So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

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So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby Snowgun on Wed May 04, 2011 7:04 pm

This is gonna sound like a stupid question, but I've never shot or personally seen a Browning Hi Power.

They used them a lot on Top Shot this season, and that piqued my interest. I read up on them and it seems that they are a 9mm variant of the 1911 with a different barrel linkage and stupid magazine safety.

What i'm asking is what is the deal with them really, from all you savvy gun nuts who probably have 3 of them laying around your houses. Are they cool? Would you rather have a hi power or a 9mm 1911?
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Re: So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby rugersol on Wed May 04, 2011 7:17 pm

Snowgun wrote:hi power or a 9mm 1911?

Like a 1911, if ya put a nice beavertail on it, and bob/round the hammer, it's not bad ... but I'd rather have a 9mm 1911. Image
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Re: So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby xd ED on Wed May 04, 2011 7:43 pm

No expert myself, but I think the big thing with the Hi Power was that it had the first double stack magazine. If I am wrong, I'll readily stand corrected.
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Re: So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby Morbius on Wed May 04, 2011 7:43 pm

I prefer the BHP, even though a 1911 feels great in my hand (at least with an arched mainspring housing) the BHP just fits like its meant to be there, the whole feeling like your pointing a finger, although I do no like the original safety lever, and I have never shot one where the magazine safety wasn't removed. Go to a store and put them both in hand. :D
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Re: So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby antimatter on Wed May 04, 2011 8:19 pm

If you spend a grand to buy one, the put a couple more grand into it, then you have a 1911 that will shoot as well as a Hi Power. Oh, and you'll be 7 bullets short, too.

Here's a good site for finding out about the Hi Power: http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/index.html
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Re: So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby 45Badger on Wed May 04, 2011 8:32 pm

John Browning's improvement on the 1911 :D Truly elegant guns that are too friggin' wide for my small paws!
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Re: So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby DeanC on Wed May 04, 2011 8:52 pm

The first of the wondernines. All in all not a bad gun.
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Re: So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby wrench on Wed May 04, 2011 8:56 pm

Elegant, great looking, great feeling in the hand. Beautiful. I've owned 7, still have 3. Very different than a 1911, I have those also, but the Hipower just rocks in 9mm.
Also, reliable, proven around the globe for the last 75 years.
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Re: So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby Gecko, Extra Crispy on Wed May 04, 2011 9:01 pm

I have a couple. If you take out the stupid mag safety the trigger pull instantly gets better. 1911 in 9mm and Hi powers fit different rolls for me so i can't really say which I like better. Just get one(or more :D ) of each.

I have one of these kits on one of the hi powers and after that it became one of my primary carry guns.
http://www.cylinder-slide.com/SFScustommod.shtml
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Re: So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby David on Wed May 04, 2011 9:04 pm

The high power is a fantastic gun, and it oozes classic charm and mojo. They've been made in tons of locations throughout the world, and some manufacturers/assemblers are better than others. For collector value, the Belgian ones are king, and I happen to think they have the nicest finish by far as well. There's nothing as classy as a Belgian bright blued HP with slight holster wear. You'd never think it was as reliable and accurate as it is, with its quaint small ejection port and rattling slide, but they are outstanding in every way. Get one!
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Re: So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby Snowgun on Thu May 05, 2011 2:11 am

Gecko, Extra Crispy wrote:I have one of these kits on one of the hi powers and after that it became one of my primary carry guns.
http://www.cylinder-slide.com/SFScustommod.shtml


I can decide if this is heresy or the coolest modification I've every seen... :shock:
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Re: So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby Snowgun on Thu May 05, 2011 2:13 am

So does the HP really shoot better than the 1911? I'm having a hard time believing that they would be any different accuracy wise....
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Re: So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby Seismic Sam on Thu May 05, 2011 3:12 am

Snowgun wrote:So does the HP really shoot better than the 1911? I'm having a hard time believing that they would be any different accuracy wise....


The accuracy of any pistol is pretty much determined by the setting of the loose nut behind the trigger with some exceptions like an SVI racegun, so a 1911 vs. BHP accuracy debate is a moot point. It's slim, very concealable, and very elegant in design, and was probably the progenitor of the whole CZ line and all clones, with the exception that the slide and frame rails are reversed. It was the first pistol I bought in 1971 after I turned 21, and I was really honked off because they had just raised the price from $96.50 to $114.50 a few months before I got mine. (Yes, mine in a Fabrique Nationale Belgian version...)
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Re: So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby Pinnacle on Thu May 05, 2011 4:51 am

Sam and I bet that it shoots as well as any of the new wonderguns....

The BHP was my first pistol - What a gun. I miss it.
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Re: So, What is a Browning Hi Power?

Postby selurcspi on Thu May 05, 2011 6:38 am

BHP was one of my issue weapons in the RN. Some people think it's too big, but depending on the stocks it's dressed in it can be smaller that a 1911: even the WRENs (Female Sailors) shot well with it.
Accuracy, rack guns would hold about 6" to 8" at 25yds and personal issue guns after a visit to the dockyard Armourer would be improved to 2" to 4" at 25yds.
I love the gun and I've climbed a few ship's sides at sea with one hanging from a lanyard around my neck.
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