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The Browning Hi Power and +P ammo
- Thread starter WVsig
- Start date
I realize this thread is about modern BHP's, but perhaps a note on older ones might not be totally out of place.
During the German occupation of Belgium, the workers at FN sabotaged many of the BHPs they were making for the Nazis by spoiling the steel or skipping heat treatments. The result was that some guns of that era will fire only a few shots before the locking lugs on the barrel or the lug seats in the slide peen and lock up the gun. I have not seen any "blow up" (I doubt that could happen and they all had to pass a proof test) but they will become inoperable in a short time. If only the barrel is affected, a new barrel could resolve the problem, but there is no feasible way to fix a bad slide. I recommend those guns be considered as trophies and not fired, certainly not with +P or +P+ ammunition, which could be dangerous.
Jim
During the German occupation of Belgium, the workers at FN sabotaged many of the BHPs they were making for the Nazis by spoiling the steel or skipping heat treatments. The result was that some guns of that era will fire only a few shots before the locking lugs on the barrel or the lug seats in the slide peen and lock up the gun. I have not seen any "blow up" (I doubt that could happen and they all had to pass a proof test) but they will become inoperable in a short time. If only the barrel is affected, a new barrel could resolve the problem, but there is no feasible way to fix a bad slide. I recommend those guns be considered as trophies and not fired, certainly not with +P or +P+ ammunition, which could be dangerous.
Jim
I like ......
.......Federal Classics for my FEG Hi-Power clone. Still pass the FBI gel tests and isn't hard on the gun. I run a couple of mags after going through some ball ammo of the same FPS. No problems. With it being an all steel gun with a Sprinco buffer in it, that pistol makes me look good!
.......Federal Classics for my FEG Hi-Power clone. Still pass the FBI gel tests and isn't hard on the gun. I run a couple of mags after going through some ball ammo of the same FPS. No problems. With it being an all steel gun with a Sprinco buffer in it, that pistol makes me look good!
Bartholomew Roberts
Moderator
Less than 20 shots of Corbon 116 grain +P = the front sight of my Silver Chrome snap in half.
Browning fixed it under warranty
I had that happen twice in the same day on an Israeli Hi-Power from AIM. The gunsmith at XS recut the dovetail and no problems since then.
I've owned a succession of Hi Powers since the '60s, to include an old ratty INGLIS, pre-T, T-series,C-series, '70 and '80 versions, MII, MKIIIs, GPs, etc. I have never owned one of the NAZI occupation versions that James K mentioned, but would share his concern about the safety and durability of those guns.I have shot my share of reloads that I'm sure would now be considered +P and/or +P+, as well as thousands of rounds of factory NATO, +P and +P+ once it came along. I did use the Wolff 18.5# recoil springs and/or buffers in some Hi Powers. But, I admit that I have not fired the many thousands of rounds through any ONE Hi Power that some have. The only thing I can recall breaking is one MKIII firing pin stop. I have little doubt that the Hi Power is not as durable as a Glock, or 1911 chambered in 9MM, etc. There's just more steel everywhere in the 1911 and they have proven to be capable of handling cartridges with quite a bit more power than the 9X19MM. The Glocks have obviously proven to be very durable pistols over the past 25 years..........ymmv