JMB Hi Power or 1911?

[ZekeLuvs1911]

I have seen many statements saying that the peak of JMB designs was the Hi Power. I disagee. I feel that he reached the ultimate in design when he created the M1911. (I may be just a bit biased though....hint look at handle). I own a Hi-Power and several M1911's. I don't see what the big deal is with the Hi-Power. I find it clumsier than the 1911. What do you guys think? What does the Hi-Power have over the 1911 that supposely makes it better? (Capacity not withstanding).

 

[STEVE M]

The High Power is a simpler design. Browning did away with the swinging barrel link and turned the ramp into a cam. (this has been copied by most semi's today). He did away with the grip safety and made the rear tang much more comfortable. It also fits smaller hands better than a 1911. Rember, the HP was made in Europe where they thought a 380 was a powerfull police round for most of the past century. When they went to the HP they had a 9para with 13 shots (unheard of at that time) that still fit their hands about as well as their pocket pistols.
For me personally I too still like the 1911. Just have to wonder what would have happened if JMB had made the HP in a 45?

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I don't know that the HP is any better or an improvement. It's just different. For every difference that one might call an improvement, another can argue that it's not.

Evidently, both designs are likely here to stay and both appear sufficiently "good" that each of these pistols has been producted in great quantity and served in many wars as well as continuing to be popular today.

Best.

 

[jar]

'course, some of us think his best work was the Winchester '94.

 

[Wildalaska]

I have both!

WildnowicanarguewithmyselfastowhichoneisbetterAlaska

 

[Dave Markowitz]

JMB's ultimate accomplishment was Ma Deuce.

IMO, the lack of links in the BHP's design is better, since it makes for a simpler gun. I also like the lack of a grip safety, and I find that the shape of the BHP's grip fits my hand better than anything else. (Except maybe a Colt Navy.)

Let's not forget though, that JMB did not finish the BHP's design before he died. Dieudonne Saive at FN took JMB's prototype and refined it into the HP we know today.

 

[Sean Smith]

I'm not sure a BHP is a better gun for small hands than a 1911. Especially since you can buy slim grips for a 1911 at the corner store. One is wider side-to-side, while the other is longer front-to-back... seems like a wash to me, if not worse for the BHP.

The BHP has a worse trigger by far, a dumb magazine safety and, if anything, a more hard-to-use thumb safety design. On the other hand, it has some good simplifications like a linkless/bushingless bull barrel. Ultimately, they are just plain different.

 

[Bob C]

I have large hands, and find that either fits me just fine. Both are well balanced, both are reliable, both are accurate. The 1911 is more ergonomic for me, but the BHP is slimmer and seems overall more compact.

The choice gets down to caliber, and I'm not starting that one again.

 

[Daguerre]

I have to agree that the BHP benefits from greater round capacity and by losing the barrel link and the grip safety. Seems that BHPs are generally more reliable right out of the box as well. I think 1911's can be really finnicky and that the new BHPs are not finnicky. The feel in the hand of the BHP is absolutely superb. I'm not fond of the magazine disconnect safety, however. I've got a dozen 1911's and a couple of BHPs in .40 and I love them all! Wouldn't want to part with any of them. Imagine a BHP without the mag disconnect and designed in .45ACP... WOW.... that would be quite a pistol.

 

[ZekeLuvs1911]

Thanks Bob for not going down that road again! I disagree with you Don. I don't believe that the 1911's are finnicky at all. I've got 8 of them and not a single one has given me problems out of the box. I don't see what the problem is with the link or the grip safety. They never caused a problem for me before. I still believe the 1911 is the superior design over the BHP.

 

[sm]

I'm with Mr. Camp and Sean on this. Both are very good guns--Yes they are different.
These two are my favorite platforms, 1911 may edge a bit because a) I don't currently have a BHP and b) due to the fact I have shot the 1911 since 6 yrs of age.

Toss either one at me during a situation and I'm confident I will get the done regardless of which one I end up with.

 

[Daguerre]

Zeke... you've done well with your 1911's. I bought 14 or so this past year and had occasional feeding issues, or slide fail to lock back issues, or last round ride over issues with 1 of two Springfields, 1 of four Kimbers, and two of eight Colts (they were both Commanders). Some of the issues were worked out, extractor re-tensioned, etc. and a couple of the guns I just sold. All in all, though, my 1911's have run very well.

BUT, if I get even ONE feed stoppage or ejection stoppage for any reason whatsoever with a gun, I'm not a happy camper and I won't trust it again until I've gone hundreds more rounds without ANY issues.

Are you saying that with your eight 1911's, that you have never had a stoppage of ANY kind with FMJ and JHP ammo? If so, I'd say that's unusual for 1911's.

My new Silver Chrome BHP .40 has gone about 400 rounds so far with a wide variety of ammo (Gold Dot JHP, CorBon JHP, SXT JHP, WW JHP, AE FMJ, etc.) and PERFECT, FLAWLESS functioning. I'm really pleased with it.