[Burgs]

IronLion,

Welcome to the forum!
I have HP 40s and it has become my daily carry pistol now that I don't have to contend with the agency mandated Sig 229 anymore.
For me at least, the HP 40 is the best of all 40S&W pistols.
FN/Browning recently stopped productiion of the HP 40, but they are available with some frequency on Gun Broker and Guns America.
Some of the other Hi Power forums allow Want to Buy (WTB) and Want To Sell (WTS) ads. In my experience this method usually results in an almost instantaneous response and a done deal in just a few days.

Good luck to you, and again, welcome to the forum!

 

[clarkcondor]

I used to own a 9mm HP. I gave it to my brother. I should have let him have my .38 SP101 instead!
I would love to own a .40 HP. My duty weapon is an HK P2000 .40. I've been looking for a couple of off duty carry gun and looking hard at the Browning HP again but in .40 S&W so I don't have to buy different ammo!

Welcome IronLion. I think many people have wondered about this. I did and a few years ago I bought a BHP 40 to test. Well, I actually liked the added weight and size of the slide (I have to note that this is opposite to many who report that the BHP 9mm feels better). Having started out with full size Colt 1911s at the beginning of my addictions, I was used to the extra weight and have always thought that the BHP 9mm felt a bit light in my not small hand. I then sent the BHP 40 to Novak's for sights and while there decided to have them fit a Bar-Sto 9mm conversion barrel (as suggested by Cylinder & Slide: http://www.cylinder-slide.com/bhptoday.shtml). Now I fully agree with the authors with my experience. The BHP 40 is my favorite 40 (although I have only tried 4 others) and, with the conversion barrel, is also my favorite BHP 9mm +P (among many) to shoot. :rock:

Added - Cost of ammo 9mm vs. 40S&W is a factor but then again the Hi Powers are not inexpensive compared to many others.

 

[chuntaro]

I bought the first 40 cal hi power I laid my eyes on. It was pure chance as I had been looking for one and went to a place for some shotgun reloading supplies and there she was. It was 1995 and somewhere I have the receipt. Since that time, I have picked up some more. The nice thing about the forty is they made them in fewer variations than the nine. This is an important consideration when one likes to have a fairly representative sample of variants.

 

[dinho75]

I had a brief sojourn with a Practical in 40. It was nice, but not as well balanced as the 9mm. Everybody seems to complain about the recoil spring, but I had no problems at all with it using a method that one of the members posted (putting in the spring and barrel together).

 

[JonCombatCdr]

My .40 MKIII is the only .40 pistol I've chosen to keep. The Hi-Power/.40 is an excellent match.

There are some drawbacks to the .40 Hi-Power in comparison to other contemporary guns, however.

1. The 20-lb recoil spring, out of necessity, is heavy, making it difficult to jack the slide back, especially with an uncocked hammer, and to re-assemble a field-stripped gun. Not impossible, but difficult, and necessitating an acquired skill set unnecessary with other guns.

2. The unbeveled (and for most practical purposes, un-bevelable) magazine well, along with it's square opening profile and somewhat blocky magazines, make a speed reload somewhat problematic, even with practice.

3. While the Mk III epoxy finish is quite good, and comparable to Beretta's Bruniton teflon-based finish, they've both been significantly eclipsed for some time by contempory melonite, tennifer, and/or ion-bond DLC type finishes for overall protectiveness and durability.

4. Knowledgeable forecasted lifespan figures for contemporary cast-frame Hi-Powers seem to be at the 12K-15K round range for barrels, and around 35K rounds for the platform as a whole. For many, that will be more than sufficient for a lifetime of use, but for heavy users, it's easily eclipsed by other contemporaries, such as Glocks, HKs, M&Ps, etc.

5. Durability of Hi-Powers within this range(s) of forecasted lifespan seems to be excellent. However, replacement parts (and OEM magazines) can be expensive, and factory service slow. Non-warranty gunsmithing (i.e., Novak's, Cylinder & Slide, Yost, etc. is available, but pricy, and I'm not sure how quickly their reaction time is. My bottom line is that I'd personally trust an out-of-the-box Hi-Power over a 1911, but I'd tend to choose a Glock or HK over either.

6. Almost by definition, an out-of-the-box Hi-Power will need an action job to have a decent trigger. My current FN one is an exception, but that's how I view it-a lucky exception. That, combined with

7. Extremely high pricing (even at discounted street pricing); the going price for a new Hi-Power Mk III is in the high $800 region; and the .40 varient has been discontinued since 2010, although probably still available with some searching...Such pricing puts a Hi-Power in HK territory-and I think that HKs are somewhat overpriced as well...making it hard to dispassionately justify purchasing a Hi-Power as a duty/hard use defensive pistol.

Within these caveats, I consider the .40 Hi-Power to be an excellent gun. They have excellent OEM sights as well, and are slim and easily concealed-and easy to carry concealed (but watch out for the somewhat sharp hammer spur). Mine isn't going anywhere, and occassionally gets used for both carry and competition. While I don't consider a Hi-Power to be obscelescent per se, it is hard to justify against more contemporary, less expensive, more durable, and easier to field- and detail-strip pistols, that also require significently less lubrication and maintenance, and are both more ergonomic and more weather/environmentally impervious.

And that's before factoring in the perennial potential Hi-Power irritants of hammer bite and the inherent magazine safety, and the mushy, somewhat oddly-shaped/less than ergonomic safety levers (easy to take off-safe, harder to put back on-safe)...

Best, Jon

 

[ReKlein]

Hi Powers

I have two 9mm and one 40S&W hi powers and love all three. I have yet to fall in love with a gun the first time in my hand, other than the hi power. It is exceptionally comfortable, ergonomic, and easy and accurate to shoot. I don't notice a huge difference in the weight of the two calibers but the 40 recoil is slightly greater, as would be expected. I agree the spring is harder to deal with on reassembly, but not so bad that I don't shoot it as much as the 9mm's.

You can't have too many hi powers in any caliber!! Get one soon!

 

[Jimmy123x]

The .40 BHP handles the round perfectly and I love the way it feels when shooting it. It is the only .40 caliber handgun I own, yet have 15+ pistols in .22, 9mm, .357 mag, .45 acp. I also HAD a 9mm forged frame mark III BHP, I felt my cz75 SA was a much better gun and felt better shooting that I sold the BHP 9mm. I kept the .40 caliber and like it a lot and it's recoil characteristics.

 

[Dogger]

I had a BHP in 40 and did not care for it. As others have mentioned, it has a powerful recoil spring and so takes a considerable amount of effort to rack the slide, compared to other platforms like a 1911 or 9mm BHP. When looking at the total package, I considered this to be a detriment to a gun that may be relied on for self defense by all members of the family. So I sold it, and have never missed it.

 

[Burgs]

I can understand that. The spring can be a daunting obstacle for a petite woman.
My wife shoots my HP 40s from time to time if I set them up for her, but she has her own MK III in 9mm that is easier for her to operate.

 

[1911rocks]

My turn

I own (2) 40 caliber guns. A BHP and a CZ SP-01 Tactical. I agree with all the accolades thus far regarding the 40cal BHP. The SP-01 is a bit better ergonomically, but, heavier. I compete with the SP-01 and carry the BHP. I also agree with the people who complain about the recoil spring in the 40cal BHP. I bought one of the C&S tools....WOW....brilliant!! I urge everyone with a BHP to get one, especially for their 40cal guns. It's like shoving a snake in a a tube.

http://www.cylinder-slide.com/index.php?app=ccp0&ns=prodshow&ref=CS1953

 

[remat457]

Interesting! I had not seen that tool before (actually still can't - the picture is not so good). But, I use a Wolff replacement recoil spring it is shorter with bigger coils and is much more manageable.

 

[Swelfelo]

BHP 40 Cal.

Love the gun; hate the caliber. So I put in a 357 Sig barrel and have enjoyed it ever since.

 

[Jeff A]

Love the gun; hate the caliber. So I put in a 357 Sig barrel and have enjoyed it ever since.

So what does that do for you exactly?

 

[Swelfelo]

Here's What

To Bike Effects,

I find the 357 sig has less recoil than the 40 cal. but sufficient stopping power--way more than 9mm according to the pundits. Also the bottle necked cartridge feeds better. My final point is that my experience with 40 calibers is that they are less accurate than 357 sig.

I have made these comparisons with Glocks and my BHP.

However, your mileage may vary and these are just my opinions.

 

[James&thegiant1911]

The BHP is meant to be a NATO 9mm nothing more. I have a XDM 40 cal and while it is not near as accurate as the BHP it can shoot around twice as fast. I live poly guns but like everyone in the posts before have mentioned. The BHP feels awesome and looks good in your hand. It makes you feel a lot more accurate point and aiming one. Most Browning guns are good shooters.

 

[Jeff A]

To Bike Effects,

I find the 357 sig has less recoil than the 40 cal. but sufficient stopping power--way more than 9mm according to the pundits. Also the bottle necked cartridge feeds better. My final point is that my experience with 40 calibers is that they are less accurate than 357 sig.

I have made these comparisons with Glocks and my BHP.

However, your mileage may vary and these are just my opinions.

Thanks for the input. I have a M&P Pro 40 and it would be easy to get a .357 barrel, but I'm afraid that handloading for the .357 Sig would be more complicated for me than using a straight walled case.

 

[chuntaro]

The BHP is meant to be a NATO 9mm nothing more. I have a XDM 40 cal and while it is not near as accurate as the BHP it can shoot around twice as fast. I live poly guns but like everyone in the posts before have mentioned. The BHP feels awesome and looks good in your hand. It makes you feel a lot more accurate point and aiming one. Most Browning guns are good shooters.

Well, when the Browning Hi Power came into this world as a 9mm platform, an organization called NATO did not exist yet. When NATO was created, a caliber called .40 Smith & Wesson did not exist yet.

Springfield plastic fantastic? Do they have a forum for that somewhere?

 

[James&thegiant1911]

Well, when the Browning Hi Power came into this world as a 9mm platform, an organization called NATO did not exist yet. When NATO was created, a caliber called .40 Smith & Wesson did not exist yet.

Springfield plastic fantastic? Do they have a forum for that somewhere?

they make stainless XDMs FYI

your real cute, go play with your BHP with the safety off.

 

[chuntaro]

they make stainless XDMs FYI

your real cute, go play with your BHP with the safety off.

I just thought I would preserve this insight.

 

[Jäger1]

your real cute, go play with your BHP with the safety off.

Hmmmm...

Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 110

Who is this guy?

Anyways... I've been shooting HPs since the mid 70's and it was my issue sidearm for a looonnggg time. In 9mm.

When I first picked up a .40, it felt like a brick compared to the 9mm. Or perhaps more accurate, sabre versus epee. To shorten a long story, after a few weeks of shooting the .40, it became my choice between the two. I have decided I like the heft and hang of the .40, which perhaps has something to do with decades of shooting PPC revolvers.

Who knows if the HP will feel "right" for you. It either will or won't. It certainly feels right for me, but for many years I didn't have any choice so perhaps that is just ingrained habit. I think I could probably be just as happy with a S&W M&P, but... who knows.

Much as I like HPs, don't pick one just because it has some sort of historical cachet to it. It either feels right in the hands or it does not. If it doesn't, try something else. My wife wanted an HP for her carry gun, but for whatever reason just didn't handle it well. The short story is I finally talked her into trying a revolver; now she carries a S&W J frame snubby, and she's been a happy camper ever since.