First Shots: FN's New High Power 

When in the Australian Army in the late '80's and early '90, the High Power was my side arm and, yes, I have a romantic attachment to the original, biting and all. But this new model looks nice.

Ian has been improving significantly with shooting the spinner over time. Arch nemesis doesn't seem as big aa before

My daughter loves her old police surplus High Power. She doesn't have a problem with 'biting,' but that might be due to the size of her hands (very small). I'm glad this pistol has been rebooted.

The sternly disapproving ghost of John Moses Browning was standing in front of that target, absorbing the sound waves you'd normally be hearing.

In '81- '82 the GP was my side arm when I did my service in the Belgian army. I would love to fire this successor anytime soon. It seems very promising.

I did shot with a Novak custom High Power in the late 80s and I remember that this gunsmith improved both the beavertail (or rather the absence of it in the stock pistol) and the hammer spur to avoid hammer bite, a pleasure to shoot.

My dad carried a browning hi power from the late 70’s his pre-historic concealed carry! I love the look and quality of the brownings from that time Best regards from Idaho

I don't know if it's the combo of 60fps and so much sunlight or a new camera or what but I'm loving that I can randomly pause the video and catch a casing being ejected with no blur or anything, just crisp clean HD freshness. 9:44 dance, cameraman!

Many are calling for an optics ready tactical version. FN typically brings those out after the standard versions, so don't count that out. This gun's firing pin block is incorporated in the trigger transfer bar, and there don't seem to be any mechanisms above the firing pin and extractor, so it should be easily adapted to an optics plate system, and FN is pretty good at those.

I still can't help but think that they took the classic Hi Power and boldly and innovatively turned it into a CZ-75 with a higher bore axis, less slide rail engagement, and a SAO trigger.

The thumbnail freeze frame makes the muzzle climb look rather severe! xD

Ian's infamous hate/love relationship with the spinner is always fun !

I like how ian is just consistently confused why that one target doesnt make noise

It's definitely a very nice gun and I love the way that FN has modernized and updated the high power. However I would still like to see a version from them that was Optics ready and came with a rail. Because let's face it the 1911 an earlier Browning design, has gone through a major upgrade over the last 100 years now they come with rails double stack magazines and some are even Optics ready it just would be nice to see a version from FN

I'd like to see Ian give the Springfield copy a try and report back as to how the copy compares to the new FN.

makes a nice change getting a range video on youtube for once in a while! :D

Give FN a year and maybe they’d have multiple models with rails and optic cuts. Probably a midsize line like the 509, too.

I love the consistent focus on Ian's ear in the spinner segment. Good camera work!

I have a real appreciation for guns that aren't picky about ammo. Nice video, no BS just shooting .

Ian - you’ve gotten MUCH better at shooting pistols! Great work .

Camera operator: Goes to over the shoulder shot The camera focus: "Clearly the ear is the focal point of this shot"

When I did my military service in Argentina ,we use the FMAP licenced manufacture versionof the HP and I never experienced any malfunction.

Thank you Ian for showing me another pistol that I can add to my collection.

So back in the 70s, autos were not common for cops, I carried a Smith combat masterpiece and most of my friends carried something similar. But a friend of mine, a detective with DeKalb County, just outside of Atlanta, carried a old style High Power, so one day he pulls up on the Doraville post office, intending to mail something, and low and behold its getting robbed...four perps, well he puts out the call and proceeds to take on the perps with his high power, we guess the perps were counting the shots and after six, they rush him, bad mistake, score, four dead perps, one alive and kicking detective

In around 1986, I bought a new High Power. It was my first autoloading handgun. I shot it a LOT, (I reloaded, so there was always ammo), and really loved it. I must have had a unicorn pistol, because it had a relatively sweet trigger, and perhaps my grip wasn't quite the proper thing, because I never once suffered hammer bite. Eventually, I traded it for the newest thing, an OG Glock 17. I've never regretted a trade more in my life. Emotional attachment aside, I'd love to have the new FN pistol. It looks like a really great handgun.

I was first introduced to the original Hi-Power by the Austin (TX) Police Department's range instructor in the early 1970s. Curly carried one as his off-duty gun and swore by it. I bought my first one, brand-new, for $114.50 in 1972. I never had much trouble with hammer bite but I loved how easy the slim Hi-Power tucked in and the 13+1 capacity was a big selling point, too. I had a local gunsmith remove the magazine safety, which improved the trigger pull. I still carry a Browning but it's a BDM from the 1990s. Still tucks in nicely and has a 15+1 capacity.

Oh man. This was truly an enjoyable video. Thanks!!

I'm a 1911 fan big time carried one as a M60 gunner. The Hi Power is my absolute favorite 9mm even over the Beretta 9mm that replaced the.45 ACP

I have owned an original Belgian Hi-Power since the 1980’s. Gorgeous fit and finish, hardwood grips, no failures ever, accurate out of the box, unnoticeable recoil. My hands are barely larger than most girls’ but the gun feels like an extension of my arms. All the springs are crazy stiff and the short thumb safety won’t budge when used as intended. Last ten years my carry gun has been a Kimber 1911 which is also wreaks of quality, 100% reliable, accurate and delightful to shoot. It is easier to operate and more concealable to carry since it is thinner and shorter (4.25” barrel). I actually prefer the fatter grip on the HP for the hand filling feel and better control. What I really want is a hybrid: linkless barrel with integral feed ramp, thicker grip, higher capacity like the HP. And longer ambidextrous thumb safety, excellent straight pull trigger, bigger bore, softer springs, Series 70 like a 1911. That would be sweet especially if it is a stylish fashion accessory like the HP.

I think it’s great the hi power is getting updates and better after market products ( from places like MK3 and BHSS). FN new hi power looks good. The 1911 is still around today because it was updated over time. Exciting times if you like hi powers… old or new.

I shot the Hi-power a lot during my time in the Royal Navy, and never experienced the biting you mention. I never got picked up on the way I held the weapon, so I can only guess the instructors were happy.

Hey Ian! One of the things that I find really helpful in new product reviews is close up demonstration and description of the trigger. Seeing its reset and break would be really valuable when trying to distinguish this from say, 1911 and 2011 pistols. Thanks!

It looks like a nice improvement over the original. As for the hammer bite, I was trained in the Canadian Forces on how to shoot these and never experienced any hammer bite. Even with my own High Power, of the many shooting sessions over thirty years, I never had it bite.

The only barrier to it being a fun recreational gun is the $1200 MSRP.

They did a nice job on the redesign with my only complaint being it should have a stainless steel or metal guide rod for the spring. 😎🇦🇺

The famous “Ninja” silent target

12 years of using the HP during my British military service and I never experienced one 'biting' me. Despite the fact the average British military HP pistol seemed to have been shot to death I still loved shooting them.

Love your videos and awesome Sun hoodie, same thing I wear out here in the Utah desert

I like it, works with all ammunition straight out the box no feed issues, extraction hang ups and it don't bite, what's not to love.

I'm in the UK and the p0lice collected all my guns back in 95! At the time, I owned a beautiful Browning Kapitan with leaf rear sights, it was handsome lemme tell ya! I handloaded and shod some accurate swaged rounds for it! Had pistols not been banned here then the new FN35 (Browning) as featured in this video is a pistol I would be purchasing right now. Beautiful as ever with buttery smooth performance even with fussy steel-cased ammo! You jammy bugger oh how I envy ya! I live in the wrong country and am still pissed!

I love the Hi-Power. Have a P35 made in Occupied Belgium during late World War II, and earlier this year bought a Turkish-made Girsan MC P35 (Mark III HP clone) which is *excellent*, by the way. I picked up and handled the new FN "High Power" in a local shop a couple months ago, and it felt huge compared to the OG HP. Much closer in size and weight to my CZ Shadow 2 than Hi-Powers of old.

Thank you , Ian . 🐺

Thanks Ian great work Sir

Wow, Ian, you have gotten a lot better on the spinner!

As a fellow lefty, I guffawed at 1:03 when Ian took his new-fangled High Power, replete with ambidextrous controls, and dropped the slide with his trigger finger like it was any other right-handed gun. I don't have any ambi guns to that extent, so I know I'd do the exact same thing! A lot of folks won't like the new gun because of its substantial differences to the older versions, and to some extent I get that: when automakers release a new model of an old nameplate that has completely different engine and drivetrain configurations (like the 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 vs. the 1999 Cougar) or worse, they slap the name on a completely different type of vehicle (1976 Chrysler Aspen R/T vs 2007 Aspen), I am a bit miffed about it. I also recognize that it doesn't really matter what you call it or whether it comports with its historical relative. On the other hand: ambi controls, bigger mags and coil hammer spring are all significant, no-nonsense upgrades that can increase both reliability and make the gun more shootable for more people- particularly once there are more grip scales and mainspring housings available. In all this evolution looks no more drastic than 1911-2011, while also making more key changes to functionality.

Simple cure for Hi-Powers being HP 'picky'. Steel wool and Brasso on the feed ramp. Mine is now like glass and has no issues with HPs.

I love that gun! Nice shooting!

If they release a version in 40S&W, I'll buy one to convert to 357 Sig. I won't hold my breath. I like this new HP, but I wish the name were HP II. I am also a fan of the original HiPower. I have two, but I spent a lot on mods to cure the hammer bite. One is already converted to 357 Sig.

Me freezing in Eastern Europe, Ian sweating and shooting new Hi Power in Arizona.

The camera work in this video was very good. 👍

It reminds me of my Beretta92s for some reason. The 92s is much bigger than the M9, but I have giant hands so it fits. There's nothing in common with the new high power but for some reason they seem similar and the only thing I can come up with is that they're just fun to shoot. I can shoot for hours with my Beretta and just enjoy it. Stupid shit, like seeing how close to the bull one can get at seventy five yards. After a wile it gets easier and easier. Thing is I wasn't brought up with handguns in the house. Rifles of all calibers and shotguns, but no pistols. I started shooting at about six but It wasn't until my fourtys that I got into handguns. So pardon the pride at being able to shoot all day with an overweight pistol at longer ranges just for fun.

Thanks again Ian you’re doing a great job

I've been shooting High Powers for 30 years and I've never understood people's problems with "hammer bite." Yeah, if you choke up on it in the modern style it will bite you, so don't do that. Just let your hand fall on it following the contours of the grip (without choking up) and no bite. It's a heavy all-steel pistol in 9mm, so you don't have to worry about controlling recoil like it's a 1911 or light plastic gun. Adapt to the pistol, not the other way around.

5:21 Check out the heat mirage coming off the gun. Pretty cool.

As someone who has no experience with handguns, having only fired bolt-action rifles, I like the new High-power from what I've seen so far.

Owned a HI Power made during WWII never experienced hammer bite like I did with some 1911s.

Seems like a nice gun. I wish someone would make a slim full size all metal gun like the Bernardelli P.018/P.One of good quality.

Thanks Ian stay frosty!

I never experienced hammer bite with the Canadian Forces HiPowers, and no problems with my personal 1970‘s or 1980‘s ones either… nice old pistols

Very promising! If I didn't already have a P210A as a single action fun gun, I'd probably be looking at this right now. Perhaps sometime down the road

Wow..nice new sights you can actually see!!!

Good job Ian! FN’s new HP (P-35?) is a nice upgrade from the old days. Kind of bewilders me after just seeing the ads and videos of Wilson Combats’ new SFT 9 4 1/4” commander style single action semi auto. Hammer fired, metal framed choices abound for aficionados of these. Your paper target looked fine to me. If you were holding at 6:00 on the bull, that group was POA-POI. The factory has those sights regulated plenty good for fixed irons.

Ian!!.. another good review. I gave Glocks, 1911's, a standard very beautiful HP, a CZ 75, couple of Spanish 9 mikes including a little Firestar (what a little gem!) and i absolutely love each and every one. I am exactly the market for this new HP, I am a gun nut, dont really shoot them competitively, i simply enjoy them for what they are. I will buy one, simply on your excellent no bollox review. Was a bit depressed when i got close to the end of the unboxing vid and it became clear there was going to be no shooting, BUT YOU FIXED that!!!! AWESUM Job. I see some complaints about the camera work, ignore it.. the quality of the video is stunning and there were no flashy cuts and other video crap. AND no bloody music.. just good audio interspersed with gunshots and clangs! Good show Bud! Come visit South Africa again.. we have more to show you!...lol. Best content on the bloody internet by FAR!

Nice camera work. It feels like he's standing right next to me while shooting.

I always had gloves on when shooting hi powers well in the Canadian army so never got bit by the slide. Loved it never had a problem but I new a lot of guys who did. The guns are worn and need so much work. Hopefully they get new ones soon

The high power is the 2011 before the 2011 was invented. I have no experience with the HP but that looks like a great new version.

I think it would make a great concealed carry pistol. I carry a full size 1911 as my edc. Can't wait for it to hit the shelves of my local gun shop.

The 1911 and P35 are two firearms I’d love to own. The German P38 is another.

i REALLY want one of these.

Great video and content

I have been shooting original BHP since the mid/late 1970's when my dad got one.. I inherited that one and acquired more... I have never been "bitten" by the HiPower ever...

Best part of home range time is how the desert greens up after the rains.

With its removable back strap, would be cool to see someone make a custom shoulder stock. But it would be considered sbr though.

A recreational pistol that is and has been very affective during wartime as well

The mk1 model of the Hi-Power was my first firearm purchase in 1980, selected over the then conventional wisdom that a .45 ACP had more “stopping power” based on understanding F = 1/2 (M x V^2) actually gave the lighter but higher velocity bullet actually produced striking force with less impact. Also after learning Browning had designed it after the 1911 .45 I figured he probably had improved on that design. I added Pachmar grips and competed in ISPC practical shooting matches, thinking it a good way to get some training, only to find I was the only 9mm shooter. Back then the stages required mandatory reloads after 6 rounds so as not to disadvantage the .45 ACP and wheel-gun shooters so the extra magazine capacity wasn’t an advantage, but the lower recoil and shooting accurately allowed avoiding penalties for hitting hostage targets and helped me outscore many of more experienced and faster .45 ACP shooters. A few years ago I came across an article showing Browning’s original 1927 patent and discovered that while it had the now ubiquitous Hi-Power barrel locking mechanism it was originally designed as single stack and striker fired with the design changed to hammer fired and double stack by FN after his death. That brought a smile to my face because gun shown in the patent was very similar to the Walther PPS mk1 I had selected for concealed carry and my first thought when handling it in person was, “This is probably the pistol Browning would have designed next had he lived longer.”

now tangent sight and a wood stock holster for the lulz

The camera pivot to over the shoulder shots were so cinematic and cool.

My HI Power Mk III from back in the mid 1990's remains the most expensive hand gun I ever bought. I hate to think what this new one must cost.

I had an older Hi Power that ran 100% with ball ammo but I had a hard time finding a hollow point that it would feed. That was years ago so I hope the new ones are better about that. Another great video sir.

gotta love FN

Thanks again, Ian. Nice to see it performs as it should, especially with all types of ammo. Did the weight of the pistol dampen the recoil of the NATO ammo, or was it noticeable, when compared to other makes?

Nice to see that first ammo box to get an idea of what grains are in real money.

So nice to watch a fellow lefty do these tests.

Such a nice classic gun.

The ammo showcase/discussion this video makes me wish Ian would do a episode of various kinds of "forgotten ammo", I know that tends to go with some of the more obscure weapons but anything more detailed about actual ammo would be nice.

I've been binge-watching the mud test videos, and that must've messed with my head cause when it didn't fail on the second round I was really confused😅

Nice to see a review on a new production handgun where it functions correctly out of the box... seems like every new pistol review notes a failure in the first hundred rounds because it "doesnt like type x ammo." or that it hasn't "completed a break in period."

Just opened the box,Pistols of the Warlords. Damn, this is very nice. Was worth the wait. Just like the Gun Jesus poster. Top quality.

I guess I must have gotten lucky with my vintage Nazi Hi Powers. I have two that were made in early 1941, with the early cantilever sights, and they run perfectly. Never been bit once.

I have a 1986 model Hi-Power (purchased it new in 1987) and I've shot all kinds of ammo thru it and the only thing it REALLY didn't like was Remington "Green And Yellow Box" JHP. Liked the old Winchester Silver-Tip HPs just fine, and Federal HSTs and Hydro-Shok just fine. Just those darn Remington JHPs it didn't like. And it may just my hand, but "biting" was never really a problem for me. I sure am drooling over these new ones though.

I know that the full length guide rods on 1911s is largely a gimmick, it's interesting that the High Power never needed one and they felt like adding one. It also makes me wonder if full length guide rods were ever needed for any guns.

Having served in the Military Police, our issued sidearm was the High Power double action, designation FN HP-DA. A lot of them had jamming issues, but i believe this was largely because of their overall age and the fact that the guys who complained about them didnt bother properly maintaining their own pieces after a day at the range. Personally, i found it rather pleasant to shoot. Barely had any issues with mine, served my time well. 4/5, would recommend.

Very cool Ian 👍

Never shot a pistol, but surely to get the spinner to spin you fire when the “top” plate is going away from you so that the momentums add up? Always great videos so many thanks for hours of viewing!

I have an old 1960’s browning hi power and it’s the softest shooting pistol I own, absolutely love it!

I have big hands, and hammer bite is a recurring problem for me. The 1911 I had, Star BM and Super B, liked and likes to bite. But my HP never gave me a bite. I think it was made in the 80s.

Love to see a side by side review of this and the modified Springfield Armory version (SA35) that's been out for a little while.

Ian, Thanks for your Book.

Looks sweet!

If FN adds an optic cut to the slide and a plus 3 or 4 round mag extension I can see this being popular for competition.