FN HP-DA / BDA-9 Review: The Mysterious DA/SA Browning Hi Power

The enigmatic HPDA / BDA9. FN's double-action Hi Power. NOT the Browning BDM!
Written Review: hipstertactica...
Bump my beats on Soundcloud: / skeletonkey513
See how the FN HP-DA / BDA compares to the Browning BDM and the original FN / Browning Hi Power, MKIII. The HPDA is the elegant wondernine from the era of the Beretta 92 and the Sig P226. Cameos from the Walther P88-C and Colt Trooper .357!
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
1:30 Overview
5:12 Background
10:45 Technical Overview
25:37 Shooting & Handling
33:14 Practical Considerations
35:39 Purchase Considerations
38:22 Conclusions (& Colt Trooper .357!)
Thank you so much for watching! If you feel so inclined, please like and subscribe!
Also... Happy Halloween! Hope you enjoyed the corny horror-esque intro.
#hiptac

[@eeNORMous1]

This is the 1st true review that I have seen on this pistol. My 1st and only pistol to date... I was always under the impression that it was called BDA 9. Interestingly, that serial number is very close to mine and must have been manufactured on the same machine or assembly line. Thanks, this was an extremely informative video. 👍

[@HipsterTactical]

Thank you so much for watching, my friend! Yeah, there's sooo little info on this gun. Really happy I could put something out there about it. Also... if you check out my written review on hipstertactical.com , some guys who used these guns in the Finnish military shared some very interesting insights in the comments section. I happen to love mine. I might even choose this over the OG Hi Power, if pressed. Thanks again!

[@skycop3855]

I’m fortunate to own 3 in 40 caliber plus a BDM in 9mm. Phenomenal pistols with the safe fast shooting action. Truly makes pistol very safe and training is key. EDC no issue with good holster. Glad I found this channel.

[@HipsterTactical]

Thanks so much for chiming in! Really appreciate you watching. That's cool you've got some Hi Powers in .40--those are pretty rare. If you get a chance, try a BDA / HP-DA--excellent pistols and great for carry with the DA/SA setup. Groups really tight, now that I'm used it. Thanks again!

[@tacticalyuzu8278]

Man, I didn`t even know something like this existed. Thanks for explaining every detail of this unknown gem.

[@HipsterTactical]

Thank you my friend! Honestly, I felt like I needed to go deep on this one... because there's such a lack of information out there on this gun. And it's a damn nice pistol--really enjoying it so far. In any case... thank you so much for watching and for the comment!

[@alexandruborodin755]

Hi. I'm Alex. I' ve got mine in 2004,and..........made a shoulder stock for it. With slot on the grip with cutting respsctive segment in plastic grip. So,it looks like a mauser C-96. It is very accurate. From prone position ,dist.50 m.,bullet grooping is 7 cm. You need to go to your gunsmith for triggerwork. The rest is perfect. The parts for this pistol ara made in Belgium,but assambled in portugal. Now in military servive in Finland. Also exists variant with double action only. Experimental varients were medium with shorter barrel/slide,and compact- short barrel and smal grip. Production of borh was stoped wery quickly.

[@HipsterTactical]

That's cool! Yes, I find it very accurate. Groups very well. I don't love the sights and the grip, however. On my written review, some gentlemen from Finland left some very insightful comments regarding their experience with the gun. Check it out if you get a chance. Thanks so much for the comment!

[@abraynor84]

Is your name really Alec Trevelyan? Were you an MI6 Double 0 Agent? Did you start a crime syndicate after faking your death?

[@foxtools]

Read your article first and was impressed with the article, then I said I will see if there is a KZbin video..... and I found this. As I was watching the video saw the 3 guns laying next to each other and the cat and said "HEY, is this the guy who wrote the article?". Sure is, great job on the article AND video.

[@HipsterTactical]

Aww, thank you so much. I really appreciate that. Really glad I had the chance to review this one because it is such a unique gun. You probably saw it... but... on the article, some gentlemen from Finland chimed in provided some great insights on their experience with the gun. And yes... Siggy (The Tacti-Cat) makes cameos from time to time. He has some screen time in my latest review on the Colt Trooper .357. In any case, thanks again!

[@Gattone91]

Beautiful gun, i bought one from the 90's in 2019 and it is in the safe alongside with browning hi power. Excellent ergonomic and finish. You did a great job disassembling the gun for review.

[@HipsterTactical]

Thanks, man! I appreciate that. Funny--I didn't show how to actually pop the slide-stop out and take the gun down. I get a lot of questions on that... because it IS different than on a Hi Power. But yeah, something about the HP/DA really appeals to me in terms of the aesthetics. It really is a underrated, under loved gun. Thanks again!

[@REVELN]

I have both, HP mark IV and BDA. And a FEG CLone DA, the FEG P9 ( with basically a S&W double action sistema Inside). I app reciate your very well done rewiew !

[@HipsterTactical]

Nice! I love the classic FN service pistols-the long, slender design handles and points so naturally. I need to try one of the FEG P9Rs. I hear they’re good pistols. And thank you so much for the kind words!

[@REVELN]

@@HipsterTactical unfortunately i am in Italy! But maybe soon in USA, with all my "toys" :)

[@Dharien]

Great gun, I wrote few comments into your article a while back. While it feels like I can shoot my CZ Sp01 more accurate, because the CZ has basically places for both of my thumbs to hold on to when I'm shooting. When I grab the FN I have to sort of remind me where I need to put my thumbs. The FN certainly does take some getting used to, I'm average pistol shooter so I can get some OKish groups at 25 meters / 27 yards, but I think that is more fault of the shooter rather than the gun. But I enjoy the feeling and the lightness of the FN, it is all metal construction, but it is still rather light and slim. Plus there is some novelty in the fact that when I go to shooting range or competition, some people look at it like "what is that?" In any case I am in the progress of modelling an extension piece to fit the magazine where I can hopefully bump up the round number from 14 to at least 16 or hell even 18 would be great. Also I am also trying to model a light mount for the pistol similar to what the 1911 has where you mount the rail into the trigger guard. It is a fun project gun. I just need to shoot it more to get used it more. Plus I need to try out the skating tape or bike inner tube the grip like you mentioned in your review.

[@HipsterTactical]

Thanks for the comment, buddy! Sorry for the late reply... and if I didn't reply on the article, I will. Sometimes those are little more cumbersome to respond to. But... yeah. I love this pistol. It definitely exudes quality and it feels like a solid piece of military-grade hardware--which it is, as the Finns will tell you. And it does feel light for an all-steel gun, not to mention the slim profile. Maybe the most slender hi-cap DA/SA service pistol you can get. But I agree: it takes a little getting used to. I feel like it's extremely accurate. It grouped very well for me. The ergos are just a little different... and so is the trigger. That's pretty cool you're working on a mag extension! If you ever decide to do any kind of slimmed-down grip unit... let me know. I've thought about buying an extra grip and recontouring it, via Dremel. I dunno. G10s and modern sights would make this gun rock. Anyway... thanks for the comment and for being a fan of the HP-DA!

[@JarkkoHalonen-dy4zd]

I carry one when I was MP in Finnish army (early 90’s) and think it still see some use today.

[@HipsterTactical]

Nice! Thank you for sharing your perspective. A number of Finns actually commented on written review and provided some interesting insights about this pistol. Based on what they said, yes... it probably still is in service. I really like the pistol--feels like quality and shoots well. The slender profile is nice too. Thanks again!

[@wilmarfranciscohuamanzeval9766]

por favor necesito comunicarme con ud , para una consulta , por favor de que manera lo puedo hacer

[@abraynor84]

Alec Trevelyan would approve.

[@HipsterTactical]

@@abraynor84 Alec actually carried a BDM in that movie-which did not exist in any form in 1988, or whenever that opening flashback was set.

[@abraynor84]

@@HipsterTactical there was the bdm in scenes according to firearms in movies. They used both.

[@edwardantanitus3449]

I really enjoy your videos and hope there is a Colt All American 2000 video in the future. Will the BDA magazines work in a BDM? I may have missed it in your video.

[@HipsterTactical]

Oh, geez. I can’t remember. I sold the BDM a while ago. The BDM mags will work in the BDA… but I can’t remember if it works the other way around. And thanks for the compliment. Glad you’re digging. If I ever come across a Colt All American at a good price… I might bite. 😁

[@shinnkage]

Thank you for your grate upload! I was looking for this gun and compact version in 90's however I couldn't get it. Hopefully Springfield Armory remake them someday..

[@HipsterTactical]

Ohhh, I'd love to have the compact version of this guy. The HP-DAc I believe? Unfortunately, I doubt we'll see anything like these again. I don't think the world is crying out for DA/SA Hi Powers... sigh. Anyway, thanks for the comment!

[@tt1746]

Super gan ❤

[@HipsterTactical]

Thanks my friend!

[@aaronhackenmueller]

I appreciate your indepth review on the FN. I recently picked one up on a trade. The serial is an MM code, made in 2000. It's still mint and unfired, came with 2 10rd mags, but missing the box. Imported by FN manufacturing, Columbia. S.C. Now that I know how rare it is and how hard mags and replacement parts will be to find, do you think this a good investment piece? Thank you for the outstanding review!

[@HipsterTactical]

Nice! Congrats on finding one these gems... and double congrats on finding one in mint condition. As far as an investment piece... I think you could sell it right now for somewhere between $1000 - $1500. The mint ones I see on GB go for about the upper end of that spectrum. Even a bit more with the box, etc. Will it go up in value? I'm sure it will. I guess it depends how long you hang onto it. I will say that these guns are still in service with the armed forces of Finland. Check out my written review--a gentleman in Finland wrote a fantastic response describing his perspectives / experiences with the pistol. Who knows if any of those will end up over here, as surplus pistols... that may affect the value / rarity of the ones we have over here. But of course they won't be pristine. Also... check out Numrich--I was surprised to see how many parts they have for these guns. Search "BDA Europe"--otherwise you'll get parts for Sigs and other guns that aren't... this :) Anyway... thanks so much for watching and for the comment!

[@frankbutta9344]

Great looking pistol! I’d like to hear more about any comparison between the FN and the 5906, not just in terms of performance, but commercial availability and price at the time. Thanks for Sharing! 👍👍👍👍

[@HipsterTactical]

Thanks for the comment, Frank! That's an interesting thought... I think the 5906 and the HP-DA were certainly contemporaries. The 5906 was definitely more entrenched with US law enforcement. The 5906 was available from 1989 to roughly 2005/6. Smith made LE contract runs after that, but it wasn't really sold to consumers after that. The HP-DA?? Not sure. I honestly don't think there were any commercial sales of the HP-DA through most of the '90s. Browning was FN's importer and they didn't want to import it because of the BDM. So, the HP-DA seems to have come available in at the tail-end of the '90s or early 2000s. That Guns Magazine article I found was from 2001, so it was definitely available then. I recall reading some forum pts that CDNN was heavily discounting the last of the HP-DA stock around 2008/2009. So... that's about as much as I can figure out, just from random Googling. :)

[@frankbutta9344]

@@HipsterTactical Yeah, it’s just hard to see U.S. law enforcement breaking away from S&W during that period.

[@jason200912]

I subbed because of this video. Please do a gun jesus impersonation with the same coffee table color and camera angle and watch your channel explode.

[@HipsterTactical]

Hahaha. I've been called... the "other" gun Jesus. But I don't wanna piss Ian off--maybe someday we'll do a "tactical messiah" collab joint?? Plus, he's got access to weapons I can only dream of. Thanks for the support, dude!

[@jason200912]

@@HipsterTactical you can't piss him off. He even did the funny Ian porn print camouflage by rubbing his beard sexually on video

[@jason200912]

Do you know if there's anything bad about the mousetrap spring idea? Seems like a huge advantage to conceal carry weight savings

[@HipsterTactical]

I’m not 100% sure. I can only say the DA pull feels a little different. On a normal coil spring, I think you get this sense of tension building as the mainspring compresses… it feels a bit more numb on this, as you’re pulling. Don’t get me wrong-this gun is insanely accurate. I was shooting better groups with this than with my BHP. But the inputs are just a little different.

[@migaczone]

I just came across one concidering purchase. It's LNIB condition. I wonder how much it might be worth. Does it come with magazine disconnect safey?

[@HipsterTactical]

I highly recommend it. They're really nice guns. I've been carrying and shooting mine more, recently... I like it more and more, as I get to know it better. For price... it's hard to say. They're really rare in the United States, so a LNIB example would go for more than $1000. Maybe more than that, if all the factory stuff is included. Not sure how rare or expensive they are, in your area. Good luck, my friend!

[@ohnoitsandrew9538]

If you really think about it; based on aesthetics and function, the Walther P88 is really the ultimate DA/SA Hi Power

[@HipsterTactical]

Yeah, with the thin slide, I think you can certainly see some Hi Power DNA in the P88. I mean, the HP-DA literally IS a DA/SA Hi Power... so I suppose it is the ultimate. But the P88 seems to draw on so many other successful pistol designs that came before--Hi Power includes. Thanks so much for watching!

[@DanTheWolfman]

I was following them all on GB and the bda and hp-da not compatible mags like there was a browning branded version w differ mags I think. Let me know when you want to let go of this one. 32 ounce like Beretta 92 or heavier? Kitchen scale

[@HipsterTactical]

Yeah, they're rare on GB, but they do pop up from time to time. The HP-DAs have their own mags--Hi Power mags will not lock in. BDM mags will work in the HP-DA... but they're not the same as proper HP-DA mags. As far as weight, they're about the same as a Beretta 92. Haven't weighed mine, the internet says 31 ounces. That seems about right? An OG Hi Power honestly feels a bit heavier... though I'm not 100% sure if it is or not.

[@HipsterTactical]

Also... I looked up the serial number. This gun was made in 2005.

[@REVELN]

Mine, just purchased, according to serial number, is made in 2001. Interesting because officially production ended in 1999

[@REVELN]

Looking. For a BDM

[@HipsterTactical]

The BDMs are interesting guns. I had one-felt solid and still had that long/slender presence. But… it felt less refined than the FN guns and I did not shoot it well at all. Ended up selling it. But it’s worth grabbing one-they feel good and look cool. And maybe it’ll shoot great for you.