The End Of The BHP

July 11, 2017, 06:28 AM

mcs1564

The End Of The BHP

quote:
Originally posted by esdunbar:
I have been toying with the idea of getting one of the Nighthawk BHP's, buyt they still have the crappy safety, extractor and slide release. I also think the beaver tail of the NH version is too long/big.

For the cost of a Nighthawk, I think you'd be better served finding a nice used one and sending it to a Yost, Garthwaite, Williams, etc. and have it done exactly the way you want.

quote:
Originally posted by dewhorse:
Funny, I just got my MKII back from The Action Works yesterday.

I just spoke to Don yesterday and my MKIII is close to being finished. Got another waiting to go out to him, once I receive my .30 Luger barrel from Bar-Sto.

Got any pics??

July 11, 2017, 07:19 AM

fritz

quote:
Originally posted by bcphoenix:
I had a BHP for a while and it was ... meh. Expensive, lousy trigger, mag disconnect, hammer bite.

I sold it...and haven't looked back.

Exactly. BHP has been long in the tooth for many years. Time moves forward, but the BHP hasn't.

July 11, 2017, 11:58 AM

Sunset_Va

quote:
Originally posted by fritz:
quote:
Originally posted by bcphoenix:
I had a BHP for a while and it was ... meh. Expensive, lousy trigger, mag disconnect, hammer bite.

I sold it...and haven't looked back.

Exactly. BHP has been long in the tooth for many years. Time moves forward, but the BHP hasn't.

And if you mention upgrades , as I have in the past, you will get lambasted by diehard old timey Hi Power fans.

July 11, 2017, 12:35 PM

parabellum

If you don't appreciate the High Power, there are plenty of us who do. "Meh"? About the FN Hgh Power? Too funny, your Royal Highness. The fact that it survives to this day as a viable defensive handgun is a testament to one of the finest pistols ever designed.

Oh, crappy this, outdated that harumph harumph. Sure, you bet. Let me go grab a Leica rangefinder so you can tell us what's wrong with the design.

July 11, 2017, 01:45 PM

Nuclear

Almost nothing points better than a 9mm BHP.

Is it ideal from the factory? No. My ideal BHP would be an alloy framed (yes, they made them) MKII so I wouldn't have to deal with the drop safety, with the mag disconnect removed, the slide to frame fit as tight as possible with the trigger, sear & hammer components polished. I'd replace the safety with one of the better aftermarket ones, and put a fiber optic/tritium front sight on it. And just for shits and grins, I'd have the "thumbprint" milled into the slide, just because it looks cool. A pair of Spegel grips to top it all off.

Hmm, looks like I now have a new project for my next gun.

July 11, 2017, 01:58 PM

bb405

This may be a little convoluted but bear with me. On a recent road trip passing through Ponca City, OK I was looking for a Bar B Que joint located on highway 177 only to find the location is now occupied by Cowboy Gun and Pawn. Stopped in to ask about Danny Heads old place. Long story short, these guys are producing some custom Brownings that are worth looking at. Priced out of my comfort zone as a confirmed Sigaholic,these pistols are still impressive.
Point being,the BHP is not dead, at least not in Oklahoma.

July 11, 2017, 09:15 PM

mdj

It's my favorite 9mm. They always need a little trigger work, but I can't imagine finding fault with this classic.

July 11, 2017, 10:10 PM

kaschi

One of my favorite 9mm pistols and I'm glad I have a few to play with! Sad to hear production has ceased. As has been mentioned, the HP has been "discontinued" before so maybe the announcement has been made again to boost sales? Who knows. I always wished the original Belgian High Power had been made in a shortened version (like the one from Argentina), as well as an all stainless steel model.

July 11, 2017, 10:28 PM

parabellum

July 11, 2017, 11:37 PM

BB61

quote:
Originally posted by parabellum:

Add your P7 Boss and you've got a grand slam.
The HP and the Ruger MkII are two of the most comfortable pointing guns I've shot.

July 12, 2017, 07:00 AM

Fire Away

quote:
Originally posted by parabellum:

That photo makes me want to order a Hi Power. What model is it? I don't know much about them.

July 12, 2017, 12:11 PM

parabellum

It's a 245 Sport Model, produced in 1990, the last of the forged frames. I've owned this pistol since 1994 and its performance has been flawless.

A true disadvantage of the FN High Power is its inability to handle +P loads. It used to be that if you wanted to get real performance out of the 9x19mm, you needed to make the bullets go as fast as possible, and if you fed a High Power a steady diet of +P, you'd roll the locking lugs, or do worse. However, these days, 9mm hollowpoints have been developed to the point of giving superb performance at standard velocities. If I were to keep a High Power at the ready, I'd load it with Federal HST 124 grain standard velocity ammunition and I wouldn't give a thought to being undergunned.

July 12, 2017, 07:04 PM

jjkroll32

That is a beautiful Photo Boss!

July 12, 2017, 09:46 PM

jimmy123x

quote:
Originally posted by parabellum:
It's a 245 Sport Model, produced in 1990, the last of the forged frames. I've owned this pistol since 1994 and its performance has been flawless.

A true disadvantage of the FN High Power is its inability to handle +P loads. It used to be that if you wanted to get real performance out of the 9x19mm, you needed to make the bullets go as fast as possible, and if you fed a High Power a steady diet of +P, you'd roll the locking lugs, or do worse. However, these days, 9mm hollowpoints have been developed to the point of giving superb performance at standard velocities. If I were to keep a High Power at the ready, I'd load it with Federal HST 124 grain standard velocity ammunition and I wouldn't give a thought to being undergunned.

A .40 caliber Hipower with a 9mm conversion barrel should handle +p loads all day long. If If I remember correctly aside from the stronger cast frame the .40s have (and most Mark III's), the .40's slide is a touch thicker and the barrel has 3 locking lugs instead of 2 with the 9mm.

July 12, 2017, 10:19 PM

P320Mac

As most know, HP was made in several places over a long time period. Have one made in Canada and most interesting is one brand new made in India on what almost certainly is the Canadian machinery. Apparently, India needed dollars and sold what I think was about 500 of their HP service pistol in US. Mind, the outside of the Indian is rough, markings are engraved (I think) and the sights are a fixed part of slide. However, it is an HP.

HP points well, but the new M&P M2.0 is a better pointer, and cost less.

July 12, 2017, 10:38 PM

Sunset_Va

We do know Mr.Camp took the Hi Power to the next level, and enlightened us to Hi Power lore.

July 13, 2017, 06:52 AM

mcs1564

quote:
Originally posted by jimmy123x:
A .40 caliber Hipower with a 9mm conversion barrel should handle +p loads all day long. If If I remember correctly aside from the stronger cast frame the .40s have (and most Mark III's), the .40's slide is a touch thicker and the barrel has 3 locking lugs instead of 2 with the 9mm.

This is the way to go. I'm having a .40 to 9mm conversion barrel fitted amongst other mods on the HP I currently have at The Action Works.

While I don't usually run +p, but, it's nice to know that it'll be able to handle it without issue.

July 13, 2017, 06:26 PM

mew

I love the BHP!!

July 13, 2017, 08:20 PM

honestlou

quote:
Originally posted by mew:
I love the BHP!!

Can you please tell me about that pistol? I saw one for sale locally that looked like that, although I didn't see it in person. I thought it was beautiful, but I missed it by a day. It was described as nickel, and it had the gold trigger. I'm a newbie to Hi Powers, but when I try to search for a nickel Hi Power all I find are the silver chrome guns that look like an aluminum color to me.

July 14, 2017, 11:01 AM

mew

don't know that much Lou I traded my brother for it about 25 years ago, it isn't the silver one's you reference I know exactly what you mean, but more like a nickel plate. whatever the finish is it holds up beautiful and is a tack driver. 1980 vintage PM date.