FN HP-DA

History

The BDA was a further development of the FN/Browning Hi-Power, which had been in production for nearly fifty years before the BDA design was completed. Its development may have been a response to the original Hi-Power's shortcomings in the first Joint Service Small Arms Program tests of the late 1970s. FN had the BDA ready for the 1983–1984 XM9 pistol trials for a new U.S. Armed Forces sidearm, but voluntarily withdrew it on May 31, 1984; the Beretta 92F won. The Finnish Defence Forces adopted it as the 9.00 PIST 80 and 9.00 PIST 80–91.

The first version (1983–1987) sold poorly and was withdrawn. Production resumed in 1990 with an updated version and new variants, ceasing in 1999. It was succeeded by the FN Forty-Nine in 2000 and the FN FNP in 2006.

Design details

The FN HP-DA is a short recoil operated locked breech semi-automatic with a vertically tilting delayed camming action borrowed from the Browning Hi-Power. Its double-action trigger cocks and releases the hammer; slide recoil recocks the hammer for subsequent single-action shots. A disconnector ensures semi-automatic fire only. The spring-loaded external claw extractor is in the slide, and the fixed ejector is in the frame.

An automatic firing pin safety blocks the pin until the trigger is pulled, re-engaging after each shot. A decocking safety on both sides of the frame safely releases and captures the hammer in a safety notch. A notable change from the original Hi-Power is a shortened hammer spur to avoid cutting the web of the hand.

The HP-DA feeds from a dual-column box magazine with 14-round capacity (though it uses a different 10- or 15-round magazine interchangeable with the Browning BDM but not the BDA-9). The magazine release can be swapped for left- or right-hand use. A slide catch holds the slide open after the last round; the slide release is on the left side. Fixed iron sights with contrasting dots are standard, with optional tritium Meprolight night sights.

Variants

The BDA/HP-DA was first produced only as a standard model from 1983 to 1987. With the second version in 1990, new variants appeared. The standard BDA/HP-DA (initially BDA-9S) measures 200 × 38 × 130 mm with a 118 mm barrel and 920 g weight, holding 14 rounds. The BDAM/HP-DAM medium model (173 × 38 × 130 mm, 96 mm barrel, 840 g) uses the same magazine and was aimed at law enforcement.

The BDAC/HP-DAC compact variant (173 × 27 × 93 mm, 96 mm barrel, 765 g) has a seven-round duo stack magazine and was designed for air force personnel; another compact, the BDA-9C, had a shorter grip. The BDAO/HP-DAO double-action only variant automatically decocks the hammer after each shot. Norinco produced a Chinese clone, the Model 88 SP.