FN Browning Hi-Power Competition 9mm 152mm SA Semi Auto Pistol, 1980
SOLD FOR: $1,375.00
LSB#: LSB260621JF026
Make: FN Herstal/Browning
Model: Hi-Power Competition
Serial#: 245PM40565
Year of Manufacture: 1980 / Modern
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Semi-Automatic Pistol, Tilting Lock Exposed Hammer Single Action with Detachable Magazine.
Markings: The left side of the slide has a Browning rollmark. The right side of the slide has the FNH rollmark and serial number, “245PM40565”. All parts are serial matched to the frame.
Barrel Length: 152mm
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a blade cast into the barrel mounted extension. The rear sight is a fully adjustable square notch affixed to the slide.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: This pistol includes 2 x 13 round magazines in Very Good condition.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grips are two piece wrap around checkered Pachmayer rubber panels with a checkered rubber backstrap. There are faint handling marks throughout. The checkering is sharp. There are no rips or chunks missing. Overall the grips are in Very Good + condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized, Blued Small Parts
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright, the rifling is sharp. There is no visible erosion in the bore but there is some stubborn fouling in the grooves. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9.5/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 97% of its metal finish. There are light scratches and rub marks throughout. The action has light wear. The screw heads are sharp and the pins are undamaged. The markings are clear. Overall this pistol is in Very Good + condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: Original hard case, cleaning rod, 2x magazines.
Our Assessment: The FN Browning Hi-Power Competition was a specialized target-oriented evolution of the classic Hi-Power platform, retaining the familiar single-action, recoil-operated mechanism while adding features intended specifically for precision shooting. The Competition model is distinguished by its approximately 152mm barrel, elongated barrel-mounted front sight assembly, fully adjustable rear sight, and factory Pachmayr wraparound grips. This 1980 example dates to the early period of Competition production and combines those specialized target features with the traditional forged-frame Hi-Power architecture and 13-round 9mm magazine capacity that made the underlying design famous. This pistol remains in Very Good Plus condition, retaining approximately 97% of its original metal finish. The exterior shows light scratches and rub marks throughout, with light operational wear to the action. The screw heads remain sharp, the pins are undamaged, and the markings are clear. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no visible erosion, though stubborn fouling remains in the grooves, rating 9.5/10 in this writer’s opinion. The two-piece Pachmayr wraparound rubber grips show only faint handling wear, retain sharp checkering, and remain free of rips or missing material, rating in Very Good Plus condition. Mechanically, the action functions correctly.
For collectors of Browning and FN pistols, the Hi-Power Competition is a particularly distinctive variation because it represents a factory-built precision version of one of the most important military and sporting pistols of the 20th century. The nearly 6″ barrel, extended sight radius, adjustable target sights, specialized grip configuration, and early 1980 production date clearly separate it from the standard service Hi-Power. With its original hard case, cleaning rod, two magazines, strong bore, and high degree of original finish, this is an especially attractive and well-equipped example of the seldom-encountered Hi-Power Competition. -R.E.