Hi-Power or 1911 9mm??

J

Jason280

New member
I am in the market for a single-action 9mm, and I am looking at either a Springfield Armory full-size 9mm or a Browning Hi-Power. I really like the 1911 platform, as I all ready have a couple .38 Supers. But, I also like the option of cheap 13 round hi-caps for the Hi-Power, and the thinner slide (easier to carry concealed). However, most of the Hi-Powers I have looked at have TERRIBLE triggers. Is this a cheap and easy fix, like the 1911?

Also, are there any decent Hi-Power copies as good as the Browning? Thanks for any any input in helping me to decide.
 
Choose the one you know

The HP lovers are lighting the torches.... fixing a HP trigger is neither cheap or easy unless you know a starving gunsmith. And after the trigger job, you will probably still like the 1911 trigger better since you already shoot them. I am just catagorically opposed to guns that cost $650+ and arrive new needing a trigger job to shoot well. A guy in my PPC league just showed up with a new Kimber .45 (bottom of the line model) and it had a perfect trigger and shot dead on the mark. Cost about the same as a HP, you do the math.
 
BHP

I have both a HP 9mm and a SA Loaded 9mm. Both are great guns. My HP is a box stock MKIII and the trigger pull is not bad. The gun is extremely accurate and has never had a malfunction in over 3,000 rounds. The 1911 of course has a better trigger, but my example is not quite as accurate as the HP. It really comes down to personal preference. they are both classics, and any decent gunsmith can give you a nice trigger. You stand as strong a possibility of needing a trigger job on a new 1911 as on the BHP. Kimber has not yet seen fit to make any 9mms. Hi caps for the BHP are still pretty reasonable. It is really the only hi cap handgun I have ever found to fit my hand, being mainly a 1911 shooter. I think the 1911 platform is just a little larger/heavier than is needed for 9mm. The BHP is lighter and the slide narrower. Stick with a Browning MKIII if you can find a good used one. I picked mine up not long ago for $395 with 2 factory hi caps.
 
Jason280 - Get the High Power. As a generalization, the caliber a firearm was primarily designed for will be the best choice. While STI offers a great 1911 pattern 9mm with its Trojan, its costs $1000. Colt 1911A1 in 9mm are hard to find. Probably could find one by Springfield easier. Accessories for the High Power will also be cheaper. A 9mm High Power will shoot excellent groups and the ergonomics are superb
 
The HiPower is a classic, and belongs in the collection of anyone who appreciates handguns.

The stock trigger is not great, but a major improvement comes with removal of the mag interlock, which is easily done at home.
 
Jason, you might want to check out cz75b's. You can carry it cocked and locked too. There also is a single action only version. These pistols are very accurate and have a grip that is somewhat similar to the hipower. 15 round mags are reasonable too. Mark
 
Get the Hi Power for the magzine capacity, the wonderful grip angle, and the beautiful styling. It is the best "hi cap" 9mm out there for folks with average sized hands, IMHO.

I too fretted about the BHP trigger, but came up with a simple solution after checking out this board and www.fnhipower.com. The solution is this: remove the magazine disconnect safety, then install a pre-Mk III trigger return spring, which is available from Wolff Gunsprings ONLINE (not a catalog item). This will allow for a faster trigger reset.

On Monday I conducted a "shootability test" at my local club, pitting my revolvers and semiautos against each other. I shot the same score with my BHP set up as above (with the addition of thin Navidrex grips from Brownell's) as I did with my Series 70 Colt Combat Commander with $850 in custom work, including a sweet trigger job.

So maybe it's just me, but the BHP trigger doesn't prevent good shooting. Just get the newer standard BHP model like I did (polished blue, walnut grips) becasue it already has good sights and ambi extended safeties. To me, the 1911 platform was built for the .45 ACP, and performs best with that cartridge. For 9mm go with the BHP. Good luck!
 
Let's hold our torches under BountyH's backside:D

Actually, if you purchase a new MKIII, BountyH is right. The trigger is pretty bad. Of course a bone stock 1911 is nothing to crow about either.

But, since you are shooting a gun that was finalized in 1911, moving up to a gun that was finalized in 1935 can be a great addition to your collection while you modernize it at the same time.

And since you clearly are someone who appreciates a classic, then adding another classic to your collection will only bring variety.

I would look around for a Mark II. This is the HP variant that is pre MKIII (duh) and it has no firing pin safety. The firing pin safety adds to the coarseness of the MKIII trigger.

There is another very simple mod you can to to any MKII (or MKIII for that matter) that will instantly improve the trigger and that is remove the Magazine safety. This is an internal safety that is designed to prevent the firing of the gun with the magazine out.

You can read about doing this, it takes as little as five minutes on a cooperative gun, at www.fnhipower.com. It can take longer and be very frustrating on a MKIII because they staked the pins, read up on the above web page to find the details.

If you get a MKII and remove the mag safety it will instantly be on par with any very decent 1911 with the possible exception of a little more trigger creep. The trigger reset on a MKII can be tweaked by simply swapping in the slightly stiffer MKIII trigger spring, a $6.00 mod.

Then, for another $75.00 or so you can have your smith really tune the trigger and you will have majic.

As to the clones, if you go to the above referenced board you can find opinions all day. Some of the clones are not bad, however, if you get a clone and tweak it you will have every bit as much in it as if you purchased a real Belgian HP and tweaked a little less.

I think SARCO is selling MKII slides on MKIII frames for about $275 plus shipping. These are surplus refurbs, but not a bad starting point.

If you are not in a big hurry, you can just shop and find a good MKII for under $400.00.

There are not nearly the quantity or variety of available aftermarket parts that you will find for a 1911, but some of us HP lovers just don't think they need the same attention to make a very fine shooter:D

The HP is, IMHO, the nicest shooting 9mm you will find. Not too large, not to small. Just right:cool:
 
That's an easy one given your choices. If your heart is set on the 9mm, go with the The Hipower. It was designed for the 9mm.

Or so I have been told.:D
 
I dunno....

...a 1911 chambered for the 9mm? It seems to me that would be like a Harley with an inline 4 cylinder engine, or a 911 Porche with an automatic transmission.

Just....well, somehow wrong! :)

Seriously, I would look for a clean Hi-Power (well, actually that is on my short list of wants!). It's built around the cartridge and the design is timeless.
 
Between a 1911 and a HiPower in 9mm I`d go for the HiPower. It`s THE classic SA 9mm. Lots of smiths are used to doing trigger jobs on them and can get the pull darn close to as good as a tuned 1911.
However if I were you....I`d look real hard at CZ`s 75SA. The CZ-75 is also a classic in it`s own right,designed for the 9mm from the start. It`s just as slim as the HiPower and feels very similar in the hand (some say even better,depends on the hand) The 75SA is SA only with a bigger safety lever, different trigger,beavertail grip frame and a much better out of the box trigger than the HiPower. In fact it`s probably just as good as many out of the box 1911s. Also if my 75B is any indication it`ll probably outshoot the HiPower or the SA Loaded. Oh and it`ll save you enough money to get a few hi caps and half a case of ammo. :) Marcus
 
I've got a new BHP made this past year. All around great gun, except for the trigger. I removed the mag disconnect and it really didn't help much. A $550 gun that badly needs a trigger job just gets me. :(

IMHO, if you get a new one, put aside a little money to get the trigger worked on. Especially if you're used to a good 1911.
 
Go with the BHP it is a better 9mm pistol. Their is nothing wrong with the trigger, just fire the gun and get use to the trigger.

I hear meaningless criticisms of triggers all the time, when it is not too heavy, it is too long or too short or it requires too much take up or it is mushy or it is gritty or it does not break cleanly or it overtravels or it does not reset quickly enough or you cannot stage the pull or you can stage the pull or you do not know when it is going to break etc. etc. etc. etc. The fact of the matter is that most of us have so much shooting flaws to improve on that a trigger pull is the least of our worries. The BHP out of the box is capable of sub 2 inch groups at 15 to 25 yards with its so-call lousy trigger. How many of us has ever fired 3 inch groups with it?
 
If you want a 9mm go with something that was designed around the 9mm - the BHP. If you want 1911, use .45ACP in it. Seems a waste to me to shoot anything else in a 1911 other than .45.

Just my humble opinion.
 
If you have the time, do whay I did. I really don't like the newer Highpowers. I spent several months looking around, asking where to track an older High Power. I am talking about any HP that uses the 1911 style extractor. Found a Belgian Police post WWII in really good shape in a pawn shop for $250. I popped out the mag safety,that helped the trigger pull alot. Had a set of MMC sights installed, a "tune up" and had the pistol re-blued by an old timer who really knows how to do the slow rust blueing finish. It also needed a new extractor, found one at Cylinder and Slide. Whole trip ened up coming in at a tad over $700. This gun is 100%. It shoots dead on, looks absolutely beatiful. I have 1911's in various flavors, but the little HP is one of the best guns I have ever owned or seen.
 
Defox, thanks for your insight into the whole trigger aspect. However, I have to disagree with you. Triggers are VERY important to me, as I shoot any where from 100-500 rounds a week. I may shoot shoot league, tactical, or just at standard targets, and a poor trigger should be the last thing on my mind. Clearly, a good shooter can overcome a bad trigger, but you shouldn't have to (especially on a $5-600 gun).

Thanks for everyone's advice and input, it is greatly appreciated. I will definitely be looking for a Hi-Power this weekend at the gun show, so wish me luck. Maybe I can find one with a good trigger, so I will let you know.
 
BHPs are classics that have earned the respect of generations of fans the world over, be they civilians or military and police personnel.

Treat yourself to one.
 
The BHP will accept both the new 10 round magazines and older 13 rounders, while the Colt type guns will accept only 8 round mags. Other than that, I would go with the 1911 type, preferably a real Colt Commander or Combat Commander. A bit oversize for the 9mm, but an easier gun to use, and a better trigger.

Jim
 
I love the BHP and its what I carry; but you'll never get a trigger comparable to what you can get on a custom 1911 with a BHP. I've got a Wickmann customized BHP with the complete works, and I've shot it side by side with a 1911 built up from STI parts by a local smith. The 1911 just has a sweeter trigger and shorter reset.

You may be able to get the trigger as smooth and light as a 1911 with some work; but it won't have the "straight-back" pull and it won't have as good a reset (even with the MkII - which I also own).

Having said all that, I feel that the BHP is more reliable than the 1911 in 9mm, has better accuracy, and while it may never attain the status of a finely tuned 1911 trigger, it comes close enough that it doesn't hinder my shooting.

If you do buy a recent (MkIII) Hi-Power, it will have the firing pin safety that causes a longer trigger reset. I've seen 1911 shooters have problems transitioning due to the much longer reset, so that is something to keep in mind.
 
Personally, I view this as a no-brainer, go with the BHP. The 1911 is a gun designed for .45ACP, and it's in a class by itself when it's shooting that round. However, when you bastardize it and make it into a 9mm, it's only an average 9mm. The BHP OTOH, is one of the finest 9mm designs ever to grace the planet.
 
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