Hi-Power

[357wheelgunner]

After drooling over a friend's FN Hi-Power (just the way it sits in my hand, it feels as nice as my K-frames, which is saying a lot) I'm thinking more and more about buying one or two.

Price is an issue, but so is reliability (will be carried) and accuracy (inaccurate handguns are no fun). How much will I need to spend to get a quality, new Hi Power? Like I said, I'm most worried about reliability, then accuracy and price.

Are the FN Hi-Powers as good as the Brownings?

 

[atblis]

I thought FN made Hipowers for Browning.

You should be able to get a Hipower for 500ish.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. In my opinion the FN Hi Power is just as good as the "Browning Hi Power". FN makes them "both". Browning Arms has never made a single Hi Power. FN makes the same gun on the same machines by the same people in the same plant. Differences are in markings and sometimes, serial number locations. Grips frequently differ as well. Browning is just the US importer of the FN Hi Power. FN imported some Hi Powers under their own markings a few years ago but folks didn't buy them at prices competitive to the Browning-marked guns. For the same money, they wanted a "real Browning Hi Power". Thus, the FN-marked guns were sold at prices usually well below the Browning-marked guns.

Sometimes an individual gun, be it marked Browning or FN, will sport a better trigger pull than the norm but I believe this not to be related to which company's name is on the pistol.

Were I in the market for another Hi Power and the choice was FN or Browning and trigger pulls, etc were equivalent, I'd go with the one having the better price. If prices were about the same and one had a better trigger pull, I'd go with that one. If the guns seemed about the same and the FN was lower priced, I'd probably buy it over the Browning-marked gun.

Parts interchange and accuracy as well as reliability should be the same.

Best.

 

[browningguy]

You should be able to get a standard MkIII for $500'ish as previously mentioned, maybe a good used one for $450. A high polish blued one will run a bit more, and also the Practical model can often be found around $600-650. For a carry gun all you really need to do is remove the magazine disconnect to get a decent trigger pull, although some of the better 'smiths can get a nice 4-5 pound pull with the disconnect left in. Absolutely no real difference in a Browning or FN marked gun.

My practical with 1/2 checkered Esmerelda grips, this is my regular carry gun:



One of my MKIII's with another set of Esmerlda Celtic Cross pattern grips:



My other .40 cal. Practical with the rubber grips, they are better for long range sessions:

 

[bannockburn]

357wheelgunner

When the New Model Single Action 9mm. came out in late 1985, I was hoping that they finally had addressed what I thought were some design shortcomings with the original Hi-Power. Don't get me wrong; I love the Hi-Power, but I've suffered with quite a few of them that had the miniscule fixed sights, thumb safeties that were nearly impossible to use, and trigger pulls that were incredibly heavy. So the first good news was that the New Model sported some very nice, snag free, high visibility fixed sights. Next bit of glad tidings was the redesigned and easy to use ambidextrous safety. And finally, a trigger pull that was in the single digits for pull weight, and I didn't even have to pull the mag safety to get it. At last I found my Hi-Power, and I've been a very satisfied Hi-Power shooter ever since.
v[/IMG]

 

[Dstoerm]

As I am sure you know, the Hi Power is a fine pistol indeed. The Browning version and the FN version are made at the same factory by FN. The later models are assembled in Portugal from Belgian parts. Both are made very well and are the same pistol indeed with different markings.

They are very durable (it is still military issue in some countries), reliable (it feeds anything, no hiccups) and accurate. The trigger can be worked over to make it even more accurate, without the mag safety. I CCH mine quite often.

The Browning name on the gun is nice, and may fetch more if you ever become mentally ill and decide to sell it, God forbid.

Prices for NEW in box pistols are climbing, and they can be hard to find.

I will tell you what I paid for my latest Browning MKIII, if you promise not to tell my wife - $675 from a local gun shop back in January '08. It was more than I wanted to pay, but it was just too nice, and I am weak.

If you look hard, and are patient, you can pay less.

As you mentioned, the Hi Power fit the hand like no other. It points very well, recoils light, and it just feels 'Right' sitting in your hand. It is slim, durable and, dare I say, attractive.

-Dave

 

[nwilliams]

Browningguy those Celtic grips are gorgeous, my next order from Esmeralda will be Celtic design, probably for my 1911.

I would agree with the others, if I had the choice I would go with either FN or Browning makes no difference to me. I have a custom Browning HP I got last year for $400 and it has risen to the top of my collection very rapidly. I also picked up a WW2 era FN HP for a little less not long after that. It seems like recently all the HP's I see for sale are in the $700+ price range, I suppose its because I haven't seen a lot of used ones for sale. I would love to pick up more HP's over time, makes no difference to me if they are new or used if the price is right. My old P35 is over half a century old and I've put hundreds of rounds through it with zero malfunctions, its not a tack driver like my custom HP but I can still get the shots pretty close to where I want them. Of course the trigger aint all that great on the P35, at least not compared to my other one which is simply too nice to put into words. Still you can't go wrong with any High Power IMHO, it just seems any serious gun collection should have at least one in the midst.

Here's my $400 custom BHP with Esmeralda grips.....


Oh and what the heck here's my FN HP to toss in for good measure

 

[rellascout]

NIB BHP and their FN counter parts are not being sold for the mid $500's anymore. All of the CDNN FNs are gone except for a few SFS 40 S&W.

Practicals have not been imported for almost 2 years now. They are selling for $750 + if you can find one.

True NIB guns are going for over $650. Anything you can find used under $500 is a good deal.

I love my BHP. I own 2 and and always looking to add more to the collection.

 

[outerlimit]

From what I have heard FN is planning to import some Brownings either later this year or sometime next year since the supply of NIB guns on dealer shelves is starting to dry up again.

 

[10X]

A BHP is one of the finest handguns ever made. They should be able to keep all 13 rounds within a three inch group at 25 yards. Reliability is excellent. Some of the older ones did not like some hollow point bullet shapes, but that is easy to deal with, use different ammo.
Figure around $600 to buy a used one in excellent condition.

 

[saltydog452]

A couple of months ago, I bought a FN BHP from Aim Surplus. Although not as attractine as a Practical BHP, it is as 'practical' as it can be.

It works, carries well (in an IWB hoslter designed for a Commander), and is about as handy as a service size semi-auto can get.

The finish isn't great and isn't getting any better. I don't have a need for the lanyard stud in the grip panel area. The plastic grip panels aren't a tribute to anyone's artistic talent.

The BHP platform seems to be a good long term, hard use, double wide, single action 9X19 sidearm.

They're out of print and won't get any less expensive over time.

'Smoke 'em if you got 'em'.

salty

 

[rellascout]

Salty weren't those FN arsenal refinished guns. They were a pretty good deal IIRC.

 

[outerlimit]

I heard about the alloy framed ones. Is that the ones you're talking about salty?

Those are not really meant to be shooters. They were originally meant to be carried a lot and shot little, because of the weaker nature of the alloy frame in a BHP sized gun.

 

[saltydog452]

rellascout and outerlimit,

Nope, not aluminum frame. Don't know about aresenal finishing. It appears to be a plain vanilla FN with the stud, but no ring for the lanyard.

It took a bath in Lake Pflugerville last weekend, and didn't show any sign of rust. I wasn't able to wipe it down and re-oil for several hours. Again, I do not now about the finish. It does not appear to be painted on as in FM, but I can look if you tell me what to look for. Not a lot of stamps on it as opposed to others I have seen. I dunno. Its on my hip as we type.

salty.

 

[rellascout]

I believe it is parkerized if it is the ones I am thinking of.

 

[saltydog452]

I dunno. It certainly won't be confused with the finish of a Browning marked HP.

I can testify that it is 'servicable' though. Can't say the same for cell phone, key remote, and leather.

salty

 

[Tortuga12]

What about the SFS system?

I may be getting a P85 MkII from a family member, if that happens I would probably convert it into capital for a HP purchase. I like the short hammer spur as far as limiting hammer bite, what else should I know?

 

[rellascout]

I personally do not like the SFS. It offers no real advantage unless you are a duty officer and they won;t let you carry cocked and locked as the BHP was intended.

That said every report I have ever seen says they work great.

 

[357wheelgunner]

How would you guys compare the Hi-Power to a CZ-75?

 

[Browning]

357wheelgunner : How would you guys compare the Hi-Power to a CZ-75?

From the feel and the grip angle I believe that CZ used the BHP as the starting point for their design as it basically has the same feel and heft to it. To me the CZ-75 is just a SA/DA version of the BHP made by a different company.

I like them both, but I like the BHP just a little bit more.

 

[kentucky_smith]

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Browning and CZ.htm

 

[azredhawk44]

What about the Argentine-made FEG high power clones? Any good? Or run like crazy in the opposite direction?

 

[kentucky_smith]

Argentine's made the FM clone which are great copies. Feg's are Hungarian made and reportedly pretty nice when a proper clone.

 

[azredhawk44]

Oops, my bad. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[kentucky_smith]

Way overrated. Forget the sissy pistol and get yourself a GLOCK.


They're not a good gun at all, and very overpriced.