Tell Me About The Capitan Hi-Power....

[nero45acp]

While the 500m tangent sight on the Capitan Hi-Power might not exactly be practical, it sure looks cool. I think that a Capitan will be my first firearm purchase of '07. Anyone here have one, or have any experience with one? I'd appreciate any info/opinions on this pistol that anyone could provide. Thanks.



nero

 

[nero45acp]

Nobody here has a Capitan Hi-Power, or has handled or shot one?



nero

 

[Shear_stress]

I'm a big fan of High-Powers. The tangent sight may be a bit of novelty (at least in a pistol not cut for a shoulder stock), but you'll probably be the only one on your block with one. If the price is right I don't see any downside.

 

[Onmilo]

A bit over ten years ago I owned an Inglis made, Chinese contract, tangent sight Hi-Power clone.
The sight wasn't practical for handgun shooting and I didn't own a holster stock so I didn't have the chance to try the gun out with the stock fitted.

The Capitan does not come slotted for a shoulder stock and it would make the gun NFA if it did and came equipped with a stock.

As you alluded to, the tangent sight offers more cool factor than any practical advantage in handgun sighting platforms.

 

[browningguy]

No info on modern ones, I have an Inglis Chinese contract pistol with those sights, and a detachable stock, that is a lot of fun to shoot. The old design however has a very narrow rear notch, it's tough to pick up sight alignment quickly when you get old. But I can simply slide it around and get consistant hits at 100 yards, never tried ti beyond that.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

I had one about 6 years ago. I don't know why I sold it shortly thereafter. It was mainly a novelty, I guess, and I couldn't justify keeping it just to look at. It had the cut in the back for the shoulder stock, and the sights you refer to. The one I got was in new unused condition. The story behind it was that it was part of a contract with FN Belgium to make five hundred of these for some Arab Shake, or something. The guy canceled his order, or died, or something, and they went on the open market. They were of relatively recent manufacture, Belgians. Today, I'm sorry I sold it, but if I had it I'd probably be tempted to sell it again for the same reason.

 

[hagar]

That was the first handgun I ever bought, at the ripe old age of 18 in South Africa. Serial # T37016X

I loved that pistol, took it everywhere, shot at anything worth shooting, including pigs for slaughter, feral cats, pigeons and 44 gallon drums at about 300 yards. It was pretty easy to hit them. Took it with me to Rhodesia in 1977 and 79. My cousin ended up buying it from me.

I could not afford a stock, but a buddy of mine was good with his hands, and we handmade one that worked pretty good. I wish I still had that stock. I missed the pistol so much, when I walked into a gunstore 3 years ago and saw a new one for $550, I snapped it up, one of the E series Vector Arms imported I think. This one does not have the stock attachment and the sights are square, not V notch like the old one. Practical, maybe not, but they do look pretty cool. I have not even shot the new one, but the old one shot pretty good. Never had a problem hitting what I was aiming at.

 

[nero45acp]

Thanks for informative replies. I'm glad to hear that the newer ones have the easier to see square notch, at 43 with presbyopia, a tiny V rear sight would present a challenge. Too bad though about the newer ones not have a slot for a stock, or the fact that the stock would make it an NFA weapon. I imagine that one with a stock would be a helluva lot of fun. Again, thanks all for the replies/info.



nero