Author Topic: Browning hi-power, any opinions? (Read 3237 times)

Terry1 · « **on:** January 19, 2005, 08:00:37 AM »

Any opinions on a Browning hi-power? How reliable are they? Accurate? Concealable? Thanks

TScottW99 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2005, 08:59:50 AM »

I love the hi-power. Points great, shoots excellent, and have never had a problem with mine. Though they can be a little hard to conceal in light clothing, no problem with a jacket. Actually, if your not skinny they can cover well :lol:

44 Man · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2005, 09:52:47 AM »

They are excellent guns. BUT we're talking concealed carry here. If you are going to carry a 'nine' there are many others that are much lighter and more compact. You will find that the weight of a big gun is what gets to you much more than the size. If I were carrying a 'big' gun, I would choose one with an aluminum or plastic frame to lighten the load. A heavy gun has you hitching up your pants all day and that is a give-a-way that you are carrying. Not a good thing. Have you ever watched a cop walk in? The first thing he does is hitch up his belt because even with the big belt, it still keeps trying to go south! 44 Man

Mikey · « **Reply #3 on:** January 20, 2005, 02:02:09 AM »

Terry1 - with all due respect to the opinions of others, when it comes to 9mms I prefer the Hi-Power. It is everything you would want in a 9, except the double action aspect, and that's alright with me. I've owned, carried and used ppossibly a dozen of these pistols, from Vietnam field recoveries to new and out of the box. They can be extremely accurate and I have found all I personally handled to be totally reliable. As for the concealed capability - conceals very easily, at least for me. HTH. Mikey.

rockbilly · « **Reply #4 on:** January 20, 2005, 08:22:11 AM »

I agree with Mikey. Years ago, everyone "packed" a Hi-Power. It was one of the first hi capacity handguns. It is a very dependable gun, fairly accurate, a little heavy, but if you are a "big boy" there should be no problem carrying it. :roll: I don't carry mine anymore, it's in the back of the safe. Thats only because it is highly engraved and the sharp edges on the engraving has a way of tearing up clothing.

PeterF. · « **Reply #5 on:** January 20, 2005, 01:40:40 PM »

Re. Carry-ability - probably the slimmest double-stack 9mm around ... both in the grip and particularly the barrel. After-market grips make it even more-so (although standard plastic grips are pretty good).
Re. Reliability - always good with FMJ/ball; sometimes need some throat work to better digest hollow points. Historically, it's not uncommon to have a little work done to improve both feeding and trigger pull (see Cylinder & Slide). Can be sensitive to cheap after-market mag's.
Good variety of after-market sights (e.g., Novak), grips, etc. available, although originals are pretty good.
I think the newer Mark IIIs are slightly heftier (to handle the .40 cal).
Bear in mind it's a single-action ... not for everyone, carry-wise ... but trigger pull can be made better than most.

Japle · « **Reply #6 on:** January 20, 2005, 02:47:13 PM »

Love mine. I probably carry it more than anything except my Kel-Tec .380.
It's an Argentine HP. I installed low Bo-Mars, a better safety, did a trigger job (with the mag safety left IN) and had it hard-chromed. With a set of rosewood grips, it's beautiful. It's more accurate than I am, which is all I can ask.

John
Cape Canaveral

Somerled · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2005, 01:05:18 PM »

The BHP is my primary carry pistol. I like the 9mm better than the .40 S&W. All the 9mms I've used are accurate right out of the box. I've never seen the need to spend money on match barrels. I usually add a set of Trijicon night sights and deactivate the magazine disconnect "safety". The trigger is horrid with it activated, although some smiths can make it tolerable without deactivating the magazine disconnect.

As far as concealment, it is far the easiest double-column magazine pistol to tote providing one selects the right holster. Pick a holster that tucks the butt toward your torso. I like the Sparks 55BN with a slight muzzle-rearward rake. Stay away from paddle holsters.

Ron T. · « **Reply #8 on:** January 24, 2005, 04:11:19 PM »

I agree the P-35 (aka "Browning 9mm Hi-Power) is a fine, high quality pistol, BUT........

As a concealed carry pistol, it's too heavy and too large. There are much better choices on todays market insofar as the pistol being considerably lighter, more concealable and just as reliable... and some of the others ARE "double action" which is, to many, a much preferred feature.

I carry my concealed pistol every day sometimes ALL day and, as 44 MAN sez, I dont wanna keep hiking up my pants because of a heavy pistol on or in my belt or in my pocket. That was what I had to do when I carried an older, but so-called pocket pistol namely my 1935 Walther PPK in 7.65mm (.32 ACP) which is 2½ times heavier than the little Kel-Tec I now carry!

But not anymore!!! Ive switched to the Kel-Tec P3AT 9mm Short (aka .380) and couldnt be happier at its fully-loaded 10 ounce weight including the 6+1 rounds. With +P 85 grain hollow points, its muzzle energy is 221 ft/lbs compared to the 235 ft/lbs of a factory-loaded.38 Special with a 158 grain lead bullet.

As to the magazine disconnect feature on the Browning Hi-Power I dont see the safety to the USER of a pistol with a round in its chamber that wont fire under what could be DIRE circumstances when that ONE ROUND could mean the difference between life and death to its user regardless of WHERE the magazine is.

Ive never understood the REAL value of this alleged safety feature improvement over the Browning-designed Model 1911, Caliber .45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) that John Browning purposely designed into the 9mm Browning Hi-Power (P-35) and that has also been designed into a few of the other semi-auto pistols that keeps the pistol from firing the round in its chamber if the magazine has fallen out or been removed.

Kinda makes you wonder WHO is it safer FOR, doesnt it the good guy or the bad guy?

Strength & Honor

Ron T.

PeterF. · « **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2005, 04:51:28 AM »

I'm sympathetic to your dislike of the mag safety (I had mine removed), yet I understand the rationale: while you and I might always be safe, rational gun-handlers, there's many a tombstone that says, "I didn't know it was loaded". That is, there's no shortage of idiots out there who forget there's one in the chamber. Saw one go off in a friend's kitchen, saw a bullet pop out unexpectedly at the gun counter: all experienced gun carriers who let something slip by.

James B · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2005, 07:47:15 AM »

I like and carry the Hi-Power a lot. Its true its a bit heavy but if I need that gun, I want a full size gun with a longer barrel. I don't like the super lightweight guns. Give me a real gun and I will figure a way to carry it. Now that said I much prefer to carry a 45. Much of the time I carry the Ruger 45 acp.

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2005, 01:09:40 PM »

John Moses Browning invented the 1911, then he decided to improve on his design = Browning Hi-Power, some nimrod decided he could do better = Double Action HP = a small step down for the nimrod a leap into the abyss for the High Power.
If you can find one of the older models, even used, as long as it was well maintained, you'll have one of the best designed pistols ever made.
Of course, this is just my opinion. :-)

PaleRyder · « **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2005, 05:54:35 PM »

I generally disdain semi-autos for revolvers. The only semi I own is a BHP, and Brownings and Stars are the only semi autos I like.

TScottO · « **Reply #13 on:** February 08, 2005, 01:09:24 PM »

Dont forget that the HP is also made in 40 Cal. One good thing about the 40s is that the slide was beefed up. This is not the standard 9mm gun that had the slide milled out to handle a 40 cal barrel. The 9mms are built to be 9mms and the 40s are built to be 40s.

Either caliber you want these are fine weapons and are probably my favorite semi-auto made. My experience only allows me the bias of Browning made guns. Of the five I have fooled with all were accurate and functioned perfectly, even when new.

Im not sure at what point in time they changed but the two I own both have aluminum receivers.

Be Safe,
Scott

CornCod · « **Reply #14 on:** February 15, 2005, 06:38:59 PM »

The Browning High-Power AKA GP-35 is one of the best handguns around. I have had a Mk II model for about 15 years and with thousands of rounds through it I can count the jams on one hand (all of them stovepipes from "limp-wristing") As to its suitability for concealed carry, I have to admit that its much too heavy a brute for that task. Buy a HP and stick it in your nighttable for home defense or put it in a holster as a gun in a war zone, but for urban underover, polymer framed guns are the way to go. Try one of the smaller Glocks or the Beretta 9000S.

prairiedog555 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 02, 2007, 05:50:55 AM »

My Hi Power was the first real handgun I purchased myself 35 yrs ago. I have shot it extensively and it has digested all kinds of ammo. Once out shooting with friends in the desert we bought some cheap Yugo 9mm ammo. My friend had a S&W double action auto. He pulled trigger and nothing, then proceeded to snap on it 5-6 times. I took this primer dented round and chambered it in my Hi Power. Pulled trigger and Boom. I have always told that story to anyone considering buying a S&W auto. I like my Glock, but have learned to appreciate single action auto's.
Like the old Browning Hi Power advertisement said:
"14 friends you can count on in the palm of your hand"

drdougrx · « **Reply #16 on:** January 03, 2007, 01:44:41 PM »

I should weigh in too I guess. I have a couple of HPs that use often and switchoff with a colt lw commander in 45acp. One that I have was worked on by Bill Loughridge at Cylinder and Slide Shop. It has buried bomar sights, a trigger job, is ramped throated and polished and wears a pair of his rose wood, thin grips. The other is pretty much stock except for the thin rosewood grips. They hide very well and I'm not big guy (or about as well as a medium framed revolver). They are plenty flat that's for sure. That's my opinion...but then again... I like the old, worn out, low teck gun platforms like the 1911, the HP, the PPK, the SAA and the like.

Get yourself a high power.

K.K · « **Reply #17 on:** January 03, 2007, 01:50:06 PM »

I carry a Hi-Power quite a bit, albeit mostly in cool weather with a long cover garment. I like the fact that it is so slim, as mentioned above. In addition to being reliable and accurate, it is easy to conceal, and I just plain like the history of the Hi-Power.

canon6 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 11, 2007, 08:07:12 AM »

As I type this there is a BHP on the desk beside me ,I have not been without one since 1963 and do not plan ot ever not having one.There are smaller,lighter,DA/SA,DAO.Safe triggers et al; but to my way of thinking the BHP is the 9mm all other should be gaged against,when it come to pointability,capacity,and slimness my2c Doug ( my magazine safety fell out in '63)

John R. · « **Reply #19 on:** January 11, 2007, 08:47:00 AM »

The BHP is my favorite 9mm (I only have one, as i'm a 45 man) I traded a M59 S&W for it and never regreted that trade. It has one of the best feeling grips out there along with a 1911. It is also the reason I bought the Springfield XD 45acp (grip feel is very similar). The BHP is an all-time classic that you won't go wrong with.

Heavy C · « **Reply #20 on:** January 11, 2007, 04:07:50 PM »

I purchased a new one in 40 S&W several months ago. Now that the weather is cooler I've carried it instead of my compact 1911. This is my first experience with a BHP and I really like it a lot. Someone mention the slim profile earlier. For a double stack of 40 cal it's truly hard to beat.

drdougrx · « **Reply #21 on:** January 12, 2007, 12:43:53 PM »

All this BHP talk.....gets me kinda excited..........well.....tomorrow........ I'm gonna pick up BHP #3...a tu-tone in 40SW...gotta be an addiction.

HELP MEEEEEE!!!!!

TNrifleman · « **Reply #22 on:** January 12, 2007, 02:01:24 PM »

The BHP is a fine pistol. Mine is quite accurate and utterly reliable. It is not too large for CCW purposes, in my opinion.

1marty · « **Reply #23 on:** January 12, 2007, 02:47:07 PM »

I'll throw in my 2 cents; my wife accuses me of giving more attention to my Hi Power than her; I love love her very much and I love my wife too.

Turk · « **Reply #24 on:** January 15, 2007, 06:50:12 AM »

My two cents is the BHP is one of the finest auto'a made and I'd stake my life on it at any time conforting another with a handgun. But as others have said it is full size and a tade bit heavy. My critera for a CCW was realiability, double action only, 380 min. caliber and weight I settled for two both Keltec's the P-11 and the _3AT. Cost was not a issue. I do on ocassion carry the Hi Power and 1911. As its been said there is different strokes for different folks. Check this web site out. http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/HiPowerComments.html

I almost forgot my home gun is the Hi Power or a Smith 4013. I do not fill out gunned with the 9 Para.

Have a good day.

Turk

tpdtom · « **Reply #25 on:** February 15, 2007, 12:21:37 PM »

Mine is a 1972 Belgian model, upgraded by Ted Yost. The older pre Mk II guns need a little work to reliably feed HP ammo, but after that they are very reliable. The newer ones are good to go out of the box, but I admit I prefer Heinie sights, a trigger job, some thin grips and a no bite hammer.

I can't imagine anyone thinking that the petite P-35 is too heavy for CCW with a good holster and a dedicated gunbelt. I use an Alessi CQC-S or a Sparks VM-II. I don't even know it's there. My Alessi belt makes strong side carry a breeze...Tom

williamlayton · « **Reply #26 on:** February 16, 2007, 12:53:52 AM »

I own one--well the paperwork says I own it--if it is ever or has ever been found someone has a good gun.
I hate thieves. HATE is an under-appreciated and less than adequate description of my feelings.
Blessings