First firing of the new High Power

[pmclaine]

First time I fired one of these. It felt really slim in the grip despite all the rounds it holds. Always loved the looks never had the chance to buy until recently...

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/8chUzzUl.jpg"}[/IMG2]

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/hWKkojIl.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Didnt shoot bad considering when it was made and the likely lack of motivation from the wokers in Belgium. Rear sight appeared drifted more to the shooters left...

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/h78jdJcl.jpg"}[/IMG2]

While shooting I had two issues. One was likely induced by me and the two hand grip. I was getting a lot of slide locks with rounds still in the magazine. Toward the end of my fifty rounds it was starting to run consistent.

The trigger pin is walking out to the right. Any remedies for that?

I noticed the trigger has very little reset. Is it typical that HP's dont have a distinct "feel" when the trigger is reset. Again by the end of fifty I was beginning to judge where the trigger release needs to go for reset.

Great guns, now I know why they have their following.

 

[Threadcutter308]

Mac;

Congrats, she's a beauty! I've owned three of them over the years. Love the fact that the barrel axis is lower than most, which helps with recoil. I am torn between my present H/P and my Sig 226 as my favorite. Can't really offer any advice about the trigger pin. You might contact Novak, Robar or Nighthawk Custom. Given that it's a FN/Herstal build, I personally would leave it un-molested (other than fixing any issues).

 

[pmclaine]

Thanks for the info Threadcutter,

Nice problem on your end to stress over choosing between a HP and 226 - does there really need to be only one favorite?

Regards the trigger pin Ive had it suggested I stake the right pin hole but Im more inclined to go with a new trigger pin, fingers crossed its on the high side of tolerances, before I take hammer and punch to the old war horse.

Though this could be, it will never be in the carry rotation. Perhaps some time in the woods when camping while wearing the old Hunter holster that came with it.

Its earned a retirement of sorts. I hope it spent little time with the side it was issued to but instead quickly found its way into the hands of the good guys to deal out punishment to the bad.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Nice! Is pin in backwards? I may be confusing my guns, but the trigger pin might be grooved and held in place by a spring arm. With the groove on the 'spring' side. If it's backwards, the spring does not have a groove to ride on. Remove slide, all is visible.

t was never staked. Should not need it! Worst case, drop of LocTite. Dont stake anything!

Looks so much better with 'real' grips on it. Beautiful!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[pmclaine]

Ill have to detail strip it at some point and Ill check for that spring groove. Might be one of those sabotages the Walloons were reported to have committed on these guns.

I like the wood, looks classic. Surprised how slim the double stack grip is. With a one hand hold it feels perfect. When I go to two hand hold my support hand is looking for more real estate to put the meaty area of my palm under the thumb in contact with the friction checkering of the grip.

Still the HP has the feel the Beretta M9 should have.

 

[sandwarrior]

Can you show us the "Before and After" pics of your arm as it was bent during the purchase of this new pistol? LOL Nice pick up pmc!

 

[pmclaine]

Can you show us the "Before and After" pics of your arm as it was bent during the purchase of this new pistol? LOL Nice pick up pmc!

The High Power is a pistol Ive always had interest in.

As a kid watching the old Hollywood WWII movies either a Herstal or Inglis would be wielded by some Brit accented dude that seemed to have his shit together.

I think I got it at a fair price for both the seller and I based on Gunbroker sales. I wouldn't have missed it if someone else offered more, Im still trying to catch up from a great family vacation in August.

The latest buy of the FN 1922 was a case of "If you are going to basically give it away than Ill give you enough for a good family dinner for four just because it would be stupid for you not to get something for it because you are too lazy to do what I told you and sell it on Gunbroker or any other place requiring the minimal amount of effort".

But that aside I need to stop. I need to build up some cash for opportunities that may come along I really want to jump on.

 

[J!m]

That's a sweet looking pistol Phil. Classic AND classy at the same time.

Way back before the turn of the century, when I was shopping for "my" gun, I was looking at the Hi Power, Beretta 92FS (both in 9mm) and a 1911 "race gun" in .38 super. 10mm was really new then but since then I have developed a love for the 10mm. No plans to fulfill that fantasy any time soon however.

I went with the 92FS (Italian made) and couldn't hit the barn side of a broad with it. Dad had a Sig 226 he got second-hand that he loved and made his carry weapon (He retired his Colt 357 after Colt restored it for him).

Anyway, one day, frustrated with my "groups" (which were more like a "colony") Dad handed me the 226 and my groups shrunk from ~2 feet to ~8 inches (at 25 feet). Wow. Later, Dad found an Ex-Marine who wanted an M9, that had a 226 he didn't like and we swapped. He got my hi-capacity Betetta magazines in the deal, but I was certainly happy. Still have the 226 and have no plans to sell it. I had to replace the grip screws from the Marine's complete tear down of the thing every time he fired it, and also collected several OEM 20-round magazines for it. Otherwise, I just shoot it when I can.

Back to the Hi Power, I never had the opportunity to fire one but I like the classic lines combined with a (relatively) modern pistol. Sort of a melding of the 1911 and 226 in one package in some ways.

One thing I will say about the 226, for me at least, is the grip size and angle were obviously designed especially for me. I can literally pick a target across the room with the pistol at my side, close my eyes, bring it to bear on the target, open my eyes and I will be on target. No need for night sights (or any sights for that matter). I have put thousands of rounds through it and it's still going strong. I wish I was better with it left-handed but I'll get there.

I have heard that the US made 226 suffered some quality issues, which is disturbing. But, based on that I think I'll keep mine (German made) until either it, or I, expire...

 

[Quarter Horse]

PM, that buy was an absolute winner. I'm completely on board with your observations regarding the feel of the BHP. In my case it may well be that I've had mine for half a century but it is much more comfortable to me than either my G19 or my Nighthawk 9mm Heine competition. sirhrmechanic is not confusing his guns and is absolutely correct about the trigger pin. The tail of the trigger spring that points to the rear goes under trigger pin and engages the the groove to prevent movement of the pin. On mine, the trigger pin is flat on the end and flush with the side of the frame on the left side and conical and protruding on the right side of the frame. This would dictate that the pin is to be inserted from left to right.

This is a small thing that you may have already noticed but it is much easier to load magazines to full capacity than either the Glock or the Heine. I think I'll call Cylinder and Slide about some new fire control parts. SH is a very expensive place to visit.

 

[pmclaine]

Thanks for all the helpful comments.

Quarter Horse before my next firing Ill open the gun up and look for the groove on the trigger pin. I think this is a 1943 gun so they were still building them in Herstal at that time and had not reached the point of desperation that the manufacturing process would eliminate the spring groove.

None of my nines are going to see much range time until I get a tool head and dies for my press to start running 9mm.

This gun makes me appreciate my Smith and Wesson 52-2 and 952 all the more. Both those guns are based of the Smith and Wesson Model 39 which is supposed to have been somewhat based off the German P-38 but when it came to making an ergonomic grip I think Smith and Wesson had the P-35 GP in mind. Its just a natural fit in your hand as are the other three.