Browning High Power

[battlehatch]

Howdy y'all,

I think I am interested in getting a BHP. Don't know too much about them but I think I need to have one. Anyone know what the chances are of finding a nice nickel plated/silver one in 9 or 40? Ever since I saw American Gangster, I had to have one... Any pros and cons to these, too?

Thx.

[Turbinator]

Where's your location? I think Target Masters had a nickel finished one for awhile behind glass. Not sure about now. Pricing is pretty high - usually around $600 to $700 - Browning HiPowers are pretty high quality guns that hold value pretty well. I've seen them go for less, but not at retail stores.

Good design that is essentially an improvement on the 1911 design, double stack 9mm that usually fits well in most hands.

Suggest you try the original caliber 9mm - those with the .40S&W sometimes say that the muzzle flip is a bit too much. Everyone's different so you might want to try both and decide which you like best.

Mag disconnect safey might be a concern to you, makes the trigger feel grittier, a lot of people take this out despite what the pundits say.

I like 'em, and recommend 'em to people who are looking for a full framed 9mm.

Turby

[chsk9]

I bought a HiPower in the 80's. I love that gun and will never sell it- during the L.A. riots I had that with four 20 round magazines- that was some heat back in the day!

[IllTemperedCur]

I've owned a couple of BHPs over the years, have a '93 MkIII right now that I adore. Found it last year as a consignment for $499, VERY good condition.

You really have to work to find someone who doesn't like BHPs. One of the best qualities IMHO is that it's comfortable for a wide range of hand sizes. Not the easiest thing to accomplish, design-wise.

Remember though, it's a 70+ year old design. Still relevant, but like the 1911, it requires a bit more discipline than handguns of more recent vintage.

[tommyboy1966]

Hipowers powers are great guns.Especially if you want an all steel,double stack,and have small hands like myself.The big problem is that fn herstal has discontinued them from the current catalog, and finding nib is extremely difficult.As such, used hp's in excellent condition are commanding close to $1,000. And clones like f.e.g., arcus,and fm. aren't cali. approved.If you truly want 1 buy NOW!

[Brooke]

I think I am interested in getting a BHP. Don't know too much about them but I think I need to have one.

:-) I know the feeling ...

[titan]

Love them, they are excellent pistols. I have three now, Polished blue adj sights, MkIII, and Pratical, two-tone. It was my first handgun 21 years ago, a 1986 Belgian made high polished blue with fixed sights. Oh, the polish on that thing was perfect, like a mirror. Like a Dumb ***** I sold it for S&W 5906 that I sold a year later. Never found another NIB Belgian made p-35 : (

I picked up a new Polished blue p-35 in 1998, the finish is not even close to the earlier Belgian gun. Highly recommended. Large hands can get hammer bite so try it out first.

[jamesob]

i loved mine and regret selling it. the con that i can think of is that it was a single action, other than that it a great gun.

[jinggoyd1967]

OK, I'm going to be dissenting voice here. I do not like BHP. That being said, it is an excellent design that simply does not work for me.
I don't like to trigger as it comes from the factory, a little gritty and spongy for a single action. I do not like to magazine disconnect/safety because it prevents speed/drop-free reloads and it one reason the trigger isn't as crisp as a 1911. Yes the magazine disconnect maybe disabled but I do not beleive in disabling safety features because of liability reasons. Lastly that long slide release causes me to lock the slide with rounds in the magazine because I shoot semi-autos in a thumbs forward manner.
I suggest you borrow/rent one to try out before purchasing one. It's a great design but it's just not for me.
If you do get one, think of getting Craig Spegel grips (Novak sell them) for it. Spegel are the best grips for the BHP.

[Axewound]

man its my next buy, i hope to score one soon. i also do not like the trigger, having shot one at the range, i want to fix that first. but overall i want it to be my graduation present

[gunsnrovers]

I don't care for them in .40. To whippy. I love them in 9mm. My favorite semi-auto.

My regret is that I didn't buy more of the FN marked ones that were out just a few years ago. I picked one up for $399. Should have bought several.

I need a nice T series to go with my Inglis, MKII, and MKIII's.

[dfletcher]

I happen to like them, I think we sometimes forget it's really just a service pistol that's prettied up and has a strong following.

City Arms has a Belgian target model - blued - for $525.00. Looks pretty good & has a very nice trigger. The mag disconnect is there, but obviously polished and some cleaning up done to the trigger.

In addition to the mag disconnect set up, the BHP trigger is literally this part moves that bar up & moves this part down pivoting it's tail end up. Cylinder & Slide sells a sear bar with better geometry that's supposed to improve the pull but you have to drill horizontally through the slide.

[Axewound]

sorry to thread jack, but what make do you reccomend buying if FN does not produce anymore?

[Norcalkid]

I have one of the old ones. I like it but there are 9mms that I like better. I did add an after market grip to it. That made a huge difference to me. The original grips didn’t fit well in my hand. As some one else noted. Yes it is single action. It’s a good gun and I shoot it often. But if I was in the market for a 9mm I am not sure this is the one that I would pick. I have owned it since the late 80s or early 90s so maybe the new coolness factor has just worn off for me.

[jinggoyd1967]

Hey Axe, I used to have an FEG made in Hungary and got rid of it. I had a lot of problems trigger system and safety.
FM makes a clone in Argentina but I don't think it's on the DOJ list. This goes for the Bulgarian-made Century/Arcus.
On the other hand Browning HP and FN HP are on the list and I saw a few of them on GunBroker.com and GunsAmerica.com