Military to use Glock pistols after 40 years of Browning (UK)

Reuters ^ | 11/1/2013 | Agency staff

[PotatoHeadMick]

LONDON (Reuters) - The military has changed its standard issue pistol to the Glock after using the Browning for more than 40 years, the Ministry of Defence said on Friday.

It said it had awarded a 9 million pound contract to Austrian arms firm Glock for 25,000 guns because their pistol is lighter, carries more bullets and is more accurate than the U.S.-made Browning.

"I have seen this pistol demonstrated in target ranges and am impressed that this new lighter, safer generation of pistol provides better value for money for the MoD," Defence Equipment Minister

[TigersEye]

I’ve always wanted a Browning Hi-Power. Beautiful little pistol.

[353FMG]

You still have nasty guns?

I lost all of mine in an unfortunate boating accident in the Marianas Trough.

[Delta 21]

Browning Hi-Power

BUMP

[manc]

yes they do but what is not mentioned is the SIG P229, P226 are also used as well and what I have and is a great handgun

[Repeat Offender]

The conventional U.S. forces still use the Beretta M9.......as a paper weight, or blunt instrument. For anything else, it's pretty much garbage.

Oh for the want of a Glock 21; .45 ACP with a 13 round mag.

[Chainmail]

Another sign of the sad decline of Britain. A plastic frame loaded with stamped parts instead of that elegant, accurate, all milled steel pistol designed by John Moses Browning himself... They can’t be that far downhill, can they?

[yarddog]

I have owned several Beretta model 92’s, some of which were basically identical to the M9. Very little to not like about them. They are about as reliable as it is possible to make a gun.

Two minor complaints were the grip did not feel quite right in my hand (something which the Browning is near perfect in) and the double action pull was a bit heavy on all of them.

Single action is fine.

[duffee]

FN now owns Browning and I believe the HiPower was made in Belgium but has been made in other countries, I believe it’s been made in Spain but I don’t know about America. FN made many of Brownings as I understand on a contract basis years ago . I have a Browing Lt 12 shotgun mfg. by FN in Belgium. They also made the bolt rifles before browning had them made in Japan.

[mylife]

A bunch had come in during 2012 including the alloys.
They are all long gone.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1FNHP-ALLOYR&name=RARE+Alloy+Frame+FN+%28Belgium%29+Hi+Power+9mm&groupid=3

[doorgunner69]

So? Now, looking back, what would you have done?

[yarddog]

Browning Hi-Powers gave been issued to army’s all over the world. They have also been manufactured in many countries. Most of them are unlicensed.

Argentina is one of the few who paid the license fee and also got FN’s help in setting up the production line. They even had FN employees for the first ones made. After the Argentine workers were trained they took over.

They were made in Iraq, Hungary, Indonesia, Canada (also licensed) during WWII, and probably a whole lot more.

[353FMG]

Back in the 50’s FN Belgique made an exquisitely engraved 9mm HiPower and a .380.

They dared to ask the outrageous price of $250 for the HP.

Being a poor student I had to settle for an Argentinian Luger that I got through the local newspaper for $40.

Sheesh, I wish I still had the Luger. Lost it in a boat accident in the Marianas Trench.

[Mr Rogers]

I’d be more impressed if they had switched to Ruger SuperBlackhawks. THAT would make folks take notice!

[eastexsteve]

I thought the military used the Beretta model 92FS for several years after they dropped the Colts.

[TonyInOhio]

A bunch had come in during 2012 including the alloys.

I snagged a pair of the alloy-framed versions. Had I more money, I'd have bought them all. :)

An alloy-framed Hi Power weighs what a Glock 19 weighs, holds 13 rounds, and fits in the hand like a glove, with no Glock "hump". To think - John Moses Browning (and his successor Saive) created perfection back in the 1920s, long before Glock started using that word in their ads.

[papertyger]

Another sign of the sad decline of Britain. A plastic frame loaded with stamped parts instead of that elegant, accurate, all milled steel pistol designed by John Moses Browning himself... They can’t be that far downhill, can they?

Oh, brother.....

[VeniVidiVici]

Don’t get me wrong, I love Glocks. Shoot Glocks, carry Glocks.

But with all they other shit the Army makes you wear I’m not sure I’d be humping a Glock too. It would be bound to get snagged on something.

[mylife]

Smart man.
I drug my feet and missed out.
I will never see another on at that price ever.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Another 25,000 guns on the streets of England. I thought that their gun control was so effective that the police often didn’t even carry guns.

Anyone care to wonder why this is happening? And then shove the answer up Piers Morgan’s fop hole.

[MasterGunner01]

Translation: Our supply of L9A1 9mm Browning HiPowers are insufficient, we don’t want to buy more from the Belgians (that are assembled in Portugal), so we go with Glocks made in Austria. [It should be noted that the UK does very little small arms manufacture of its own any more. That has been outsourced to “freer” nations.]