Browning Hi-Power- convert to .40 S&W?

[ammodave]

I have a new production Hi-Power in 9mm that I'm considering converting to .40 S&W. It's an excellent shooter with a great trigger but it would be more interesting in .40. I've tried several other .40s and still have an H&K USP but none of them have been as good as the Browning. Is this a feasible conversion? I assume I'd need a new slide, barrel, and magazines; anything else? I know I could just buy another Hi-Power already chambered in .40 S&W but where's the fun in that? Thoughts?

 

[pbearperry]

My all time favorite pistol is the old High Power with fixed sights.Way back when ,someone was doing just that,turning it into a .40 something or other.I am sure someone does it.I too think that would make it just about perfect.

 

[lechiffre]

my thoughts are:

getting a new .40 hi power is the way to go. the .40 has a heavier slide with three locking lugs not two. just getting the slide would cost prohibitive.

 

[MMCSRET]

I was going to mention, also, that internal and external dimensions vary. I am of the uninformed opinion that the 40 rails are wider than the 9 and would not fit a 9 frame size.

 

[Trebor]

No, you can't convert a 9mm HP to .40. The .40 version was redesigned with a beefier frame and 3 locking lugs instead of two.

Now, you can convert a .40 to 9mm, but not the other way round.

Btw, due to the changes made to accomdate the .40, the .40 HP feels different from the 9mm version. It's most noticable if you handle them side by side.

 

[ammodave]

Thanks to all who responded. I know my son converted a Beretta 9mm to a .40 by changing out the slide and barrel; I was hoping the Hi-power would be a suitable candidate. Back to the drawing board; maybe I'll just swap the H&K for another Browning.

 

[lechiffre]

slides and barrels are a lot easier to find for berettas

you can put a .40 top end on a mkIII 9mm hi-power but at that point why not just get another gun

 

[BHPshooter]

Thanks to all who responded. I know my son converted a Beretta 9mm to a .40 by changing out the slide and barrel; I was hoping the Hi-power would be a suitable candidate. Back to the drawing board; maybe I'll just swap the H&K for another Browning.

AFAIK, the BHP is one of the few guns that actually got redesigned to handle the .40 round, rather than just slapping a .40 barrel on a 9mm.

There are conversions the other way around -- .40 to 9mm, taking advantage of the third locking lug and heavier slide -- but you need an entirely new top end for what you're talking about. And to be honest, it's cheaper to buy a BHP .40 than it would be to buy a top end.

Wes

 

[The Reverend]

Buy a .40 BHP...

 

[Harold Mayo]

Jim Garthwaite used to do a 9mm to .40 conversion on hi-powers. Not sure if he offers it now or not but, all things considered, I think that I'd just buy a .40 S&W hi-power rather than doing a conversion.

 

[homeka45]

Try hipowersandhandguns.com for a lot of good info on BHPs and other firearms. Steven Camp knows his stuff and also knows how to communicate said stuff.