This was my carry in Vietnam. Mine was Belgium made and faithful and reliable as any Govt. issue, 45 caliber 1911. I took mine off of a NVA officer in Son Bhe
I inherited my father's pistol. A 30+ years old Browning Hi Power 9mm gun. He bought it when I was a child and it was the first handgun I even fired. I guess it was my "first love". I have tried many other guns, HK, Sig Sauer, Beretta, Walther, Smith and Wesson, Glock.... And none of them have satisfied me as my old pal, the Browning Hi Power! Reliable, robust, easy to maintain, comfortable and fun to shoot.
@@Satchmoeddie thoroughly enjoyed reading your comment and showed a ton of useful expertise, if i ever get the privilege of owning a browning Hi Power one day, I will be sure to get one to try out all your mentioned improvements.
I think it is the best firearm ever built, thanks to uncle browning. I have a fn herstal t3 serial number model back in my home town (turkey) past over to me by my grandfather. I just love this pistol to bits superbly engineered and highly reliable. I will not trade it in for any other pistol. Even if I was offered 5 1911s.
Have had my late '80's model for about the last 4 years, bought it from my father-in-law. SMOOOOOOOOTH as butter! The best, most reliable handgun I own by far - and I own a few. Great video!
Nice video. I love the HiPower. carried in the Canadian army back in the 60s and 70s. I have a 1911 and a CZ75. Nice guns I want another HiPower. I sold my last one years ago. Mistake
Good video. Very informative, no prejudices, a bit of humility [not the greatest shot], and very well thought out. Everybody I let fire my Browning ends-up wanting one. I have Glock, Sig, and Walther fanatics all say the same thing - best shooting auto they've ever fired. Mine is completely stock and had zero after market work. I love that the case (it came in) is not immensely large and houses everything you need for the pistol. I became unemployed, sold half my collection, I kept this one.
after years of watching youtube I just came across your channel recently. I would like to say you do a really good job with all of your reviews. I know you put a lot of time into these videos and it shows as your well spoken on the topic or firearm in review. Anyways, great video that makes me want one of these even more. Keep'em coming.
I tried going +1 with a Walther P38, and there was a jam on the first round. Good pistol overall though, barely ever hiccups. Same with my first firearm, M1911A1. Actually I don't think the 1911 has jammed yet, put at least 1000 rounds through it by now. Maybe 1500. John Moses Browning was a genius. No doubt about it. He also designed a popular Lever action rifle in the late 1800s I believe. I'd remember the name if I was into lever actions and the wild west. More of a bolt action man, myself :)
I think this gun is one of the most beautiful pistols along with M1911 and the SIG P210. I've always been a fan and I believe that British SAS used the handgun for quite some time. Can't wait to get my own!
Thanx for a great review, just found your channel today, and haven't left it for hours!! I purchased a Browning Hi-Power "Practical" approx.25 years ago and have put well over 20,000 rounds through it, and it is still a great accurate gun, with no problems. The only issues I've ever had is with POOR ammo. To this day, still 1 of my favorite guns.
I have 3 Hi-powers, all 3 are different & 1 is in .40 S&W. One is an FN HERSTAL copy, (not Browning) made with the SFS safety system, which would take a paragraph to explain. Basically drop the safety & the hammer automatically cocks. Then when finished shooting just push hammer to slide & the safety's automatically engage, really cool, I have never seen another one like it. I got it in Kentucky at the famous "Knob Creek Gun Range", in Ft. Knox Ky.. I carry it alot, so thin, so ergonomically designed for the hand. I even have one of the ones made with a Tangent rifle sight on top for shots out to 1,000 meters, used by the Argentine Army, named the "El Capitan". Love my Hi- Powers !! Thee last eloquent handgun ever made !
Thank you for this wonderful video, I love how you have explained the technical terms (single action!) and the way you have described the gun aesthetically with its background.
Also of note that this pistol was manufacturered under license by a few firms. Hungarian FEG versions can be had for the $400-$500 range if you don't have to have an actual FN model.
I served with the Canadian Forces, and the 9mm Hi Powered, or FN as we refer to it as was my side arm, all CF personnel serving in Afghanistan had a FN as their side arm, unless they were an MP or SF. I am not sure what you meant by Duty Gun, but it was my side arm, and sometimes my primary weapon when i was driving.
Bought one last week, used but in mint condition for €595. Felt that, being from Belgium, I just had to have one in my collection. Shoots like a dream! Most police forces here switched from the HP to a plastic 9mm (Glock, Walther, H&K,...) in the last ten years, but many of them regret it and would love to have their high powers back! Also in the military they are scheduled to be faded out, and the soldiers too are not looking forward to that change. Great gun!
There is a rail add on that attaches to the trigger guard and is quite solid, allowing use of a light or laser. Quality 15 round mags in same size are available from Mec Gar. 20 and 30 are also available.
It's a Mark II as not all of them come with dual safety. I have the brochure that shows both models fixed and adjustable with or without it, depending if its a early or late release. Also the blued finish is some what special. You put it under light and it has a red tint to it. Available only on Mark II models. Also the grips are correct, slid serration and safety. I bought one of these in 1998 for $400.00 in the box. It is one of the most accurate, natural pointing hand guns made. It's highly reliable out of the box as well. You can also remove the magazine safety if it really bothers you as well. There are tons of magazines for it and there cheap. The only thing it needs is sent to Robar for stippling the grip front and back and slide serrations forward and maybe trigger work and you got a keeper.
Great review on Browning Hi Power, I used to own a World War 2 era Inglis made Hi Power but I foolishly traded it for a H&K P7. Which I ended up not liking. It's one of the gun trades I had done that I really regret. However I hope I can locate a FN Hi Power one of these days.
I have the FEG PJK-9HP version, made in Hungary, which is also a fine gun. It's is my understanding that all, or most, of the parts are completely interchangeable with the FN model. The quality is excellent and it is perfectly reliable. The MD has been removed from mine. While it is heavier than most polymer guns, it is perfectly usable as a CCW with plenty of punch and 14 rounds. I am 6' and 230 lbs and have no problems concealing it in a IWB holster.
+craig horton Same. I have the one with the rib along the top and ring hammer. It's SO good. The trigger is like glass. I've used it for both IDPA and IPSC, and with a 15 round Mec-Gar magazine in it, it's equal to any new Sig made.
Gun, ahhh, not for me. This is the first time seeing one of your vids. I love that you have a list (that sheet in the background) that you go by. It is so nice to get the same info and all the info on every gun you review. It is so frustrating to see vids that leave things out, go soo slow and some people just can't even talk or think in a straight line. So, great job, keep using the list. I don't know if you have a vid on the best 9mm pistols with around 4" barrels. I would really like to see the top five with the most important feature being reliability, no jams......
One of the best shooting pistols the one I have my best friend brought back from China between ww2 and Korea but everybody knows there were no Marines in China at that time. But it was recovered in a field after someone was persuaded to drop it and it has the dirty bird German eagle stamped on it. But it shoots like a dream and it feels like an extension of your hand.
Its a beautiful firearm. I'm in agreement with you, John Browning was the best of the best. He gave a lot to the gun community and is still giving to this day. i dont own one these, but have seen a couple fired att the range. I was impressed. Thanks for thhe great review. Have a good day
if you absolutely want extra rounds, Mec-Gar makes 15 and 17rd Hi Power magazines. Those are modern springed, modern designed magazines that will take being fully loaded all day.
I'm aware of (and use) the Mec-Gar 15-round mags. The only 17-round Hi-Power magazines I've ever seen are the Argentine KRD mags with the plastic baseplate.
Thanks for the input! I sent the gun back to Browning and they did a trigger assembly repair. They also gave me to new magazines but the weird part is it only holds 9 rounds. I'm not sure if it's because I live in upstate NY that they minimize magazine capacity. I should actually call them back & ask why...
I really like the print out in the back ground. The document paper was a nice touch. Probably don't read from it. Just use it to keep you on point, elaborate on it.
Fantastic review. Waaay better, more stylish and with a nicer choice of words than any review the famous RU-vid personality calling everyone "Dude" has ever done:)
loved these hand guns. These were the service pistol I used. really nice guns. soon as you said you squeezed 14 in the mag I knew you would have a miss feed. its the preasure on the mag springs. really the mags should have a cutoff making it impossible to get 14 in as no matter what you will have a stoppage if you didn't count your rounds in to the mag. great guns tho
Thanks for a nice positive review of my prized possession though mine has a silmmer handle with a 13 round capacity with one bullet chambere which works for my small hand perfectly.
That is actually a Mark II. You can always tell by the external extractor. Mark Is and Inglis guns have internal extractors. Mark IIIs as stated have ambidextrous safeties, rubber molded grips
Nice video. I just picked up a brand new FEG PJK-9HP Hungarian clone for under $400. I have not had a chance to shoot it yet, but I'm sure it'll function just fine.
If you don't mind going with a smaller caliber, a .22, the GSG 1911 imported by ATI (also sold as a Sig Sauer) is a great value. Used FEG brand copies of the hi power are also pretty affordable. Other than that, get familiar with the used market on sites like gunbroker. The price of revolvers has been less affected by the spike in gun buying.
This was the service pistol for the British special forces regiment the SAS. The regulations for using the gun in service for that unit, instucted them to load only 12 rounds even thoough they had the 13 round magazine, Maybe indicates some inconsitancy in the magazines and your failure to go into battery when you laoded 14?
Your pistol IS a Browning manufactured under FN license by Fabricaciones Militares (FM) It's as good as the Belgian issue albeit the finish is a more utilitarian baked-on laquer. FM has made guns under license from Mauser, Beretta, FN Herstal, Oto-Melara, Colt and others.
The Browning P35 aka the Browning Hi-Power is definitely a classic fire arm and was definitely ahead of its time. While the 1911 and the Hi-Power are 2 very well known Browning handgun designs, the 1911 is the one that has been more widely praised... and I just can't understand it. This is by far the better design in my opinion. I'd take my Glock 19 over any other single handgun ever made... but if given a choice between the 1911 and the Hi-Power.... I'd choose the Hi-power over the 1911 any day.
Ok, first of all, a 9mm golden sabre will expand to .60 cal. Plenty to get the job done. Also, many of us american citizens would consider canada as "americas hat", but most of them don't realize the history of canadas military contrfibutions. the boys on the ground are the boys on the ground. Props. I own a hi power, and have had nothing but great reliability and accuracy from it. A wonderful gun. Also hogue and pachymar make great grips for it
LBS, Great video & as usual your channel rocks. Some info though. That varient you have is not a MK I. The term MKI was actually the name of the Hi-Power manufactured by the Inglis Co. in Canada under Browning license during WWII. Those 9mm HI-Power pistols saw service with British and Canadian forces during that time and there are many still around today. The one you have looks like a standard Polished Blue, Adj Sts. made in Belgium during the mid to early 80s. Hard to tell without SN though.
Oh yeah, the trigger pull is much sweeter with the mag disconnect removed. I have used several types of hollow tips, but rely on golden sabres, it seems that they have more of a rounded edge to them, less prone to jamming
I have had mine since 1982 never had a problem, I would get it checked by a Gun Smith. I replaced all my springs with Wolf springs years ago is most of my Pistols and revolvers. I think it will be a simple repair....
Damn fine gun there have a t series one,a series 70 1911 and a Smith model 10 on my armed guard license to carry on duty the browning gets more attention by far when I carry it
wohoo, someone else who knows of, and credits, Dieudonne Saive :D Saive did ALOT of work with\for Browning, and improved on alot of his designs for FN. He also made the FN49 and the FAL. He really should be as known as Browning.
Great review! I had Mark III I bought just last year. Beautiful gun definitely, lots of history as you said. There were a few minor things that caused me to sell it though. Ultimately it was the trigger pull. I just could not get to like the softer break. I prefer a clean break like a my 1911 and Glock 19. It's definitely a very capable gun, and when I get the extra money someday, I'll have an other just to have it. Keep up the good work man!
It was not known to be very powerful, and had a stereotype as a good suicide pistol in-case you ran out of ammo for your rifle and there was a likely hood of being captured by the insurgents. I have a 1911 and prefer the FN, simply since i can take it apart and clean it and reassemble it super quickly and easily with out using any tools. The real main problem, was that the sand (or poo dust as we called it) would get every where.
I always liked the looks of the Hi-Power, but found them too expensive. I moved on to John Browning's earlier design, but still wanted a Hi-power. I recently found a 1990's vintage surplus MkIII. I really love it, but will be putting an extended safety on. Not to make it easier to disengage, the standard safety is more than adequate for that, it is very difficult to get my thumb under the safety to re-engage. That, night sites and replacing the damaged grips should make this an impressive sidearm.
Enjoyed the video. I thought it was odd that you seemed to make a practice of cocking the hammer manually before pulling the slide back. That, and the decocking of the hammer seems like way more hammer-touching than you should ever have to do with a single action pistol. Actually it's not apparent to me why you'd ever have to touch the hammer in actual use, except maybe to take the tension off the hammer spring for storage.
me and my step dad got a great model of a browning, but the grips for it just felt too weird for it, my hand really slipped a lot with it. If i could add a personal note; if you have smaller hands, I'd recommend different, rounder grips for more control
The takedown looks like a cross between a M1911 and a M92 mostly due the guide rod system I guess. You don't have to mess with a barrel bushing (unlike the 1911), but you do have to remove the slide stop lever (like the 1911).
no its not. where did you get that from? John moses browning designed the 1911 in 1910/11. The HP was introduced in 1935. The HP was also designed by JM browning.
Woohoo 21.04 mins of pure Gun Porn!! Hp is my all time fav handgun. It was my service/duty sidearm and later EDC with a Glock17. Outstanding weapon, only thing is a lil heavy and must be kept fairly clear. Great review/tabletop TLBS the 20 mins flew by.... just going to watch it again =] so thank you big time for sharing this take care bro.
Great video. I have always heard good things about this firearm, and have been thinking about getting one myself. this video has pretty much sold me on this gun. I'm going to go see if I can find me a Mark I. thanks
