smith to feed reliably.....way the pro's and con's nobody here is in your shoes. ...fubsy....
 
"Does the original design BHP in 9mm have a practical self defense place in today's world?"

Yup! In my holster. Or in my gun cabinet. I like them and shoot mine regularly. I would carry it if I were allowed to.
Neil Casper
 
I don't understand your concern about the safety of the BHP. Most AD's happen because the person didn't know the gun was loaded and accidentally pulled the trigger. The safety aspect of the grip safety seems irrelevant since 99.9% of the time that you pull the trigger your hand will be on the grip and therefore the grip safety will be depressed. Given the BHP's external safety, I'd compare the gun's safety to any on the market. I think it's a whole lot safer than a Glock or a Kahr.
 
Concealment in a hot climate is problamatic.

The P-35 is about the same as the full 1911 when trying to keep it undiscovered.

The 1911 and the P-35 were meant as "Service Pistols" and concealment was not an over-riding issue when they were designed.

The 1911 - at least in this country - has enjoyed a continuing popularity and in recent years, with the increase in civilan interest in CC, there have been a number of cut down versions. (I have a Kimber Ultra by my side as I type.)

I'm unaware of any comparable efforts to "chop and channel" the P-35. There may well have been - but I don't know of them and they certainly have not gained a lot of press. Other designs have. From the ASP on down to current "Mini-9s".

Does the old P-35 have a place in the modern world? Sure. Same as the old 1911A1. When conditions permit I'll carry a full sized 1911. That is my preference. I'd feel equally armed with a P-35. (Given appropriate loads for both.) Granted, I'd like a thumb break holster for the P-35 if I carried it concealed. I like the added feature of the grip safety on the old 1911 for cocked and locked. But I would (and have) carried the P-35 C&L without a thumb break. I'm just more aware of it.

IMHO, as long as the cartridge has a place in the modern world (and the 9mm certainly seems to have one), then the P-35 will be right there along with it where one can appropriately carry/use a full sized service pistol.

Does a bigger round have an edge over the 9mm? Obvisously I think so since I favor the .45 ACP. It's my impression that there are a fair number of folks (including many military and police) who don't think it makes that much difference with the right loads.

You does your research, pays your money and takes your choice with defense calibers.

If a 9mm makes your short list, and a service sized pistol is acceptable, then the P-35 ain't a bad choice - IMHO.

Would I feel better armed with a Beretta 92? No, if I could carry in condition 1. Yes if I couldn't. If I had a choice of carry mode I'd opt for the P-35 in condition 1 as opposed to the Beretta 92. Obviously a lot of folks get different milage.



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Jim Fox
 
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