In this day of polymer-frame striker-fired pistols stamped out by the thousands, there is still a place for customized handguns, made with skill and detail. We recently elected to test two such 9mm handguns from custom shops, both being double-action-first-shot pistols with metal frames and hammer-fired mechanisms. For contrast, we also shot a Browning Hi-Power single-action pistol whose starting price alone could buy either of the first two pistols, but which had been customized over time with some important upgrades, including a redone finish and new sights. Are any of these custom guns worth the extra cost? What we found is, a trained marksman will benefit most from such handguns.

Our first gun was a Beretta/Wilson Combat 92G Centurion, $1250. The Wilson Combat gun is manufactured by Beretta under Wilson Combat specifications. The Beretta is admired by Bill Wilson, who has used it in IDPA competition. The primary advantage of the Beretta is its proven reliability. The 92G Centurion Tactical merges the company’s Brigadier Tactical enhanced frame with a 4.25-inch Centurion slide to create an everyday carry 9mm pistol. Many shooters know there are certain drawbacks to the stock Beretta 92 pistol. The sights are smaller than many other modern sights, and the grip frame is larger than some hands may accommodate. These shortcomings have been addressed in the Wilson Combat upgrade. Wilson Combat grips are thinner while maintaining a high level of adhesion and abrasion. Also, the pistol features the Wilson Combat Battlesight and a front sight with tritium insert.

Next was the Guncrafter Industries Executive CZ 75B, $1875. Guncrafter Industries has offered its own high-end 1911 for several years. The base CZ 75 features good fit, finish, and steel and is a good choice for an upgraded 9mm handgun, but the CZ 75 hasn’t received the same customizing attention as 1911 and Hi-Power pistols. Guncrafters offers customizations on the 75B, the SP01, 75 Compact, and Shadow 2. The CZ 75 variants are built on existing CZ 75 pistols. The pistol may be built on a decocker frame if desired, as packages may be built on customer-supplied guns. Others are in stock and ready to ship.

Our third gun was a Browning Hi-Power 1979 9mm Luger, $1860. This 1979 Browning Hi-Power was obtained for $1100 originally and modified several times, to the tune of another $760. That aggregate price could easily be the cost of a used Hi-Power in reasonable shape today, with no mods.

We saw pretty early that Beretta fans were going to purchase the Wilson Combat Beretta, and CZ fans would buy the Guncrafter Executive, although there were compelling differences between them.

How We Tested

As the test progressed and we weighed individual features between platforms, we saw there was another grading scale to consider. While the overall performance of one pistol against the others was most important thing to consider, the validity of each feature’s improvement over what appears on standard handguns had to be gauged as well.

We used four types of ammunition during the evaluation. First was the Winchester Active Duty full-metal-jacket (FMJ) load during the combat-firing test. We used Remington UMC FMJs, Hornady 115-grain XTP jacketed hollow points, and Federal 124-grain Punch jacketed hollow points when firing for accuracy.

During preliminary handling, we noted the magazines of all three pistols were more or less the same in handling and loading. The 17-round Beretta magazines were not difficult to load. The 20-round Beretta magazine was another story. It became difficult to load at the 15th round. Only by using a magazine loader were we able to get to 19 rounds, and two of the four raters — men of at least average strength — could not load the 20th round, even with the loader, without great difficulty. We gave up and elected to load the magazine to 19 rounds, sometimes 18. Considering the added bulk and length of the magazine, it isn’t really worth the effort.

Gun Tests Grade: B

$1860

Our Browning was treated to a salt-blue refinish. The Hi-Power magazine safety, which prevents the pistol from firing unless the magazine is in place, was removed. We don’t recommend this, but it is common practice with the Browning Hi-Power. The trigger action was smoothed. We have tested original Hi-Power pistols with trigger actions as heavy as 8.5 pounds. This trigger action, as modified by a senior gunsmith, broke at 5 pounds even. The action is clean but retains the take-up common to the Hi-Power. Interestingly, the Browning’s muzzle treatment and crown resemble the modified Guncrafter CZ 75. The original sights were the Browning Adjustable sight, so the front post was a high-profile type. The rear sight was broken before the pistol was purchased. A replacement blade and screw could not be found. The slide was modified and a Millett adjustable sight added. The pistol was fitted with a set of oversize checkered grips slightly larger than the original, and they provided good handfit. The modification with the white-outline rear sight and white outline post front came off well.

Browning Hi-Power 1979 9mm Luger

The pistol was tested with five magazines, three Mec-Gars and two Brownings. These magazines hold 13 cartridges. The Browning was fitted with a Bar-Sto Precision barrel. The drop-in barrel required minimal fitting. The pistol retained the original small slide-lock safety. While the small safety ledge is often criticized, three of the four raters were able to manipulate the safety quickly on the draw. The fourth had more trouble with the small safety. While aftermarket and more modern MKII safety levers are superior, we were able to use the Hi-Power safety reasonably well. We recommend fitting a modern extended slide lock safety.

The Hi-Power was designed with a heavy trigger and heavy hammer spring to be completely reliable with all types of off-spec ammunition. The Hi-Power tested is fitted with a WC Wolff reduced-power hammer spring. The pistol never failed to feed, chamber, fire, or eject with any of the ammo tested.

On the firing range, the Hi-Power was fast on target and controllable. The Hi-Power has a reputation as a controllable pistol. Handfit and balance were good. The pistol’s recoil, however, was slightly greater than the GI CZ 75 pistol or the WC Beretta. Control was excellent. The pistol exhibited superior combat groups. The thinner profile of the Hi-Power makes it an excellent concealment piece compared to the wider pistols tested. In bench accuracy, the Hi-Power edged out the other custom 9mm handguns, with the smallest 25-yard group coming in at 1.7 inches, perhaps due to the Bar-Sto barrel.

Our Team Said: We like the Hi-Power, but we rated it down a grade on the small safety. Also, the Hi-Power isn’t a viable choice based on iffy availability and ever-increasing price. What the Hi-Power will do, a properly set up CZ 75 will do.

Among the other two custom-grade 9mm double-action pistols, the choice is less clear. The thinner Guncrafter might be the better carry gun. The Wilson Combat 9mm is a good tactical pistol with its rail and extended magazine. For combat ability, the Guncrafter CZ makes an accurate first shot hit in a superior manner, while the Wilson Combat Beretta seems better for sustained fire. In either case, we think you would be happy if you purchased one.

9mm Luger Range Data

Value Guide: 9mm Luger Handgun Rankings