Browning Hi Power MK-III in .380 Short ?

[rogerstar]

I have seen a Browning Hi Power MK-III in .380 Short. I need a few comments on this weapon from our experts on the forum. Many Thanks in Advance.

[cottage cheese]

I have seen a Browning Hi Power MK-III in .380 Short. I need a few comments on this weapon from our experts on the forum. Many Thanks in Advance.

Are you sure? .. as I recall, HPs in whatever mark were not made in .380... that's only my rusty memory, so I could be wrong... or may be its an illicit conversion?

regards,
cc

[Anand]

Hi rogerstar,
To elaborate further after our phone call and for the benfit of our other members:
As far as I know the only pistols made by Browning or FN for that matter in the caliber
.380 ACP/9mm Kurtz/9mm Short/9mmx17, were the FN 1910 and the 1922 (obtained from the book 'The Belgian Browning Pistols' by Anthony Vanderlinden). As you are no doubt aware, the more recent (although no longer in production) Browning BDA made by Beretta for Browning is chambered in .380.This is the one that looks like a Beretta 84 with an enclosed slide and the safety on the slide.

As far as I can tell the Browning Hi Power MK III has never been chambered in .380 ACP. The book 'The Browning Hi Power Pistol' by R.Blake Stevens mentions that the Browning Hi Power pistol was chambered in 9mm Luger(9mmx19) and 7.65mm Luger(.30 Luger). A fully automatic version called the PB Rafaga made by FM of Argentina was chambered in 7.63x21mm Mannlicher which is a straight sided cartridge. The Hi power MK III was of course chambered in .40 S&W caliber by incorporating a heavier slide and a redesigned barrel with 3 locking lugs instead of the usual 2 in the 9mm version.

There have been .22 LR conversion kits made by JA Ciener and by Kart of Germany (if I remember correctly). Specifically .30 luger versions were made for Italy and some other countries that prohibit 9mm Luger caliber for civilian use. I imagine that any person could rechamber a 9mm Luger barrel to 9mmx21 quite easily or for that matter insert a chamber "ring" so that a .380 ACP would headspace and fire correctly. Will it actually cycle the slide and feed the next round ? This is something I don't know.

Regards,
Anand

[cottage cheese]

...also the only modern 'largish' frame FN Browning in .380 would be the BDA380...which almost like convention is also available in 32ACP... Perhaps it was being confused with one of these?

[TwoRivers]

There really would be little point in producing a large, strong and heavy pistol such as the HP, in caliber .380 ACP. That catridge is usually chambered in a smaller to mid-size unlocked pistol. As to installing a ring in the chamber of a 9mm Parabellum to shorten it for the .380, that would still leave the chamber too large for the smaller diameter .380 ACP. While you sometimes will find gun/caliber combinations that are odd, produced on special order for a particular purpose or country, I would be highly suspicious of a .380 Browning HP.
Cheers.

[Sakobav]

another member here has that Hungarian copy of Browning HP converted into .30 . He had it converted in USA not sure if a Kit exists for .380 ACP conversion. Watchout for a Dara or our very own desi made. Dara ones are pretty authentic looking. Get the serial number or post photos so members can assist you.

best

[rogerstar]

I thank all the IFG'ans who have taken time to post their valuable comments and inputs here. Will try and inspect the weapon closely and post a few pics soon.

[The Doc]

rogerstar,

The Browning Hi Power MK-III was made in 7.65x21mm Parabellum , 9x19mm Parabellum , .40 S&W , .357 SIG . The .380 acp that you are looking at might be "doctored" .

best,

Rp.

[Anand]

The Doc,
If I am not mistaken, only aftermarket barrels from outside vendors like Firedragon made barrels in .357 Sig. for the Hi power. As far as I know, the Mk III which is the latest and strongest incarnation of the Hi power is made by the factory only in 9mm and .40 S&W. The .30 Luger barrels are no longer in production by the factory.
Regards,
Anand

[Prash.44]

Guys...................



http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg75-e.htm

[winnie_the_pooh]

That is a BDA(Browning Double Action).We are talking about the Hi Power which is here

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg17-e.htm

[Sakobav]

By the way BDA from Browning arent produced any more..

[Prash.44]

Right.... Thank yu for pointing that out winnie. i get it. But does not say anything about the GP being in .380. Or is it the same as the 7.65 parabellum????