British army scraps Browning HP for Glock 17

[Alecdouglashome]

A few British news outlets have a story that the British troops overseas are getting issued with Glock 17s to replace their Browning GPs. Whatever the reality behind this decision, the reasons given in the article are pretty nonsensical...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/11/british-forces-afghanistan-glock-pistols?INTCMP=SRCH

I've shot 2 different Browning HPs and hated them both; awful trigger and horrible slide bite, but saying that it can take up to 4 seconds to make one ready to shoot is very peculiar... They have one in stock at my usual range, I'll have to go and check one out next time I'm there...

[Sion]

If they'd learn to carry a HP in condition one, it wouldn't take them as long to get one into action. Like most articles these days the writer doesn't have a solid knowledge of firearms.

The Glock can be left fully loaded with a round in the chamber, even when holstered! *Shocked face* I'm so glad they finally came out with a pistol you can holster with a round in the chamber...

What does it matter that Saddam or Ghadafi had one?

[armed hiker]

well now the  Brits will be able to go Gangsta in tha hood as well.... lol
 Browning hi power? I had not realized they were still in service in a  modern arsenal.

Wait does that mean that the Hi powers might be sold as surplus? I have never shot one but they feel similar to a CZ in the hand, I would give it a try . Even though it is slower to fire than a flintlock....

[Sion]

well now the  Brits will be able to go Gangsta in tha hood as well.... lol
 Browning hi power? I had not realized they were still in service in a  modern arsenal.

Wait does that mean that the Hi powers might be sold as surplus? I have never shot one but they feel similar to a CZ in the hand, I would give it a try . Even though it is slower to fire than a flintlock....

Quite a few countries still issue the HP, I believe it's still the standard sidearm for Canadian soldiers. It would be great if they do sell the HPs off as surplus and not melt them down. I'm crossing my fingers, I'd grab one in a heart beat.

I hope the British make sure their soldiers are well versed in trigger discipline. I bet ND incidents will be a lot more common than NDs with a HP.

Thing that drives me nuts with Glocks is how they go against proper gun safety. They have their own rules for gun safety (10 rules instead of the simple 4 rules of gun safety) and then require you to violate the rules of gun safety in order to clean one.

[Alecdouglashome]

I'm glad to say that this article appears to be an outlier of stupidity, after reading a few more reports on this changeover, it does seem that the Army have actually thought about the decision and it's just this particular article that is daft.

The British Army website makes no mention of the 4 seconds to fire, instead saying that it was becoming difficult to maintain the pistol (not sure I entirely believe that either, but makes a bit more sense).

http://www.army.mod.uk/news/24697.aspx

I did read elsewhere that 'Browning' was not in the running for the tender which makes me wonder what 'Browning'/FN Herstal are up to on tenders. I heard on the radio that when the new Belgian police tender came up, FN offered the HP. When the tender was finally won by S&W for the M&P FN appealed to the government and the last time I heard the tender was still wrapped up in paperwork. Anecdotally it would appear that FN still think that the HP is a viable modern firearm, even when they have polymer pistols in their own catalogue (that said I've shot an FNS style polymer pistol and hated the trigger... I must have something against FN pistol designs)

[Hockler]

Interesting I guess, but I can't help but think of some quote I remember from somewhere, "pistols don't win wars."

[Grendel]

Interesting I guess, but I can't help but think of some quote I remember from somewhere, "pistols don't win wars."

What does this have to do with the story in the OP?

[Hockler]

Sorry, I should have clarified that the quote is often seen when resources are going to replacing sidearms rather than upgrading other weapons and equipment usually considered more vital to victory.

I guess I'm just generally agreeing with everyone else on, "if it isn't broke don't fix it," when it comes to the Hi Power.

[Grendel]

I can believe that the HPs are probably 30 or 40 years old by now so it seems logical to maybe change to something a little more 'practical'. I would not be surprised if the recent unpleasantness in the sandy environs of 'Stan and Iraq have not had something to do with the decision to change.

[jwc007]

Sort of surprised me a bit as the SAS had adopted the SigArms P226 and P228 a bit ago and I thought the rest of the Services would follow, but that never happened, possibly due to budget constraints.  Sigs cost more.
Ref: http://www.eliteukforces.info/special-air-service/weapons/sig-sauer-p226.php

[Wobbly]

More than 25,000 Austrian-made Glock pistols will finally replace the clunky Browning sidearm that squaddies and commandos have had to cope with for decades, the Ministry of Defence announced on Wednesday.

Well, that can only be good for the US handgun market, where used BHPs typically run $800. I sorely doubt any other country will be buying the used BHPs. Personally, I'd love to have the opportunity to "cope" with a BHP for $400.

 

[jameslovesjammie]

Well, England has finally stepped out of the 1930's...all the way to 1982.   

[Grendel]

Well, England has finally stepped out of the 1930's...all the way to 1982.   

The United Kingdom, not England. Oh, and while we're being all superior and gun savvy and that, I'd point out the US military is still using a design from the early 1900s, so what's that all about then?

[ZG47]

Horses for courses. Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces replaced the Browning HP with the Sig P226 but Aussie fast jet pilots use a compact version of the 9mm Glock, due to g force issues with the latest ejection seats, that could result in broken ribs.

[jameslovesjammie]

Well, England has finally stepped out of the 1930's...all the way to 1982.   

The United Kingdom, not England. Oh, and while we're being all superior and gun savvy and that, I'd point out the US military is still using a design from the early 1900s, so what's that all about then?

Alright, you've got me...UK.  Never meant anything superior.  This forum IS dedicated, afterall, to a design older than the Glock.  My secondary firearm preference is actually for S&W revolvers, which owe their modern origins to the 1880's.  The point I was trying to make was that there are several current, more modern designs than the Glock that they have their choice of.  The M&P, H&K, and FN, even XD are all more modern and just as reliable.