Browning Hi-power

[Mr. 16 gauge]

One of the few handguns I've had a hankering for, but never owned. For those of you that have had or still have one, tell us about it.....your likes, dislikes, ect.

Also, pics are appreciated, as always.;)

[skeet]

Had a couple or 5 of 'em. To be honest they are well made guns but really not me cuppa tea. I'm not a big fan of double action pistols and they really don't feel as good in my hand. Also not a real fan of the 9mm or the 40 which they also make it in now days, I think.. Only one I have now is a Nazi marked gun I got at a yard sale. It's going to the next gun show. I'll never shoot it anyway. I like the other Browning gun the 1911. All that being said...buy one and try it out..Can't lose much money if you don't like it...and there is always a good reason to have another gun..LOL

[Jack]

Um, Skeet, the Hi Power is single action. . . at least the classic design is.
I have one, it was the first auto pistol I ever bought. Mine is an old WW2 model, Wehrmacht proof marks, that had seen hard times. The bore was pitted, the gun obviously had been reblued. I got it at a reasonable price, dumped the barrel and put a Bar Sto barrel in it. Changed the sights for some you can see. :) Now it shoots well.
I confess I don't use it much. I prefer single action autos, but, I kind of don't like the round grip a pistol has when the grip is wide enough for a double stack magazine. Just personal preference, I suppose.
My 1911 gets shot a lot more than my Hi Power.

[skeet]

Ummm Yep..I typed it wrong onea those slips of the mind(less)..I meant double stack..feel terrible in my hand... I do have a double ACTION M-39 S&W..639 actually. It shoots ok..but holds 8 rounds IIRC. I also have a little Para-Ordnance LDA 45..holds six and is a good shooter at gun fight ranges

[buckhunter]

I have a CZ75 which operation wise is close to the HiPower DA/SA. Its OK, not really my favorite but I do use it. Its kinda my fishing gun and I do carry it sometimes. I'm really a revolver man but do like the single action auto's a lot better.

A friend of mine has one that he has willed to me. I would take it a never get rid of it because it came from him.

[popplecop]

Most are well built pistols that I've examined, but don't care for the grip. Guess I'm just stuck with my 1911, they just fit me perfectly.

[jplonghunter]

I have two and would not trade for anything.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I have a CZ75 as well, and can relate to the difficulty with the wider grip that was brought up in a couple of posts. I shoot my S&W 39 much better, and probably because I had it first and it's a single stack.
I wonder if those who started out with double stacked magazine pistols find the grip of guns like the 1911 'too skinny'?

[Joe Boleo]

It lives peacefully and happy with the other handguns in my stash. I wish it was available in .45 ACP. Nice, solid gun and a lot of firepower. As for the grip, your brain will adjust and you will get used to it. Take care...
Joe

[skeet]

Well Joe..I've had them double stacks in many flavors and varieties..Have yet had my brain(what little I have) accept the feeling of the oversize grips. darn things just don't feel natural.. I also had a Para-Ordnance double stack 45 and got rid of it post haste. It was accurate enough..just felt wrong. Guess I'm just stuck being a 1911 type of guy. Or just about as bad..a S&W revolver type.

[dovehunter]

I have never owned or even shot one, but I think it is my all-time favorite handgun. To me it's certainly the prettiest. I've drooled over them for years. I have handled them frequently at gunshops and shows and have never found the feel to be awkward, maybe it's because I have big hands. I have, however, shot many other "double-stacks" like the M-92 and its clones and never found them to be a problem.

[Larryjk]

Don't have a Browning Hi-Power right now, but should probably et one again. They are the classic 9mm, and you can't go wrong with a pistol that has been successful that long. I guess the reason I don't have one right now is that I graduated to a 1911 in .45 ACP, and less power is inadequate.

[skeet]

[QUOTE=Larryjk;340478 I guess the reason I don't have one right now is that I graduated to a 1911 in .45 ACP, and less power is inadequate.[/QUOTE]

And I really like that last statement and agree with it completely..But I did not graduate to the 45..I started out there..and stayed..LOL The gummit gave me a couple when I was too young to own a handgun in the US.. Strange, huh?? Oh and a submachine gun too...Hmmm.

[Adam Helmer]

Mr. 16 gauge,

I often wondered why the M1935 9mm Browning was called a "Hi-Power." Hi-power compared to what? My Ruger Mark I and Mark II .22 caliber handguns? I have fired several "Hi-Power" 9mm handguns and laid them aside for better duty guns. I suppose that is why I am still collecting pension checks.

Adam

[popplecop]

Well as I stated before I like and will always have a number of 1911s, but lets not sell the new loadings for the 9mm short. There are some pretty impressive loads out, that one in the pelvic area or head is going to end a gun fight. Saying that you'll never catch me far from a 1911 .45acp.

[skeet]

The one Browning I did shoot to a fair degree was not the most reliable shooter. I tried many different loads in it and it would stovepipe or fail to feed at least once in every couple of mags. Most reliable was the older nyclad loads that S&W (I think) made years ago. Still have a box or two of them. It may have been Federal ammo../ I disremember right now. Have it stored in the barn back in Md along with a lot of other stuff. I have a bunch of 50 caliber ammo cans back there with ammo..brass bullets and at least 10 with lead ingots in them..Most was linotype..some was real wheel weights.,. I understand that you now have to register 50 cal ammo cans in Md..or sign for them or something. Maybe Fabs would know./. They really are very dangerous you know..especially when you drop one of them full of lead ingots on your toes

[Rapier]

I have only owned one BHP and that was mostly until I got it to a show to sell it. I have shot them and have shot against some very nice custom BHP guns. I am not a 9mm guy and only have one 9mm right now because it is not sold yet. Th BHP is a classic but it is not a target gun as it comes out of the factory, it is a shooting gun for saving your bacon and is well known for that one item, it shoots when you need it to shoot.

Today, a factory Generation 4, Glock 19 will run circles around the factory BHP, but it is not near as "purdy" as the BHP. Take a look at a guy that makes custom BHP guns, the BHP has been his specialty for years and he does it right. The barrel bushing is the secret to making the BHP shoot well.
Ed

http://www.apwcogan.com/pistols/browning-high-power.html

[Dutchman01]

The one pistol that I have owned longer than any others is a belgian made hi-power. I've owned it for ten years now. I've put several thousand rounds thru it, many handloads. It's been completely reliable. I just recently had it reblued. It's the only pistol I own at the present. I just don't have a need for any other. I don't have any pictures of this pistol but it's a capitan style I purchased from vector. As such it'll take a stock and looks very similar to this. It's a blast to shoot with the stock attached.

http://www.fototime.com/FD51D0E313D3C85/standard.jpg

[skeet]

And in the US unless the gun is registered..when you attach the stock you have just made a short barreled rifle that is considered verboten under the 1934 gun control act. If a cop sees ya shootin it you could be subject to arrest prosecution and would surely lose the firearm../unless it is registered. Be very careful my friend. I don't think the license for the short bbld gun is very high..

[Dutchman01]

And in the US unless the gun is registered..when you attach the stock you have just made a short barreled rifle that is considered verboten under the 1934 gun control act. If a cop sees ya shootin it you could be subject to arrest prosecution and would surely lose the firearm../unless it is registered. Be very careful my friend. I don't think the license for the short bbld gun is very high..

I appreciate the heads up. As I understand it all firearms made before ww2 can have a stock without any restraints. Since my pistol was made in the 90's I was required to have the local police chief sign a form stating I wasn't a danger to the public, fill out a background check, in duplicate, and pay 200 dollars for all my troubles. I have. What a pain in the neck and an absolute waste of my time, except I get to play with a fun toy. Our tax dollars at work. {sigh}

[skeet]

Well it sounds easier than getting a license for a machine gun...What a real pain..but even pre WWII guns have to be licensed...if a stock is attached..many Lugers were made for stock attchment...Thought the fee for short bbld guns was 50 bucks..suppressors too..suppressors are really neat.

[8X56MS]

Mr. 16 gauge,

I often wondered why the M1935 9mm Browning was called a "Hi-Power." Hi-power compared to what? My Ruger Mark I and Mark II .22 caliber handguns? I have fired several "Hi-Power" 9mm handguns and laid them aside for better duty guns. I suppose that is why I am still collecting pension checks.

Adam
When the Hi Power came out in 1935, it was a European pistol, and compared to the standard Euro .32acp mouse gun, the 9MM was much more capable.