The resurgence of interest in metal-frame, single-action, double-stack pistols is one of the bigger stories in the firearms world right now. Companies are lining up to create hammer-fired compact carry pistols which offer 13 rounds or more of 9mm goodness combined with the better trigger of a single-action pistol and topped off with the better recoil control of a heavier pistol.
Which is sort of a “back to the future” moment for people like me, who are fans of Hi-Power. The Hi-Power is John Moses Browning’s last firearm design and contains many of the elements seen on the majority of today’s 9mm pistols, such as a linkless, delayed-blowback action and a double-stack magazine. These features made it a popular military sidearm for decades, and it is one of the few firearms to face itself on the battlefield.
Time caught up with the original Hi-Power design, however, and by the early 2000’s, because of some of its less-desirable features like a magazine disconnect, poor ergonomics and an iffy trigger pull. The Hi-Power was no longer considered to be on the cutting edge of handgun design, to the point where Browning ended Hi-Power production in 2018.
Flash-forward a half-dozen years, and not only is the Hi-Power back, but it’s available (in form or another) from Browning (again), Springfield Armory and Girsan.
Higher Power
The Girsan Hi-Power pistols in particular offer tremendous value for your dollar. Available in a variety of sizes with different features, they have many of the advantages of the initial Hi-Power design, such as the metal frame and higher capacity, with updated features like a longer tang at the rear of the frame for less trigger bite and the removal of the internal magazine disconnect, to improve the trigger feel. Even with these updates, the trigger on the Girsan Hi-Power isn’t as nice as the trigger on its older cousin, the 1911.
Enter Apex Tactical, an Arizona-based company known for making high-quality aftermarket parts for a variety of firearms. Apex offers an Action Enhancement Kit specifically for the Girsan Hi-Powers, including my compact MC P35 PI OPS model.
Inside the Action Enhancement Kit is an Apex Wide Flat Trigger for better leverage and more positive feel on the trigger. There is also a replacement hammer with tank tread stippling on the end for a better grip while cocking, a new sear that works with the hammer, a sear lever spring and a punch to help remove the existing trigger with a minimum amount of fuss and bother.
Apex recommends sending your pistol to a gunsmith for installation of the Action Enhancement kit, which is exactly what I did.
Trigger Alert
The trigger on the stock MC P35 is nothing to write home about, coming in at around 7 pounds with some stacking, which isn’t where you want to be with a single-action gun. With the Apex Tactical Enhancement Kit, the trigger pull is down to under 6 pounds and has some slack, with a very short amount of take-up and a very crisp break with no overtravel. If I have a complaint, it’s that the reset is rather long and isn’t as pronounced as I like it.
For $200 (plus whatever your gunsmith will charge for installation), the Apex Tactical Action Enhancement kit makes a good gun even better, especially if you’re looking to improve the accuracy of your Hi-Power and make it a more enjoyable to shoot.
