Hi-Power Opinions

QUOTE: I think the Hi-Power is the second best looking semi-auto pistol ever made.

The best looking is the Smith & Wesson Model 39.

I agree (almost). For me, the Hi-Power ranks third behind the Smith & Wesson Model 945, but I do think the Smith Model 39 is the epitome of semi-auto pistols when it comes to looks. Opinions concerning aesthetics are, of course, entirely subjective-except for mine. ;)
 
One thing I can say for sure is that im definately not smoking crack...lol.. Its just my opinion, and didnt mean to offend... However the two toned black and stsinless one that was posted was pretty sweet .
 
I recall reading years ago that one reason the BHP was popular among progessionals for so long was that is is thin and, thus, carried and concealed well while providing high capacity. I've never found dimensions that can verify this claim, but I doubt the pistol is thin in the grip compared to other double-stack nines. Presumably the thinness touted is in the forward portions of the frame and slide. Does that make much of a difference? I can see that it likely pushes the weight balance rearward, and this might impair recoil recovery.
 
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Presumably the thinness touted is in the forward portions of the frame and slide. Does that make much of a difference? I can see that it likely pushes the weoght balance rearward, and this might impair recoil recovery.
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Why speculate? Get one and see for yourself.

tipoc
 
I respect your right to your opinion.

I don't agree though.

It never crossed my mind to put the word 'ugly' in the same room with a Hi Power.

I won't extoll the virtues of its appearance. Others already have.

I will agree that the out of box trigger is a joke on a $1000 gun.

However, some aftermarket parts from the likes of C&S, Garthwaite and Chuck Warner [Elite Warrior Armaments- and don't get scared off by 13 year old posts] have made my BHPs a joy to shoot. True, I can't fix the long reset, but there is no overtravel [C&S and Garthwaite triggers], and the trigger pull is now crisp.

Life is too short for cruddy/creepy/gritty triggers.

BTW, I have the same objection to the Ruger MK II/III and Ruger MK III 22/45 handguns. They cost over $100 to 'fix' the trigger, out of the box. And then the reset is still not as good as the same cost of Buckmark, with a $30 Browing Buckmark trigger with overtravel stop. Yet I love the Ruger MK II/III as well-once fixed.
 
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I like em even more now that they are affordable on the surplus market.
Check out http://www.gunbroker.com/Semi-Auto-Pistols/BI.aspx?Sort=5&IncludeSellers=2621012 for Israeli surplus FN's.

I like the fact that the MKIII Hi Powers come with dovetailed sights and ambi-safeties. Thinking they must've had a left hander on the design team.

Stock triggers are horrible. Taking out the mag safety helps. Replacing the trigger spring with a 2 Coil Wolff trigger spring helps some more.

I get hammer bite from both hammer styles. One of these days I'll trim a little of the end of the hammers on my MKIII guns.
 
A beautiful work of art and one of the nicest shooting full sized pistols available. I particularly like the tangent sight models like my first year Belgian army issue but the early 50's era production pistols are at the top of FN's production quality.
 
I think the Browning High Power looks great, especially some of the more current models. We all got own own views, the High Power actually feels like a real gun.

I think the Ruger Sr9 and H&K vp9 are not that aesthetically pleasing. Some of Canicks are odd shaped. The Walther PPX is extremely ugly and looks like a High-point (the worst). Oh, And don't forget about the old Whitney Wolverine!!! (hey space treck guy, you forgot your gun).

However, I'm also the guy who think 60's Dodge trucks were the most beautiful automobiles ever made. (space treck guy forgot his ugly Stingray Corvette)
 
I recall reading years ago that one reason the BHP was popular among progessionals for so long was that is is thin and, thus, carried and concealed well while providing high capacity. I've never found dimensions that can verify this claim, but I doubt the pistol is thin in the grip compared to other double-stack nines.
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The Hi-Power grip, even with Spegels, is slightly thicker than a Glock 26 or 19. The Hi-Power slide however is noticeably thinner since it uses an older 3-lug lock up and has a rounded slide, which makes IWB carry much more discreet and comfortable in my experience. In fact, that and my familiarity with the Hi-Power after decades of use is pretty much the only reason I haven't gone to a Glock 19 or S&W M&P9 for carry.

And of course, the ergonomics of the Hi-Power are just unmatched as well. However, as someone who has carried both a Glock 26 and a Hi-Power IWB, I can tell you that surprisingly, the bigger pistol with the better sight radius and better magazine capacity is easier to conceal (assuming a quality holster for both).

Part of this is that every modern pistol made that uses a Browning tilting barrel lockup now uses a square slide and a square cut across the barrel hood to lock up. That makes for ease of manufacture and lower prices; but it usually adds bulk to the slide that you definitely notice when trying to carry IWB. The Browning (and 1911) still use the older lugs which makes for a thinner package IWB - and the Hi-Power is also just the right amount shorter in the grip so that the telltale butt of a pistol poking against the shirt/coat is diminished compared to a 1911.

And to the OP, beauty is in the eye of the beholder; but I've always thought the Hi-Power to be one of the most gorgeous handguns ever made.
 
It's THE ugliest gun of them all.
Let me help all of you who want to get rid of this ugly thing. I'll provide a postal address to send your old ugly looking HiPowers. I won't charge you anything for saving you from the misery to own that thing...
:D
 
"Well I know Im going to get crucified for this, But Does anybody else agree with me, That the Browning Hi-Power is just one ugly gun?"

It's about time someone brought it up. :D

I never liked the looks of the Hi-Power from its narrowed front portion of the slide to the elongated lever on the left-side. For a SA the trigger is floating too far forward. Slide is perhaps the slimmest of any 9mm I've handled and the grip is full, not as comfy as a 1911.

At the various shows interest of the H-Power isn't much, perhaps a bit better the HK P7. Glock, 1911's and Beretta seem to be of the popular choices.

Historically IMO it is important. No barrel link or bushing to become loose. The variants today can be exceptionally reliable.
 
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Most guns, if they are at least moderately competent, can grow on you.

I think my BHP is a handsome gun. Most of my guns, including my Glock, are handsome guns.

As I think about it, about the ONLY guns I consider truly ugly are the Colt 2000 and the CZ-52, and MAYBE the Hi-Point C9. That said, I might even buy a Hi-Point C9 some day, if I can find one used for the right price. I don't think that would happen with either the Colt 2000 or the CZ-52.

Colt 2000

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CZ-52

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That said, I think I prefer the Hi-Point 9mm to either of those guns:

Hi-Point C9

MKS_00916.jpg
 
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Walt, if you're going to expand this conversation to ugly semi-auto handguns...

Throw up a picture of an HK P7.
 
The Hi-Power looks a lot like the CZ 75B and 75B pattern guns. Truth be told, I prefer the aesthetics of the CZ 75B to the Hi-Power. But, the trigger and smoothness of the slide on my BHP (feels like its gliding on tiny ball bearings) is definitely superior to that of my CZ 75B. In fact, not even my Sig X-Five's slide movement feels as slick as my BHP.
 
Throw up a picture of an HK P7.
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Had enough of the other thread? :D

How dare you speak blasphemy to me. :eek:

Banish yourself!

All jokes aside (not really), the Browning Hi-Power IMO, is a pretty attractive looking gun. Seriously, the only "ugly" gun I've seen recently is one of those ZEV Glocks and that Hi-Point above...
 
I think anyone with any degree of an accumulation should have a Hi-Point. Just looking and/or handling it will make one appreciate more. Yes, you may not have everythang but what you've got counts. :)
 
Dang, those tip the ugly scale so far they come all the way back around to beautiful.

1 and 3 really get my attention, and I'm not usually into the two tone look.
 
"kissing a cow"

Like the fella that kissed the cow........to each his own.

I think the BHP in wood and blue steel is attractive. The parkerized, synthetic gripped models not so much.....but not ugly either.

The SIG P- series, and Glocks, yeah, I always thought they were indeed ugly, ...but they work fine and I own several.
 
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