VBR-GP pistol-revolver project Browning High Power 1989

The Flemish weapon project VBR-GP pistol-revolver project Browning High Power from 1989 was developed by Rik Van Bruaene of VBR-Belgium. Origins and old photos of the project.

Origins 

The following incident took place somewhere in 1988 when the Belgian Police were still armed with a .38 Special revolver and were considering switching to a 9x19mm pistol.

At a shooting range in Roeselare (West Flanders-Belgium), there was a sport shooter who preferred his 4-inch Colt Python revolver for practical shooting, but was interested in various 9mm pistols. He asked if he could try Rik Van Bruaene's Browning High-Power. The police officer used the technique of shooting from the hip. A shooting technique that was also taught for a long time at the FBI. With his experience as a police officer in shooting from the hip with a revolver, he tried to hit the target with the GP Browning pistol, but sparks flew from the floor. The hip shooter, experienced with the revolver, completely missed his target and the bullets struck the floor several meters in front of the target. Although the shooting incident happened in a safe direction, both were surprised and wondered what had gone wrong?

The angle between the grip and the barrel of a revolver is completely different from the angle between the grip and the barrel of a Browning High-Power pistol. The hip shooter instinctively aimed the weapon at the target according to his revolver training, but the difference in angle between the grip and the barrel of the pistol caused the weapon to be aimed far too low, resulting in the projectiles striking far too low in front of the target.

Rik Van Bruaene at the milling machine with the VBR-GP frame clamped

Given that the Belgian Police were considering switching from the revolver to the pistol, the incident was important and Rik Van Bruaene developed a new frame for a pistol that could accommodate the difference in angle. The project was carried out in Rik Van Bruaene's old workshop in Roeselare.

The design included a new pistol frame where the angle between the grip and the barrel was comparable to that of a traditional police revolver.

The new pistol frame was designed to use the same slide and barrel as the Browning High-Power. The Browning High-Power was called the Browning Grand Puissance in Belgium, or simply GP. The project was therefore named VBR-GP after the official designation of the workshop Van Bruaene Rik metalworking and the Browning Grand Puissance.

Rik Van Bruaene with the VBR-GP in a shooting position from the hip, where the barrel of the weapon is instinctively aimed perfectly horizontally at the target.

BENELUX model depot of the VBR-GP frame

Contact was made with a patent office and on 15-03-1989 a Belgian model recognition was requested with the name “Revolver frame with magazine”.

Photo of the VBR-GP frame that was used for the model application "Revolver frame with magazine"

FN-Herstal and the VBR-GP

Contact was made with FN-Herstal and on June 12, 1989 the message came to make an appointment with the design department of Browning in Herstal (Liège).

Portfolio photo of the VBR-GP that was presented to FN-Herstal.

The idea of the VBR-GP was investigated and FN-Herstal was willing to supply the Browning High-Power parts such as the slide and the barrel, but the VBR-GP frame still had to be further adapted and the production of the frame had to be carried out by Van Bruaene Rik metalworking.

Portfolio photo of the VBR-GP with FN bullet box that was presented to FN-Herstal.

18-round magazine capacity

In 1989 the interest of FN-Herstal was mainly in the 18-round magazine capacity of the VBR-GP while the Browning High-Power magazine only had 13 rounds.

Given the slide with the trigger mechanism and the barrel of the Browning High-Power, the operation of the VBR-GP pistol was therefore comparable to that of a Browning High-Power.  

A revolver-pistol frame that feels just like a revolver but with an 18-round 9x19mm magazine that was intended to make the transition from the revolver to the pistol easier and safer for the Belgian police. Ultimately the Belgian police then chose the Glock 17 before the VBR-GP project could be fully developed.

The designer Rik Van Bruaene with the VBR-GP in 1989.

The design of the VBR-GP was not further developed and the project was lost when Van Bruaene Rik metalworking's old workshop was sold and demolished. These are the remaining photos from the old box.

Shooting incidents at shooting ranges.

We regularly receive questions about personal protection for sport shooters and Range Masters at shooting ranges. Not everyone who signs up at a shooting club is an experienced shooter. Especially with dynamic shooting where you move around with a weapon, things can sometimes go wrong. It is therefore logical that some shooters and Range Masters worry and want to protect themselves against possible accidents by inexperienced shooters.

Pollux discrete bulletproof vest 3A NIJ-0101.04

The Pollux is a discrete and affordable bulletproof vest of good European quality, which is officially certified against the calibers 9x19mm - .44 Magnum and from the Belgian manufacturer Sioen Ballistics. It is therefore possible for shooters to wear a hidden bulletproof vest under their clothes without anyone seeing it and thus increase your own safety during a dynamic shooting exercise. No permit is required to purchase a bulletproof vest. 

Helios bulletproof vest 3A NIJ-0101.04

For a Range Master at a dynamic shooting range, a highly visible, affordable Helios bulletproof vest that is officially certified against the calibers 9x19mm - .44 Magnum from the Belgian manufacturer Sioen Ballistics is a responsible additional safety measure. No permit is required to purchase a bulletproof vest.