Welcome to

Stephen A. Camp’s

Hi Powers and Handguns

  • Browning Hi Power or 1911 for Defense?

    It’s not unusual to find fans of the single-action automatic at this crossroad somewhere down the shooting trail.  Folks who are wedded to one or the other of these classic designs wouldn’t change …and that’s fine.  There are some for whom it presents a “dilemma”.  Note that I did not say a serious dilemma. That doesn’t mean that it’s…

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  • Changes To A New Hi Power

    I am thinking of buying a Hi Power.  What changes should I make? This is a question I receive frequently via Email or see at the Internet gun forums.  My answer is “none”…immediately. The reason is fairly simple: Until the new Hi Power is shot, we don’t know what changes may be needed if any! In recent days…

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  • A Critical Look at the FN Competition Model

    Not a really rare Hi Power, this FN-manufactured version of the classic gun is not seen in great numbers. Similar in many ways to the more traditional versions of the classic P-35, it does differ in others.  Unlike the traditional Hi Power, the FN Competition Model was not intended for the hell of battle, police work, or self-defense. It…

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  • The Therapeutic P-35 Part 2

    Part II In the earlier article bearing nearly the same title, I suggested other than defensive considerations in using the venerable Hi Power.  In this one let’s focus on its worthiness in the arena of self-defense. Proven Design: That the pistol has drawn blood in the world’s carnage-strewn battlefields goes without question.  It has been used by well…

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  • The Therapeutic P-35

    Browning’s Hi Power, GP, P-35, or whatever of its monikers you call it remains one of the classic military and defensive handguns in the world. It’s the choice of many in the US and especially in Europe who are geared to the “martial arts” aspects of handgun shooting. It and the 1911 vie for my…

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  • The Browning Hi Power at Speed

    A “problem” I’ve seen with the Browning Hi Power when used at speed is the longer trigger reset. Almost always this crops up with heavy-duty 1911 users. The reason is that the 1911 has an extremely short reset and is probably the shortest of any semiautomatic on the market. People who are really practiced with the 1911 are very “dialed in” to muscle…

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  • The Browning Hi Power and 147-gr. Ammunition

    Heavy for caliber, this load is frequently used by 9mm fans for self-protection by choice or mandated by certain law enforcement agencies.  While I am not an ardent fan of this weight bullet in this particular caliber, I’m no longer quite as adamantly opposed to it as in years past. This deviation from the more popular and…

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