How good is this sidearm?
Attributes:
Trigger - Single action, heavy, narrow trigger design. When a heavy trigger pull is accompanied with a narrow trigger it is very easy for a novice shooter to pull his/hers shot low and to the strong side.
Sights - fixed rear, narrow front blade- non field adjustable. Front blade is "peened" into place, narrow blade requires extra concentration to properly align sights - hard to do under pressure for novice shooter. Front sight is susceptible to being knocked out of position and/or lost.
Magazine Disconnector - does not allow user to operate pistol during any magazine change but especically during an emergency magazine change with a round in the chamber - it renders the pistol useless for this period of time. Most personnel are not trained in performing emergency magazine changes... if at all.
Safety- non ambidextrous - as with any mechanical device, they can fail, more frequently the safeties will fail in the on position, they tend to stick on and/or are hard to manipulate into the fire mode... time is life, if it fails at the wrong time...
Magazines - feed lips bent out of tolerances, no magazine feed lip mandrels available - magazines out of tolerance induce the majority of the "Failure to Fire" due to double feeds and stovepiping.
Training
Most personnel get 32 rounds per year to qualify. As Infidel 6 has mentioned the PWT is not a realistic test for the users... the enemy will not stand completely still while you are complete exposed and be allowed to take your time. The BHP requires a lot of rounds for the user to become proficient. Also personnel are not trained in the following:
Shooting at multiple threats
Shooting with strong or weak hands
Shooting on the move
Shooting from cover (barricades, doors and windows)
Shooting on the move (forward, rearward and lateral movement while shooting)
Drawing the weapon from a holster into immediate action, or proper use of the holster
Drawing from a holster while seated in an aircraft, vehicle, or room.
The different carry states, and how it ratchet from each state into action (chambered, cocked and safetied, unchambered, magazine inserted, chambered and safety off (Hot))
Ancillary Equipment - Holsters
I have been issued a variety of holster over the years. The underarm shoulder holster - unless it is worn over and is completely exposed, the user will not have quick access to it, Hip holster with drop leg extension, flag cover and/or thumb break. These all have their purposes but must be understood properly...
example... underarm shoulder holster - good for most aircrew, less physical restrictions making for easier flying. Now lets load that pistol... how do you carry it? are you chambered? cocked and locked? where is it pointed? to the crew and passengers in the rear... Logic says do not chamber a round...
I like the BHP and have owned one myself, but it is not a pistol that the novice shooter should have to rely on in an emergency. Some say that if you have to use your pistol then you are already in a world of hurt... I believe that if you have to use your pistol, one should know how to use it effectively and efficiently.
With the above pistol attributes, the Browning High Power requires more training that the newer pistols, so the pistol, the holsters, and the training or lack thereof combined make for a very poor self defense weapons system. All of shortcoming can be overcome with the proper training.
Is is a good sidearm? Yes... for us.. NO!
I have owned/own the Sig Sauer P226, BHP, CZ75B. Glock 17, Glock 17C, SA XD40 Tactical, Norinco NP30 Double stack .45 ACP with a couple more pistols currently on order. I shoot approx 20-30000 rounds a year for training and competition.
at least we have not fully pissed away our arms and ammo industry.
