Opinions on Browning Hi-Power 9mm

As others have stated 10 round mags are for states like CA which limit capacity to 10.

The factory mags for BHPs stop at 13 for flush fit mags. A factory spec BHP is either a 13+1 or a 10+1 9mm handgun.

Mecgar makes 15 round mags which have a different follower that allows for the extra 2 rounds. Some people do not trust this design because the follower can tilt and jam but I have never had an issue with them and use them in all of my BHPs. IMHO Megars are the way to go because they are reliable, are the oem manufacturer and are cheaper than factory mags.

Mecgar also makes a 20 round mag but I have no experience with those.
 
Over the years I have met quite a few Mercs, around here, the old guys usually have one gun in common, a BHP.

In competition, the Mozambique Drill is based on an encounter with a BHP involving a guy wearing a chest plate. At least that is what Jeff Cooper claimed. Many swear by the BHP's reliability but if you are looking for a target gun do not waste your time unless you can or are willing to have it built.

Now, you can make a real shooter out of a BHP and Bob Cogan at Accurate Plating does one of the best custom BHPs I have ever seen.
Ed
 
Now, you can make a real shooter out of a BHP and Bob Cogan at Accurate Plating does one of the best custom BHPs I have ever seen.
Ed
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Cogan does excellent work. There are ton of good BHP smiths. Williams, Yost, Novak, Cylinder and Slide, West to know nationally known guys but there are tons of local or regional guys who know how to make them sing.

I agree they are not really target guns but if they fit your hand and you have the coin you can go that route.
 
It's a very pretty gun that bites the c%&p out of my hand! Don't see it as an improvement over the 1911 though.
 
I've own several BHP including a couple clones. Love how the pistol points and feels in my hand but I have always had issues with the single action only design. Yes I've own 1911s but all as were the HP mostly used as paper punchers not comfortable with the "Cock and Lock" carry.

I have since sold all my BHPs and 1911s preferring the CZ 75 design which gives me the best of both worlds. I generally carry a CZ 75 BD Police which I'm more comfortable with.

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The only real difference that I've noticed besides the double action is the grip length is a little longer but it does give me 3 more rounds then the BHP and it's a little thicker due to the slide in the frame fit instead of the slide on the outside of the frame.
 
[QUOTEIt's a very pretty gun that bites the c%&p out of my hand! Don't see it as an improvement over the 1911 though.][/QUOTE]

Hammer bite on the Hi-Power is easily fixed. Look at the hammer, notice it's nicely serrated for thumb cocking. With a dremal and/or file just remove a bit of metal a line at a time till the hammer don't bite. It does not effect function. After a few lines no hammer bite.

It's a mistake to think that either Browning or Saive was trying to build a better gun than the 1911. The Hi-Power was a contract for a completely different gun that Browning and Saive began work on and after Browning's death Saive kept working on. Saive had developed the concept of a double stack 9mm magazine that actually worked. The French Generals said "Gimme that". FN assigned Browning and Saive to develop a gun. He'd make adjustments that the French asked for. The French would look at it, say do this and that, Saive would go back and make the adjustments and several times that happened till the Nazis marched into Paris.

The gun lived on.

tipoc
 
It's a mistake to think that either Browning or Saive was trying to build a better gun than the 1911. The Hi-Power was a contract for a completely different gun that Browning and Saive began work on and after Browning's death Saive kept working on. Saive had developed the concept of a double stack 9mm magazine that actually worked. The French Generals said "Gimme that". FN assigned Browning and Saive to develop a gun. He'd make adjustments that the French asked for. The French would look at it, say do this and that, Saive would go back and make the adjustments and several times that happened till the Nazis marched into Paris.

The gun lived on.
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This is spot on. The BHP was a contract gun just like the 1911. They spec'd what they wanted and they delivered it.

There is a misconception that Browning was looking to improve on the 1911 with the BHP design. It is simply not the case. As I attempted to illustrate Colt and FN knew that every new Browning design was a leap forward and each wanted to be the one with "rights" to the patients, production and sale of the newest and greatest Browning design. This was true right up to JMB death although Colt had no interest in the BHP in the beginning and after his death IIRC they had no control over the FN development under Saive.
 
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