[Desert Dog]

I am curious about those .40 S&W Hi-Powers. Many of you have both and I would appreciate hearing what you really think about them, versus the 9mm original. I have heard some think the slide being bigger wrecks the design, but then others just rave about how much they love the round in that package. I don't wanna start a 9mm vs. .40 S&W debate here, but would simply like to know what y'all think of the BHP chambered for the round. TIA.

DD

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello, DesertDog! I owned a BHP in .40S&W. I had the following done:

Trigger job w/stop
C&S ball hammer
Novak Fixed Sights (plain blk-on-blk)
magazine disconnect removed
spegel blk checkered delrin stocks

Having been used to the feel of the 9mm HP, I could never get used to this gun's extra heft and preferred the 1911 to the .40 HP. (Strike One)

I really don't care for .40 in the first place and my particular gun was not very accurate with more than a handful of loads, the best factory load being WW 155 gr Silvertips and a handload using a 180gr CFP.
My gun was very load-dependent for getting acceptable groups. (Strike Two)

My .40HP was not reliable except with certain of the Browning factory magazines! This includes Mec-Gar 10rnd magazines! I found that out after ordering 10 of them. None worked in MY gun. (I noted that the followers in the Mec-Gar mags were very close in design to those we're all familar with in the 9mm while the Browning/Mec-Gar version's follower had kind of a skirt that came down and held the front of the follower up more.
I should note that these same "unreliable" Mec-Gars worked fine in friends' BHP forties.
The mag release did not seem to be letting the magazines hang down any more than factory and measurements taken with calipers showed no undue differences.
(Strike 3)

You are probably aware of a fellow who took a .40HP and got a BarSto for it in 9mm, three lugs and all. He really likes it as he has a
tough platform from which to fire loads of the hot stuff. I like the idea, but much, much prefer the standard size 9mm HP. I shoot quite a bit of warm/hot handloads through my BHPs and have not sheared/rounded any lugs nor cracked anything....so far, but I routinely replace the standard recoil spring with the 18.5lb conventional from Wolff and do use Buffer Technology's shock buff. This systems worked fine for me.

For me, personally, there's no contest: I will stay with the 9mm HP and prefer the MkIII version for shooting. If the caliber designation starts with a "4," I prefer the grand 1911.

Best.

 

[FBowers]

I can agree with Stephen on many accounts. The 40 has a much heavier slide. I had the 40 first and then got a 9. Big difference, the 9 almost feels petite in comparison. My pistol is very finicky with regard to load selection. Best accuracy with factory ammo is 180 win sxt. My best handloads are 6.0 3N37 and a 180 jacketed bullet. I want to try 180 speer gold dot somtime. I have had the same reliability problems also. The two factory mags run great, Mec gar 10 rounders occassionly have a weird malfunction where the slide rides over the case and the bullet jams into the top of the chamber. Can't wait to have my 9 worked over with the full treatment. Just don't completely trust the 40 for carry.

 

[Bruce]

DD, when I owned it I enjoyed my .40 BHP very much. With me, it boiled down to a caliber question, and stocking ammo in that caliber. As I owned less .40's than all the other calibers in the vault at the time, it was traded to a buddy who is a cop in Cali, who is getting it treated by Kurt Wickmann. He intends on it being his carry piece.

No complaints about it though, if I was a .40 kind of guy, it would have been a wonderful piece. Very accurate, very tame.

 

[Desert Dog]

Yeah Bruce, I know what you mean about not being a forty guy. Although it does make for nice wimp loads in my 5" S&W 610. I dunno, I resisted adding another caliber and the forty just hasn't caught on with me yet. I think the nine is probably the best choice for BHPs.

DD

 

[Matt VDW]

I don't see any mention of the stout recoil spring in the .40 HP. Is this something that lightens up with use or are you all just much stronger than I am? :wink:

I've examined .40 Hi-Powers a few times and have always been struck by the difficulty of racking the slide. I could manage it, but I wondered how well I could clear a stoppage under less than ideal conditions.

 

[Genie Williams]

My BHP 40 was my first BHP and I just love it. Of course there has been a few alterations in the trigger, duty/carry springs, grip, sear disconnect thingy and the first to go was that mag disconnect which went when the trigger was changed. To break the gun in right I quickly put 2000rds of custom ammo through it. Mine is just perfect, one hole perfect. It is my favorite baby. I do have the BHP in 9mm set up the same way but nothing compares to the 40.

As far as guns go, if I can have my 1911s I'll take my BHP 40 over anything else out there!

Genie

 

[Chad Ward]

I don't see any mention of the stout recoil spring in the .40 HP. Is this something that lightens up with use or are you all just much stronger than I am?

I've examined .40 Hi-Powers a few times and have always been struck by the difficulty of racking the slide. I could manage it, but I wondered how well I could clear a stoppage under less than ideal conditions.

Hmmm, I've never really had any problem with mine. As a matter o' fact, I replace the stock 20# spring with a Wolff 22#. It damps the recoil a little . . . and keeps my brass within walking distance.

As for the accuracy and reliability of the BHP.40, I've been about as tickled as its possible to be. Mine will shoot anything I stuff into it and never had a failure to feed, fire or extract until I broke the extractor hook at 10K+ rounds.

In the meantime, I've dressed it up with Novak night sights, a Bar Sto barrel (won it at a match), C&S wide trigger, C&S sear & sear lever, C&S extended safety. And I've had a small strip of stippling done to the backstrap to keep it from wandering when my hands are sweaty. But all of that was just to satisfy my personal lust for a tricked out pistol. It was just fine before I started tarting it up. As a matter of fact, reliability has gone *down* after installation of the Bar Sto -- took some work to get it to feed properly.

Anyway, I can't say enough good about the BHP.40. Shoots great and has worn like a cast iron skillet.

Chad

 

[Guest]

I am not a great fan of the 40 S&W but I feel my BHP is the best of the breed. Yes, the recoil spring is stout but is easilly racked with a downward push of the off hand and pull of the dominant hand. Use a strong nail or similar item to help reinsert the recoil spring after cleaning. The nail is placed in the round hole on the recoil spring retainer. Regards, Richard

 

[Hi-Tower]

In designing the .40 those wonderfull folks at FN started out with the best and made it even better. Those who belittle the .40 should at the very least be gratefull for the improved frames and slides on their later model 9mm's. These improvements are a direct result of the factory's development and testing of the .40. The 9mm is just barely adequate for defensive purpouses _IF_ you're using hot ammo. The .40 is the ultimate personal defense weapon IMO. You're not "pushing it to the limit" with with +P or +P+ ammo so it lasts longer and is more relable. If you're looking for a hot 9mm round, get a .357 SIG barrel for your .40!

Boooo to those wimps at Browning who caved in to the "Brady Bunch". JMB must be rolling over in his grave! Hooray for the folks at FN who carry on the grand tradition and are now importing the P35 into this country on their own!

 

[recondoc]

I am expecting my first forty HP in about a week or two. Thanks to all who shared there experiences. I know it's not my original posting but I appreciate the info.
(Note to Steven: So this is the other place you hang your holster.)

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello, Recondoc. Welcome. Yes, I "work" here, but frequent quite a few other sites. I really like this one and fnhipower best I believe.

Best.

 

[CQB]

I have two BHP .40's and have found the accuracy not to be very impressive
but I attribute that to the caliber and certainly not the gun. I have
discovered that the accuaracy does improve w/ the 165gr load
of most commercially available ammo.
I have converted one to a .357sig using a KKM barrel. This has proven
to be a very impressive venture with interesting dynamics with respects
to accuracy. I certainly would recommend others to go this way if they
wish to regain the accuracy as well as increasing their stopping power.