Substitute Hi Power Magazine Floor Plates

Hello. I received a useful email concerning replacing Hi Power magazine floor plates that might be of interest since finding spare Hi Power magazine replacement parts can be a problem. Complete new replacement magazines can easily be found but finding just a floor plate or follower usually is not so easy.

Here is the text of the email:

"I wanted to pass along a bit of information for what it’s worth.

I wrecked the base plates on several of my BHP magazines a few weeks back during a combat shooting school. The repeated dropping onto concrete smashed the base plates pretty badly. I searched several of the forum boards you and I frequent, but searches yielded no readily identifiable sources for base plate replacements. I tried a Beretta 92 model base plate and it fit perfectly – some slight movement consistent with a Mec-Gar factory standard BHP base plate is discernible. Due to the holidays, I couldn’t forward this to you earlier, but a Google search revealed numerous purveyors of Beretta 92 base plates at $8 each for a polymer plate with sandwiched metal reinforcement plate. A tad pricey, in my opinion, I decided to check Beretta USA’s website and attempt to get some type of law enforcement discount, hoping for 5 or 6 bucks each. What I found was a retail price of $5.95 each, with a current price of $2.95 each, and a winter discount of 30%- I picked up 15 plates for $30. I believe the winter discount has passed, but the $2.95 is still a pretty good deal. I don’t get to frequent the boards you cover, and thought you might be able to disseminate the information to more folks in a timelier fashion than I might.

Thanks.

Michael V. Floyd"

Here is the link to the Beretta magazine floor plates: https://www.berettausa.com/e2wShoppingCatalog.aspx?parentID=3100001471&parentLink=2100000084:3100001318:3100001336:3100001471

I am hoping that this might be of use to some readers at this site and I appreciate Mr. Floyd's passing along this information.  In the past some Hi Power magazine parts could be found at:www.midwestgunworks.com  but that may no longer be the case.  Pearce also offers a +2 floor plate extension.  Not surprisingly, it is the same product for both the Hi Power and Beretta Model 92: http://www.pearcegrip.com/beretta_p2.htm

On the left is a Mec-Gar BHP magazine and floor plate.  On the right is the same Hi Power magazine but with a Taurus PT-92 floor plate.  I did not have a Beretta 92 magazine to try but the Taurus is a clone of the Beretta 92; if it works, the Beretta should work just as well if not better! In this particular instance, the Taurus floor plate is a tiny bit looser fit than the Mec-Gar but it is very useable and would not be noticed by many.

The Hi Power magazine with the Taurus floor plate fits in the Hi Power pistol as though made for it.

Best.

PS:  Mr. Floyd generously provided some more information on Hi Power vs. Beretta 92 magazines for those who are interested:

"Just a follow up on the BHP/Beretta magazine base plate interchangeability… I measured a magazine from each and have put the findings in the table below."

 

BHP		Beretta 92
Mag Body (width at base plate lips)

 

Front lips	0.894 in.		0.906 in.
Back lips	0.892 in.		0.908 in.
Mag Body (general width)	0.810 in.		0.810 in.
Mag Body (depth F to B)	1.248 in.		1.254 in.

 

"As you can see, the differences are quite minor.  I haven’t tried this, but given the magazine tube width, a Beretta follower may well be useable or adaptable as well (as might the spring).  If that is true, Beretta sells spring and follower kits for a reasonable price.  Just some more grist for the mill."