Browning Hi-Power 9mm

[bigmike45]

Well after reading all the hype and the pros & cons, I picked up a used Hi-Power today, from my local gun dealer. I have never owned one and out of curiosity I decided to place one in the stable. It shoots very well keeping the group at less than an inch for 5 shots of 147gr. Hydrashoks at 15 yards freehand. It does shoot about an inch high and to the right though. It has a Millett adjustable rear sight so that should be easy to adjust out. The blue is a little worn and there is some surface rust around the safety lever and in the cocking grooves in the slide. The trigger is probably around 7lbs but managable. Ill get pics up in a day or two. This is a Belgian made Browning Hi-Power, with the rubber wrap around Browning grips.

bigmike45

 

[jonnyc]

Great pistols, enjoy.

 

[mavracer]

The trigger is probably around 7lbs but managable

if the mag disconnect is still in it,removing it will take 2lbs off pull.

 

[Misfire99]

There are a few aftermarket items that you might want to check out. They are both made by cylinder and slide. The first one is a trigger lever. It changes the pivot point to give more mechanical advantage and lowers the trigger pull. Here is a link:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=5495&title=BROWNING+HI-POWER+MATCH+GRADE+TRIGGER+LEVER

The next thing you might want to look at is a wide trigger. It also reduces trigger pull. Here is a link:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=5493&title=BROWNING+HI-POWER+WIDE+COMBAT


I have both of these on my hi power and it helped that pistol a great deal.

 

[bigmike45]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have used C&S parts in various 1911's I have worked on. The drop in trigger sets are great and have never let me down. Yes mine still has the mag disconnect in it. I will be doing a complete teardown this weekend and will look at these parts. I plan on purchasing one of the C&S trigger sets soon, especially to get rid of that standard hammer and replace it with the ring style, that I personally like much better. Lastly I have to get rid of those rubber Browining wraparound grips. I want a nice set of checkered wood instead.

bigmike45

 

[10-Ring]

My BHP surprised me too, but I've learned these are as nice as they all say! Congrats

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

How can you not like a bhp?

 

[40SW]

Its an excellent pistol in every way, I am glad you enjoy it. Also, consider several lower priced clones that are very shootable as well like the Hungarian FEG and the Charles Daly HP, both are affordable and shootable. I have both both and have been very happy.

 

[Lone Star]

Try 115 to 124 grain bullets in several brands before you mess with the sights. One of these, well chosen, is also a better fighting load.

Lone Star

 

[No Exit]

Great pistol

My Browning Hi Power is my favorite.....15 years old w/ the checked wooden grips. Some feel it looks a little clunky but to me it is sweet. Perfectly balanced, shoots nice groups, never a failure.
Congratulations Sir.

 

[Geno]

BHPs are seductive and addictive! The felt recoil is so pleasant that it often leaves me asking why I own other models of pistols. The answers, variety.

 

[Texas Colt]

Yes, the BHP is an awesome gun. The C&S parts made a huge difference in my Practical Model. I installed the wide trigger and the spur hammer, along with removing the mag disconnect and a installing a Wolff mainspring. The Craig Spegel grips are awesome too!

Here's mine...

 

[nwilliams]

Congrats on the new HP I'm sure with a little cleaning you can get her looking pretty again. Surface rust can be cleaned off pretty easily with some Flitz and an rag. You can also try some of that cheap bluing stuff you can get at Walmart to touch-up some of the worn areas, I've pretty good success with that stuff.

They are addictive, I bought one and then a little over a week later I picked up another one. I would pick up a third if I had money to spare and didn't have some other things on the wish-list to buy first. I wouldn't be surprised however if a decade from now HP's end up dominating my handgun collection. Just my opinion here but HP's top my list of all time sexiest handgun, they are just very stylish and distinctive they stand out in a crowd.

Here's my two Hi Powers

WW2 German marked on the left and obviously my custom HP on the right with Esmeralda grips

 

[Serpico]

I found a decent set of sights, trigger job and an extended saftery (this one is C&S) is about all the HP needs...and you already have good sights so you are almost there...I got my grips from CDNN for 29.99...they fit perfect on my 81 Belgium...I found the stock red backs a perfect fit, but I put them away so as not to ding them up since they are getting harfer to find....

 

[StrikeEagle]

I've had a BHP for thirty years and I love it. It just feels great in my hand... it's the Class of the Nines, that's for sure.

For cocked and locked carry, you might want to try an extended safety. The mag safety doesn't really bother me.

You'll be pleased with it for many many years.

 

[10X]

One of the very best autoloaders ever made. The quality has always been very good on the Brownings. You will enjoy it for years.
Usually you don't "need" to do anything with them, but some of us like to use a 26 pound hammer spring and remove the mag disconnect to improve the trigger pull.

 

[nathan]

Hi Power was the end result of perfection of the 1911, thats what experts say. No offense to the 1911 fans.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Mine is chocked-full of hard chromed C&S parts (Hammer/Sear combo, reduced-effort Transfer Bar, wide Target Trigger, 1911 style Ambi Safety). In addition, it has a rare Pachmayr (extended) Slide Release, Navidrex thin-line Checkered Micarta grips AND a custom KKM Precision Barrel allowing me to convert from 40 S&W to .357 Sig! Eventually, I'll add MMC Adjustable Sights with tritium inserts. But honestly, I'm about to run out of things to do to it! It costs FAR TOO MUCH & is worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY.

Hi-Powers RULE!

 

[bigmike45]

Well I just removed the magazine safety and what a difference in the trigger pull. I wish all bad triggers were that easy to make a little better. thanks for that advice.

bigmike45

 

[mavracer]

no problem enjoy

 

[bigmike45]

As promised, here are some pictures of the gun and my best shot target. This gun likes the larger bullets. Sorry about the quality, I usually do better taking pictures.

 

[Texas Colt]

Bigmike, that's a beautiful Hi Power. And a mighty nice looking target. Looks like you've got the hang of shooting it!

Thanks for starting this thread. You inspired me to get my BHP out of the safe and start carrying it again.

 

[bigmike45]

Ok guys,

Here are the newest pictures after I changed out the hammer, sear, spring and trigger with Cylinder & Slide parts. The hammer is their ring style and the trigger is the wide one without mag safety pin hole. The trigger pull is now at 4.5lbs and breaks like glass. I also replaced the grips with a set of checkered cobolo. I am anxious to get it to the range this weekend to see how much better it shoots. What'cha think???

 

[deanodog]

Bigmike45
I wish I could take as good of pictures that you say are not your best. Give us a range report later.

 

[bannockburn]

Very, very nice. Reminds me of a '66 Ring Hammer that I had about thirty years ago. It had something like a 14 pound trigger pull, a safety that required a mallet to move on or off, and Minute of SOB, (Side of Battleship), accuracy. But just to look at that bluing and those grips; that was the stuff that dreams were made of.