[Desert-rat]

I own several Hi Powers, including Browning and FN branded pistols in 9mm and .40, as well as an FEG, an Argentinean produced during the FN license era, and a stainless Tisas BR9. As a precaution I installed the BH Springs reliability kit, as well as an SFS system (as an experiment, turns out I really liked it).

My experience with the Tisas has been 100% positive. For me it's by far the most accurate of my Hi Powers. Stainless means no worries about rust carrying it in hot and humid Texas summers.

My personal view is that you should own several, but I'd unreservedly recommend the BR9 if you want a well made, attractive, highly functional hi power you can shoot as much as you like without feeling like you're damaging the cultural heritage of the world by putting wear on a collectible. And for the price you can buy 2 brand new ones for about what a used original will set you back.

Just my $.02, but I think the Tisas is completely legit.

EDIT: it's not really noticeable to the eye, but the grip dimensions are ever so slightly larger. Pachmyer grips from a stock FN built Browning HP do not fit, too small. Regular grip panels fit perfectly. For me, it's even more comfortable and natural than the original.

 

[Johnny handgun]

Update: Nothing wrong with BHP, & I do intend to have one - IF the price is right. At present time they are high. There is unique one I want, but can't afford. Being retired & needing upkeep myself - I must satisfy myself with what I already have to enjoy.
I do not put a heavy round count through anything I own - Ammo is expensive.
So I did not go through my Tisas HP & ad new FN or upgraded parts. Partially due to cost, & that I prefer the old style small safety, slide lock, & hammer. So far MY TISAS has performed flawlessly - so I'll wait & see before I replace anything.
MAYBE - Some day I'll find that Grail HP.

Exactly what I would have written about my situation. Even buying the Tisas is something I not only don’t need but I shouldn’t spend the money. I’m going to have to go that route and leave it stock. I will be lucky if it ever sees 500 rounds but I will still feel blessed to own it.

 

[gnappi]

I own several Hi Powers, including Browning and FN branded pistols in 9mm and .40, as well as an FEG, an Argentinean produced during the FN license era, and a stainless Tisas BR9. As a precaution I installed the BH Springs reliability kit, as well as an SFS system (as an experiment, turns out I really liked it).

My experience with the Tisas has been 100% positive. For me it's by far the most accurate of my Hi Powers. Stainless means no worries about rust carrying it in hot and humid Texas summers.

My personal view is that you should own several, but I'd unreservedly recommend the BR9 if you want a well made, attractive, highly functional hi power you can shoot as much as you like without feeling like you're damaging the cultural heritage of the world by putting wear on a collectible. And for the price you can buy 2 brand new ones for about what a used original will set you back.

Just my $.02, but I think the Tisas is completely legit.

EDIT: it's not really noticeable to the eye, but the grip dimensions are ever so slightly larger. Pachmyer grips from a stock FN built Browning HP do not fit, too small. Regular grip panels fit perfectly. For me, it's even more comfortable and natural than the original.

Great to hear. I have heard mostly good things about the Tisas, and have one on order. It will arrive in a few days. I plan on lubing it and shooting it quite a bit on day one. More to come.

 

[TNorris]

Great to hear. I have heard mostly good things about the Tisas, and have one on order. It will arrive in a few days. I plan on lubing it and shooting it quite a bit on day one. More to come.

I agree with Desert-rat. I love my stainless Tisas BR9.

When the extractor broke at round 361, I just happened to have a spare one at home. I was back at the range the next morning and have not had another problem. The round count is only 1200.

As my BHP collection has grown, so has my collection of spare parts and springs.

Enjoy your new pistol!

 

[gnappi]

I agree with Desert-rat. I love my stainless Tisas BR9.

When the extractor broke at round 361, I just happened to have a spare one at home. I was back at the range the next morning and have not had another problem. The round count is only 1200.

As my BHP collection has grown, so has my collection of spare parts and springs.

Enjoy your new pistol!

I've read of extractor problems a couple of years ago but also read that the importer was getting some changes made to it, I'm guessing yours is newer than a year old or so and the issue was not addressed. I'm going to a few gun shows after the first of the year, and I'll pick up a spare extractor.

One thing a gun maker cannot afford is bad press on a critical gun part failing.

Anyway, I have a mid 90's assembled in Portugal HP that's tight as a clock so I have something to compare it with. Ill see!

 

[TNorris]

Mine is #193 and purchased in mid April, 2018. I think it’s one of the early ones.

 

[voodooranger]

Is the hammer bite not as bad on the tisas? I read that somewhere


Also compare trigger to decent 1911?

 

[TNorris]

If your grip is high, you will still experience some hammer bite. With SFS I have never experienced hammer bite.

I’ve found that I shoot my High Powers better with a lower grip that keeps my hand away from the hammer, even with SFS.

 

[PsychoSword]

Is the hammer bite not as bad on the tisas? I read that somewhere


Also compare trigger to decent 1911?

It might be because they use the BHP Practical style ring hammer. Which is also my personal preference. But I never had hammerbite with the spur hammer on any BHP either. Only gun I ever got hammerbite with was a WWI style Colt Sistema with the blade style spur hammer.

 

[gnappi]

Well, my Tisas arrived today, and I can see why so many shooters are impressed with it. Without being able to shoot it till tomorrow I can say these things about it.

Of all the SS pistols I've had from Colt, S&W, Beretta and SIG, this one takes a back seat to none in exterior and interior finish, and the slide to frame fit is excellent. The interior (not that it really matters) is actually better finished than my HP assembled in Portugal. The exterior of the barrel is finished /polished very nicely, much like a custom barrel would look for nearly the price of the whole Tisas.

It's not reported anywhere that I've seen, but the barrel is high carbon stainless. A magnet sticks to it but instant gun blue does not stain it.

The safety is really difficult to engage / disengage, but I already have an ambi to replace it with which will go in after the first day at the range with it and my hi power. I also have a chrome extended slide stop / release for it.

I know there are many who feel these add on parts are not needed, but my hands are on the small side and they make the Hi power more modern to be more usable for me.

The trigger is not light my gauge tops out at 5.5 lbs and it's beyond that but it breaks clean without crunchiness.

Finally, the grips are best described as functional pallet wood. I have a pair of rosewood grips which are already on it.

More after I run it through its paces.

PS, it does not have a rail! yay!

 

[jc2721]

My LGS had a used BR9SS for $400. It had lok-grips and an RDIH extended slide stop added so I bought it. Today I shot about 100 rounds through it, mostly Federal 115 ball and some Blazer Brass 124s.

The first 10 rounds had me thinking this pistol was a winner. Then the ftes started happening. An empty would stay chambered and the slide would jam trying to feed the next round.

Once I locked the slide back and pulled the mag, the empty could be plucked out easily with a fingernail. Towards the end of my 100 round session the ftes were averaging 1 out of every 6 or 7 rounds.

When I got home I took it apart and installed a Browning OEM extractor. I tried to fit a Wolff extra power extractor spring but it was too long and of a slightly smaller diameter than the original, so I reused the original spring. I could not fit a Browning OEM extractor pin either--it was too tight and I didnt want to risk marring the slide.

The rear part of the Browning extractor is slightly shorter than the Tisas and you can see the spring under the extractor. The Browning extractor will not hold a live cartridge against the breechface, there's no tension at all. There doesn't appear to be any battering against the barrel. The OEM Tisas extractor did hold a cartridge against the breechface.

Dummy rounds will feed properly but ejection seems weak. We'll see what happens during the next range session.

So, to answer the OP's question--I would definitely recommend buying a Browning over the Tisas. We have a mandatory 2 week waiting period here, so soon after I bought the Tisas I ordered recoil springs, a new sear spring, the extractor, pins and springs, plus an extra power firing pin spring, knowing that some parts may need replacing.

I have a Mk. III and a shoulder stocked Inglis, neither have given me any problems over the years. I'll probably end up dumping the Tisas if the new extractor doesn't fix the ftes. I don't think I'll buy another Tisas. I'll gladly buy another Browning if the price is right (who wouldn't?).

 

[jc2721]

I've had a Hi-Power of some sort for most of the past 40 years or so. I recently bought a used SS Tisas and during the mandatory 2 week waiting period I bought spare springs, pins and a Browning extractor.

Sure enough, on the first time out the gun started FTE about once every 5 rounds. Took it home, replaced the extractor and removed the mag safety (had nothing to do with the FTEs but I wanted it out anyway).

Next time at the range FTEs were down to 1 every 15-20 rounds. Turns out that the Tisas extractor slot is a tight fit to the Browning extractor (C&S sells a narrower replacement, I found out later). The Lok grips that came with the gun kept pivoting around the grip screw, even with blue tape shims so I gave up on it and sold it to a friend who wanted it even though I told him about the problems.

So, to get to the point--I would recommend shopping around for a genuine Browning at whatever price point you are comfortable with. You may get lucky with a Tisas, but I've never had any problems with Brownings. Besides, I like Spegel grips and I can't see butchering up a set to put on an unreliable (for me) Tisas.

My .02 and worth every penny

 

[JimCunn]

My Tisas has the same small safety as my T-series Browning. No complaints.
I have Altamont thin Rosewood grips on both. Fit is OK on both , but Tisas grip frame is slightly larger fore to aft.

 

[Donjfred]

Jc2721:

You bought a bargain but some parts are not interchangeable. Send a copy of your post to Mark at BHSpringSolutions.com and he will solve your problem in one reply.

 

[JimCunn]

C&S can resolve it too. Tisas uses a different extractor, larger sear pin, and is higher quality than my T-series.

 

[slav]

C&S can resolve it too. Tisas uses a different extractor, larger sear pin, and is higher quality than my T-series.

Just let me be sure I understand that correctly - do you think that the Tisas is higher quality than T-series in general or than the particular T-Series you have?
Not trying to be a smart-ass here, my question is serious and I'd like to understand how exactly and in which areas is the Tisas' quality better?

Sent from my OnePlus 7T

 

[JimCunn]

My T had less than a box of shells through it when I got it half a century ago (the remainder of that box came with the gun). It was in typical condition for a new Browning, but had crappy sights, was rattley loose from the factory and had finish marks on the inside. Didn't affect accuracy, so didn't bother me then and doesn't now - I'm quite fond of that gun. But the Tisas has closer tolerances and better workmanship. Only thing I don't like about the Tisas is the Cerakote finish. The T exterior finish was beautiful and remains so after half a century. Silky smooth and lustrous, with only very minor holster wear. I don't have high hopes for the Tisas finish, but a new blue job will fix that when the time comes.

 

[JimCunn]

Tisas shares the same safety as my T. I like that safety. What is wrong with it?
As an aside, I paid $57 for my pristine (at the time) T and about 35 rounds. I'm still happy with that deal and have no complaints.

 

[jc2721]

Jc2721:

You bought a bargain but some parts are not interchangeable. Send a copy of your post to Mark at BHSpringSolutions.com and he will solve your problem in one reply.

Thanks for the suggestion. I wrote my earlier post about my Tisas but the moderators didn't release it (if that's the term) until I posted my introduction to the forum in general.

Since then I found out the Tisas has a narrower extractor slot than a Browning and the OEM Browning extractor was binding a little, causing the FTEs. JimCunn--thanks for the tip about C&S, that's where I figured out my problem with the extractors.

I ended up selling the gun to a friend who still wanted it after the full disclosure. Sneaky bas****--as soon I signed it over to him he pulled out a complete blued Browning upper and slid it onto the Tisas frame--instant retro 70s-80s two tone autoloader. I haven't heard from him yet if it works, but if it does I know he won't sell it back to me.

 

[JimCunn]

Slide width is slightly different. It should work, but fit might be a bit sloppy.