Take what I said in the context it was meant.
That was mainly regarding the wonderful potential of a SA revolver or the 1911 and other designs created for true target use. Olympic free pistols, what was that, measured in ounces?
I'm not sure that a browning can ever have a "wonderful" trigger, when you compare it to other "wonderful" triggers. Off the bench, the BHP isn't great in either accuracy or triggers, right? As you said, it's going to take a whole lot wof modification to make that thing into a real target gun, and I believe that a stock 1911 target handgun will cost far less than a modified browning would.
Isn't a new browning already almost as expensive as a springfield 1911 that is factory built for competition?
I believe that the proof of it lies in the fact that you aren't going to find them in competition. I'm continually stunned that some people I know compete with factory Glocks rather than handguns with more accuracy potential.
Can you please define competition for me? I would also question the idea that the 1911 was designed for target use.
The 1911 is a service pistol designed to shoot to a level of combat accuracy. It was a contract pistol that JMB designed to the specs provided by the US Army. It was not made to shoot bullseye competition it was designed to shoot people at combat distances. That said the design lends itself to modification what improves accuracy and shootablity. There are lots of "things" that call themselves a 1911 these days. Many of them have been specialized for one purpose or another but it does not make the 1911 a gun created for true target use.
I disagree that the BHP has poor trigger and it is not accurate out of the box. Put it in a rest and it will outshoot most shooters. Accuracy in shooters hand is rarely about the arrow 99% of the time it is about the Indian. From what I have seen in a mechanical rest most MKIII BHPs are more than capable of 2"-3" groups at 25 yards, depending on ammo and the individual gun, which is not excellent but more than combat accurate. If you want to make it more accurate you have to work with the barrel. Replace it with something like a Barsto and then work on the bushing fit. Some people like Behlert, who has passed, used to make custom bushings to tighten things up. It is not as easy to tighten up a BHP as it is to do on the 1911 but it is not impossible.
As for the trigger it is a combination of things which make it less than perfect out the box. The mainspring is overly heavy. The French wanted a mag disconnect. These are all easily correctable with a little time and less than $20 in parts. From there you end up with a very shootable trigger which again should not cause a shooter issues. Now if you want to take it a step further guys like Yost, Novak, C&S, Don Williams etc.... can make these guns triggers slick. Certainly slicker than a production SA. IMHO there really isn't a SA which is truely a match target gun except in name only.
As to your last statement again one would ask what "competitions" you are speaking to. The BHP these days is not the gun of choice for gun games like IDPA, USPSA etc but that does not make them inaccurate or have poor triggers.
To me a fair comparison would be to compare a gun like a Les Baer 1911 National Match Hardball Pistol, .45 ACP to a custom BHP. You will pay about $2000 for either one and IMHO if you have chosen the right smith you will have very comparable guns. They will both shoot well beyond what most shooters can produce and both will be a joy to own. In the end I would probably still give the nudge to the 1911 but the BHP would not be a redheaded step child. It would be a beauty in its own right. IMHO YMMV
In the end they are what they are. They are a gun which has seen real combat and has been deployed by more Armies in more conflicts than any other pistol that comes to mind over the last 100 years. They are excellent guns but surely are not for everyone. I think that their out of the box excellence can be debated and like most guns there will be come variance but they are a tested design with an elegant look that suits my hands and my shooting ability so I for one will continue to buy them.
