Hello to all. Swampy here.
I'm a shooter and reloader from way back in my short pants days. I've had moderate experience with a lot of firearms, including scatterguns, rifles, & pistolas. Most of my handgun experience is with .22's, .45 (1911, of course), .45 Colt, and 7mm silhouette guns. I've never owned a 9mm but am seriously in the market.
For the last couple of years I've drooled over the Beretta 92, and given serious looks at the Glock (I've briefly shot both, but not enough to get a real impression from either). Not until recently, when I started shopping around and reading this forum, did I give a hard look at the Browning HiPower.
I must say that I'm really surprised at how much I like what I am finding. I love the way the HiPower looks and feels in my hand. Points well. Nice triggers on the ones I've held. There seems to be a good deal of respect and support for the HiPower from afficianados on this forum as well.
I still have some questions about it though, if anyone is of a mind to lend their experience with the HiPower:
Is the HP barrel stainless???
I've seen posts here that talk about some of the earlier HP's needing a barrel change and maybe a trigger job. Does this really make a big enough change in accuracy to make a difference???
How well does a HP handle lead bullet reloads??
How can one tell if he is looking at an early version, that might need work, or a later model that is OK as is??
I'm currently oggling a used HP in a local shop that looks virtually new, inside & out. A previous owner had a nice set of wide Millet sights put on it, otherwise it seems to be stock. The price seems right ($425US), but I am just not sure enough of particulars to know. The stamping on the frame says "Mfg. in Belgium, assembled in Portugal". It has the wider thumb safety too, not the tiny military version. Does this give any clues as to what model it might be???
I know that the HiPower was the successor to the 1911. What exactly are the changes/improvements that John Moses made to the 1911 design to make it into what we now call the HiPower???
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks guys,
Swampy
I'm a shooter and reloader from way back in my short pants days. I've had moderate experience with a lot of firearms, including scatterguns, rifles, & pistolas. Most of my handgun experience is with .22's, .45 (1911, of course), .45 Colt, and 7mm silhouette guns. I've never owned a 9mm but am seriously in the market.
For the last couple of years I've drooled over the Beretta 92, and given serious looks at the Glock (I've briefly shot both, but not enough to get a real impression from either). Not until recently, when I started shopping around and reading this forum, did I give a hard look at the Browning HiPower.
I must say that I'm really surprised at how much I like what I am finding. I love the way the HiPower looks and feels in my hand. Points well. Nice triggers on the ones I've held. There seems to be a good deal of respect and support for the HiPower from afficianados on this forum as well.
I still have some questions about it though, if anyone is of a mind to lend their experience with the HiPower:
Is the HP barrel stainless???
I've seen posts here that talk about some of the earlier HP's needing a barrel change and maybe a trigger job. Does this really make a big enough change in accuracy to make a difference???
How well does a HP handle lead bullet reloads??
How can one tell if he is looking at an early version, that might need work, or a later model that is OK as is??
I'm currently oggling a used HP in a local shop that looks virtually new, inside & out. A previous owner had a nice set of wide Millet sights put on it, otherwise it seems to be stock. The price seems right ($425US), but I am just not sure enough of particulars to know. The stamping on the frame says "Mfg. in Belgium, assembled in Portugal". It has the wider thumb safety too, not the tiny military version. Does this give any clues as to what model it might be???
I know that the HiPower was the successor to the 1911. What exactly are the changes/improvements that John Moses made to the 1911 design to make it into what we now call the HiPower???
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks guys,
Swampy