Browning Hi Power reliability question ? - Page 2

RickB · November 5, 2012, 03:37 PM

I bought a used Mk. III in 1999. It couldn't have been shot much, and now has maybe 2000 rounds through it. I have had a lot of feed failures, but would now blame them all on trying to not have to replace the three "South African/South American" 17-round mags I bought. The tubes are strong, but the springs are weak. Since fitting springs that allow only eleven rounds capacity (for competition), I've had no problems at all.

K1500 · November 5, 2012, 10:04 PM

New hammer spring after only 6,000 rounds...that shouldn't happen. We're you getting light strikes?

g.willikers · November 6, 2012, 11:11 AM

A gunsmith I know specializes In HPs and 1911s.
He says the HPs generally are 25,000 round guns, but not as long lasting as 1911s, which can be 100,000 round guns, depending.
Not that either is ready for the junk heap by then, just that they will probably need some serious attention.

Skans · November 6, 2012, 12:05 PM

Quote:

sold his BHP and replaced it with a SIG 226 because the stock internal parts on BHP's are too soft

What does he think the frame of his SIG 226 is made of??? (Aluminum) In any event, take a look at some of the Israeli BHP's that have been used in service. They have been used and abused, but still function just fine.

lechiffre · November 7, 2012, 03:32 AM

Quote:

So I was shooting my BHP at the pistol range the other day and I got to talking with this other fellow about pistols and he said that he sold his BHP and replaced it with a SIG 226 because the stock internal parts on BHP's are too soft and delicate and wear out quickly

Good luck with the stamped/welded/roll pinned slide, and aluminum framed P226 outlasting the steel Hi-Power.

tipoc · November 7, 2012, 01:23 PM

One of the most authoritative sites on the web for matters relating to the BHP and handguns in general is Stephen Camp's...

http://hipowersandhandguns.com/

About the only controversial issue related to the BHP's longevity is the suggestion to limit the amount of +P and +P+ ammo through it. The gun may tend to shoot loose a bit in the neighborhood of 5000 rounds of +P 9mm ammo and need a tune up sooner than with standard velocity ammo. Bill Laughridge over to Cylinder and Slide holds this opinion.

tipoc

WVsig · November 7, 2012, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Good luck with the stamped/welded/roll pinned slide, and aluminum framed P226 outlasting the steel Hi-Power.

IMHO with proper maintance the Sig will outlast the BHP. If you keep he rails well lubed on a P226 you are easily looking at a 75,000+ round count gun.

WIN1886 · November 7, 2012, 04:26 PM

So in other words , you should own both a SIG and BHP and only shoot the Browning Hi Power 1/3 as much as the SIG ! Good point.....I'm glad I added a P220 !

The gunsmith that commented the BHP was a 25000 round pistol vs the 1911 being a 100000 round pistol.....do you think the fact that the 9mm has a SAAMI standard pressure of 35000 psi in comparison to the 45 ACP with 21000 psi has anything to do with it or is it more the design/internal parts of the pistol ?

I heard they beefed up the newer BHP frames ( cast I guess ) so they could handle 40 s&w ammo which of course they discontinued offering that caliber choice but still kept the frame change anyway ?

After reading more about potential lawsuits , I'm thinking of reinstalling my magazine disconnect safety on my BHP.....I did notice that the trigger pull feels smoother and maybe a tad lighter but am now considering having a carry trigger job done by a good Hi Power gunsmith with the mag disconnect left in place !

DPris · November 8, 2012, 12:09 AM

It would be beneficial if people would stop calling the mag disconnect a "safety".

It isn't, and if the terminolgy carries too far it CAN work against you in a lawsuit.

You are not removing a "safety", you are enhancing function in a defensive tool to protect your life.
Denis

WIN1886 · November 8, 2012, 10:15 AM

Good point.....I like to think of the magazine disconnect as the device that makes the stock trigger pull feel gritty and way harder then it should have to be!
Responsible handgun owners know to check the "chamber and magazine" to avoid a firing mishap just like any other firearm that does not have this feature ! Still I feel obligated to re-install it because if you sold it in this condition or if it was mishandled by someone then the ??? would be avoided ! I 've heard a good pistol smith can give a reasonable trigger pull ( about 5 lbs ) with the mag disconnect still retained !

DPris · November 8, 2012, 09:51 PM

For me it's less about the trigger than making the pistol functional as a single-shot IF mags are lost or damaged, and more importantly enabling the mag to drop free under its own power during a reload.

You can always stick the disconnect back in if & when you sell the thing.
Denis

November 6, 2012, 11:11 AM	#28
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 2,544	A gunsmith I know specializes In HPs and 1911s. He says the HPs generally are 25,000 round guns, but not as long lasting as 1911s, which can be 100,000 round guns, depending. Not that either is ready for the junk heap by then, just that they will probably need some serious attention. __________________ Lock the doors, they're coming in the windows.

November 7, 2012, 04:26 PM	#33
WIN1886 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 289	So in other words , you should own both a SIG and BHP and only shoot the Browning Hi Power 1/3 as much as the SIG ! Good point.....I'm glad I added a P220 ! The gunsmith that commented the BHP was a 25000 round pistol vs the 1911 being a 100000 round pistol.....do you think the fact that the 9mm has a SAAMI standard pressure of 35000 psi in comparison to the 45 ACP with 21000 psi has anything to do with it or is it more the design/internal parts of the pistol ? I heard they beefed up the newer BHP frames ( cast I guess ) so they could handle 40 s&w ammo which of course they discontinued offering that caliber choice but still kept the frame change anyway ? After reading more about potential lawsuits , I'm thinking of reinstalling my magazine disconnect safety on my BHP.....I did notice that the trigger pull feels smoother and maybe a tad lighter but am now considering having a carry trigger job done by a good Hi Power gunsmith with the mag disconnect left in place ! Last edited by WIN1886; November 7, 2012 at 04:38 PM.

November 5, 2012, 03:37 PM	#26
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Posts: 4,780	I bought a used Mk. III in 1999. It couldn't have been shot much, and now has maybe 2000 rounds through it. I have had a lot of feed failures, but would now blame them all on trying to not have to replace the three "South African/South American" 17-round mags I bought. The tubes are strong, but the springs are weak. Since fitting springs that allow only eleven rounds capacity (for competition), I've had no problems at all.

November 5, 2012, 10:04 PM	#27
K1500 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2011 Posts: 132	New hammer spring after only 6,000 rounds...that shouldn't happen. We're you getting light strikes?

November 7, 2012, 01:23 PM	#31
tipoc Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2004 Location: Redwood City, Ca. Posts: 1,942	One of the most authoritative sites on the web for matters relating to the BHP and handguns in general is Stephen Camp's... http://hipowersandhandguns.com/ About the only controversial issue related to the BHP's longevity is the suggestion to limit the amount of +P and +P+ ammo through it. The gun may tend to shoot loose a bit in the neighborhood of 5000 rounds of +P 9mm ammo and need a tune up sooner than with standard velocity ammo. Bill Laughridge over to Cylinder and Slide holds this opinion. tipoc

November 8, 2012, 12:09 AM	#34
DPris Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 3,778	It would be beneficial if people would stop calling the mag disconnect a "safety". It isn't, and if the terminolgy carries too far it CAN work against you in a lawsuit. You are not removing a "safety", you are enhancing function in a defensive tool to protect your life. Denis

November 8, 2012, 10:15 AM	#35
WIN1886 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 289	Good point.....I like to think of the magazine disconnect as the device that makes the stock trigger pull feel gritty and way harder then it should have to be! Responsible handgun owners know to check the "chamber and magazine" to avoid a firing mishap just like any other firearm that does not have this feature ! Still I feel obligated to re-install it because if you sold it in this condition or if it was mishandled by someone then the ??? would be avoided ! I 've heard a good pistol smith can give a reasonable trigger pull ( about 5 lbs ) with the mag disconnect still retained !

November 8, 2012, 09:51 PM	#36
DPris Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 3,778	For me it's less about the trigger than making the pistol functional as a single-shot IF mags are lost or damaged, and more importantly enabling the mag to drop free under its own power during a reload. You can always stick the disconnect back in if & when you sell the thing. Denis