Gun Tests Grade: A-

$558

We understand why FN/Browning discontinued the famous Hi-Power handgun: It simply became too expensive to compete in the current market. The Hi-Power, like the 1911, requires considerable handfitting. Its price could not be cut because of expensive handwork and fitting in the 1935 design. Since it has been decataloged, the price of used Hi-Power 9mm handguns has risen steadily. Enter Tisas of Turkey with the Regent version of the Browning Hi-Power. The popularity of the 1911 has resulted in a race to produce a less-expensive 1911 — not so with the High Power. Tisas chose a mix of features in its Hi-Power clone. While the pistol is fitted with modern Novak-type sights, the safety is the original smaller type later replaced by a larger ambidextrous safety on MKII versions. (We also had on hand a transitional Browning Hi-Power with high-visibility sights but the standard smaller non-ambidextrous safety.) While each handgun must stand on its own merits and only be compared to the other handguns in the shoot out, we could not help but compare the Regent to the original Hi-Power. Our resident gunsmith felt the Regent is comparable in quality of manufacture to the FN product, with some internal parts slightly larger and perhaps stronger. In particular, the pistol features a rowel-type hammer, the standard Hi-Power slide lock, and nicely finished and checkered grips. The finish is very nice, even beautiful, as one rater noted. This is as nice a blued finish as we have encountered on any test gun from any maker in memory. Perhaps a high-end 1911 or the original blued Python would best the Regent’s finish, but not by a great margin.

The Hi-Power is a single-action handgun with a straight-to-the-rear trigger compression. The Hi-Power may be carried cocked and locked, hammer to the rear and safety on. The Hi-Power does not lend itself to hammer-down carry, as some prefer with the 1911. The Hi-Power uses a very heavy hammer spring, and the hammer is difficult to cock. The intent is to allow the hammer fall to address the many differences in 9mm Luger ammunition world wide. About half the raters could not cock the hammer with one hand, needing both hands, one to hold the handgun and one for force on the hammer to full cock. Also, the hammer spring makes the slide difficult to rack. The hammer is difficult to lower safely in the approved manner to make the pistol safe for home ready. This isn’t a criticism of the Tisas Hi-Power, but is instead a description of every Hi-Power handgun.

The pistol uses a 13-round magazine. The magazine is tapered and makes for easy insertion into the magazine well. Two Mec-Gar magazines are supplied in a plastic locking case along with instructions, a gun lock, and a cleaning rod. We ordered two additional Mec-Gar magazines prior to the test.

The Hi-Power, like the other single-action pistols tested, was lubricated prior to the test program. The pistol was fully loaded and the hammer cocked and the pistol placed on Safe prior to drawing and firing at man-sized targets at 5, 7, and 10 yards. The pistol is fast on target and controllable. The trigger was useful for fast work. While it is a longer press than the 1911, its 5.5-pound trigger action was controllable. The safety lever of the original Hi-Power has been criticized for its small size. We found the safety on the Regent wasn’t as fast as the 1911s to manipulate. For all our shooters, the Hi-Power safety was more difficult to quickly manipulate than the 1911 type. All agreed the pistol was behind the 1911 handgun in speed to an accurate first shot, largely due to the safety’s size and leverage. In rapid fire, the Hi-Power was as controllable as the 1911s, and in the hands of some raters, the Regent outperformed the 1911 handguns. There were no failures to feed, chamber, fire, or eject.

In bench accuracy, the Tisas Regent Hi-Power gave excellent results. With attention to the trigger press and sight picture and using the Brownells Bullshooter’s pistol rest, our team found the Hornady load in the Hi-Power was more accurate than the 1911s, and at least comparable with the other loads.

Our Team Said: This is a good performer worth its price. While we like the 1911, the Hi-Power has a greater magazine capacity and dispenses with the grip safety some do not care for. It is a viable choice for personal defense. We rated it down a half grade on the heavy hammer and difficulty in racking the slide. For some, this would be a deal breaker. The Ruger SR1911 Commander is the easiest of the four handguns tested to rack and make ready.  A 9mm-strength recoil spring and fairly modest hammer spring made this possible.

If you like the Browning Hi-Power, then the Regent is a modern equivalent we believe is as well made as the original and it has a larger sear pin. While the Regent frame is cast rather than forged, so are later-model FN Hi-Power handguns.

For personal defense and concealed carry, the choice really came down to the Ruger SR1911 Commander and the Citadel M1911A1-CS. The Citadel always worked, and you may purchase a lot of ammunition for the nearly $300 difference in price between the Ruger SR1911 Commander and the Citadel 9mm Officers Model.

9mm Luger Range Data

Value Guide: 9mm Luger Handgun Rankings