Are most of the guys who sing the praises of Browning High Powers 1911 lovers?

It's a matter of fit. My finger falls off the base of the HP grip. The 1911 is a perfect fit (with the addition of Pachmyer grips).

There are probably similar reasons for why I like both so much.

I like the consistent trigger pull of a SA gun. They are both thin guns which makes them great for IWB carry. I prefer to ride the safety with my shooting thumb and that means a frame mounted safety that fires in the down position. I like all metal guns. I love the ergonomics and handling of both (but especially the hi power). Of course, it helps that I shoot both pretty well.

One other thing I find appealing with them, is the wide variation. You can change mainspring housings, grip and frame safeties, triggers, springs, hammers, slide stops, and grips all fairly easily and with a wide selection for all of these components and completely change the fee of the gun. Though mine are still stock, I imagine I'll tinker with them at some point. It's one of the reasons I picked the 10/22 when I got my last rimfire rifle. I can start with the base gun and have change into a dozen different configurations over the years.

Husker_Fan said:

I like the consistent trigger pull of a SA gun. They are both thin guns which makes them great for IWB carry. I prefer to ride the safety with my shooting thumb and that means a frame mounted safety that fires in the down position. I like all metal guns. I love the ergonomics and handling of both (but especially the hi power).

Click to expand...

This.

Not available on the poll:

I love the Browning Hi Power, but I am not a 1911 shooter.

I traded a Mixmaster M1 Carbine for a slightly used BHP in about 1980. It has performed flawlessly since day 1. I have no idea of the round count, but you can put a lot of rounds through a pistol in 30 years. I am a very satisfied BHP owner.

The only 1911 I have ever shot was one of a group that was released as military surplus Sometime in the late 60's early 70's. A friend of mine owned it, and it was in very poor condition. I was not impressed.

I am considering a 1911 in the near future.

There is nothing wrong with either. Everyone should own a pair.

1911, BPH, and CZ's for me

I started out loving the 1911, but it took me a few years more to try a Hi-Power. Man do I love those things too, wish I would have tried them sooner. The HP is the easiest pistol for me to shoot quickly and accurately. JMB was pure genious!

Personally I love both guns, but I'm not one of those "fanboy" types... I carry a 1911 every day, with a S&W snubbie as a backup. I never should have sold the Hi-power I had, but I'll get one again sooner or later.

These are classic well made but outdated designs. From 'Hot' status both require disengagement of slide locking lever prior to use. Modern high capacity autos w/o manual safety features make for superior combat guns.

PabloJ said:

These are classic well made but outdated designs. From 'Hot' status both require disengagement of slide locking lever prior to use. Modern high capacity autos w/o manual safety features make for superior combat guns.

Click to expand...

Just my personal experience/learning/opinion/belief here, but swiping the safety off on a 1911 or a BHP is nothing more than part of the draw stroke... I'm on target just as fast as I am with my Glock, if not faster because I'm more comfortable shooting the 1911 style pistols.

PabloJ said:

These are classic well made but outdated designs. From 'Hot' status both require disengagement of slide locking lever prior to use. Modern high capacity autos w/o manual safety features make for superior combat guns.

Click to expand...

Yeah, that's probably why all the elite combat units in the world have moved towards safety-less guns, and why all the serious action shooters have abandoned the 1911 platform.

None of the categories fit me so I didn't vote. I've only shot one High Power and that was several years ago. At that time, I was marginally better with that gun than my S&W 459. I'm a much better shooter now and would like to try the BHP again. As of this moment, I would be more inclined to buy a High Power than a 1911.

Today, I had my second experience shooting 1911s. Both times were Kimbers. The first was a Raptor II and today it was a Pro Carry Custom something something. I shot the Raptor better than any other autoloader I ever fired for the first time. Today, with the Pro Carry I put 5 rounds inside a 2 inch circle with several touching each other. That's the kind of accuracy I only experience in a large frame revolver. My son shot the Pro Carry as his first time firing a 1911 and shot the best group he has ever fired next to a S&W 686 revolver.

Acknowledging the above, I still can't jump on the 1911 bandwagon simply because I prefer to not follow the crowd. I would never buy a Harley or get a tattoo for the same reason. Just me.

From 'Hot' status both require disengagement of slide locking lever prior to use. Modern high capacity autos w/o manual safety features make for superior combat guns.

Click to expand...

If you take a high thumbs grip which rides the safety (on frame mounted up to safe down to fire designs like the 1911 & BHP) it disengages as part of taking the firing grip. The greater advantage of such a grip is that it sits the bore axis lower in the hand which reduces muzzle flip, and thereby makes followup shots faster.

I'm slower with designs like the Beretta 92, etc, that have slide mounted safeties which do require a bit of a stretch to reach. However, there are highly trained users of the Beretta 92, etc, who have practiced so much that they are not slowed at all by disengaging the safety on these weapons. I also suspect that gun fit plays a large part in this: I have rather short fingers, and getting to a frame mounted safety lever is quite a reach for me.

As for the poll, I shoot 1911s better than I shoot a almost any other pistol. I like the BHP, but can't use them. My short fingers combined with the very meaty web of my hand between thumb & forefinger leads to that part of my hand riding over the frame tang & getting pinched between it & the hammer.

Both of them suit me better than anything else. No problem transitioning from a BHP to a 1911 or vice versa. In fact I use the same holsters for both.

I do switch to carrying a Glock model 20 (10mm) when spending time in places with bigger critters than people to watch out for.

1911 forever................................................

Have you tried different mags?

I love the 1911 and Hi Power. Fantastic pistols for range toys or self defense.

I noticed Remington Rand 'rattle trap' in very good original condition is often priced like new Les Baer.

Even for civilian use the CZ75 or SIG 226 would be better choice then BHP

Click to expand...

Even if the person in question shoots the BHP better than a CZ-75 or SIG P226?

ugaarguy said:

Even if the person in question shoots the BHP better than a CZ-75 or SIG P226?

Click to expand...

The old ones had wonderful polish and blueing........I changed my last post because I do not wish to upset older members of the board who like vintage stuff made when labor a mano was still cheap.

The 1911 and the Hi Power being so similar, it shouldn't come as any surprise that 1911 owners tend to enjoy Hi Powers as well. What's not to love about a good single-action pistol?

I agree with Ken W everyone should own a pair.. A pair of each!

I think 1911 fans are also Hi-Power fans.

The simple reason is neither is afraid of seeing a cocked hammer on a holstered pistol. It's just not that scary, if you know what you're doing. They both also have confidence in their ability to swipe the thumb safety off without any problems. It's just not that hard, if you know what you're doing. The majority of these users know what they're doing.

However, it will always bug the 1911 guys that the Hi-Power comes from the factory with a mag disconnect safety.

I love both.

I also love my glocks.

I also love my revolvers.

I haven't shot many firearms that I dislike.

However, it will always bug the 1911 guys that the Hi-Power comes from the factory with a mag disconnect safety.

Click to expand...

Mag disconnect safeties on anything bug me.