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Back around 1970, roughly the same time Super Vel was making a fuss, a guy in one of the gun magazines, I think it was Dean Grinnell published what he called a hot 9mm load.

I will not repeat it here but it was 2 grains above what the Speer manual listed as maximum for Unique in the 9mm. I figured he would not have published it if it was not safe so I loaded maybe 20 rounds.

I loaded up a mag for the Browning Hi-power and let loose. It threw the empties around 30 feet and the primers were as flat as a frying pan. Some of the primers just fell out. The load was insane and it probably would have blown up some guns.

I still have no idea what the consequences of him publishing that load were. It must have resulted in some damaged guns.

The later [post-1968] Browning GPs with the pivoting rather than internal [like a M1911] extractor were notorious about cracking slides with overly hot loads. British 9mm ball ammo, loaded hot for the L2A3 Sterling SMG, will also do it. And, sometimes, the two-piece FN High Power barrels will come apart.

The Browning Hi-Power was the first good quality pistol I owned. I had King’s Hardware in DeFuniak Springs order it. I still remember the price, $104.50.

Not too long after, I read in a couple of places that the Belgian Brownings were made of softer steel than other brands.

I worried about it until the HP White tests. They damaged most of the guns they tested and only a small percentage survived with no damage. When I read that the Browning Hi-Power made it, I quit worrying.

I didn’t know about the two piece barrels until I was looking at one of my Argentine Brownings and could barely see the line between the front and back. That actually bothered me and I thought about ordering a Bar-Sto barrel until I found out how much they cost.

I have never had a problem with one but can see how it could happen. The only Inglis I ever owned really did look like a tough gun. It had all the original design as far as I know. I have seen a few places where people say they were the best of all the Hi-Powers, not including finish of course.