Welcome to

Stephen A. Camp’s

Hi Powers and Handguns

  • The Hi Power and Standard Pressure Ammunition

    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…

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  • Hi Power Longevity

    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…

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  • Polymer Frame for the Hi Power

    Until recently, I did not believe that there were any polymer frames available for the Browning Hi Power.  I was wrong.  Apparently, such an animal exists and is made in South Africa.  It’s my understanding that it’s produced by a man on a limited basis and as far as I know it is not available…

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  • Field Report: Browning Mk III w/Winchester 127-gr. +P+

    Whitetail Deer On Dec. 27th, 2003 @ approximately 4:46PM (CST) I shot a deer using a 9mm Browning Mk III pistol.  This Mk III was very lightly altered from factory configuration.  Changes included: ·         Wolff 18.5-lb. conventional recoil spring and Buffertech shock buff ·         Uncle Mike rubber grips w/skateboard tape on the grip strap ·         Bobbed spur hammer…

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  • The Browning Hi Power and 9mm +P Ammunition

    A very frequent area of concern for Hi Power fans seems to be whether or not they “can shoot” +P or +P+ ammunition in their Hi Powers. The answer is a qualified “yes.” The use of hotter than standard ammunition will accelerate wear, but it will not make the Hi Power explode or instantly break. Let’s take a look a minute…

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  • The Hi Power and Hammer Bite

    The Hi Power’s hammer biting the hand that holds it is not an uncommon problem for quite a few of us. Usually, it is not all that difficult to cure. This affliction usually occurs when the tip of the hammer spur hits the shooting hand behind the pistol’s abbreviated tang. Folks who are bitten by the spur hammer…

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  • Dark Nights and Lonely Places

    (A partial explanation of why I try always to be armed) I had a hard time deciding whether to put this under “FAQ” or “Other Handguns,” but decided to put it under “Browning Hi Power” as most of the time, it’s what was with me on: There was no wind and the mist was so…

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