The Browning HiPower
- Thread starter mattk
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Ghost Tracker
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I'm a true High-Power believer, but there's gonna' be a bunch of 1911 fans who are ready to disagree. (* And they may be, uh, RIGHT!)
coyotehitman
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I have always heard that the BHP was developed to remedy the shortcomings of the 1911. Whether or not that is true is a matter of opinion, though. I like the 1911, but the BHP is my favorite handgun. I find it to be the most ergonomic, best pointing, handgun manufactured. I would like to see a stainless steel 10mm or 45ACP BHP with similar handling characteristics and at least a 10 round capacity.
dogtown tom
Member
FN/Browning was able to make a thin 13 round handgun in 1935.
Seventy three years later, Glock, Sig, Ruger, Beretta, HK and the rest haven't yet figured out how to make a slide that thin. Compared to a Hi Power everything else is FAT.
Seventy three years later, Glock, Sig, Ruger, Beretta, HK and the rest haven't yet figured out how to make a slide that thin. Compared to a Hi Power everything else is FAT.
Ghost Tracker
Member
coyotehitman,
I solved that issue with a custom .357 SIG (converted .40 S&W) BHP Mk III. It's not stainless but hits like a hammer. My favorite!
I solved that issue with a custom .357 SIG (converted .40 S&W) BHP Mk III. It's not stainless but hits like a hammer. My favorite!
FlyinBryan
Member
its a fine pistol no doubt.
one of the finest custom builds i have seen was a hp
it has ergos very similar to the 1911, which the experts say is perfect.
i wouldnt say its an improvement over the 1911, but a guy named Dieudonne Saive probably would.
he is the guy who actually finished the design after john browning fell over dead at work.
john browning actually wasnt too enthused with the design according to reports and had set the project aside and was actually working on the browning superposed shotgun when he died. this is hotly argued among his biographers, but this is actually what was reported by saive, who i think wanted a little more credit for the design than he recieved.
this is just all stuff ive read as a browning fan.
one of the finest custom builds i have seen was a hp
it has ergos very similar to the 1911, which the experts say is perfect.
i wouldnt say its an improvement over the 1911, but a guy named Dieudonne Saive probably would.
he is the guy who actually finished the design after john browning fell over dead at work.
john browning actually wasnt too enthused with the design according to reports and had set the project aside and was actually working on the browning superposed shotgun when he died. this is hotly argued among his biographers, but this is actually what was reported by saive, who i think wanted a little more credit for the design than he recieved.
this is just all stuff ive read as a browning fan.
10-Ring
Member
What ain't BHP can be solved G-L-O-C-K 
RonE
Member
I have always heard that the BHP was developed to remedy the shortcomings of the 1911. Whether or not that is true is a matter of opinion, though. I like the 1911, but the BHP is my favorite handgun. I find it to be the most ergonomic, best pointing, handgun manufactured. I would like to see a stainless steel 10mm or 45ACP BHP with similar handling characteristics and at least a 10 round capacity.
The BHP may have addressed the supposed problems of the 1911 but the .45acp seems to solve most of the problems of the 9mm except magazine capacity. I wish I still had the BHP I brought back from overseas.
The BHP may have addressed the supposed problems of the 1911 but the .45acp seems to solve most of the problems of the 9mm except magazine capacity. I wish I still had the BHP I brought back from overseas.
W.E.G.
Member
The BHP would be my carry gun if there were no Glocks.
Schleprok62
Member
I have handled about every glock (and fired a couple) available to me and I haven't found one that feels right - But I do like the BHP... I think the Pro-9 may be my next purchase.
So much for that theory...
I carry a compact 1911, but my favorite gun for sheer beauty, accuracy, and class is my BHP. If I were built such that I could carry it concealed, I would, without a doubt.
My 1911 is a great gun, but the BHP is a great gun AND art.
Springmom
My 1911 is a great gun, but the BHP is a great gun AND art.
Springmom
telecaster1981
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- Jan 8, 2006
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- 297
I wish that were the case! I thought the knee jerk answer to the threads in Autoloaders was "Get a Glock", followed closely by "Doesn't get any better than the 1911!"
I've handled lotsa Glocks and 1911s, and for me, the BHP is the CORRECT answer, on this or any other forum!
BHP is the only pistol which is comfortable for almost any kind of hand stature. It is absolutely the '' High Capacity Heaven '' for smaller hands.
It is the slimmest 9 mm service pistol with a high capacity magazine.
It is the easiest service size pistol to conceal.
If British SAS, IDF Sayerets and many elite units all over the world do not feel the 9x19 mm inadequate even in the FMJ format, there is no need to hesitate for the shooters who are competent enough in shot placement with the BHP.
It is the slimmest 9 mm service pistol with a high capacity magazine.
It is the easiest service size pistol to conceal.
If British SAS, IDF Sayerets and many elite units all over the world do not feel the 9x19 mm inadequate even in the FMJ format, there is no need to hesitate for the shooters who are competent enough in shot placement with the BHP.
makarovnik
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- Jul 8, 2006
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- 1,678
High Powers are awesome. Especially with today's modern ammo choices.
Nice thing about the 1911 is all the different manufacturer's and all the cool aftermarket parts you can get for them.
Nice thing about the 1911 is all the different manufacturer's and all the cool aftermarket parts you can get for them.
ugaarguy
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- Mar 19, 2006
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- 13,828
I love the ergos of the BHP. I don't like the Rube Goldberg-esque multi-linked trigger to sear engagement mechanism. From what I've read Browning and Saive had to work around Browning's patents that were held by other companies - namely Colt with the patents on the 1911. I'd really like to see a fusion of the two designs in the 9mm/40S&W/.357 SIG length family of cartridges to keep the magazine well front to back length down. I'd love to see someone apply 1911 lock work (including removable mainspring housings to serve as changeable backstraps) to the BHP.
sm
member
This ain't Burger King, you don't get it your way.
You get BHP, 1911s, Double Whopper with Cheese, Onion Rings and Regular Dr. Pepper.
Now step aside we got other customers in line.
*Grin*
nwilliams
Member
I'm a HP fanatic, like the 1911 its a timeless piece of gun history and I wouldn't want a gun collection without at least one.
So I have two.....WW2 era Nazi proofed FN HP and a Custom BHP, both are great shooters but my custom HP is by far the most accurate handgun I own. It has had trigger work done to it and the mag disconnect has been removed. I'm not sure the actual poundage of the trigger but its far better than the trigger on any of my other guns including my 1911. Everyone who ever pulls the trigger on it gets this look of pure ecstasy on their face usually follow a "holy" something.
So I have two.....WW2 era Nazi proofed FN HP and a Custom BHP, both are great shooters but my custom HP is by far the most accurate handgun I own. It has had trigger work done to it and the mag disconnect has been removed. I'm not sure the actual poundage of the trigger but its far better than the trigger on any of my other guns including my 1911. Everyone who ever pulls the trigger on it gets this look of pure ecstasy on their face usually follow a "holy" something.
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CZF
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- Jan 6, 2003
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- 2,034
That's funny. i could say those very thigs about my Cz75s, and CZ pistols in general.
Once mandated to carry a DA 9mm. I gave up hopes of the
P-35 and settled for the equally fabulous CZ75.
The CZ75 had bigger controls than the Browning back then, but
were not very popular.
I did enjoy the recent CSI Miami episode, where Horatio used a
shiny blued HP to take care of the bad guys!
Once mandated to carry a DA 9mm. I gave up hopes of the
P-35 and settled for the equally fabulous CZ75.
The CZ75 had bigger controls than the Browning back then, but
were not very popular.
I did enjoy the recent CSI Miami episode, where Horatio used a
shiny blued HP to take care of the bad guys!
Tribal
Member
Okay, so maybe I'm just ignorant, but is there any reason why the fabled trigger system of the 1911 couldn't be put on a Hi-Power? Whatever patents were in place expired long ago. Is it just that a 1911 in 9mm is pretty much considered the same thing?
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
I love the HP. I finally got around to buying one in the not too distant past, and the more I handle it, the more I like it. Though it won't replace my 1911s as my primary carry and range guns...if I had to grab one and run, I wouldn't feel at a disadvantage at all with the High-Power.
It's been said that Browning "corrected" the flaws in the 1911 with the High-Power...the grip safety and no link being the main two.
Bunk...
Browning didn't have free rein over the HP any more than he had over the 1911. There were many hands in both...and many ideas and requests for this or that feature. Like the 1911 and other Browning designs...John Moses gave what he was asked for. They were jobs...assignments to be completed. If the people who hired him to work on the P-35 had requested a grip safety...he'd have put a grip safety on it. If they hadn't specifically requested a linkless barrel...Browning would have put a link on it.
No. The Browning High-Power didn't always have an external extractor.
Finally...Browning died several years before the HP was completed, so there was a lot of influence over the final design that he had nothing to do with.
It's been said that Browning "corrected" the flaws in the 1911 with the High-Power...the grip safety and no link being the main two.
Bunk...
Browning didn't have free rein over the HP any more than he had over the 1911. There were many hands in both...and many ideas and requests for this or that feature. Like the 1911 and other Browning designs...John Moses gave what he was asked for. They were jobs...assignments to be completed. If the people who hired him to work on the P-35 had requested a grip safety...he'd have put a grip safety on it. If they hadn't specifically requested a linkless barrel...Browning would have put a link on it.
No. The Browning High-Power didn't always have an external extractor.
Finally...Browning died several years before the HP was completed, so there was a lot of influence over the final design that he had nothing to do with.
10X
Member
The BHP is almost the best. The only thing better is a BHP without the mag disconnect and with a 26 lb. hammer spring rather than the factory 32 lb hammer spring.
Excellent quality, excellent design, reliable and accurate.
I still won't give up my Colt Gold Cups.
Excellent quality, excellent design, reliable and accurate.
I still won't give up my Colt Gold Cups.
belus
Member
... on a Mk II (no FPB) or with the sear lever spring moved behind the pivot point.10X said:
axeman_g
Member
BHPs are fantastic and usually need nothing done to them to function accurately right out of the box.
But a little tweak here... a little tweak there and you have the best, hicap 9mm sidearm in the world.
Plus they look good, carry some panache and dont break.
By the way, the Browning BDM is the slimmest hicap ever made.
But a little tweak here... a little tweak there and you have the best, hicap 9mm sidearm in the world.
Plus they look good, carry some panache and dont break.
By the way, the Browning BDM is the slimmest hicap ever made.
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