The One True Sword
In the comments on a previous post DirtCrashr asked,
“I’ve heard things about Hi-Powers being a favorite of custom ’smiths because they need certain things done to them - what would that be?”
The only thing that current-production Hi-Powers really need is a trigger job. HP triggers are usually heavy and gritty out-of-the box. It’s partly due to the unconventional trigger linkage and partly due to the magazine disconnect, which introduces extra friction to the mix. Removing the mag disconnect makes a big difference, and a good gunsmith can work miracles and get an almost-1911-quality pull. The trigger reset will still be longer than on a 1911, but that can be said of just about every handgun on earth.
Older guns could use a little more help; they came with tiny sights and a small, mushy thumb safety. The humped feed ramps on earlier barrels also had problems with hollowpoint ammo. None of this applies to today’s models, which have high-profile dovetailed sights, extended ambi thumb safeties and throated barrels.
Personally, I bought my Hi-Power during the big CDNN blowout last year and like it so much that I’ve practically retired my Glocks and 1911s. Try one, you’ll like it!
The Hi-Power is a thing of almost beauty but for an awful trigger and the Europellet chambering. Nothing NOTHING good about the poodleshooter cartridge; it is about as effective as the .38spl and nobody cares about that thing except as practice for .357.
I have not experienced the new version so I will give one a tryout and see how it compares. Thanks for the post.
Dan Patterson
Arrogant Infidel
Comment by Dan Patterson — October 23, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Thanks for those insights! I’d heard about the magazine thing - that’s so it won’t fire if the mag is out, right? Wasn’t thinking of the relationships with trigger etc. - but it’s a DA so I should have.
Saw a nice, new, shiny one in .40 S&W down at a shop…. Keeping my eyes open!
Comment by DirtCrashr — October 23, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
Dan -
You can get ‘em in .40 S&W too, you know
DirtCrashr -
Yep, the magazine disconnect keeps the gun from firing with the magazine removed. It works via a spring-loaded plunger on the back of the trigger that gets depressed by the magazine. The plunger slides along the front of the magazine as the trigger is pulled, which is where the added weight and grittiness come from.
And the HP is not actually a DA design, though it looks like one. Cocked and locked SA, just like a 1911.
Comment by TD — October 23, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
DirtCrashr:
Be careful! that’s a different gun you’re looking at!
It’s got a lot of BHP lineage, but if it’s Double Action, it’s the new “BDA” - not a BHP!
I bought mine from someone who’d tried to smith some stuff, messed it up.
It needs a little work, out of the box, after you yank the mag disconnect (Otherwise you have to insert a mag to drop the hammer).
Cylinder and Slide make some very nice aftermarket sears/hammers. Most who try my BHP remark it’s got the best trigger of any BHP they’ve tried - it’s really not that far behind my 1911. (Wilson Combat guts in it.). The gunsmith I took mine to (needed help with getting a pin out.. Didn’t know how to hold my mouth to plink it out) has also welded up beavertails for them - even with that hammer, I get a little pinch from time to time - nothing bad, and nothing like what the stock hammer did to me.
The thing that sold me on the BHP is how accurately I shoot it naturally. Sure, I need more practice, who doesn’t - but I can easily put a magazine into a IDPA target head area at 25 - something I’m hard pressed to do with my 1911, and can’t do with my Glock 30 reliably. They’re very accurate.
Comment by Unix-Jedi — October 23, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
*sigh* Sorry, I really, really, really need preview. I think I forgot a ” on the end of that link.
Comment by Unix-Jedi — October 23, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
Jedi - Oh no I just assumed wrongly, having no experience with ‘em, that the Hi-Power was a DA/SA because of the style of trigger. Oops! My 1911A1 is a stock ‘44 model with no beavertail or nothing (with the tiny sights), but doesn’t seem to nick me - of course Smallest-Minority Kevin at the GRB had to show me how to properly hold it and ride my thumb on the safety lever…which I thought was a weird thing to do, but WTFDIK?
Comment by DirtCrashr — October 23, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
Smallest-Minority Kevin at the GRB had to show me how to properly hold it and ride my thumb on the safety lever…which I thought was a weird thing to do, but WTFDIK?
That’s a relatively recent technique that (I think) was developed in IPSC competition.
I never have gotten used to that style of grip; it just doesn’t work with my hands. I don’t have enough flesh on my palms to reliably depress the grip safety if my thumb is high.
Comment by TD — October 23, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
I don’t like the whole high thumb grip. I just have way more respect for the demon Murphy than some.
Comment by Gregg — October 23, 2007 @ 8:54 pm
Want the High Power of teh s3XXy?
Call Shannon or Bob @ CCA. Really. Ask TD if you don’t believe me…
Comment by Tam — October 24, 2007 @ 1:31 am
Ask TD if you don’t believe me…
Tam speaks the truth. The demo Hi-Power at CCA is drool-worthy. Which reminds me, I emailed Tony for a quote and he never got back to me. Maybe I’ll call ColtCCO tomorrow afternoon and get the ball rolling on my HP project…
Comment by TD — October 24, 2007 @ 1:42 am
Unfortunately the CCA’s site is down - I like pictures. I invoiced the guy I’ve been working for since June, so I’ll be getting some gunmoney soon.
Comment by DirtCrashr — October 24, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
You can see that custom Hi-Power here.
Looks only tell part of the story, though. The trigger on that thing is about 3 lbs and CRISP! I was absolutely amazed.
Comment by TD — October 24, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
Well that DOES look pretty swell! I just got back from handling an Ed Brown Kobra-Karry (what-ev) and it was nice but sheesh, the bills stack way-up and I don’t have a CCW anyhow.
Comment by DirtCrashr — October 24, 2007 @ 7:23 pm