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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
I frequently hear from folks wanting to know if they “have” to use +P or +P+ ammunition in their pistol for it to be an “effective stopper.” I also am asked if those carrying the hotter loads for serious purposes need to practice exclusively with hot ammunition (ball or otherwise) rather than standard velocity since…
A frequent question centers itself on how long a Hi Power will “last”. I’ve seen various estimates that range from 30K to about 50K rounds with barrels needing replacement at about 20 to 25K full-house rounds. I will relate what I’ve seen long-term. How long a Hi Power will last depends on a number of…