A tough one...1911 Vs. Hi-Power..which is overall the "best" in your opinion??

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

saturno_v

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2007
Messages
2,702
Location
USA
Let the flame begin...

Both creatures of the genius of John Browning...both beautiful pistols, both have lots of history (IMHO the Hi-Power has more rich and diverse "historical pedrigree" than the 1911...)

Why the 1911 is so incredibly more popular with countless number of clones compared to the Hi-Power???

Which one is better, in your own opinion, and why???

1....2.....3.....GO!!!!!!!!! :fire::fire::fire:
 
While i personally prefer the HP, the 1911 is more popular for several reasons. It's a 45, in the USA bigger is better. The 1911 was this country's side arm for three quarters of a century, there's a lot of nostalgia and lots of myths about its "stopping power". The best thing about the 1911 is its trigger, in comparison the HP's trigger (due to the magazine safety and linkage around the magazine well) leaves a lot to be desired.

The HP (aside from the trigger) is a better designed gun IMHO. The take down is easier and more convenient and the ergonomics of the grip are superb. The enlarged safety of recent years has overcome criticism of the original safety. In my experience with several HPs, reliability has been 100%.
 
The popularity of the 1911 is largely limited to the USA. The HP was used by both the Allies and Axis during WWII and is still in service with the British, Canadian and Australian armies just to name a few. It has a very proud service history that indeed rivals that of the M1911.

I prefer the HP to the 1911 simply because of the higher capacity. I also prefer the ergonomics of the HP although the ergos of the 1911 are far from poor.

Also, to call the HP a bit of John Browning's genius is to overlook the contributions from Dieudonne Saive.

In my always humble opinion, the best pistol in this case is a matter of personal preference. You can't go wrong with either.
 
The HP (aside from the trigger) is a better designed gun IMHO. The take down is easier and more convenient and the ergonomics of the grip are superb. The enlarged safety of recent years has overcome criticism of the original safety. In my experience with several HPs, reliability has been 100%.
Click to expand...

Agreed with this comment, except for the caliber which I prefer .45.
 
That's a tough one as I own and enjoy both. I slightly prefer the Hi Power as its a relatively slim, double stack 9MM that fits my hand well and I have large hands. It was the first wondernine and like the 1911 a ground breaking pistol. Unlike some, I think 9MM is a fine self defense round, especially with modern JHP ammo.
 
1911, period, although the High Power is a fine gun, at least the way it used to be manufactured.
 
The HP, in its current MK III configuration, is my favorite auto loading centerfire handgun, which explains why I own ten.

However, the 45 ACP is my favorite handgun centerfire cartridge, which explains my twenty 1911's.

JAC
 
When you have to say "aside from the trigger" you pretty much cancel out the other desirable characteristics of the BHP. As Jeff Cooper said, the three key characteristics of a pistol are sights you can see, a trigger you can control, and an absence of sharp edges that make handling uncomfortable.

That said, a friend has a BHP with quite a nice trigger action. He doesn't like it because of the "long reset" but that does not bother me. He won't sell it to me, though.
 
I have and like both.
I'm not sure you can tag either one as "best". It's about what's best for you.
For me, the 1911 wins.
YMMV
 
I like them both but I like the Hi Power better. Actually, there's nothing about them I don't like. They feel like they belong in your hand. The triggers on mine are very good, not as good as a 1911. Also, they're reliable as the day is long.

To me it's like asking if I prefer a gorgeous blond or a gorgeous brunette.
 
The 1911 has the better trigger and I'll take 8 rounds of .45 over 11 rounds of 9mm any day. So make mine a 1911.
 
In the Hi-Power the 9 mm rounds are 14 (13 + 1 as you mentioned 8 rounds in the 1911 which are 7 + 1) and not 11....
 
I'll take 8 rounds of .45 over 11 rounds of 9mm any day.
Click to expand...

The HP originally had 13 round mags. You can get 15 round mags now that are still reliable.

You really need to clarify what "best" means. The hipower is the more modern design. It is still serving in militaries around the world. But the 1911 is a better enthusiasts gun. It has a better trigger and is easier to modify.

So the question is whether you want to shoot .45 or 9mm.
 
1911 for me, and I have owned a BHP - the 1911 is what I carried on
watch in the USN and it just feels right. Better trigger design
as well as no mag. disconnect. Nice grip shape to a BHP. I would put
the CZ75B ahead of the BHP +P being an issue for the BHP as well as the
extractor, ask Bill Lafferty at Cylinder & SLide.

The Browning Hi-Power is touted by many as John M. Browning's last firearm creation. However, although he had patents on some of it's design the pistol
was finished by his immediate understudy at FN in Belgium, Dieudonne Joeseph Saive. Saive was the one
who made it a double stack magazine something John M
Browning didn't think necessary. After the Germans
overran the low countries and took over the FN plant over 300,000 Hi-Powers were built with Nazi acceptance markings for use by the Wermacht. Saive escaped and in Canada headed up manufacturing HI-Powers for the ALlies.

ANd just for the record the BHP didn't get the extrernal extractor until
the early 1960s JMB had nothing to do with the external extractor.
 
I've GOT to chime-in here. The BHP has really nice handling characteristics that fit my hand better than the 1911. But the .45 acp is a better stopper than the 9mm (now, no caliber wars please). My personal solution? A Mk III BHP in .40 S&W converted to .357 Sig with a fitted KKM barrel. Stuff it full of professionally-installed C&S goodies (wide trigger, forged hammer/sear, reduced-effort transfer bar, ambi 1911-style safety) and regrip with Navidrex checkered Micarta thin-line panels. It fits (me) like a glove, hits like a 10+1 round sledge-hammer, thinks it's a target pistol & runs flawlessly. Yes, I paid tooooo much to get what I wanted...but I got WHAT I WANTED. :cool:
 
just for the record,

1911 = 8 + 1 - .45 ACP
BHP = 13 + 1 - 9mm Parabellum aka Luger aka 9x19

BHP in .40 S&W ok, I'll play

Drop In .400 CorBon Stainless Steel BBl. sold by Jarvis Inc.
made by Bar-Sto
9 rounds of 155 gr. Speer Gold Dot @ 1,400 FPS

end game
 
1911 = 8 + 1 - .45 ACP
BHP = 13 + 1 - 9mm Parabellum aka Luger aka 9x19

BHP in .40 S&W ok, I'll play

Drop In .400 CorBon Stainless Steel BBl. sold by Jarvis Inc.
made by Bar-Sto
9 rounds of 155 gr. Speer Gold Dot @ 1,400 FPS

end game
Click to expand...

Why you guys are trying to sneak in an extra round in the 1911?? Original specs were 7 + 1 NOT 8 + 1.....
 
My S&W 1911 came with two ACT 8 rd magazines, I have 5 Wilson
Combat Elite Tactical Magazines that are 8 round capacity.

Oh, and the S.A.S> and regular Brit army have a standing rule of only
loading their BHP magazines with 12 rounds, due to reliability issues. Get
caught with 13 rounds in the mag and extra duty awaits yah.
 
Better trigger design
as well as no mag. disconnect.
Click to expand...

It is a much more easier fix to remove the mag disconnect than to fix many 1991s to run totally reliably.


BHP +P being an issue for the BHP
Click to expand...

Mine abd many other BHPs have been eating 124 gr NATO ammo with confidence for years.


Oh, and the S.A.S> and regular Brit army have a standing rule of only
loading their BHP magazines with 12 rounds, due to reliability issues.
Click to expand...

I have been using 15+1 rounds MagCar magazines with my BHP reliably.
MagCar is also the OEM mags supplier to FNH now.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
Any die-hard 1911 fans shifted over to the Browning Hi-Power for defense?
2
Replies
30
Views
5K
Dr.Rob
Dr.Rob
gsbuickman
  • Locked
a sexy Israeli Kareen mk1, ® Browning Hi Power
Replies
18
Views
3K
gsbuickman
gsbuickman
C
  • Locked
opinions on the FM and FEG Hi Powers
Replies
18
Views
2K
chaim
C
silversport
  • Locked
My Browning Hi Power...A Newbie's Perspective...
Replies
8
Views
974
Stephen A. Camp
S
B
  • Locked
Recent manufacture Hi-power review(long)
2
Replies
27
Views
2K
Sean Smith
S
Back
Top