Browning Hi-Power questions

Both of mine will easily hold inside 4 inches (typically better with good loads) at 25 yards, which is all they really need to do.

Old surplus guns may do considerably worse.
No English versions made.
Denis

Terrible triggers even with the magazine safety removed. I would not buy one for accuracy. And I would buy a newer one that would be more amenable for hollowpoints unless you want it as a curio. A newer one would be fine for personal defense, but not for any kind of formal target shooting.

While they are not as mechanically accurate as some of the newer closer tolerance 45's, for a some of us they are easier to shoot accurately without concentrating too much. May have a lot to do with hand fit.

The trigger can be harder, but still pretty clean breaking after break in or removing the mag safety.

The older one of mine (earlier Israli surplus) noticeably benefitted from re crowning the barrel, and the newer one needs it too.

They can be very accurate and their triggers can be improved. They are not and will never be 1911s but very few guns are.

Remove the mag disconnect, polish or replace the trigger, sear and hammer to improve the trigger.

I also recommend an 11 degree recrown on them. It will not make a tack driving BHP into a 1911 but it will not harm an accurate BHP. If you have one that has avg accuracy a recrown can greatly improve your groups. IMHO a recrown is better use of funds than a barsto match barrel.

For 99% of us it is the indian not the arrow which is the weak link in the chain IMHO. I have BHPs that will shoot sub 2" at 25 yards from a rest.

esq_stu said:

Terrible triggers even with the magazine safety removed. I would not buy one for accuracy. And I would buy a newer one that would be more amenable for hollowpoints unless you want it as a curio. A newer one would be fine for personal defense, but not for any kind of formal target shooting.

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My Indian Ordnance Factory Inglis High Power clone has an excellent trigger WITH the magazine safety installed, thank you very much.

You need to check out the late great Stephen Camp's writings:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/

Do yourself a favor and order a copy of his book from his widow as well.

Terrible triggers even with the magazine safety removed.

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+1
They can be fixed, or so I'm told. I divested one for that reason. Either it or a wad o cash to (or try to) fix it had to go.

http://www.nighthawkcustom.com/pistols/browning-hi-power#slide-4

These Nighthawk custom Hi-Powers are pricey, and other than the stippling which I'm not crazy about, these have all the custom features I'd want on a BHP.

With a trigger job, new sights, and potentially an extended safety, they're good. One of the better feeling guns in the hand IMHO (the CZ-75 is also quite nice, as is the Walther P99). In plain jane stock form though I wouldn't use one for anything other than a range toy.

get a Mark 3 and remove the mag safety and put on some slim grips and they are GTG.

A T series Hi-Power that I had possessed one of the worst triggers I have ever encountered on a semi-auto. Fast forward 20 years or so and a new Mk.II that I bought has a fantastic trigger on it (especially for a Hi-Power), and I didn't even have to remove the mag safety. It's also one of the most accurate 9mm.s I own.

Mine is an early '80s model, gloss blue, FN Belgium built. I removed the mag safety and the trigger is now quite good. It was ok before, but gritty.
You'll probably find all types of triggers on surplus HPs but I think it's worth the chance. You should be able to get your $$ out if you change your mind.
Another recommendation for Steven Camp's hipowersandhandguns.com site. Read all the articles there--it's a real Hipower education!

As others have noted, Hipowers are as accurate as YOU are!

esq_stu said:

Terrible triggers even with the magazine safety removed.

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Not mine. With the magazine safety removed, it's got a NICE combat trigger pull.

It's never going to replace my Series 70 Colt for bullseye, but it's certainly better than most Glock or H&K triggers I've tried.

BHP

As others have pointed out....removing the magazine safety will improve the trigger pull....and when doing so will give one the opportunity to mildly polish the trigger lever...where it rides/slides in the grip frame. Just taking off any burrs will further smooth out the trigger pull.

If you want the magazine safety to remain in the gun, you can polish the end of the safety to a very smooth point and you can polish the magazine where the safety touches it. That will help. Regardless, I removed mine completely.

The trigger can be lightened and smoothed a lot. I know.... my trigger is very nice and easily rivals my 1911 triggers for crispness.

I've found my Hi-Power to be every bit as accurate as it needs to be. It's not a target gun; it's a combat gun that's pretty darned accurate when you make it so.

RainDodger said:

If you want the magazine safety to remain in the gun, you can polish the end of the safety to a very smooth point and you can polish the magazine where the safety touches it. That will help. Regardless, I removed mine completely.

The trigger can be lightened and smoothed a lot. I know.... my trigger is very nice and easily rivals my 1911 triggers for crispness.

I've found my Hi-Power to be every bit as accurate as it needs to be. It's not a target gun; it's a combat gun that's pretty darned accurate when you make it so.

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^^^ Same here. My 1994 model Mk III is a fantastic gun and the trigger is waaay better than what I've read some people experiencing, and waaay better than a friend's pristine T-Series Hi Power (which have the internet reputation of being some of the best-finished HPs).

I'm confident that there is a wide, wide range of trigger quality among the HPs out there. If you get a good one, IME there's nothing to complain about unless you are extremely picking about the trigger on a gun like this.

I don't think my Mk III is quite as accurate as my CZs (75B, 75 PCR, 85 Combat, 97B) but it's pretty close and probably better than 95% of shooters are capable of delivering.

I removed the mag safety but it barely changed the trigger pull because my slider was very slick as was the magazine. The trigger is firm but very crisp, every bit as crisp as my Kimber 1911 but not as light. If I were going to carry it I wouldn't think it needs anything at all, and it's also just fine for general shooting.

I LOVE the Hi Power and keep wanting to pick up another one even though I certainly don't need it. The only rival it has in terms of feel in my hand is the CZ family of 75-based guns, and even then, there's still something special about the size and feel of the Hi Power.

I have two High Power pistols in my collection; one with military 'paint' type finish, manufactured and marked "Fabrique Nationale", the other a commercial Browning from the 1970s or so.

Both have trigger pulls of around eight pounds and more creep than a Steven King novel.

The pistol was initially designed by J. M. Browning, who died prior to completion, then finished by Dieudonne Saive. However the trigger to sear connection was farmed out to Rube Goldberg. (The trigger sends movement ninety degrees through the walking bar in the slide to another connection in the frame which moves the sear.) It can be 'cleaned up' in the same sense a Government Model trigger pull can be 'cleaned up' but is far more complicated due to the several connections.:banghead:

The magazine safety was a requirement for initial development; the pistol was made to be submitted for French Army trials. The French decided on a home designed pistol, but neither FN nor Browning ever ditched it. One notes Ol' John did ditch the grip safety as the French didn't insist.

They are however, reliable and heavy duty pistols. (Presuming one accepts the 9x19 cartridge as acceptable.)

Accuracy. What level do you desire? The typical High Power is capable of hitting a human torso out to fifty yards or so regularly - presuming the operator is so qualified. The typical High Power is not suited for NRA 2700 shooting. Shooting bunnies at ranges over thirty yards would be difficult. I would consider the typical HP suitably accurate for self defense.

Your initial post mentioned wanting "... an older one ..." I find them interesting, but they are becoming collector's items. Newer ones are probably easier to find, but don't have the same 'feeling'.

Good luck.

Any of my MKIIIs will do 3" at 25 yards with GoldDots,they seem to prefer those.Hornady XTPs run a close second.They do not like any of my lead reloads,groups open up more like 4-5".

I've a had quite a few Hi Powers since the '60s. Stock, their accuracy would probably not impress a competent Bullseye shooter. That being said, average unmodified Hi Powers will put 5 rounds in 4" or under at 25 yards. The MKIIIs, more like 3" for me. But that may be due to the blockier, easier to see sights of the MKIII guns. A Hi Power with Bar-Sto barrel or stock GP Comp will do 2" or under at 25 yards. As a first Hi Power, hard to go wrong with the MKIII version IMHO.

BTW, if you get "the English one", be sure to post a photo

I have a regular Hi-Power and one of the long barreled
target models. The trigger on my regular one has been
messed with by amateurs and the mag. safety removed.
It's not real bad. The target model has sights that look like
they belong on a BB gun. It shoots good and the trigger isn't
bad. I have seen a few Hi-Powers that were worked over by
professional gun smiths that had really nice triggers.
Zeke

BHP

One of the Brownings attributes...is how it fits the hand....for most people...it is my firearm of choice...if needed in the dark.....it "Points" to where my minds eye wants it to point....sights are not necessary..

I guess you could call me fan. I only own 12+. With a little tweaking their short comings can me mitigated. Nothing fits my hand better in 9mm than the BHP.

You may be remembering the old Browning slide markings that listed the company as US & Canada.
Wasn't actually made in Canada unless a wartime John Inglis (just to confure you further) HP.
Denis