Browning Hi-Power?

[tacticalcity]

IF you have the right tools and/or it is not the epoxy-finished one.

I bent/broke three metal punches before I adapted some washers, a small punch and my drill-press vise to use to squeeze the trigger pin out [it is one-directional]. It took me an hour to figure this out.

On my other Hi Power that was cerakoted, it took 5 minutes.

You do know that the Mark III is the one you want if you plan on using +P ammo, right?

Hopefully Stephen Campbell's Hi Powers and Hanguns website is still up. It is RICH in info. Unfortuately, he passed last month.

Hi Power fans miss him.

Buy and enjoy!

I'm in more of a beggars can't be choosers mode at the moment. If I fall in love with the platform then I will start blowing all my money on different versions. Did that with Glocks and ARs. Tempted to do it with 1911s, though in a way I have in that I didn't settle for the way my 1911 came out of the box. Also tempted to get a new Glock. Meanwhile every time I turn around I am getting hit with a new massive bill for something completely unexpected. Which really throws a wrench into the plans to buy a new handgun. I'll figure something out before summer is over. If I didn't already have plenty of guns to shoot, I might be in more of a hurry.

[bczrx]

I understand. I bought 2 Sigs in 2 months, but ended up selling one a few months later as I wasn't able to hit much with it [my fault: not guns] but could with the other.

I have a few different handguns and some are the same 'platform': 1911s, Hi Powers, M&Ps.

I REALLY like the 'pointability' of the Hi Power. It just feels GREAT in my hand. I love the cost of ammo too [9mm], especially compared to my 1911s.

But do yourself a favor: Don't compare them to 1911s.

They may be both a product of John Moses Browning's mind [indirectly, in the case of the Hi Power], but they are very different.

The one thing that is worth being concerned about with the difference is that the Hi Power trigger does not have the potential to be as smooth and light as a 1911 trigger can be safely made to fire. Anything under 4lbs with a Hi Power is difficult to accomplish and more likely to get hammer follow through, from the experiences I've read of by those who have tried.

You can get a smooth/crisp 4.5-5.5 lb trigger with some good work [yourself if you're skilled, or 'smith if you aren't], but it won't be like the 2lb trigger potential of a 1911 design.

Secondly the Hi Power doesn't generate anywhere near the aftermarket parts availability. Holsters aren't much of a problem. Sights are available [stock work nicely for me on the Mark III's I own] in night or standard sights. But there aren't many producers of thumb safeties or other parts, compared to the 1911.

The grip is a little thicker than the 1911 [difference of double-stack vs. single-stack], but quite do-able.

They look/feel AWESOME!

Accuracy is combat/self-defense/plinking good. It isn't quite as accurate as a good 1911. Hi Powers can be made more accurate, but they aren't as easy to do this with as a 1911 [see parts availability, above].



Despite what some think, this isn't really J.M. Browning's design for a 9mm autoloader. It is a hybrid of ideas from his 1911 [after patent rights expired] and D. Saive's ideas. JMB was dead 7 years before this was released. His idea was a striker-fired pistol, and he really preferred it to be a single-stack. His striker-fired was double-stacked, due to design requirements he was mandated to follow, but he didn't want it that way.

So, Saive is really the guy behind the Hi Power, starting with JMB's prototype, tossing the firing mechanism and barrel/slide interface aside, integrating ideas from the 1911 and adding Saive's own ideas.

It is not accurate to call it 'Browning's other pistol'.

Regardless, it is a COOL piece of history: used on both sides during WW II [European theater] and used throughout the world.

I love mine and will probably keep it to the bitter end, even if I am more accurate with my Baby Eagle.

Practice, practice, practice!

Good luck with the unexpected expenses. I know how that is myself!

[redcliff]

IThe one thing that is worth being concerned about with the difference is that the Hi Power trigger does not have the potential to be as smooth and light as a 1911 trigger can be safely made to fire. Anything under 4lbs with a Hi Power is difficult to accomplish and more likely to get hammer follow through, from the experiences I've read of by those who have tried.

You can get a smooth/crisp 4.5-5.5 lb trigger with some good work [yourself if you're skilled, or 'smith if you aren't], but it won't be like the 2lb trigger potential of a 1911 design.

Good post by bczrx. However there is one variation of the HP with a very good trigger; the HP Competition GP. The one i have out of state has a measured 3.0 trigger break as nice as any I have on a 1911, and no hammer follow. Not sure if the trigger parts from the GP could be fit to a standard HP.

[tacticalcity]

I am a defensive shooter. So it doesn't need to be the perfect bench rest hair trigger. But it does need to be consistent, managable, and easy to master when working from the holster, firing controlled pairs and non-standard responses. It needs to be a good combat pistol.

[zfields]

I am a defensive shooter. So it doesn't need to be the perfect bench rest hair trigger. But it does need to be consistent, managable, and easy to master when working from the holster, firing controlled pairs and non-standard responses. It needs to be a good combat pistol.

Sounds like a hipower to me!

[INJUNTOM]

The little bit of research I've done on the BHP brought up hammer bite. Had me worried.

Is it really that bad? I heard it's worse for some people...

[bczrx]

The little bit of research I've done on the BHP brought up trigger bite. Had me worried.

Is it really that bad? I heard it's worse for some people...

Hi,

I have short fat hands. I have two Hi Powers with standard spur hammers. I have no hammer bite [but it is a close thing]. I do get hammer bite with stock GI 1911s.

I guess it is true that it is worse for some people. I would say to try one and see how it feels before you spend money on a new hammer and the money to have the sear and hammer surfaces stoned/matched.

Hey, InjunTom, are you moving away from wheelguns? I thought that was your favorite. I sincerely hope that Taurus .22lr is working well for you!

If you are ever this far down the Hwy 99 on a Friday/Sat or Sunday [1-4 on sunday], I'd be happy to meet you again and let you try out the HiPower at my local range. But I'm not riding my bike up to Turlock again to let you fondle my favorite pistol!

[Chaos47]

I have one with a ring hammer, no bite and I have big hands.

[zfields]

The little bit of research I've done on the BHP brought up trigger bite. Had me worried.

Is it really that bad? I heard it's worse for some people...

Bob the hammer, easily done with a dremel and file.

*edit* realized you said trigger bite...Never seen / herd of that issue with BHP

[INJUNTOM]

Hi,

I have short fat hands. I have two Hi Powers with standard spur hammers. I have no hammer bite [but it is a close thing]. I do get hammer bite with stock GI 1911s.

I guess it is true that it is worse for some people. I would say to try one and see how it feels before you spend money on a new hammer and the money to have the sear and hammer surfaces stoned/matched.

Hey, InjunTom, are you moving away from wheelguns? I thought that was your favorite. I sincerely hope that Taurus .22lr is working well for you!

If you are ever this far down the Hwy 99 on a Friday/Sat or Sunday [1-4 on sunday], I'd be happy to meet you again and let you try out the HiPower at my local range. But I'm not riding my bike up to Turlock again to let you fondle my favorite pistol!

The Taurus is great. I do like revolvers, but semi-autos are a good thing too

[INJUNTOM]

Bob the hammer, easily done with a dremel and file.

*edit* realized you said trigger bite...Never seen / herd of that issue with BHP

Oops. i was talking about hammer bite. I guess I better fix it...

[Cyc Wid It]

You can change the hammer or have a beavertail added, much like a 1911.

[tacticalcity]

Well I guess I should hang my head in shame. I went with a Glock 17 this time around. Found a better deal on it. However, the Hi Power is still on my wish list. Neither met my CCW needs. Oh well.

The goal was to find the best deal on a shootable / training / project gun. This time the best deal was a Glock 17.

[tacticalcity]

In case anyone is interested here is the link to the seller on Gunbroker who has some affordable project gun FN Hi-Powers. Since I won't be snatching one up for at least another 30+ days I figure I might as well share...

He has some afforable Beretta project guns dirt cheap as well.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/SellerAuctions.aspx?User=979927

[Buddhabelly]

Well I guess I should hang my head in shame. I went with a Glock 17.

Wow.

Just. Wow.