Browning Hi-Power .40SW Durability

[mr. chuckles]

I held one of these a few years ago and was really impressed with the feel. I have been thinking about getting one recently, but I wanted to hear from some folks with personal experience with the weapon. Given my limited gun budget, I want a pistol that can take regular range trips and keep on ticking. I have heard of issues with the old forged frames, but what kind of service life/round count can one expect from a new produciton cast frame Hi-Power in .40 SW using standard factory ammo? Also, (if someone has some actual knowledge on the subject) how helpful is a recoil buffer (such as from Buffer Tecnologies) in extending the service life of a Hi-Power?

 

[rdaines]

I've have a Browning Hi-Power in 40 S&W, if fact it's about 10 inches from my right hand as I type this. I don't keep a count on ammo used but more than a few have been fired. No problems so far. I have not replaced springs or modified the gun in any way. It's accurate and a joy to shoot but a little snappier than a .45 acp 1911. My 9mm BHP is older than the 40 S&W and is also in good operating order.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I don't see why the .40 HP should not be durable. It is not merely a 9mm with a bigger hole bored down the barrel. They put considerable engineering into it, with its heavier slide, stiffer recoil spring and third locking lug on the barrel. I would not recommend recoil buffers. If they thought it needed it, they would have put one in.

 

[browningguy]

I've got three BHP's in .40 with several thousands of rounds through them with no problems at all. They came out with the cast frame and very slightly thicker slide specifically because of the higher pressure in the .40.

I would suspect, but don't know for sure, that frame life would be measured in hundreds of thousands of rounds.

 

[Croyance]

Stephen A. Camp, with his site on HiPowers has a nice comparison of the 9x19 vs. .40 S&W HiPowers.
Other sources also say that the .40 S&W version is much beefed up, for a small loss of balance. The frames and slides are stronger than the previous HiPowers.
He also uses heavier than spec Wolff recoil springs and a recoil buffer with his 9x19 +p's.

 

[mr. chuckles]

I appreciate the input guys. Something about that Hi-Power really gets me. Classic lines, all steel, powerful-what's not to like? I am thinking that it will most likely be my next purchase. I have kind of been on a S&W revolver kick for a while and feel the need to get an auto. I seem to have divested myself of my other semi's to fund the aforementioned revolver addiction.