Questions about Browning HP

[Ham Hock]

I have the opportunity to purchase a browning high power from a friend.

I cannot see dumping a lot of money into a 30+ year old gun when I could buy a brand new gun with only a little more money. Can a gun that old even be reliable?

Is the Browning HP a shooter or is it for collecting? I am more interested in purchasing a shooter right now.

 

[mete]

It all depends on the condition. If it is in good condition ,yes it is a shooter.They were made very well in those days and remember it was the sidearm for many NATO countries.

 

[Sean Smith]

The age would really have no effect on the gun's reliability, although older BHPs weren't designed to feed hollowpoints. Clean it, lube it, and maybe throw in some fresh springs (cheap) and you should be in business; BHPs are well known for their reliabilitiy.

My friend has 40-year-old Colt National Match guns that are 100% stock and still reliable. Heck, he has some revolvers that are maybe 70+ years old that are still reliable. Age per se doesn't really make a difference.

 

[BHPshooter]

You shouldn't have any reliability problems with it. The HP you mentioned will probably have the older, humped feed ramp, which is rumored to be a little bit pickier of what hollowpoints it will feed. This has not been my experience at all: I have a FEG with the humped feed ramp, and it hasn't ever refused to feed anything.

Brownings can be had as a "collector's gun," but I'd say most of them are shooters... and darn fine ones, if I do say so my darn self.

Wes

 

[Navy joe]

Info about price, model, first part of the serial number would be helpful if you want us to tell you yea or nay.

 

[pwrtool45]

Sure it can be reliable. If it wasn't abused, it should be fine. The same goes for modern guns, too. The P-35 is a relatively simple design.

It does the same thing a Sig or a Glock does, put bullets where they're supposed to go, but it does it with a little more class and maybe a little more accuracy.

 

[Majic]

A well maintained, quality firearm will out live you many times over. Todays newer models have no where near the craftsmanship put into them that those of the past contain in them.

 

[Sunray]

"I cannot see dumping a lot of money into a 30+ year old gun when I could buy a brand new gun with only a little more money." The older ones frequently work better and are more reliable than the BNIB types. This is a question typical of an FNG. Learn more before you buy anything.
You can buy that 30 year old HP and expect to hand it down in perfect working order to your kids. There is no other mass produced machine that you can do this with.

 

[kimbernut]

30+year old BHP

Ham Hock, If you've not fired a BHP before you owe it to yourself to at least try it. The fit of a High Power in the hand is magic. I don't know how but it seems to naturally fit more hand sizes than any pistol I have ever found. And I have yet to find a round that will not feed through it.My wife seldom goes to the range with me. The last time we went I had her try six different handguns to pick a new housegun for her. She tried everything from a Colt .380 to Colt and S&W revolvers to the1911 and at best kept an 8"group. The last gun she tried was a "T" series 1969 Browning High Power.She immediately began taking out the X-ring on every target she fired on.Needless to say that gun is now hers.
It is said by some that the 1911 was John Browning's best design whereas the High Power is his perfected design. I am a big fan of the 1911
but if the High Power was available in .45ACP I believe I would have to switch.

 

[Ham Hock]

Thanks for all the valuable advice.

I do not have much info on it at the moment, but when I do, I will be sure to post a follow up.

 

[Poohgyrr]

If there are any problems, they should be easy to fix.

 

[Lennyjoe]

It can be both a shooter and a collector.

I picked one up last week and I like it. Finally took it out to the range today and it felt great.

Had a couple of FTE but thats probably due to weak springs. I dont know how much it was shot before I got it but it was gummed up pretty bad from lack of cleaning. So I did a quick clean up and took it out to shoot.

I am planning on changing all the springs and getting a couple of extra mags and taking it out again.

 

[BHPshooter]

LennyJoe,

If you're having FTEs, be sure to remove the extractor and clean its channel. If that doesn't do it, it may need a new extractor spring.

...of course, that's assuming it's an external extractor.

Wes