ltwguns.com

I'm looking for the Perfect base gun for a Custom HiPower conversion. This will probably be my one and only True Custom pistol, so I want to get the Base gun right. I currently own a NIB 1990 MK III, but I'm not sure if this is the platform to use, as it has the F.P. safety. There is a gunshow next weekend, so I'll be on HiPower patrol. I will want to ring out the most potential possible with my selection. The "T" series and commercials seem to be the best as far as metal finish goes with their lack of machine marks and F.P. safety. The MK II's while rougher in finish have always seemed to be the most accurate in my limited experience, also no F.P. safety. Longevity will aslo be a real concern as I will shoot the snot out of it in training class's, and carry it. Your opinions will be appreciated.

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"Semper Fi"

The MK II's are my personal favorites, as they always seem to turn out as a very accurate gun and I like the look of that era's barrel "bushing". Some of the MK II's do have the firing pin safety however, as I have a MK II with a 245PPXXXXX serial number. It has the slightly better factory sights, the thin rib atop the slide, and the tiny "weep hole" in the recoil spring area below the muzzle. It also has the factory ambi safety currently used.

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

Certainly nothing wrong with the MKIII's. The cast frames will last a long, long time and the tiny spring used to reset the firing pin block doesn't add anything appreciable to the trigger pull. I'd use one without reservation.

Good sights and a good trigger go a long way toward making the gun more accurate.

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

TR

I agree with Ted. There is some talk going around about the "poor quality" of cast parts, but the MKIII frames are well done, and both the frame and slide are harder than their earlier counterparts.

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

While I'm certainly no expert, Ted and Don are! Trust their judgment and their work and you can't go wrong!
I have a MkIII that was worked over by Don (see link). And I recently sent Ted a Belgian built Browning I'm sure if it's a MkI or MkII.

Brian

http://www.louderthanwords.us/forum/viewtopic.php?t=197

While i hardly feel qualified to comment in the company of Mr Yost and Mr williams i have a MKIII by Kurt Wickmann who sadly is no longer working in the industry but for a shooter i think i have heard from lots of folks that the MKIII cast version will outlast the MKII or earlier guns and as has already been stated to FPS is a none issue and probebly an advantage in a carry gun i am very happy with my Custom MKIII.

here a pic i had it HC by Virgil Tripp as it was looking a little 'distresed'.

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"The sunshine bores the daylights outta me....."

Keith Richards

Well I guess I can't get any more qualified opinions than I have recieved today. I do believe my MK III is one of the forged frame specimens. The bottom of the grip at the magwell is smooth, not rippled. I read somewhere that the cast frames were rippled in this area.

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"Semper Fi"

MkIIIs are fine. Ted and Don can make you a wonderful custom...



This one was built for me by Ted... I had to have one after handling one in the shop. I think it's vintage 1992.

--Mark

I have had quite a few of the BHP's pass through done by Novak, Yost, Precision gun works, and Don Williams. Most have been the Belgian Port BHP's with the cast frames. Many seem to prefer the Belgian Belgian but have yet to have an issue on the cast guns and the next one due in from Ted is a cast gun. I prefer them as the front strap seems to be a little thicker and with many of the older guns one did not know who made the frame considering Browning over the past 40 or so years was made in quite a few places.

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Be safe and keep the brass flying

Terry Peters

Do your research but you get what you pay for front end or back end
http://www.pt-partners.com
@ptpartners_tx

Hello. I am certainly no gunsmith, but have fired a few rounds through Hi Powers, primarily 9mm, over the years. Despite what I've seen some others say, I have found the cast frame (yes, they are the ones with the "ripples" around the magazine well) to be quite durable with pretty significant amounts of +P ammunition over a period of years and in several Mk III pistols. That said, I've shot thousands of "warmish" handloads through some early '70's Hi Powers I own and no breakage of any kind yet. I do routinely use the 18.5-lb conventional recoil spring in all of my 9mm Hi Powers rather than the factory standard 17. I strongly suspect that if one shoots primarily standard pressure rounds with a few warmer ones, either is fine.

I like and enjoy both the forged and cast frame versions of the Hi Power, but were I going for a "shooter", I would personally opt for the cast frame version.

Best.

PS: I share the fondness for the Mk II expressed by some folks here. Sadly, I let the ones I owned slip away. Though my personal experience with them is limited to perhaps 6 or so, they have consistently been very reliable, good grouping shooters.

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Please drop by http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com

If I send my BHP to a smith that specializes in BHPs can my reset be fixed? I have to really concentrate to shoot this thing accurately after enjoying some time with my 1911s and Glock 34. Magazine disconnect has been removed and a trigger job has been done by a local smith but right now the trigger is still very frustrating to me. You'd think it could be at least as good as a Glock..... It's a BHP Practical by the way.

LittleLebowski: Either Mr. Yost or Mr. Williams should be able to help you with your BHPs trigger reset. Due to the BHPs design, it will never reset like a 1911, but either of the aforementioned gentlemen can certainly improve it. Best regards, SRT

Stephen A Camp (SAC) and I have talked about this before. His wit and my boorish opine are that MKIIs seem to shoot a little better right out of the box. I would shy away from FMs as the condition of the metal under the enamel isn't as good as the FNs. A gunsmith that can also work wonders on a BHP is Alex Hamilton. When you finish with your project look at Hakan grips as they look and feel great. Regards, Richard