Hi Power vs CZ 75

[rellascout]

What the capacity of a 9mm CZ75? The Hi-Power is only 13 rounds in 9mm. But that is part of why it is such a comfortable grip; they didn't overdo it.

Mecgars give you 15. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=477345

I personally prefer the BHP. It fits my hand better and points more naturally for me. The CZ DA reach was too long and I am not a fan of their safeties setup. I have have a CZ75b at 2 different times and both times ended up selling it. I still have my P01 which has a different trigger reach.

Once the mag disconnect is out and the right weight mainspring is installed I think the BHP trigger is superior to the CZ75B. All CZ75s exhibit some degree of caming as a result of the design.

In the end it is more of a subjective personal preference type of choice than a one is clearly better than the other. YMMV

 

[KodiakBeer]

Hi Powers can vary a lot. They've been around for 76 years now, and have been made by many manufacturers: FN, Browning, FEG, Manurhin, etc. The vintage ones probably won't feed hollow points.

Browning has never manufactured a Hi Power. Browning Hi Powers have always been made by FN, with a Browning roll mark on the slide for US export.
Manurhin has never made a Hi Power.
FEG Hi Powers are pretty reliable copies, but they actually come in two flavors. One is an actual clone with complete interchangeability of parts with the original FN version. The other flavor resembles a Hi Power externally, but uses a modified S&W system. Parts are unavailable for this S&W version, so if something breaks you're out of luck.
FM (Argentina) makes a pretty good copy. They're a bit rough, but they function well and the parts are interchangeable with FN parts.
Arcus (Bulgaria) makes a Hi Power copy, but I'm not sure how well the parts interchange with FN parts.
There is a rare Israeli clone known as the Kareen dating back to the 1970's, but it is unclear if these guns were actually made in Israel or were assembled from parts made by FEG.

Anyway, there are a lot of Hi Powers out there. The best are made by the original manufacturer, FN. You can pick up used FN's for well under $500 if you keep your eyes open.

 

[rellascout]

BHPs are not as expensive as people think. NIB are $700 and used they are a down right bargain.

MKIII Practical Paid less than $550 for this one.





PW Arms Israeli import. Paid less than $450 for this one.

 

[rogertc1]

Brownings rock

 

[CZguy]

Anyway, there are a lot of Hi Powers out there. The best are made by the original manufacturer, FN. You can pick up used FN's for well under $500 if you keep your eyes open.

This must be a regional thing.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I just bought an extremely rare alloy framed FN Hi Power for $495 from AIM surplus. The Hi Power before that was a 1990 FN purchased for $389 (or was it $379?) on Gunsamerica.

So, forget regional, just check out the online sites. We're in a recession and people are selling off their guns. The retail prices are also dropping. For gun buyers, this is the "good old days".

 

[JTQ]

Anyway, there are a lot of Hi Powers out there. The best are made by the original manufacturer, FN. You can pick up used FN's for well under $500 if you keep your eyes open.

This must be a regional thing.

BHPs are not as expensive as people think. NIB are $700 and used they are a down right bargain.

And this also must be regional. I look pretty regularly, I'm not hunting for them, but they are what I look for when I step in a gun store or go to a gun show. New MK III's are usually $900ish (plus or minus around $50) in my neck of the woods. I've seen used Hi-Power's for $500, but they are pretty beat up.

I personally prefer the BHP. It fits my hand better and points more naturally for me. The CZ DA reach was too long and I am not a fan of their safeties setup.

I agree with this, though. I'm always intrigued when the subject of "pistols for those with small hands" comes up and people invariably recommend the CZ75. Sure it feels good in the hand, but working the controls, trigger & thumb safety, are not easily done by those with small hands. The Hi-Power is much better in that regard.

 

[txgunsuscg]

I own a CZ-85, CZ-75 (pre-B), and a FN Hi-Power SFS. I have previously owned a CZ SP-01, CZ-75BD, and a CZ P-01. As you can see, I prefer the CZ. Nothing against the Hi-Power (other than maybe the cost, although my FN was about $300 cheaper than the Browning laying next to it). Both are great guns, I carry the CZ in SA mode, so it is comparable to the HP, and I think the ergonomics are better on the CZ. If you want to argue magazine capacity, yes, the new Mec-Gars for the HP hold 15, but the new Mec-Gars for the CZ hold 19 (the flush fit hold 17). As a caveat, I have huge hands, so I have yet to find a gun too big for them.

(Oh, and if we argue John Browning's designs, I would never, ever say the Hi-Power is an improvement over the 1911!)

 

[CZguy]

So, forget regional, just check out the online sites. We're in a recession and people are selling off their guns. The retail prices are also dropping. For gun buyers, this is the "good old days".

Isn't that the truth. I always fondly remember seeing used 1911s going for $50.00 in my early twenty's. Then reality sets in and I remember that I couldn't afford $50.00 back then.

I'll look around, for a used Hi-power. I've always wanted one.

 

[czhen]

Let me put a couple of cents.
Both have super ergos, being the BHP a little thinner.
Accuracy, both are excellent even with old pistols.
Capacity, as is being said hi-cap mags (I prefer Mec-Gar over others brands)
Reliability, both are between the best pistols ever.
Clones, both were, or are copied today around the world, should spoke about it.
Improvements, BHP removing the mag. safety will give an incredible trigger (5 or 6 #); CZ will have very nice trigger after few thousands round without a gunsmith.
CZ USA has an excellent customer service.
Browning has plenty of spare parts.
Price may be a decision factor, but any choice on new or used guns wont disappointed you.

If you like CZ as I do buy first a BHP so will dream about CZ and vice versa.
I'm a big fan of BHP and CZ, they always amaze me when informal plinking or competing.

Sorry I forgot CZ has a Kadet kit on 22 cal. to put red many other rimfire handguns.

Ps.: Sadly Mr. Stephen Camps is not with us to put some more lite on this threat. Visiting his site you will learn about both platform and many other brands.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I like both but if I had to carry one, it would be the CZ-75 as I like its DA/SA trigger.

 

[hso]

My wife and 3 other buddies point CZs naturally and I and another buddy point Hi Powers. They're both quality handguns.

Find what points for you and you'll have whichever is "best" for you.

 

[KodiakBeer]

when I step in a gun store or go to a gun show. New MK III's are usually $900ish (plus or minus around $50) in my neck of the woods. I've seen used Hi-Power's for $500, but they are pretty beat up.

You have to go online.

 

[KodiakBeer]

other than maybe the cost, although my FN was about $300 cheaper than the Browning laying next to it

You do realize that both guns were made by FN?

 

[rellascout]

The Practical I posted was bought off Gunbroker. The Izzy was bought from Dan's Ammo.

$700 is the most recent price at CDNN.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

A CZ75 is a modified BHP clone.

Wrong.

The CZ has almost NOTHING in common with the BHP -- it is a totally different design. It is neither a clone nor an improved version of the BHP design. It is totally different inside. The CZ has many more parts and a totally different firing mechanism.

Don't believe it? Compare parts charts/list and diagrams -- they're both available on line from a number of sources. (Just look up "exploded gun diagrams" or similar offering user manuals, using Google. ) Here's one: http://www.okiegunsmithshop.com/lvl25.html

Both are great guns, and it's primarily a matter of personal choice. I have both and like both, but my favorite is a highly customized CZ Clone -- a true clone (AT-84s) that was improved by a custom gun maker. (I'd probably like a BHP as well or better if it had been given the same attention.)

They look a little alike... that's about it.

.

 

[JTQ]

You have to go online.

I need to find different sources then. I see you guys have listed a few. Thanks.

Here are two points of reference. Based on these two, my local numbers are pretty accurate. I made my previous price reference of $900, without even looking these two up. I didn't cherry pick these two on line retailers either, just the two I'm most familiar with.

Impact Guns $859, plus whatever shipping and transfer fee would be.
http://www.impactguns.com/browning-...nish-mkiii-13-rd-051-010593-023614237648.aspx

Buds Guns $861. Admittedly, this is an out of stock .40S&W model, but I'm not a Buds member and they aren't showing the current prices to non-members. I would think it unlikely they are lower than the one listed.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_145/products_id/33054

 

[KodiakBeer]

CDNN is listing them at $699. http://site.cdnninvestments.com/CDNN2011-1/index.html

 

[txgunsuscg]

You do realize that both guns were made by FN?

I am quite aware that both guns were made by FN. Maybe I should have been clearer - the one stamped FN was $300 less than the one stamped Browning, despite both being imported from identical points of origin. That alone is enough for me to avoid the brand. No amount of stamping is worth $300.

 

[dcarch]

I would get the SAO CZ 75, were I in your position.

 

[rellascout]

I am quite aware that both guns were made by FN. Maybe I should have been clearer - the one stamped FN was $300 less than the one stamped Browning, despite both being imported from identical points of origin. That alone is enough for me to avoid the brand. No amount of stamping is worth $300.

There is a reason for this. The FN guns were brought into the country in an attempt to sell them to LEO in the US like they do in Europe. However our LEOs love of DAO/Striker guns killed that.

These guns where then liquidated at CDNN. The last offering from them IIRC was $499 or less for a multi-buy. The FN rollmarked MKIII guns as a result have always had lower resale value here. Many people are ignorant of the fact that they are the same gun.

I personally look for FNs all the time. I should have bought 10 back then. Oh well.

PS SOG is selling used FEG clones for $250 right now.

 

[JTQ]

I think the last batch of FN Hi-Power's that came in were the SFS models.

I admit, I do like the roll marks on the FN models better than the Browning models.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I am quite aware that both guns were made by FN. Maybe I should have been clearer

I kind of thought so, but there are an awful lot of people who don't realize that Browning is just a marketing firm that doesn't manufacture any guns, so I thought it worth pointing out. I'll be happy to snap up any of them junky FN guns from people who prefer the genuine "Browning" Hi Powers!

 

[txgunsuscg]

I kind of thought so, but there are an awful lot of people who don't realize that Browning is just a marketing firm that doesn't manufacture any guns, so I thought it worth pointing out. I'll be happy to snap up any of them junky FN guns from people who prefer the genuine "Browning" Hi Powers!

Honestly, I was disappointed when they stopped selling the FN stamped ones. Had they kept them at that price, I probably would own another one. I just can't pay the extra money for the Browning stamped one (although the 75th anniversary one....)

Like I said earlier, I like both guns, but the CZ just seems to feel a bit better, and I like the price much better....

 

[KodiakBeer]

There are thousands of used FN stamped guns all over the place. Most of them are police turn ins from Europe, Israel, etc, and have been carried a lot and shot little.