I don't think that the barrel lugs on the Hi-Power will handle the Super .38. Bill at Cylinder & Slide warned me against shooting +P 9MM in my mine. He said that it would "roll" the edges of the lugs.

 

I don't think the mag well in a HP would be long enough to accommodate factory .38 Super, which is about as long as .45 ACP. Most guns that shoot .38S are on 'large' frames that also shoot .45.

Larry

 

I think. The bigger issue would be cartridge length. The Hi Power was designed around the 9x19. I'd be checking if a .38 super would fit in the mag before I got too excited.

 

Hi,
I prefer 9MM, but...

I think the BHP comes in .40 S&W?

 

Hi,
I prefer 9MM, but...

I think the BHP comes in .40 S&W?

Indeed, it did.

Cheers,

Tim

 

Yeah, the frame can't accommodate a ~1.25" OAL round like .38 Super or 10mm.

 

356 tsw would be able to fit and is very similar to super and 357 sig ballistics


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The 9mm HP couldn't handle the pressure, and .40 version might not, either. 356TSW runs at 50k psi, almost 40% higher than 9 or .40.

 

The 9mm HP couldn't handle the pressure, and .40 version might not, either.

Isn't that why they changed to cast frames [to avoid rail warpage] and thickened the slide, plus added the third locking lug?

Or, are you saying that these changes still led to problems?


BTW- I don't know how many of you are aware of the .41AE round. Original .410 loads of around 170 gr at about 1230fps. 185gr around 1180fps.
Current reloads are generally weaker- around 900 fps.

I mention this as there were .41AE conversion kits for the 9mm Hi Power. I know because I have one of those barrels rattling around.

However, the load- even though it was originally pushing same/more power than .40S&W- was paired with a 2 lug barrel/slide, and the original forged frames.

Today, .41AE is a definite odd ball. I don't think I'd ever shoot full power .41AE ammo- if I could get brass.


My only remaining 9mm Hi Power is a '58 FN GP35 made for Austria.
My others are both .40S&W Hi Powers.

 

I'm saying I've seen warnings against using +P in 9mm guns, and 356TSW runs at 40% higher pressure than .40, so wondering if even those guns could handle it? I know there's a correlation between case head/breechface size and pressure, so maybe a .40 HP that's safe with 35k psi loads, would be safe with a smaller, though much higher pressure, round.

 

Ahh- Got it! I thought you were questioning if a .40S&W High Power would last, running .40. I misunderstood.

Thanks for clarifying!

I was wondering if you were on to something, as my first .40S&W High Power actually had a cracked slide, in the breechface. I bought it used and didn't see this. It was VERY small, but there. It was a range gun- don't know how/why the upper corner of breech face would crack as it met the surrounding metal. Doesn't seem like a recoil spring only thing, but I found a replacement slide and keep my springs fresh.

The pressure to me would be very similar to a 357 sig conversion barrel added to a 40. Correctly fitted and sprung I don’t see an issue from where I sit. But I could be wayyyyy off base here
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I don't have a clue about this, but do know people who have run the .357sig in the .40 without problem. However, I don't know how much .357Sig they shoot. 100 rounds a year? 100 rounds a week? I have no clue.

Remember that the recoil spring being stiffer will also contribute to the slide pounding the barrel/locking pin/frame where locking pin fits upon going into battery, due to the increased spring weight. And, the stiffer the recoil spring, the more slide 'snap' forward also means I am not as comfortable with as light of a setting on the sear spring, for fear of sear bounce.

Thus, we have to walk that narrow line between just stiff enough to protect from one damage and not enough to cause another damage.

 

The pressure to me would be very similar to a 357 sig conversion barrel added to a 40. Correctly fitted and sprung I don’t see an issue from where I sit. But I could be wayyyyy off base here


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I believe the 41AE was lower pressure than 40 S&W. I am not sure anyone could get enough ammunition to test longevity.

 

Interesting theories from people who seem to ignore all the posts that pointed out correctly that the .38 Super round is too long to fit in the Magazine well of a BHP.
That’s the reason you can’t find one. It won’t work.


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I don’t think we are ignoring it at all only giving alternative ideas to get similar ballistics from the platform.


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I know, an old thread -- but a valuable topic of eking more from the 1935 wonder pistol.

I think the 960 Rowland will fit the bill as far as energy (if they can covert an HP threaded barrel ... I have to give them a call)

https://460rowland.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/960-ROWLAND-LOAD-DATA-PDF-2.pdf

 

I know, an old thread -- but a valuable topic of eking more from the 1935 wonder pistol.

The experimenter at the 460 Rowland link you provided got 147 grain bullet up to around around 1050 fps with that cartridge. A plain old vanilla Federal HST standard pressure 147gr. service loading is advertised at 1000 fps.

Experimenting with reloading and/or new and different things is fun.

Speaking only for myself, I'm not sure whether I would consider a 5% increase in muzzle velocity in exchange for an unspecified increase in the operating pressures of the new cartridge to be "eking more" out of a 9mm pistol with the same bullet weight.

 

 

I think the Hi Power is covered very well with Underwood Leighi Defense 68 grain +p, it shoots the same point of impact as 115 grain ball ammo. So you can practice to your hearts content. Then put your defense ammo in and get on with life.

If your Hi Power is a 40S&W, convert it to .357sig or 9mm and you will be covered . For my 40;s that will be converted they both have longer barrels in them so in 9mm with the Leighi Defense it should get about 1950fps and in .357 sig 2250 fps. I am not going to lose sleep over the difference between the 2 .

If I go to a State of tyranny that has a 10 round limit, I will carry a .357sig Hi Power, in a free state the 9mm with regular mags.

 

If I simply wasn't happy with what a BHP in 9mm delivered for defense, I'd start carrying my Dan Wesson CBOB in 10mm.

Very close in overall size, pretty much the same length barrels, feels extremely close to being the same when gripped in the hand, and everything from 135 grain speedsters to 220 grain WFN lead or jacketed hunting bullets.

Those who feel slighted by the BHP trigger pull or magazine safety would already be ahead for those reasons alone, never mind significantly more power.

 

I love the BHP and my 1911's, but I just can't agree ANY 1911 (bobtail, round-butt, whatever) will ever feel remotely like a BHP. The BHP is the shape guns should be, minus the wonky safety and that damned slide bite.

Larry

 

What I was shooting in three gun pistol competition in the Navy back in the 1970s our weapons were a 1911 and 45 caliber, a Browning high power in 38 super, and a high standard 22 caliber pistol

 

You must have had the only one in captivity.