firedawg60
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WVsig, what sights are those?
Browning Hi-Power has gone out of production...The passing of a firearms Icon
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WVsig
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Ted Yost did the work and you have a good eye the pins, screws and extractor is nitre blue. I can swap parts here and there but leave real custom work to people who know what they are doing.
bannockburn
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tark
You know my first Hi-Power was an absolute beauty of a T Series; that polished deep blue finish and those perfectly checkered walnut grips...and I couldn't hit anywhere near the side of a barn with it, inside or out! Sights were miniscule, safety was impossible to put on or take off, and the trigger pull was incredibly heavy, as in off the charts!
Then one day I read an article in Combat Handguns about a new and improved Hi-Power Mk.II with sights you could actually see, an ambi safety that you could actually use (quite easily too), and best of all a trigger that was great right out of the box (I didn't even have to remove the mag disconnect either)! My first day off I made a road trip to my favorite gun shop and picked one up and have been Hi-Power happy ever since! It's one of two guns (the other is my Beretta Model 70S), that I always take to the range.
Yeah it doesn't look as pretty as the T Series I had but my Mk.II will sure shoot circles around it!
You know my first Hi-Power was an absolute beauty of a T Series; that polished deep blue finish and those perfectly checkered walnut grips...and I couldn't hit anywhere near the side of a barn with it, inside or out! Sights were miniscule, safety was impossible to put on or take off, and the trigger pull was incredibly heavy, as in off the charts!
Then one day I read an article in Combat Handguns about a new and improved Hi-Power Mk.II with sights you could actually see, an ambi safety that you could actually use (quite easily too), and best of all a trigger that was great right out of the box (I didn't even have to remove the mag disconnect either)! My first day off I made a road trip to my favorite gun shop and picked one up and have been Hi-Power happy ever since! It's one of two guns (the other is my Beretta Model 70S), that I always take to the range.
Yeah it doesn't look as pretty as the T Series I had but my Mk.II will sure shoot circles around it!
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johnmcl
Member
Hi all,
WVSig, I admit I learn something nearly every time you write on BHPs. Thank you for all the time you spend sharing your knowledge with us.
My own BHP story started with buying one from a THR member. This gun had been gently used. I have the blessing of living close to a friend who is a master BHP gunsmith. With his guidance, a trigger job, Novak sights, a C&S hammer, and a dark Cerakote finish all found their way onto the gun. The result is one heck of a carry gun, and looks like Darth Vader's BHP.
On accuracy, the gun is indifferent to 115s, hates 147s, and shoots like a house on fire with 124s, both RN and HPs. On the range or on duty, what a superb gun.
WVSig, I admit I learn something nearly every time you write on BHPs. Thank you for all the time you spend sharing your knowledge with us.
My own BHP story started with buying one from a THR member. This gun had been gently used. I have the blessing of living close to a friend who is a master BHP gunsmith. With his guidance, a trigger job, Novak sights, a C&S hammer, and a dark Cerakote finish all found their way onto the gun. The result is one heck of a carry gun, and looks like Darth Vader's BHP.
On accuracy, the gun is indifferent to 115s, hates 147s, and shoots like a house on fire with 124s, both RN and HPs. On the range or on duty, what a superb gun.
WVsig
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Thanks for the kind words. I love the look of that BHP.
tark
Member
That sounds like mine!!! Those tiny sights really are a joke, aren't they? As bad as the original 1911 sights. Just more reasons not to shoot the thing.
bannockburn
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tark
Can't argue with that logic my friend!
Can't argue with that logic my friend!
Ironicaintit
Member
I grew up with crappy C series sights and trigger, and not knowing any better, I didn’t know to complain about it, and still shot pretty well.
Maybe not ultimate precision like, but by the time I was 12, the chipmunks has learned to go into hiding when I was in the yard!
Maybe not ultimate precision like, but by the time I was 12, the chipmunks has learned to go into hiding when I was in the yard!
bassjam
Member
I picked up a Hi Power a couple years ago, it had been on my wish list for a long time. Just 2 weeks ago I took it to the range. My 12 year old daughter was with me shooting a Buckmark and after I put a couple magazines through the BHP I asked her if she was ready to try shooting a 9mm. I put one cartridge in it and handed it to her, and after firing it she said "that wasn't bad" (she'd only shot .22's up to that point). Then I put 2 in, and she had a grin on her face. After that I loaded up a full mag, and I didn't get the gun back for the rest of the range session while she went through the 250+ rounds I had brought.
Speedo66
Member
I wound up with a bring back Browning as one of my fellow officers, a WWII vet, was retiring. It was marked Fabrique Nationale, not a commercial Browning, and had typical German army markings on it.
Came with a holster and 2 mags, which also had markings on them. I had gotten that gun around the same time as acquiring a WWII Colt Govt. from another officer, also retiring, made by Remington Rand. I liked the grip on the Browning so much better than the Colt so I sold the Colt, one of my many firearm sales mistakes.
Enjoyed the Browning, then put it and a Luger I'd acquired from another retiring officer up for consignment sale, both sold pretty quickly. So make that three sales with poor judgement. lol
Came with a holster and 2 mags, which also had markings on them. I had gotten that gun around the same time as acquiring a WWII Colt Govt. from another officer, also retiring, made by Remington Rand. I liked the grip on the Browning so much better than the Colt so I sold the Colt, one of my many firearm sales mistakes.
Enjoyed the Browning, then put it and a Luger I'd acquired from another retiring officer up for consignment sale, both sold pretty quickly. So make that three sales with poor judgement. lol
How long ago have you sold the guns? What are they worth now? I bet you arse is sore from brutally kicking yourself....
Speedo66
Member
I got them in the early 70's, sold them in the late 80's. I paid $65 for the Browning, which had a worn wartime finish, $200 for the Luger which was a 98% gun, and the Colt Gov't, which also had a worn Parkerized finish, was traded for a .25 Colt Jr. which I had maybe $50 into.
I don't know enough about current collector's value to price them at this time. The only saving grace is I still have the M-1 Carbine which I also got at that time. Exceptionally clean Underwood model, worth every cent of the $75 asked for it by an officer who was a Sea Bee in the WWII Pacific Theater. I don't know if it was a bring back or he purchased it later.
Unfortunately, they are just a few of the bad moves on my part in selling very nice guns. My interests in guns waxed and waned over the years, and I sold when I had little interest for a while. Among other bad sales were a pristine Hi-Standard Victor with box and papers, a couple of very clean Swedish Mausers, an 1884 Trapdoor Springfield Carbine, a no dash S&W 586 I bought new, an unissued Chinese SKS with blade bayonet still in cosmoline, etc, etc.
While I would like to have some of them back, it is what it is. I think the one I miss most is the H-S Victor.
Here's mine, it is a LW worked over by Don Williams at Action Works.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/alb...jpg?width=371&height=225&fit=bounds&crop=fill
https://hosting.photobucket.com/alb...jpg?width=371&height=225&fit=bounds&crop=fill
https://hosting.photobucket.com/alb...jpg?width=371&height=225&fit=bounds&crop=fill
https://hosting.photobucket.com/alb...jpg?width=371&height=225&fit=bounds&crop=fill
Browning died many years before the gun design was finished. His initial design was actually striker fired. You should thank Dieudonne Saive from FN for creating what we know today as the Hi-Power.
Alte Schule
Member
Found this police/military surplus Argentine clone a few years ago. Exterior was rough but the internals were quite clean showing little wear. The barrel was excellent. To me it appeared to be carried a lot but probably just shot for annual qualification.
My first range trip was a disaster. After one magazine I had several FTF and FTE's. Took it home and installed a new spring kit and extractor. Paid the $$ for two factory magazines. Second trip to the range was a little better but still disappointing. After two magazines w/o a problem the last round in the mag would either FTE or FTF with the slide locking halfway back which we all know is not a good thing with a live round in battery.
Took it apart and went through it meticulously. Third range trip same thing. After a full magazine the same problems. Deciding not to give in to frustration I put it in the safe and went on to other things that weren't as frustrating.
A few weeks later, after talking to my LEO son about it, he asked if he could take it the gunsmith that does the work on their firearms. Returned a few days later with a note "Don't use cheap ammo. I know white box is easy on the back pocket but pay the extra $ for Speer Gold Dot. No charge. Advice is free."
I don't know how this guy knew I was using that ammo but he sure was right. It hated the white box and wasn't to fond of the 147 gr. Remington. Runs fine with Speer, Blazer Brass and the Mag Tec +P.
My first range trip was a disaster. After one magazine I had several FTF and FTE's. Took it home and installed a new spring kit and extractor. Paid the $$ for two factory magazines. Second trip to the range was a little better but still disappointing. After two magazines w/o a problem the last round in the mag would either FTE or FTF with the slide locking halfway back which we all know is not a good thing with a live round in battery.
Took it apart and went through it meticulously. Third range trip same thing. After a full magazine the same problems. Deciding not to give in to frustration I put it in the safe and went on to other things that weren't as frustrating.
A few weeks later, after talking to my LEO son about it, he asked if he could take it the gunsmith that does the work on their firearms. Returned a few days later with a note "Don't use cheap ammo. I know white box is easy on the back pocket but pay the extra $ for Speer Gold Dot. No charge. Advice is free."
I don't know how this guy knew I was using that ammo but he sure was right. It hated the white box and wasn't to fond of the 147 gr. Remington. Runs fine with Speer, Blazer Brass and the Mag Tec +P.
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johnmcl
Member
Alte, now that's a BHP with character.
SSN Vet
Member
This whole thread illustrates why I love me the BHP.
I'm trying to learn how to smith them well.
Working on a SS Tisas BR9 now.
I'm trying to learn how to smith them well.
Working on a SS Tisas BR9 now.
Define cheap ammo and "white box" as a number of companies do offer this with very decent QC.
JTQ
Member
"White box" generally refers to Winchester's economy line of ammo. In 9mm form, "cheap ammo" is usually low powered 115gr ball ammo and often lacks enough recoil "oomph" to consistently drive the slide to ensure reliable function.
Generally speaking, 124gr or 147gr ball ammo will have enough energy to drive the slide. In addition, nearly all self defense ammo is loaded hot enough to drive the slide for reliable function.
Well a few guys I used to know, swore by Mil Surplus. "Works every time, aside from an odd round or two every so often".
Nature Boy
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I acquired mine right around the time they announced the discontinuation of manufacturing. I had been wanting one for years. Paid $550
It’s an early 90’s MkIII in almost new condition.
bannockburn
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bassjam
I know that routine all too well with my daughter! First she burns through a couple of hundred rounds through her Beretta Neos .22 (I'm actually the enabler here as I load the mags while she shoots), then it's on to my Hi-Power!
Not quite as fast with the Browning but even so 100 rounds of 9mm. doesn't last very long with her finger on the trigger!
I know that routine all too well with my daughter! First she burns through a couple of hundred rounds through her Beretta Neos .22 (I'm actually the enabler here as I load the mags while she shoots), then it's on to my Hi-Power!
Not quite as fast with the Browning but even so 100 rounds of 9mm. doesn't last very long with her finger on the trigger!
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