Click pictures for a larger version.

Slide latch.

The news going around the past few days is that the legendary P35 Hi-Power pistol is dead. I heard the news a few months ago the Browning would cease the importation of the Hi-Power, that FNH had stopped production, and also found out recently that FM in Argentina had stopped production of their copy of the pistol. The news finally hit social media hard a few days ago, and many shooters who are familiar with the qualities of the Hi-Power are mourning the death of that fine pistol, but they are doing so too soon. While it does look as though Browning and FM are no longer interested in producing the Hi-Power, it is certainly not dead. There have been many variations of the Hi-Power manufactured in several countries, both licensed and unlicensed, with distinguishing features on each. Browning also imported a slightly beefed-up version for use with the 40 S&W and 357 Sig cartridges. To detail the history of the Browning Hi-Power pistol would take a substantially-sized book, so I won’t attempt to do so here, but the pistol has served in military and civilian service all over the world for the past eight decades, and will continue to do so for some time to come.

Elite Warrior Armament of Rio Rancho, New Mexico has a Hi-Power in production. Limited production for now at least, carving these pistols out of billet stainless steel, but plans are to move to a higher production schedule using cast stainless frames, which will lower the price of production substantially, without sacrificing the integrity or strength of the pistol.

Elite Warrior Armament is a full custom gun shop, not just parts-changers. They build guns. Of great interest to me is their resurrection of the Bren Ten pistol design. It is in the works, but for here, we will focus upon their rendition of a custom Hi-Power.

Not starting with a stock Browning and modifying it, Elite Warrior Armament, by building the entire pistol from the ground up, was able to make slight improvements where Chuck Warner and his team thought necessary. They wanted their Hi-Power to be able to handle a steady diet of +P and +P+ ammunition, so the frame, slide, and dust cover are slightly beefed-up for extra strength. The beavertail is also slightly lengthened, and the bosses around the trigger pin eliminated for a smoother feel for prolonged shooting with high-performance ammunition. Both the trigger guard and mag well openings are slightly larger, and the barrel bushing on these first production pistols are welded in, not soldered. They found that soldering in the bushing was a weak spot, and future production pistols will have threaded-in bushings. Problem solved.

Specifications are listed in the chart below. Weight is listed in ounces. Trigger pull is listed in pounds of resistance. Linear measurements are listed in inches.

I fired a variety of ammunition over the chronograph to check velocities, with the results listed in the chart below. Velocities are listed in feet-per-second. Bullet weights are listed in grains. JHP is a jacketed hollowpoint bullet. DPX is a hollow nose homogenous copper bullet. FMJ is a full metal jacket roundnose bullet. FMJ-FN is a full metal jacket flat nose Buffalo Bore Penetrator bullet. PB is Pow’RBall, a specialty bullet from Cor-Bon. XP is a specialty homogenous copper bullet from Lehigh Defense. Glaser is a pre-fragmented bullet. Velocities were taken at an elevation of 541 feet above sea level, with an air temperature of forty-eight degrees Fahrenheit and humidity of sixty-nine percent. Velocities were recorded at twelve feet from the muzzle.

I really like this Hi-Power from Elite Warrior Armament. The price ain’t cheap, but neither is the quality. I have handled and fired some very, very nice custom Hi-Power pistols from some quality gunsmiths, and this Elite pistol is superior. The quality of the machining and fit is superb. The checkering is very nicely done, and is much more than just a cosmetic touch. Elite Warrior Armament was able to execute a superior Hi-Power pistol with greater strength, while still maintaining the wonderful handling, shooting, and feel of the original browning pistols. Accuracy is outstanding, the trigger pull perfect, and reliability was one hundred percent. The pistol fed, fired, and ejected every cartridge fed to it.

Elite Warrior Armament has managed to improve upon one of the best pistol designs the world has ever known, strengthening its few weaknesses, without breaking the spirit of the original Hi-Power.

Check out Elite Warrior Armament on Facebook here, or give them a call at 505-227-7962.

To order quality 9x19mm ammunition, go to www.midsouthshooterssupply.com, www.doubletapammo.com, www.luckygunner.com, and www.buffalobore.com.

Ransom Master Series handgun rest: www.ransomrest.com.

Cro Magnon Targets: www.cromagnontargets.com.

Galco Gun Leather: www.galcogunleather.com.

Jeff Quinn

Click pictures for a larger version.

Ransom Master Series machine rest.

Best and worst groups fired from the Ransom Rest at 25 yards.

Galco Avenger holster for a 1911 pistol works perfectly for the P35.