SD ammo for 1981 Browning Hi Power

[Agsalaska]

So my wife's favorite uncle is getting older and starting to give his things away. He gave us a beautiful 95% condition Browning Hi Power. He is, for the record, my favorite Uncle as well.

First time to the range shot 50 FMJs, I think Norma 124gr, and it was flawless
Second trip tonight shot two flawless magazines of Blazer 124gr. FMJ

Looking for hollow points now, I loaded a magazine of Winchester White Box 115gr JHP. I figured its older design might be beneficial. It jammed with a failure to eject on the 6th round.

I then loaded a magazine of Federal HST 147gr and it wouldn't even chamber the round. The bullet just kept jamming against the ramp.

OK, that's all the SD ammo I brought, but I also had a box of Speer Lawman 147gr TMJ and it shot it beautifully. The gun is remarkably accurate.

Now I don't have any plans to use this gun anywhere outside of the range, but I do like to know what my guns are capable of and would like to keep some reliable SD ammo on hand, you know, just in case.

Does anyone have any experience that could help?

I am currently of two minds. One is to shoot another hundred or so rounds of the WWB and see if it was a fluke. But I shoot that stuff a lot and it is generally very reliable out of everything else I own. Second thought was Hornady FTX with the little red plug thingy, probably in 124gr if I can find it. If not then 115gr.

Thanks in advance for the feedback. I will post a picture of the gun later.

 

[Sistema1927]

When I carried a BHP in the 1970's, it did not run SuperVel until I had a gunsmith friend re-contour the feed ramp. My Mark III runs HP without tweaking.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've owned three P-35s over the years and that all seemed to run fine with 124gr JHP from various manufacturers. I'm surprised it ran with anything in the 147gr weight class at all

 

[Gordon]

Stick with 124 grain ammo. Hard to tell you what the feed ramp will like The rounded profile no lead exposed skivved hollow points will do best in your first series barrel that wasn't designed to feed hollow points.
The reason I said 124 grain is the overall length is usually correct and the heavier bullet gives good slide impulse. Now the 147 grain bullets if loaded to correct , same as 124 grain, length give even a better slide impulse and I have found the Remington Golden Saber profile feeds well in everything I have tried it in. I think the 124 grain non +p version would work , if you can find it.

 

[Riomouse911]

See if the Hornady Critical Defense rounds work in your older Hi Power, they shoot well through my newly minted SA-35 BHP clone. The Hornady FTX bullet profile has also worked for me shooting them in .380 (AMT Backup, PPK/s) and 9mm (Helwan) that aren’t universally known for liking JHP bullets much.

Whatever you try, let us know how it turns out. .




Stay safe.

 

[P89DCSS]

If I remember correctly, the older BHPs have a hump in the barrel ramp. At some point they changed to a smoother ramp that feeds JHP rounds. I have an 1989 version with the smooth ramp and it eats JHP just fine. Also it probably not an issue but the older forged frame will crack if fed too many P+ rounds.

Here's a great resource, the book is worth $30:
https://hipowersandhandguns.com/

 

[Artym]

So my wife's favorite uncle is getting older and starting to give his things away. He gave us a beautiful 95% condition Browning Hi Power. He is, for the record, my favorite Uncle as well.

First time to the range shot 50 FMJs, I think Norma 124gr, and it was flawless
Second trip tonight shot two flawless magazines of Blazer 124gr. FMJ

Looking for hollow points now, I loaded a magazine of Winchester White Box 115gr JHP. I figured its older design might be beneficial. It jammed with a failure to eject on the 6th round.

I then loaded a magazine of Federal HST 147gr and it wouldn't even chamber the round. The bullet just kept jamming against the ramp.

OK, that's all the SD ammo I brought, but I also had a box of Speer Lawman 147gr TMJ and it shot it beautifully. The gun is remarkably accurate.

Now I don't have any plans to use this gun anywhere outside of the range, but I do like to know what my guns are capable of and would like to keep some reliable SD ammo on hand, you know, just in case.

Does anyone have any experience that could help?

I am currently of two minds. One is to shoot another hundred or so rounds of the WWB and see if it was a fluke. But I shoot that stuff a lot and it is generally very reliable out of everything else I own. Second thought was Hornady FTX with the little red plug thingy, probably in 124gr if I can find it. If not then 115gr.

Thanks in advance for the feedback. I will post a picture of the gun later.

Try Remington 115 gr. hollow point. I would limit +p in an older HP.

 

[Ironicaintit]

You could re-contour the feed ramp (or have it done), then not worry about which JHP, because then they all should.

 

[RainDodger]

As mentioned, you likely have a barrel with the famed "hump" - easy to see. A competent gunsmith that knows Hi-Powers should be able to help. I have an '84 Hi-Power, which had the hump as well and I had the same issues you're seeing. I now have straight feed ramp barrels and no further problems. If you want to know what it should look like, take a look at a Springfield SA-35 feed ramp and you'll see what I mean. My feed ramps were modified back in the late '80s by reshaping into straight ramps. A tiny bit of length was added (welded) to the tip of the ramp and it extends toward the nose of the cartridge in the magazine. No more nose-down problems either. That's not a requirement, but it's nice to have. I do not know who can do this work now.

 

[a2x4bbl]

So my wife's favorite uncle is getting older and starting to give his things away. He gave us a beautiful 95% condition Browning Hi Power. He is, for the record, my favorite Uncle as well.

First time to the range shot 50 FMJs, I think Norma 124gr, and it was flawless
Second trip tonight shot two flawless magazines of Blazer 124gr. FMJ

Looking for hollow points now, I loaded a magazine of Winchester White Box 115gr JHP. I figured its older design might be beneficial. It jammed with a failure to eject on the 6th round.

I then loaded a magazine of Federal HST 147gr and it wouldn't even chamber the round. The bullet just kept jamming against the ramp.

OK, that's all the SD ammo I brought, but I also had a box of Speer Lawman 147gr TMJ and it shot it beautifully. The gun is remarkably accurate.

Now I don't have any plans to use this gun anywhere outside of the range, but I do like to know what my guns are capable of and would like to keep some reliable SD ammo on hand, you know, just in case.

Does anyone have any experience that could help?

I am currently of two minds. One is to shoot another hundred or so rounds of the WWB and see if it was a fluke. But I shoot that stuff a lot and it is generally very reliable out of everything else I own. Second thought was Hornady FTX with the little red plug thingy, probably in 124gr if I can find it. If not then 115gr.

Thanks in advance for the feedback. I will post a picture of the gun later.

The Browning Hi-Power has a large and loyal following here . Post some pictures of it and a wealth of information will follow . I got into them late and shortly after they were discontinued . Re-introduced now but quite a bit different. I have an FEG that had the hump feed ramp and it would occasionally have a failure to feed . The mill made short work of the hump and the problem went away forever. My Browning came with the straight ramp so it was never a problem. If you don’t want to “ modify “ it you can probably just find an ammo it likes and problem solved . Personally I don’t hesitate to modify. My Browning came with a 9 lb trigger . Now it’s 4 and a joy to shoot . I will buy another one soon because quite frankly all other 9mm’s ( I have many ) are lacking compared to a Hi-Power . The ergonomics are second to none and the potential of what the trigger can be is only second to the 1911 platform. Just my opinion of course .

 

[Agsalaska]

Here it is. And I appreciate all of the responses. I am going to break it down in a couple of hours and see if it has that ‘bump’. It would make sense that it does.

also, I was surprised it shot the 147gr TMJ as well. I didn’t expect that.

I will not modify it if that’s what it takes. I would if I planned on using it outside of the range but that’s never going to happen.

 

[Agsalaska]

 

[Gordon]

Great looking C series BHP! You could lock slide back and aim camera at exposed chamber showing the lower center of chamber entrance " ramp"

 

[Rock185]

Ags, FWIW I have owned quite a number and variety of Hi Powers since the '60s, many with the "humped" feed ramp. Were it mine, I would not feel the need to modify that Hi Power. My Hi Powers, including a ratty old WWII INGLIS, fed JHPs reliably. My most recalcitrant about feeding JHPs, a T-Series years ago, required a couple hundred rounds through it before it also worked with everything. I've had a 1981 GP Comp Hi Power, with humped feed ramp like yours, for years. It is unmodified and just feeds everything.
Anyway, I've found the Federal old tech "9BP" 115 JHP ammunition, and similar Remington "HTP" 115 JHP, to feed reliably in about any pistol that will feed ball ammo.

 

[mavracer]

I'm prolly not a lot of help my BHP ran everything with the stock barrel I've since put a bar-sto match barrel and it runs fine with my 115gr reloads and 124+p Gold dots.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

One can get remsport barrels for the hi power at around 150.

 

[Agsalaska]

 

[Ironicaintit]

That looks to me like it did have the humped profile, then was straightened out, and made off center, after the fact.

 

[Agsalaska]

That looks to me like it did have the humped profile, then was straightened out, and made off center, after the fact.

That’s what it looks like to me too. The hump is kind of there but off center a little bit. Like the left side has a bump but the right side is smoothed out.

 

[CapnMac]

Well, as a guess, JHP contoured like FMJ are probably going to be wanted.
Which suggests going "old school" like the Federal HydraShok or the Win Silvertip.

Mind, it might be worth buying a box of the SIG Performance 115gr JHP. That SIG branded ammo is very nice to shoot.

 

[Ironicaintit]

That’s what it looks like to me too. The hump is kind of there but off center a little bit. Like the left side has a bump but the right side is smoothed out.

I think if that were mine, I'd give a go at making it correct. That, or get yourself a new barrel. Life's too short for finicky firearms

 

[WVsig]

This is a 1981 pre MKII also sometimes referred to as a 73 style because of the half moon sight and single sided safety. It is also known as the Vigilant model.This is not a C series.

It has a humped feed ramp. You want to run something like Golden Sabers or hornady critical defense because they have more if a round nose FMJ profile. The other option is to have a smith who knows what they are doing remove the hump. Simple to do if you know what you are doing.

 

[Agsalaska]

I think if that were mine, I'd give a go at making it correct. That, or get yourself a new barrel. Life's too short for finicky firearms

Yea I understand that. I think the answer if I go that direction is I will get a new barrel. This gun is only a range gun and it is 100% reliable with FMJ. That's good enough for now.

 

[Agsalaska]

This is a 1981 pre MKII also sometimes referred to as a 73 style because of the half moon sight and single sided safety. It is also known as the Vigilant model.This is not a C series.

It has a jumped feed ramp. You want to run something like Golden Sabers or hornady critical defense because they have more if a Zround nose FMJ profile. The other option is to have a smith who knows what they are doing remove the hump. Simple to do if you know what you are doing.

I went to Academy today looking for Hornady Critical Defense and they didn't have it. Had plenty of 135gr Duty and some of the XTP loads but not FTX. I am pretty sure the next time I shoot it I will have a box of the Critical Defense.

 

[WVsig]

View attachment 1145657 View attachment 1145658

That barrel has not been altered that is what it looked like when it left FN. It has the hump as others have noted which can sometimes preventing feeding of some modern JHPs.

A proper BHP smith can straighten that for you so it will feed anything.