Thinking about a browning hi-power

[dmcummins]

Picked Up a high power today. It a silver chrome model with adjustable sights and Pachmayer grips. Says made in Belgium assembled Portugal.

I'd post a pic, but for some reason I can't from my iPad.

I looked hard at the sig Sauer 226, but after holding both in my hand I went with this one. I may still pick up a sig later,but it will probably be a compact.

[Flat Six]

Had a couple of MKIIs, one in 9mm, one in .40SW. Also a couple of FEGs. Liked them all, but eventually let the Brownings go but kept the FEGs. Love them. Over 20 years and many, many rounds only one FTE.

Hate the feel of the HP mag disconnects; new triggers from Cylinder & Slide solved that problem. Normally don't like rubbery grips, but for me a set of Hogue wrap-arounds with finger grooves (yeah, I know, they're ugly) transform these spoons. As others have mentioned -- they feel great and fit well in my hands. For me, nothing points more naturally except a 1911.

My advice -- if you can find one in your price range go for it. IMHO, it's one of those spoons that everyone should own at least once in their lifetime.

Maybe we should start a thread on spoon bucket lists.

[manbridge 74]

I held a newer one recently and it seemed a little different.

Just be aware that todays made High Powers are a far cry from the originals. Not that they are worse than the plasicky crap being made today but here is a run down on how they have changed.

1. New High Powers have frames made of casting not forged steel. (After 1994)

2. After 1989 they installed a passive firing pin safety that only left 1/16 or less metal behind the firing pin stop which can lead to slide cracking especially with dry firing.

3. The Barrel extended barrel hood projection that helped stabilize the barrel for accuracy was done away with to save machine time and increase profits.

4. The safety for quite some time has been made of a brittle casting instead of a forging. Its ok unless you bump it too hard.

5. The frame is now wider because it is made of a casting, not a forging and this exacerbates the problem of a fat grip that is often too big for some peoples hands to wrap around and still reach the trigger. The extra wideness for me makes the gun feel not at all like the original High Power did.

[id10t]

Was just shopping for a 9mm, got a CZ75 BD instead of a HP, not to mention the plastic stuff out there.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

The trigger pull does take some getting used to. There are "fixes" to the mag disconnect and a smoother trigger pull but I have left my '70's Hi Power stock.

I did a quick search on Guns America and $1,000 will get you a 97% used Belgium Browning.

These gents do magnificent work on BHPs.
I'll be taking my Belgium BHP to them soon for just some trigger work.
.
https://robarguns.com/custom-weapons/handguns/browning-hi-power/

[manbridge 74]

Last CZ I picked up had crazy long trigger reach for me. Good pistols though.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Very cool guns with lots of history. An original FN is the only 9mm of any kind I would even consider. Not because it's more reliable, not because it's more accurate, but simply because it has a cache that no plastic gun can ever approach.

That said, the only 9mm I own is a WWII souvenir P38 acquired by my late father-in-law in Italy from a German acquaintance ("no longer in need of it..."). It shoots well enough, but I swear those goddamn little pills bounce off of coyotes (I've tried). Fun little plinkers, but nothing to get serious with.

Then you should try a Sig P210-6.

I have a Walther P38 HP..."Heeres Pistol" I really don't like shooting it as it is not very accurate, but it was never meant to be so...P38's were the first DA 9mm made. for the uninformed the P38 HP is one of the toughest to find, in that they were the commercial version of the P38 with high polish bluing. Which were mostly made before to the beginning of the war...the Germans did continue with the HP to the end of the war though.

[Arthropraxis]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

Last CZ I picked up had crazy long trigger reach for me. Good pistols though.

They are designed to carry in half cock which provides a much shorter reach to the trigger.

[manbridge 74]

Ah. Good to know.

[regency]

I Had and liked my Browning Hi Power. I think I like my Sig P227 a lot more. I can hit what I'm aiming at & I like the de-cock feature too. Plus, I like the .45 better.

1973 911 T MFI Coupe, Aubergine

Steve

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by tabs

Then you should try a Sig P210-6.

Wonderful guns. And sadly the price reflects this.

The problem with the really nice single-stack 9mm spoons -- as shooters, anyway, not safe queens -- is that a 9mm 1911 will do everything they do and then some.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by masraum

Browning Hi Power, one of my favorite guns. The only reason that I don't have one is that they aren't an inexpensive gun.

This, would have to be an older one

and of course I live in California, consequently a 13 round magazine is taboo, hence a 1911 would be the JB flavor of hand spoon for me.

[flipper35]

Is that what they have in the beginning of this video?

[dmcummins]

I've probably shot a few hundred rounds through my 91 hi power and it's been great. Now I'm thinking a 228 or 229 sig might be my next purchase.

[dmcummins]

I added a sig.