Browning Hi Power in a 9mm world

[Northslope Nimrod]

Love the BHP

Friends that shoot other 9mm's love my BHP. (Mk III) I have shot several 9mm's but have not shot a Beretta or other large metal 9mm's. The BHP is extremely slim for a full size, especially in the slide/barrel. It has instinctive pointability, large sites, extreme reliability (I have never had a misfeed in over 600 rounds!), easy to take down, not too heavy, great ergonomics. YES the trigger stinks out of the box. My $25 trigger job and removal of the mag safety mad all the difference in the world.
Browning was ahead of his time. Don't be fooled by the age of the design!

 

[JNewell]

No one's mentioned the fact that the mags don't drop free? (Other than the newer ones with the little spring on the base, but I think they're all only 10-round flavor.)

Does removing the mag safety make the standard mags drop free? I seem to recall that it doesn't, at least not in all Hi-Powers?

 

[Dienekes]

Removing the magazine safety on my Mk III BHP allowed the original and Mec-Gar 13 rounders to drop free nicely. My Inglis is stock and retains them.

Lots of opinions about removing the magazine safety but in addition to the theoretical tactical advantage it simplifies the manual of arms--and IMHO is safer because it's simpler.

 

[corruptone]

ALL 3 of my mags will drop free from my new FN and I have not removed the mag safety so I would not say that the statement about mags not dropping free is a hard and fast rule. That includes my factory with the mousetrap spring, my Mecgar without the mousetrap, and my KRD 15-round without mousetrap. I would wager that there are less Hipower owners that have an issue with mags not dropping free than those who do not. .

 

[WonderNine]

I have never seen any magazines that do not drop free once the magazine disconnect is removed.

One time I had a problem on my MKIII of the magazines not dropping free and discovered it was that my grip screws were too tight on the factory wrap around grips.

 

[RatFink]

I just finished taking the mag safety off my new HP, all of my mags drop free. I didn't check before I took the mag safety off though.

 

[Ivy Mike]

In my experience with one of Argentine manufacture, one FN and one Browning (my latest acquisiton)

The Browning HP's are made by FN.

I too love the feel of the BHP. I dislike the SA only system and thats why I chose a CZ-75 as my wundernine. Nothing beats a good DA or DAO pistol for carry. IMNSHO

 

[Marshall]

It isn't really fair comparing BHP 9mm's to the Beretta 92, CZ-75, SiG 226, Glock 17, HK USP, Walther P99. You need find better choices!

Seriously, the BHP is King of the 9mm, the Alpha Dog!

 

[HankB]

My Mk III BHP is my usual "carry" gun. It is VERY lightly customized, with the addition of Spegel grips, a ShokBuff buffer, and an 18.5 lb Wolff recoil spring. I also upgraded it to the standard of more modern pistols like the Beretta 92 and Glock 17 by removing the magazine disconnect.

Some older versions of the BHP had tiny sights, tiny safety, and a weird "hump" on the feed ramp that impaired reliability with some JHP ammo. And even today, really "short" ammo - like a 90 grain JHP, if you can find it or load it yourself - may not work 100%.

Mk III Pros: Reliability, Pointability, Controllability, Relatively compact size, light perceived recoil, decent factory sights.

Mk III Cons: Long trigger reset, questionable for sustained use with +P+ ammo. (Though American Rifleman magazine reported some years ago that a Browning ran 5000 rounds of Remington +P+ ammo through a BHP with no problems.)

 

[TechBrute]

I did the majority of my early non-.22 shooting on a BHP. It's a model from the 60's or 70's, belgian manufacture. The sights were replaced with Novak, I think, and it had an extended beavertail. No mag disconnect, and the front strap was 30LPI checkered. Unfortunatly, when I moved out of my parents house, my dad didn't let it move with me. It's his daily carry.

I have fond memories of that gun, and as I recall it shot very, very well.

 

[MrAcheson]

questionable for sustained use with +P+ ammo

I see this a lot, but I don't think it has much merit. The hipower was the 9mm military sidearm of the post war period. They have had thousands and thousands of rounds of NATO ammo which is +P+. I have heard very few complaints about the hipower's reliability or longevity from these circles. Yes it will wear our sooner than if you baby it, but it'll still last a good long while in any case.

 

[Sean Smith]

If I get another 9x19, it will be a Hi Power. They just feel fabulous, and are very reliable and durable. Only downside is that it takes more work to get a really good trigger out of them compared to a 1911.

 

[BHPshooter]

The BHP is only as outdated as the person using it.

Personally, it is the gun for me. I love the way it feels, I love the way it looks, I love the way it shoots. It's perfect for me... but that doesn't mean it's perfect for everybody.

I've got 2. My Browning is uber-reliable, my FEG is only slightly less so. Other than experimenting with a crap magazine, I have had 2 FTEs and 1 Failure to feed (using a friend's USA magazine ). The Browning has about 2,000 rounds through it, I have put about 3,000 through the FEG (don't know how many it had before I bought it).

The big answer is that it's worth a try. If you like it, go for it. If not, keep looking. It can't get more simple than that.

Wes

 

[JNewell]

Thanks for the replies on the mags.

I have to say that there is something magic about the grip. My kids were able to shoot comfortably and hit reliably with the HP long before they could do so with other 9x19s, both larger and smaller.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I love the Browning Hi-Power and have been carrying one for four years. I have 22k rounds through my primary Hi-Power now, so I feel pretty familiar with them.

Unlike others, I don't really find the mag disconnect all that much of a problem except in IDPA shoots where it is a pain to show clear and drop the hammer.

If I could improve one thing about the Hi-Power, it would be the trigger. While the initial trigger pull is excellent, it has both a long reset and a soft reset (making it difficult to feel when it has reset the trigger). Despite that, you can still fire the gun amazingly rapid when you need to, though I find that with the long reset I sometimes come off the trigger entirely in rapid fire and end up slapping the trigger - bad habit from IDPA that I am eliminating slowly.

 

[NEtracker]

Have two 9's, BHP '91 Silver Chrome, and a Walther P99.
Each is nice in its own way, but I really like the Hi Power design.
(wish we could buy them New in this state! Kerry Country )

 

[Lennyjoe]

My BHP (birthdate in 72) is making a trip to the smith on Monday.

Gonna have an ambi safety and new rear sight installed.

After that, she's gonna see some CCW duty.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Shouldn't the question be: 'How do these new nines stack up against the BHP?'

 

[Lennyjoe]

After thinking it out today I decided to carry the BHP instead of the Kimber.

So I stoked it with Black Hills 124gr +P and off we went.

To tell you the truth, it felt pretty good on the hip.

 

[Marshall]

If anyone is not comfy carring a 9mm on their hip, try the BHP in .40 cal. I have the Practical in .40 S&W, it's the same gun as the 9mm and just as sweet even though it has more umph. I have the Standard in 9mm and absolutely love it but, I must admit, I do feel better armed carrying the .40 Practical on my hip.

 

[Boats]

I love how the BHP feels in my hand. It is well balanced, elegant, everything described.

I hate how the BHP shoots. The abbreviated tang simply flat out sucks for me with a high thumb hold. My most bloody incident with a pistol involves getting the web between my thumb and trigger finger getting chewed between the inadequate tang and a spur hammer during a double tap. Still have the two stitch scar from firing the Belgian meat grinder.

IMO, the CZ 75/85 outclasses the BHP in every respect. The 1911A! has kept abreast of the times, especially ergonomically. There may be few modern nines that are better feeling at the counter, but are many better feeling nines out there than the BHP when actually firing.

 

[RatFink]

That's so wierd that some get bit and others don't. When mine came into my FFL Pals shop he decided to rack the slide on it to check the chamber before looking it over and it resulted in a large blood blister. (he had never handled an HP) I on the other hand have never been bit, just lightly bumped a couple times by the hammer as it came back.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I have yet to get bitten by my BHP.

Guess thats a good thing

 

[DHart]

I'm a 1911 fanatic, but must admit that the BHP is the best feeling gun I've ever put in my hand. I have two of them: a .40 Silver Chrome and a .40 Standard (high polished blue). They are magnificent pistols. Supremely reliable and now that they have had trigger jobs, the triggers are fantastic. Yes, I believe they must have a trigger job to really shine, but that's no big deal at all and once the tj is done... they are incredible! I feel very confident when relying on either of my Browning Hi-Power .40's for defense. They look beautiful and are the epitome of elegance in a 9mm or .40 cal. By the way, the gun design was significantly beefed up specifically to meet the demands of shooting .40. I think they may be the strongest .40 out there. SO.... in my view, King of the Nines and King of the Forties.

 

[Spieler]

The BHP is no more outdated or obsolete than is the modern 1911 in its various iterations. It can more than hold its own with most of the newer breed of hi-cap 9mm autoloaders, and in most respects it outperforms the more 'modern' guns. It is a timeless classic.