Have you shot a hi-power

[Metal god]

My buddy had one and I shot it a bunch . It was ok I guess , I was not overly impressed. Don’t get me wrong Its nice firearm I wouldn’t say no if you were to give me one but it’s no sig P-210 which I’ve also shot alot .

[RickB]

It was a FN facility in Portugal, opened in 1971, not a dirt-floored hut that had been the low bidder for HP assembly.

[Ibmikey]

Yes, I have shot a Hi Power in fact I have 19 of them from pre war into the nineties and I have shot them all.

[Baba Louie]

I guess it's not too hard to imagine someone never having shot Dieudonne Saive's classic in todays world. Most think of the GP35 as a Browning design if they think of it at all. Most own or have shot Glocks.

When France approached FN to design a new type of semi-automatic pistol in 1921 with a 15-round capacity, their chief designer, John M. Browning, declined, unimpressed with the potential of higher capacity pistols.

I have shot more than one more than once.

The late Steven A Camp... Hipowers and Handguns (I think it was?) seemed to enjoy them as well. (found it - someone still cares enough to pay $ to keep site alive!)Worth reading every word he wrote

https://hipowersandhandguns.com/

[predecessor]

Fell in love with the Hi-Power when I was 10 years old watching Indy slice and dice...


Now I own two Hi-Powers: one that has been modified for business that I shoot the heck out of and is the wife's favorite pistol...


And the other who's chief role is to primarily be gazed upon.

[wachtelhund1]

I've had this Browning Hi-Power since 1984. It was made in Belgium. Its my favorite 9mm. It is perfect for people with medium sized hands. It has adjustable sights and a trigger shoe.

It looks a little dirty, could probably use a cleaning.

[amprecon]

I fired one at a range a while back because I had an interest in them at the time and wanted to see how they shot before I went to buy one. I'm not sure which variant or "generation" Hi-Power it was, but I remember it having very tiny front and rear sights, but it was very accurate and felt great in the hand. I did get hammer bite though and wasn't thrilled about that. But after that experience, my desire waned. I was initially excited about Springfield Armory re-introducing them and wanted one again, but I just recently purchased a Glock 45 and am wrestling with the decision to get one.

[AustinTX]

I love the Hi-Power for its historical pedigree and elegant looks, and I have several, but I don't think much of it as a pure shooter or in terms of its build quality. Lousy triggers, generally mediocre accuracy, and mostly average (to sometimes quite sloppy) fit. The forged-frame guns are pretty delicate relative to any other quality full-size 9mm pistol as well.

Tough to beat in aesthetics, though. Here's my unfired tangent-sight 1968 T-series BHP:

[Metal god]

So I've noticed a lot if not all the photos in this thread are of older pistols . When did Browning stop making them if at all ? My buddies was new as of 6 or 7 years ago but I don't know how long the store had it .

It was a Browning chambered in 9mm with a double stack mag if I recall . it looked more like this then the picks I've seen here .

https://www.browning.com/products/fi.../hi-power.html

[44 AMP]

When did Browning stop making them if at all ?

A better question might be, "did Browning ever actually make them at all?"

I'm no expert, and could easily be wrong, but I don't think "Browning" the company makes any firearms. Browning has them made for them, sells them with their name on them, but isn't the actual manufacturer.

I owned a Browning Hi Power for several years about 35 or so years ago. Commercial gun, factory adjustable sights (good but not micrometer click type) grip was great, fit my hand really well. Trigger sucked. Magazine disconnect, sucked. Safety was ...meh..(a personal thing, I've never liked the small button of the original design, but that just me...) Spur hammer (I never got bit) it was a good gun, that could have been even better if just a few things had been different.

One common misconception about the Browning Hi Power, JM Browning did not design it. He did the initial protoype(s) and then passed away. FN engineers took that prototype, made a number of changes and created the gun that FN made and sold, naming it the Browning Hi-Power, in his honor. (and quite likely to make $ on the Browning name )

I recently had a chance to examine a friends new SA-35. Outstanding work, I consider it an improved Hi Power, without the features I disliked on the Browning (FN & clone) guns

It's a duty class gun, without the high luster finish, and very well done. at a decent price if you avoid the gougers selling them up to double MSRP. Were I in the market for a High Power that isn't a historical piece, I don't think you could do better.

[AustinTX]

Originally Posted by Metal god

So I've noticed a lot if not all the photos in this thread are of older pistols . When did Browning stop making them if at all ? My buddies was new as of 6 or 7 years ago but I don't know how long the store had it .

It was a Browning chambered in 9mm with a double stack mag if I recall . it looked more like this then the picks I've seen here .

https://www.browning.com/products/fi.../hi-power.html

Like 44 AMP said, Browning never manufactured them. FN manufactured them, and Browning Arms Co. imported them beginning in 1954. FN discontinued production in early 2018.

Be aware that while many BHPs from the 1980s onward were parkerized or finished with a black epoxy, a couple of the Mark III variants were blued with walnut grips, and one of these (the Standard) was manufactured until production ceased. To someone not familiar with the smaller differentiating details across the different iterations of the BHP, the later blued guns will probably look the same as the earlier ones.

[Metal god]

Be aware that while many BHPs from the 1980s onward were parkerized or finished with a black epoxy, a couple of the Mark III variants were blued with walnut grips, and one of these (the Standard) was manufactured until production ceased. To someone not familiar with the smaller differentiating details across the different iterations of the BHP, the later blued guns will probably look the same as the earlier ones.

Thanks , Noted