Took me long enough

[Glaciers]

My Father had a Browning HP which I inherited. Beautiful pistol. I shot it a few times with my Father back in the 70’s and it was okay, but, not enough to interest me at the time. As I said earlier my love for the semi only came into reality with the Berreta. About 20 years ago I past the Browning on to my son and he loves it. I guess I will have to take it out for a spin when I’m visiting this winter. But a second 92 is what’s on the list.
And as CZ pointed out to me, but, not in so many words, that I need to take the old work horse Ruger 89 out and practice with it to be fair. I have learn something about bottom feeders, is that I need to give them a fair effort. My early experience was with Colts, started with the surplus 45’s you could buy cheap. Since then I’ve try the old 45 in different configurations, mainly a few 1911 styles. But as I said earlier, that I traded off a Kimber a couple years ago, and I am convinced it will be my last 1911. The 1911 experiences soured me on semi’s. Cannot shoot the gun. I tried. Doesn’t fit right.

 

[Glaciers]

Sounds like I need to try a CZ 75, never even held one, so there’s another possibility. You guys sure talk them up. Of course, everyone I new talked up the 1911. But trying to have a open mind.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I have had two Hi Powers. I liked but didn't love them. First was a war trophy and it was in quite sorry shape. Its bore was pretty bad and groups showed.
The second was a Browning target model in 40 s&w. That one I kinda wish I had kept.

I have liked the CZ-75 since seein and handling my first ones. Ordered one but never took possession.

CW

 

[Winelover]

Back in the late 70's or early 80's. Browning offer the HP in a Renaissance model. Was engraved nickel with pearl grips. I ordered a set of those grips for $75, IIRC.





In my knife making days. I made set of black and yellow layered micarta grips for the HP. They actually look better on the satin chrome frame. More durable and utilitarian.









The drop point folder (2nd from top) has the black and yellow micarta scales. BTW, all folders, I made, had LH nail pulls.

 

[smokeywolf]

Never owned a Hi Power or held one. Nice looking pistol.
RE: Winelover's comment, not liking to carry the 1911 "cocked & locked". I only carry that way when the holster is configured with the strap over the back of the slide, under the hammer. As a caveat to that, the snap on the strap (thumb break) has to be positioned so as to not come in contact with the thumb safety or it can inadvertently flip the thumb safety down when you snap or unsnap the thumb break.
Carried "cocked & locked" for several years when in uniform.

 

[Ian]

@Winelover, I've been opening blades with my right index fingernail so long I wouldn't know what to do with those, LOL! VERY nice work on the knives.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

The magazine safety. An answer to a problem that doesn't exist. ........

/\ Very True /\
I don’t believe there is a more concise and accurate way to state that.

Europeans seem to have a much higher attraction to magazine safeties than Americans. In fact, they sometimes even require a magazine safety. I never saw a need for a magazine safety and could even see some harm in having one.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Sounds like I need to try a CZ 75, never even held one, so there’s another possibility. You guys sure talk them up. Of course, everyone I new talked up the 1911. But trying to have a open mind.

IMO, the CZ-75 is an example of “old school” design and one of the better examples of that era. It is an all-steel pistol. This makes it a little heavy for its size by current standards, but its weight is pretty normal for its size by mid-1970’s standards. The slide rides in full length rails inside the frame, which gives excellent durability and fine accuracy. The DA/SA trigger allows for DA hammer down carry AND the safety allows for “cocked and locked” condition one if you prefer. It has a high capacity magazine but the grip is one of the best I’ve ever handled for double stack mag pistol. The CZ is finished well where it counts and most of the assembly would fit the definition of “old school”.

It is not a lightweight pistol but it’s not excessively heavy. It’s not a compact pistol but it’s not huge. They tend to be priced reasonably and they are durable pistols.

I see the CZ-75 as combining the excellent grip of the Browning Hi-Power with a high capacity magazine and a DA trigger.

I can't say it's the right pistol for everyone but it has a lot going for it.

 

[CZ93X62]

Good point made by Smokeywolf regarding the holster strap mechanics for Condition One carry. Absolute agreement, and my BHP pancake holster is a perfect fit for the CZ-75B I cart around. (Bucheimer make, IIRC. Good rig.)

Not all users get along with all pistol makes and calibers. Fact of life. I get lyrical over the Beretta 92/96 series, the Italians design and build BEAUTIFUL THINGS. The 92/96 have an elegance to them that most service sidearms lack. My last uniform sidearm was a Beretta 96, and my only slam on the design is that it is a bit large for the cartridges it is chambered in. It is no harder to conceal than a 1911-series pistol, and it fits in my Bianchi X-15 (medium) shoulder rig very well.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I have high regard for the Beretta 92 series.
Old school design and manufacture, very reliable, good shooters.

 

[L Ross]

Shot another 30 rounds through the HP last night after I got home from the forgotten outboard key fishing trip. I'm guessing that's getting close to 100 rounds since I pulled it outa the safe. No bobbles whatsoever thus far. Magma 130 grain RNFP bevel base cowboy bullet usually used by gamers in .38 specials with a mouse fart powder charge, cast of ACWW, sized to .357/.358", loaded in mixed range pick up brass with a strong bias toward W-W white box my Dad picked up cleaning a range 20 years ago. I'm running 4.2 grains of BE under them and whatever SPP I grab from a cabinet. The single grease groove has Ben's Red in it and they are very lightly tumbled in BLL.

I pushed a bronze brush through the barrel over a white piece of paper, then wrapped a patch over the brush put a little Ed's on it and pushed it through. A few, tiny little specks of glitter and that was it. Pretty darned pleased with that for the "fussy" 9 m/m.

 

[L Ross]

Shot the Hi-Power for my HR 218 qualification today. Took my cast bullet reloads. I'm not quite sure which made the bigger impression, the reloads or the pistol. I forget sometimes how old I am. The Hi-Power was universally liked for it's feel. I was sort of shocked that none of the younger deputies and officers had never seen one. It shot really well for me and I was well pleased and qualified easily.

I need to dehorn the combat rear sight the previous owner installed. I mildly tore up my left hand during stage two malfunction drills.