[MLC]

I hate to ask such a n00b question but...
Why is the BHP in 9mm and 40 only?
Is the frame to small to accomodate the 45acp?
I thought that being the predecessor to the 1911, 45 might be a given.

[RatFink]

This is just my opinion.


Why?

The beefing up they did for the .40's already kinda messes with the perfect way they feel in my hand, making a 45 would really mess it up. There are lots of other .45's, a BHP in .45 is not needed.

The thing that makes HP's so nice is the fact that they are SA and no other Hi-Cap 9mm feels so good in my hand, the CZ75 is a close second. That's what it does well. Others do other things well

[HSMITH]

The frame would need to be lengthened for 45 acp, and there are plenty of good double stack 45's already.

Try a Hi-Power before you buy one, they aren't for everyone.

[Wil Terry]

If you look at a HP closely you will see it is built to barely contain the 9MM PARABELLUM cartridge. The frame is almost skeletinized and the slide is lightened every way possible.
The BROWNING HP in 40S&W is built up considerably in many places including a hell of a heavier slide.
There ain't no room for the 45ACP in a recognizable BROWNING HP pistol.

[Coronach]

Won't fit. ;)

[EdipisReks]

I thought that being the predecessor to the 1911, 45 might be a given.

other way around. the 1911 was the predecessor of the Browning Hi-Power. in some ways, the Hi-Power is a refined 1911, though it is also quite different in other ways.

[MLC]

Doh!(now in Websters)
I meant to say that with the 1911 as it's predecessor... I know after all that it is called the P-35.

[mete]

The problem is the diameter , you just can't fit a 45 acp in there. The HP,or P 35 was developed in 1926 and came on the market in 1935.

[Josey]

My take is that JMB had a deal with Colt. He developed the 45 ACP as it was the big cartridge that most powers wanted in a service pistol. The pistols were replacing mostly 45 Long Colt revolvers. Given a few years to see the shift to smaller pistols and light calibers, JMB designed the HP to solve the shortcomings of the 1911 and capture the service pistol market. JMB was also working for another company in FN-Belgium. JMB made loads of money for Winchester, Colt and FN-Belgium (Herstal). He was a genius. I am still amazed that a Winchester lever action became the first Browning machine gun.

[Coronach]

JMB designed the HP to solve the shortcomings of the 1911Oh God. Here comes the jihad.

Mike ;)

[Josey]

The Army felt that a grip safety was needed. The Colt 1909 Auto didn't have that feature. The Colt 1910 didn't have that feature. The Colt 1911 did. JMB designed it out of the HP. I own four different JMB studies. I like JMB designs. The best thing about him was his willingness to experiment.

[MrAcheson]

My take is that JMB had a deal with Colt. He developed the 45 ACP as it was the big cartridge that most powers wanted in a service pistol. The pistols were replacing mostly 45 Long Colt revolvers. Given a few years to see the shift to smaller pistols and light calibers, JMB designed the HP to solve the shortcomings of the 1911 and capture the service pistol market. JMB was also working for another company in FN-Belgium. JMB made loads of money for Winchester, Colt and FN-Belgium (Herstal). He was a genius. I am still amazed that a Winchester lever action became the first Browning machine gun.

Its debatable whether "most powers" wanted .45 acp. Most of Europe was still shooting smaller caliber rounds between 7-9 millimeter. The US certainly did and the 1911 was made for them. The Army wanted a grip safety so JMB added one, etc.

The HP was designed in an interesting time. Colt held all the patents for the 1911 which limited what Browning could do on the new pistol for FN. Some of what he did was to make a gun that was "better" but others were just to make a gun that was different enough to avoid patent infringement. Plus Saive (better known for the FAL) also worked on it and changes were made after JMBs death when the Colt patents finally expired. So some of the work was Brownings, some Saive's, and still others were a bit of both via Saive's use of the Colt's patents. Oh and the $%&*(#@ mag safety? That was the French Army's idea I believe so blame them.

I really like the HP and its my favorite handgun. The trigger is its big disadvantage, but I prefer its simplicity and elegance to the 1911. Its the first real double-stack 9mm and does it right the first time compared to many of the bigger, bulkier, later designs. FN has been very good about making improvements over the years while still keeping quality high.

P.S. Maybe I should answer the original question... Yes the .45acp round is too long to fit in the BHP. Width isn't a problem but the tip to tail length is 4mm to long or something like that.

[Tim]

"The Army felt that a grip safety was needed. The Colt 1909 Auto didn't have that feature. The Colt 1910 didn't have that feature. The Colt 1911 did. JMB designed it out of the HP."

The Colt Models 1909 and 1910 did indeed have a grip safety...

[Daniel Watters]

To be precise, the original M1907, M1909, and M1910 prototypes did not have a thumb safety. Yes, that's right...the M1910 looked all the world like a M1911, minus a thumb safety.