YouTube personality, Graham Baates, gives us a video breakdown and review of the Regent BR9 from LKCI, LLC.
U.S.A. – -(Ammoland.com)- The Browning High Power is one of those classics that I’ve always wanted to try. Regarded as one of Browning’s last designs, the pistol wasn’t produced until after his death. Despite being in service since 1935 used guns aren’t common and can cost $800 or more. Thanks to LKCI, LLC of Ohio and Tisas we now have an excellent modern production variant, the Regent BR9.
How well is the Regent BR9 built?
Take a look at the tabletop video below.
If you’re not familiar with this historical design, the name “High power”, or “Hi-Power” for the friendly types came from the higher capacity. The High power name refers to the fact that with 13+1 capacity the pistol. This was nearly doubled the capacity of other models of the time like the 1911 and Luger.
Specifications of the Regent BR9:
- ACTION TYPE SEMI-AUTO
- CALIBER 9 MM
- BARREL LENGTH 118,5mm / 4.6″
- HEIGHT 127,5mm / 5″
- TRIGGER PULL 2500gr / 88 oz
- TRIGGER SA
- CAPACITY – 13rd
- LENGTH 197mm / 7.75″
- WIDTH 35mm / 1.37″
- WEIGHT(WITHOUT MAG) 835gr / 29.5 oz
More information can be found on LKCI’s product page.
I’ve shot and reviewed Tisas-made handguns before when Zenith was importing them. I have to say the fit and finish of the pieces I’ve seen brought in by LKCI seems to be a bit nicer. It could simply be my excitement over getting to try a new-production piece of history, but the Regent BR9 impresses me greatly. With history on my mind I wondered how the design would function with modern hollow-point rounds. With a magazine and feed ramp designed for military ball ammunition nearly a century ago how would it run today’s loads? 115gr and 124gr have been the norm in 9mm, but now loads from 65gr to 165gr and beyond are available.
I hit the range for my standard battery of tests. Full-magazine plus one, “What’s for Dinner”, and of course a quick grouping of five shots from seven yards using Nosler 115gr Match.
See the results in the video below
Overall I’m very impressed with the Regent BR9 from LKCI, LLC. On the range the gun is very manageable and comfortable to shoot so long as you keep the web of your hand free from the hammer. I guess folks in the 1930s had less-fleshy hands than I do. Regardless, a slight shift in the grip and now we can enjoy a piece of history. The cerakote finish may not be historically accurate, but will provide years of good looks and protection. In the end the Regent BR9 gives us a new option for those wanting to own a High Power.
LCKI, LLC just got these in, so if you want one you’ll have to contact them directly and have your FFL order one.
About Graham Baates
“Graham Baates” is a pen name used by a 15-year active Army veteran who spent most of his time in the tactical side of the Intelligence community including tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Post-Army Graham spent some time in the 3-Gun circuit before becoming a full-time NRA Certified defensive handgun instructor and now works as an industry writer while curating a YouTube channel on the side. Visit Graham on Youtube .
I am impressed it looks good fit and finish on par with the “Made in Belgium Assembled in Portugal” marked guns which have an outstanding finish. The barrel lacks the tiny alignment hood that would engage in the breach of the slide on the Original BHP’s. This tiny alignment hood is a throw-back to the original design which almost every licensed copy and unlicensed copy of the BHP was carried forward except this Turkish model, I have to say it doesn’t seem to effect reliability or functioning. When CZ copied some of the design elements of the BHP for the… Read more »
I have read all the reviews and watched other videos on these turkish made guns. They are manufactured in a stat of the art facility and held to the highest quality control standards. They are not built on some back room workshop. Get your politics out of you gun buying. I own 6 BHP’s: (1) Post WWII FN produced for Danemark (1) late 60’s early 70’s FN produced with factory adjustable sights (1) FN produced markIII 40 S&W (1) FN produced markIII 9mm (1) FN produced post 94 assembled in Portugal (1) John Inglis produced post WWII manufactured for the… Read more »
I’m impressed. I have owned two original Hi-Powers by Browning and one FEG copy. I love the design and how it fits my hand, Very dependable and accurate. It appears this new clone is every bit as the original.
appears to be a nicely made original design Browning HP. hopefully the metalurgy is up to high standard and if it is I must have one. It looks identical to my original Browning. very nice
I suspect most of it is cast. Cerakoting it is easier. Cast usually/always has pits and pores.
Even if it is forged or billet, not likely, it is cheaper to Cerakote it. Maximizing the profitability i the goal.
And it assembled, the new standard, not fitted most likely.
Hate to be so negative but I’m tired of the cheaper made it is means more profits.
Give me hard forged chrome moly, polished and no sharp corners or burrs, with a deep blue like the old Colt Pythons, Troopers etc, or polished Stainless.
It’s not easy to pay for all that, much less for a gun that is not the primary defensive gun for the home. You can still by premium, but anlot of us can’t afford it.
Gonna need some real muscle in your fingers to pull the trigger…:-)
The description of the action is very vague in the article, the Browning High Power action is DA/SA , you can charge the weapon, hold the hammer with your thumb, pull the trigger and allow the hammer to drop to half cock, the heavy trigger pull is the first shot and would feel basically the same as the trigger pull on a revolver, the second shot would be the same as any semi-auto pistol, a lite trigger pull with the hammer at full cock.
I don’t see the description of the action that is referred to in the article; I must be missing something. The HP is single action only. Variants Browning marketed that were otherwise were the BDA, BDAO and BDM. The firearm reviewed is not one of those designs. If the reviewer (or anyone else) is getting the firearm to discharge with a heavy pull from the half-cock, there is something wrong with the pistol. I have two BHP’s. One is the “Classic” model from the early ’80’s, the other is a Mark III from the ’90’s. Neither of them will do… Read more »
The Browning Hi-Power 9mm designed by John Moses Browning in 1935 is a single action pistol only.
88oz is one heck of a trigger pull…:-)
Is it just me, or is anyone else getting emails notifying new comments but the comment doesn’t show here?
That’s the double-action. In the videos you can see it shot.
“Doulde-action?” All P-35s are SAO?
Google it. I own an Browning Belgium High Power and it’s definitely an single action pistol! As for the trigger pull there’s a lot of aftermarket upgrades and adjustments that can be made by you’re local gun Smith. My dad was an police officer and carried it for years. He purchased it in the early 70’s. I’m guessing the gun is an 1969 . It still operates like new. The barrel and rifling appear perfect. It does have holster wear. I’m figuring the gun has had well over 50,000 rounds FIRED threw it! The guns 50 years old. In 50… Read more »
I want one…in .357 Sig caliber!
This gun is made in Turkey and I would not purchase one.
Hey, ‘Doc’… Yes, TISAS is a Turkish manufacturer of FINE firearms and has done so for many years for several well regarded other foreign country military arms. It would serve you well to read and educate yourself about TISAS manufactured firearms. I have owned (2) TISAS 1911’s for quite a few years and they have proven to be sturdy, well designed & manufactured handguns and are very accurate shooting weapons, and compare most favorably to my COLT & BROWNING examples.
I suspect his beef is political/religious, not with quality.
~$500 if you’re wondering
Turkey has a reputation as the top manufacturer of firearms in the world. TheTurkish Mauser, the Mod. 70 (that compares favorably to the Winchester model pre-64), and now the Hi-Power.
I’d buy one. A single action, all steel, high capacity pistol with that “crisp like a Browning trigger”.
You’ll love the trigger. Even at 88oz!
appears to be a nicely made original design Browning HP. hopefully the metalurgy is up to high standard and if it is I must have one. It looks identical to my original Browning. very nice
5.5lbs.
I will never buy another Turkish product. Might as well cut your own throat. I think they are falling into the Muslim Brotherhood and the Christians will be slaughtered like the Armenians were before them. I’d rather just buy a FEG from Hungary ( who tossed Soros and his liberal university out. )
Dsal, were you dropped on your head as a chld or learn your right wing ignorance from Fox News?
I’m definitely going to purchase one. I’d love to see Browning Firearms and FN put the effort and research that did with the Hi Power into a new handgun. The Buck Mark 22LR handgun still proves they are capable of making good pistols. I’m not a fan of the Glock or The Smith & Wesson shield that every gun store tries talking you into. Although when buying an revolver hands down I’m buying Smith &Wesson!