Browning Hi-Power
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The Browning Hi-Power is a semi-automatic 9 mm pistol based on ideas conceived and patented in the United States in 1922 by American firearms inventor John Browning, who felt that his earlier creation, the Colt M1911, while very good, was not too good to be improved upon. He eventually took his ideas to Belgium and the arms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale de Herstal. Browning died in 1926, before he had finished developing a production version, but the design was fully developed and realized through the efforts of Belgian arms designer Dieudonne Saive working at FN. This pistol was noted for having the first functional double-column magazine of 9 mm Parabellum rounds, capable of holding 13 cartridges, and allowing a 14th loaded in the chamber. (Modern "flush fit" magazines are now available which hold 15 cartridges, allowing a 16th to be loaded in the chamber, and magazines which extend beyond the grip can hold considerably more.)
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[edit] The Grande Puissance
The P-35 or GP-35 Models were first produced in 1935 as the Grande Puissance. [1] Browning's initial concept was for a striker-fired pistol with a single-stack magazine; consultation with Dieudonne Saive at FN apparently convinced him to revise his design to incorporate a hammer mechanism and a higher-capacity, double-stack magazine. Most of the salient features of this design were finalized before Browning's death in 1926, but economic conditions in Europe delayed its introduction.
Browning Hi-Power pistols were originally made in two models: an "Ordinary Model" with fixed sights and an "Adjustable Rear Sight Model" with tangent-type rear sight and a slotted grip for attachment of a wooden shoulder stock.
In 1962 the design was modified to replace the internal extractor with an external extractor for an incremental reliability improvement.
This pistol is often referred to as an "HP" (for "Hi-Power" [2] or "High-Power") or as a GP (for the French term, Grande Puissance). Another common nickname is the "King of Nines." [3] It is most often called the "Hi-Power"; in Belgian military and police circles, the name "GP" is the most common.
This gun, like many others of Browning's design, operates on the short-recoil principle, where the barrel and slide initially recoil together until the barrel is unlocked from the slide by a camming action. Unlike his earlier Colt M1911 (the famous Colt .45 automatic), the barrel is not moved vertically by a toggling link, but by a hardened bar which crosses the frame under the barrel and contacts a slot under the chamber (the rearmost part of the barrel). The barrel and slide recoil together for a short distance but, as the slot engages the bar, the chamber and the rear of the barrel are drawn downward and stopped. The downward movement of the barrel disengages it from the slide, which continues rearward, extracting the spent case from the chamber and ejecting it. After the slide reaches the limit of its travel, the recoil spring brings it forward again, stripping a new round from the magazine and pushing it into the chamber. This also pushes the chamber and barrel forward. The cam slot and bar move the chamber upward and the locking lugs on the barrel reengage those in the slide.
It was the first successful pistol design to utilize a double-stack magazine, meaning that the cartridges did not ride directly on top of each other, but instead were housed staggered, so that more could be fitted within the length of the pistol grip. This necessitated an increase in the width of the grip, but this is not a problem for average hands. The grip of the Hi-Power is ergonomically balanced and comfortable in most hands. Other more modern pistols like the CZ-75 and Springfield Armory XD have grip geometries influenced by the Hi-Power. The Hi-Power is also renowned for its accuracy and reliability.
The Hi-Power has two major flaws. The Hi-Power's stock trigger pull is poor, especially for a single action pistol. Although fit and finish can be blamed, the real culprit is the Hi-power's magazine safety which was initially added to the model to meet the requirements of the French Military in 1935. The standard Hi-Power magazine safety is connected directly to the trigger and is actuated by a plunger pressing on the surface of the magazine. This action of the plunger on the magazine adds grit to the trigger pull and the required force to operate this feature adds weight as well. This problem is often resolved by removing the magazine safety entirely or by polishing the interface surfaces between the safety plunger and the magazine (by those who wish to retain the feature).
It is also often cursed by big handed shooters for "biting" the shooter on the web of the hand, between the thumb and first finger. This bite can be either poking the hand with the hammer spur or pinching the hand between the hammer shank and grip tang. Many HP owners fix this problem by altering or replacing the hammer.
[edit] Military service
Browning Hi-Power pistols were used during WWII by both the Allies and the Axis powers. The M1935 pistols the Allies used were produced in Canada by John Inglis and Company. The pistols used by the Germans were designated Pistole 640(b) (for belgien). Examples produced by FN in Belgium under German occupation bear a German inspection and acceptance mark, or Waffenamt, such as WaA613. The M1935 remains popular among militaries, with over 50 armies issuing this design since its invention. It is also quite popular in covert operations. The famed British special operations regiment SAS (Special Air Service), the FBI - HRT (Hostage Rescue Team), and the WWII-era U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) are among some of the organizations that have made use of the Hi-Power. Many Iraqi officers (including generals) were relieved of their elegant, customized Hi-Powers during the invasion and occupation of Iraq. The MK1 version is currently in service with the Canadian Forces, and the weapon is the standard sidearm of the Belgian Army, British Army, Australian Army, Argentine Army, and Venezuelan Army, among others.
[edit] Example: technical description of the Mark III
A locked-breech, semi-automatic, single-action, recoil-operated pistol. The Browning Hi-Power Mk III uses a 13-round staggered magazine.
Specifications:
- Caliber: 9 mm Parabellum or .40 Smith and Wesson
- Length: 7.9 in (200 mm)
- Barrel length: 4.6 in (118 mm)
- Weight: 2 lb (930g)(unloaded); 2.3 lb (1.085 kg) (with loaded magazine)
- Capacity: 13 + 1 or 10 + 1
- Feed device: 10, 13, or 20 round box (larger capacities available)
- Modes of Fire: Single action
- Muzzle velocity: 1160 ft/s
- Safeties: Half-cock notch, manual thumb safety, firing pin block, and magazine safety
- Sights: Blade front w/ notch rear (dovetailed to slide), white high-visibility markings standard (3 vertical bars), 6.2" (159 mm) sight radius
- Trigger pull: 7.5 lb
- Maximum Effective Range: 50 m
[edit] Models
Genuine Browning Hi-Power P-35s are still manufactured by FN Herstal (imported to North America by Browning) of Belgium and Portugal, and by FM (licensed to Fabricaciones Militares) of Argentina. The successful design remains one of the most influential pistols in the history of small arms. The Hi-Power has inspired a number of clones (including Charles Daly of the Philippines & USA, and FEG of Hungary), copies (including Arcus of Bulgaria), and other firearms that borrow features from it (chiefly the linkless cam system). FEG makes both an exact clone and versions with modifications to the barrel, linkage, and slide stop which are incompatible with genuine Hi-Powers.
- The Browning L9A1, a military version of the P-35 Hi-Power, is still utilized by several branches of the UK military forces. The Hi-Power was the pistol of choice for the British Special Air Service (Special Forces), throughout the Cold War era. In Britain, the pistol is often referred to as the Browning 13-shot.
- The Mark I, Mark II, Mark III, Hi-Power Standard, Hi-Power Practical, and Capitan are among the best-known models of the P-35 developed over the last 50 years. A wide variety of options and features are available on the P-35 models. Recently, Hi-Power pistols have become available in the .40 S&W and .357 SIG loadings. However, the use of these calibers in guns designed and built for 9 mm Parabellum has created cases of broken or warped frames. Only Hi-Powers specifically built for these rounds should be used to fire them. The pistols manufactured for these two rounds are easily identified by examining the left side of the slide--a groove is machined into the side of the heavier slide to allow clearance for the slide release.
- The HP-SFS (Safe-Fast-Shooting) is a current variation on the Hi-Power Mark III with a modified firing mechanism. After loading the weapon, the hammer is pushed forward which automatically activates the safety catch. When the shooter is prepared to fire, the safety is pressed down with the thumb, releasing the hammer to spring backwards into the usual, single-action position. A similar stystem is available for modifying Colt M1911A1's. Magazines are interchangeable with the Mark III and others.
- The Detective is a short-slide HP produced by FM. The Detective slide group is also available without the frame, and is interchangeable with other FM and FN Hi-Power P-35s.
The DA & DAO Models were first produced in the 1990s by FN. The DA model is double action, and the DAO model is "double action only," both versions differing from the usual single-action operation of the P-35. These designs have been marketed under the name of HP-DA and BDA-9. The DA and DAO models retain many features of the P-35, and both are available in full-sized and compact versions. Performance of these models is consistent with FN's high standards. These models resemble the P-35, but the most distinguishing feature is the extended SIG-Sauer style trigger guard. Many parts are interchangeable with the P-35, but the magazines (although similar) are not. The compact versions also utilize shorter magazines. FN HP DA is the standard sidearm of the Finnish Army as 9.00 PIST 80-91.
The BDM Model was first produced in the late 1990s by FN. The Browning Double Mode pistol incorporates many features of the DA model, but can be switched from double action to single action by the flip of a lever. These models do not strongly resemble the classic design of the P-35, lacking its sleek lines. The performance of this model is excellent, though. Magazines are usually interchangeable among the full-sized DA, DAO, and BDM models.
- Both the DA / DAO models and the BDM model borrow features from the SIG-Sauer SIG P220 pistols marketed under the name Browning Double Action (BDA) in the 1970s. Beretta 84 has also been marketed by Browning under the name BDA 380.
[edit] Notable incidents
- Two of the four handguns used by Thomas Hamilton in the Dunblane Massacre were 9 mm Browning HP Pistols.
- A Browning HP was involved in the accidental death of Australian Private Jacob Kovco in Iraq April 2006.
- Saddam Hussein carried a Browning Hi Power.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] Manual
| British & Commonwealth small arms of World War II |
|---|
| Side-arms |
| Webley Mk IV & Mk VI Revolvers | Enfield No. 2 Mk I Revolver | Browning GP-35 Pistol | Smith & Wesson "Victory" Revolver |
| Rifles & submachine guns |
| SMLE No.1 Mk III* & Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk.I | Lee-Enfield No.5 Mk.I "Jungle Carbine" | De Lisle Commando Carbine Sten SMG | Lanchester SMG | Austen SMG | Owen Gun |
| Machine-guns & other larger weapons |
| Bren gun | Lewis Gun | Vickers MG | PIAT | Rifle, Anti-Tank, .55 in, Boys | SBML 2inch Mortar | ML 3-inch Mortar | No.2 "Lifebuoy" Flamethrower |
| Grenades |
| British grenades of WWI and WW2 |
| Weapons of the British Empire 1722-1965 |
|---|
| Pistols |
| Beaumont-Adams Revolver | Webley Revolver Mk. I-VI | Enfield No. 1 & No. 2 Revolvers | Browning Hi-Power |
| Rifles and Carbines |
| Brown Bess Musket | Baker Rifled Musket | Enfield 1853 Rifled Musket Snider-Enfield | Martini-Henry | Martini-Enfield | Lee-Enfield | L1A1 SLR Lee-Enfield No.5 Mk.I "Jungle Carbine" | De Lisle Commando Carbine |
| Submachine guns |
| Lanchester | Sten | Sterling L2 |
| Machine-guns |
| Gatling gun | Maxim gun | QF 2 pdr "Pom-Pom" | Vickers Gun | Lewis gun | Bren gun |
| Anti-Tank Weapons |
| 2 pdr Anti-Tank Gun | 6 pdr Anti-Tank Gun | PIAT | Rifle, Anti-Tank, .55 in, Boys |
| Field Guns & Misc. Weapons |
| 25 pdr Field Gun | Congreve Rocket | SBML 2-inch Mortar | Ordnance ML 3 inch Mortar | No.2 "Lifebuoy" Flamethrower |
| German-made firearms and light weapons of World War II |
|---|
| Side arms (Pistole) |
| Mauser C96 | Luger | Walther P38 | Walther PPK | Sauer 38H | Mauser HSc |
| Rifles & carbines (Gewehr & Karabiner) |
| Karabiner 98k | Gewehr 43/Karabiner 43 | StG44/MP44 | FG42 | StG45(M) |
| Submachine guns ( Maschinenpistole ) |
| Bergmann MP18 | MP38/MP40 "Schmeisser" | MP3008 "Volks MP" |
| Machine guns & other larger weapons |
| MG08 | MG34 | MG42 | Faustpatrone | Panzerfaust | Panzerschreck
Flammenwerfer 35 | Panzerbüchse 39 | Granatwerfer 36 | Granatwerfer 42 |
| Notable foreign-made infantry weapons |
| P.640(b) | Vis.35 | Vz.24/G24(t) | MG26(t) | Panzerbüchse 35(p) |
| German-made cartridges used by the Wehrmacht |
| 7.92 x 57 mm | 7.63 x 25 mm Mauser | 7.92 mm Kurz | 7.65 mm Luger | 9mm Luger |
