Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns School me on the Browning Hi-Power

I am considering adding Hi-Power to my stable. Primary purposes would be winter carry when OWB holsters are doable and a fair amount of range use and pistol classes. It would be replacing a M&P9 I just have never grown to love. I've already shot one and generally liked how it operated. I'm interested in any info for a potential buyer to know ahead of time- best years, best features, things to look for, any particular custom models...

I took a look at the new Nighthawk custom models online, and while very pretty they may be slightly outside my price range.

Many thanks for any help.

There was an excellent one in the Classified recently. If still there, you could do FAR worse.

If you can work the controls on a 1911 then a Hi-Power is a perfect "Little Brother".

For a user I would seek a MKIII version in 9mm. The early Brownings are works of art but if you want a duty gun out of the box the MKIII is the way to go. The sights on the MKIII (and MKII) are superior, not to mention better pricing.

There is more to learn but this is a good way to start.



MKIII Forged Frame

Old technology. Get a Glock

Stick with a MKII or MKIII for a shooter, they have better sights especially the MKIII, and a much more robust extractor. The newest MKIIIs have a cast frame but are in reality the toughest of the breed, you can tell the difference by the lines on the bottom of the grip, forged frames are smooth. Most MKIII guns also come with a good ambi safety already installed if that matter to you. The better finished of the bunch will be the guns made for Browning, not that the Israeli guns or any other police of military ones are inferior function wise after they've been gone through.

Cylinder and Slide make excellent fire control parts like sears and no bite hammers as well as a nice strong side or ambi safeties. Hougue, Herrett, and Spegel thin checkered grips are a nice addition as well and it's too badUncle Mikes doesn't offer the Spegel grips any more. BarSto still makes match barrel though I haven't seen one of the newer HiPowers that didntshoot just fine with the issue barrel.

The P35 is still my favorite 9mm and I often wonder why they seem so underappreciated. I know where there are two that have been on the shelf for three years, nobody looks at them and nobody buys them.

I knew you'd come around!

I see what you did there.....grin

The newest being anything made over the last 20-years or so.

Another thing to consider is the sight cut in the slide. The adjustables might suffice for a plinker, but not much else. Fortunately, most of the adjustables can be easily replaced with sights that don't suck. Unfortunately, some of the adjustables are slightly milled/lowered into the slide and that complicates replacement. The sight cut is somewhat unique and IMO in the wrong location (too far forward to avoid having to cut the FP stop plate).

Sooo, my recommendation for a workman-like Hi-Power would be a cast frame MkIII with a simple dovetail sight cuts - in blue (because I like blue). If you plan on shooting a bunch of lead and want top accuracy you could consider a slower twisted barrel down the line.

I wanted a hi-power in the worst way. Almost bought one several times. Then one day I found the keeper.......... I racked the slide and it sliced me open. Took it as a sign. I have "meaty" hands. Slide bite would be a regular occurrence I saw sadly.

I usually cut a set of Novak or Heinie sights into any HiPower I end up with though the Mrs does have a nice MKII with the beercan sight. The fixed MKIII sights are serviceable and really not bad IMO with the vertical white lines. The adjustables all pretty much suck, being either too big or too fragile for anything other than a range gun. Luckily a Novak cut wil clean up all bt the Competition rear sight cut and nobody with any sense is going to butcher a HP Competition. Stay away from guns with Millet dual crimp front sights, they can't be cut for a dovetail front and if the front loosens up over time then good luck finding a new one to crimp in.

If you're working backwards, I'd suggest skipping it and going directly to an SAA. Or you could get a flintlock horse pistol.

IMHO the popularity of the BHP has declined due to the general bias against SA semiautos as CC EDCs. The MKIII BHP design corrects some of the more frequently cited features of the 1911 that complicate the manual of arms for SD EDC - greater capacity, integral MSH, no grip safety, dovetail FS cut, serviceable issue sights.

Craig Spegel makes intermittent runs of his BHP grips - I just got 2 sets in the past year. You just need to call him, get on his list and wind up with beautiful, highly serviceable wood grips by a master.

The MK III BHP issue sights are easily replaced with fixed tritium 3-dots. They may not blend in with the rear of the slide as well as milled-in-place Novak Low Mounts, but they work perfectly well. Magazine disconnector removal is pretty easy and makes a difference both in trigger pull and ease of after market drop free mag SD use.

If you go down the route of replacing internals, C&S, Wolff, Bar-Sto, Garthwaite are good sources, and the sky is the limit.

I like Glocks enough to carry them - now that I figured out how to slim down the grips on the G-29/30 models - and the M&Ps right out of the box suit me, with just a few tweaks.

That admission made, the MKIII BHP is a great pistol - a slimmer, high-cap version of the 1911 that just slips into a good IWB holster. It's just not a polymer framed SF gun.

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/

The author died a few years ago so no idea how long this stuff will be available, so get it while you can.


Okie John

Stephan Camp is THE recognized Hi-Power Guru and more . . .

The gentleman's writings and opinions are timeless!

I have one I bought new in the early 90's. Reliable, fits the hand good, best looking auto out there. I carry a Glock or HK or Smith poly striker gun. I would not feel bad if it was all I had to work with, but it is sharp edged and a down on capacity for the size and weight of the gun. My trigger is not that good, even after a trigger job. Kind of negates the purpose of a SA auto.

MK III forged frame. Novak sights, mag safety removal and a little trigger work. Slide was re-parked and a set of Uncle Mike's stocks were added. All you need and nothing more.
Bob

NICE clean gun Bob....

I have not had a HP since the 1970s. Would probably look at another one but still two major objections... First is the tang...it is just too short and I've been hammer bit several times over the years shooting friends guns. The second is the manual safety...not quite large enough and I don't like the fact that there isn't a positive detente like on a 1911.

But new or old they are works of art...and unlike plastic have a soul....

Bob

...I may have to look again....

The safety grew since the '70's of course, along with some extended aftermarket versions, and there is a détente.

I replaced the safety on my current HP with the Cylinder &Slide safety. Much mo-betta. Positive detent. Just the right size. Shaped more like a 1911 safety. Worth every penny.

Can't help you with the hammer bite thing. I'm one of the lucky ones.

I've owned 4 of them over the years. I don't care for them because they bite my hand badly with either the roweled or spurred hammer to the point that I am bloody every time I shoot one. It, and the Walther PPK series, are the most painful handguns I ever used because of hammer bite.

The factory safety is small and stiff to operate.

The ones I owned had heavy triggers, which I understand are a function of the magazine safety. Personally I don't care for a magazine safety.

The magazine safety also prevented the magazines from dropping free.

I understand that a couple hundred bucks of gunsmithing can solve most of these problems.

Maybe the new HP's are better, but I would never own one again. It was a brilliant design when it was introduced but there are better options today as far as I am concerned.

But lots of folks love them and love makes the world go 'round.

The magazine safety and trigger "issue" can be resolved sitting at your own table in less than one beer's time. Small hammer, drift punch (or the proper sized equivalent), and YouTube. If you can drive a finish nail and tie your own shoes, you can remove the mag disconnect and immediately improve the trigger.

The C&S no bite hammer kits do a good job of stopping hammer bite. And as a side benefit usually results in a much better trigger pull. They come in several shapes and styles.

Cylinder & Slide says they can get the trigger down to a crisp 5 lbs, without removing the mag safety (they won't remove it, for liability reasons).

Novak's shop also used to customize them, however I don't see a website for Novak's any more.

I have two of them, one a MkIII and then Dad's Belgian Browning. I've always liked them as a slim & ergonomic pistol, well balanced for the cartridge, and much handier than most of the Hi-cap 9mm's. If you prefer a single action auto, but want more capacity, the BHP is still valid.

Saw that Nighthawk has started offering custom Hi-Powers

http://www.nighthawkcustom.com/pistols/new/browning-hi-power

I shoot this one a lot. Basic is good.
Bob

Love the BHP, but they're expensive...

Look for a used Charles Daly HP on gunbroker. For about $400. Have a gunsmith remove the magazine safety and your good to go!

I've owned both Browning's and the Charles Daly copy. The copy is service grade reliable and if you want it worked over by a gunsmith, go for it.

Thanks for all the help. There is a MKIII advertised about an hour's drive away, I believe I will go look at it this weekend. I'm not sure if it's a cast frame or not. I suspect it will need a few parts from C&S based on this thread but that's within the budget.

Don't even give a second thought to the cast vs. forged frame; both are completely fine and most would say the cast frames are actually a little tougher. If you ever have a problem with a Hi Power it won't be related to cast vs. forged.

Mine started as a rough 1980 production gun that my wife bought me cheap for our anniversary one year. I did all the work piecemeal as time and money allowed and shot it a bunch along the way. C&S No Bite kit, plain black Novaks, Herrett grips, C&S safety, sportsman's scabbard holster by Diamond D leather, texture on the front and back by a good friend who is a master engraver, and polish blue by me.

Roger that; cast is good. Slightly different feel, but mucho strong. This MKIII custom was built by Don Williams.
Bob

Like your BHP. Very interesting treatment of the front & back straps on that grip. How were the raised dots created?

The raised dots are created using a square graver deiven into the workpiece. Under a loupe they look like tiny woodrasp teeth.