How a Browning Hi-Power works

The Browning Hi Power is a single-action, semi-automatic handgun available in 9mm and .40 S&W calibers. It is based on a design by American firearms inventor John Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at Fabrique Nationale (FN) of Herstal, Belgium. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized. The Hi-Power is one of the most widely used military pistols in history, having been used by the armed forces of over 50 countries. The Hi Power name alludes to the 13-round magazine capacity, almost twice that of contemporary designs such as the Luger or Colt M1911. The pistol is often referred to as an HP (for “Hi-Power“ or “High-Power“) or as a GP (for the French term, “Grande Puissance“). The terms P-35 and HP-35 are also used, based on the introduction of the pistol in 1935. It is most often called the “Hi Power“, even in Belgium. Other names include BAP (Browning Automatic Pistol) and BHP (Browning High-Power). Browning Hi-Power: full