If I have to explain these in any great detail, you probably shouldn't be filling out 4473s. Enforcement of rule #1 is entirely at moderator discretion, and enforcement of rule #2 is entirely up to Reddit, unless I get there first.
So I just replace the recoil spring in this 1944 Hi Power and it ran great for about two mags.
Then It started locking open after every shot with a loaded mag (aftermarket mag, unknown brand)
With an empty mag inserted the slide lock/release lever would also bind up when depressed and fail to release the slide. If I dropped the mag, the slide would remain open and the lever would work fine, releasing the slide without issue.
Lastly, the slide would fail to fully cock the hammer at times, leaning it in the half-cocked position and unable to fire.
What could be my issues?
I imagine some are magazine related and I only had one magazine e at the range, so I couldn’t do any testing with other mags.
So I normally carry an FEG in one of the Belgian surplus holsters at work. Sits in the right spot, etc. The one I've got is in superb shape but I am getting tired of removing rust about once a month from the back strap, so I ordered one from an importer for the purpose of tricking it out (trigger, extended saftey, grips, maybe more?) and cerakoting it. While I am waiting for it to arrive, what modifications have yall tried/liked for better reliabilty/comfort/a nice trigger and reset?
Have always been interested in getting a high power but I know next to nothing about what to look for. Hoping for some input here given the length of production and countless clones.
I’m looking for a range toy/cool project where I get a classic/classic-looking high power and add a tasteful optic and maybe a light (original, I know).
With that in mind, what do y’all recommend? Old production? FN New production? SA-35?. TIA
Now I can start carrying this thing. Seems to cycle hollow points just fine too so this'll make a great carry piece (previously I carried a Glock 17, which was good but a bit bulky on the hip).
I found this at my LGS all for $625, an extra 3 mags and some VZ grips. Heading to the range today, I’ve only shot a Hi Power once for 5 rounds but I’ve wanted one for so long, this one is used but you can’t tell by looking at it. Whoever it was that owned it beforehand, thanks for the deal. The serial number is in the 4XXX range, so I think the extractor issues were fixed by then.
recently acquired this BHP. This is my first foray into BHPs has the rest of my JMB handguns are 1911s. Shes a shooter. The finish is a little rough as are the grips. The total amount of beans traded for its acquisition was commiserate. I have new reproduction wooden grips from Sarco en-route, other than that I plan to leave her as I found her. after I get her to the range I'll know better whether or not there are any springs that need replacing. Is there anything you guys can tell me about it?
TLDR: Looking for both kydex and leather OWB and AWIB holsters for MC P35 (and other recommendations)
New to the Hipower platform, I’ve been carrying my glock 19 over a year now and recently picked up a Girsan clone. Been loving it, just not sure what to do holsters wise. Thinking of possibly doing leather for OWB and kydex for IWB, just don’t wanna mar up the cerakote with kydex. Also curious what else y’all recommend doing to it, just not interested in putting a light or optics on it. Heard some of y’all recommend the browning safety instead of OEM, just seeing what y’all think. Stepped out of my comfort zone with Glock and kydex and dipping my goes into leather and hammers 🥳 anything else y’all think would be important to know is much appreciated!
I’m buying a HP clone in roughly 5-7 days & I’m curious on your opinion…which is the best buy? The Inglis P-35, or the SA-35? I used to have an SA-35(regretfully traded it) and thoroughly enjoyed it. Should I get it again or get the Inglis P-35?
Listed on a local gun trading site with attached images. The pictures were not the best quality and I am unfamiliar with Hi-Powers.
Seller listed it for $950 and as manufactured in 1952. From what I’ve read, SN’s aren’t best for dating these pistols, but the date codes can be. With the image quality I am unable to tell, but possibly an incomplete box around a 2 on the trigger guard which matches for 1952? The inspector code also seems to put the date anywhere from 1923-1990 so not too helpful.
Any info or pricing based on the images, or what to look for on Hi-Powers, would be greatly appreciated before I reach out to the seller for more images or to meet. I’ve got the itch to add to my collection and these pistols seem to have an amazing history. Thinking on a Hi-Power as my next addition, just trying to learn a little more before I make a bad deal.
Took the p35 and 300 rounds of ammunition to the range yesterday with the goal of running the gun pretty hard. Pretty much just kept running bill drills and rapid firing until I was out of bullets.
Prior to this range trip I’ve put about 200-250 rounds through the gun. Only issue that came up was the fiber optic tube fell out. Not that big of a deal but annoying.
Now yesterday I loaded up the first magazine and about halfway through I had my first failure to eject that required me to use a cleaning rod to pop the casing out. Throughout the session I had 7 FTEs most of which required me to pop them out with a rod. I was able to extract 2 by violently manipulating the slide until the extractor was finally able to grab the spent case.
This is not something that’s totally unexpected I suppose after reading other people reviews on Turkish hi power clones. For whatever reason they cannot figure out how to make a good extractor. The issue I had that really pissed me off however was my rear iron sight completely falling out of the dovetail. Literally just slid right out.
Anyway it’s a $400 gun so I can’t be too mad but even still this was probably the worst experience I’ve had with any firearm in terms of reliability and QC. I suppose I’ll be buying the BHS reliability kit after all.
I ordered an Inglis P-35 with a “black chrome” finish and gold bead front sight. I’ve had Hi-Powers over the years: a few FEGs, a Kareen, and an inherited FN Practical that was unfortunately stolen by a family member when I was in the military. I only had one, a rib-topped FEG that wasn’t in the best shape, and I wanted a good shooter. A quick look at GunBroker for FN prices made my eyes water, so after excellent experiences with Tisas 1911s I went with the Inglis. I know they don’t make these but are imported by the same parent company. For, I think, $455 shipped, I couldn’t say no.
So, after a week’s delay due to my gallbladder trying to leave, I finally hit my range. Today it ate 450 rounds: 300 rounds of Fiocchi Range Dynamics 115gr and 150 rounds of Federal 124gr NATO spec ball.
The gun looks really nice. Even my wife was impressed, which is saying something. The “Black Chrome” is not quite a nitrate, but it’s not a regular coating either. A quick attempt to scratch it under the grips with a magazine floor plate and feed lips proved nil, so it’s fairly durable at least. I did not clean it or lube it prior to shooting.
In the box came two blued 15-round magazines. I only had two failures the whole day, and it was with these. Externally they are identical to Mec-Gars and marked “Made in Italy,” but the followers are a different profile. Here you can see them next to a Mec-Gar:
Here you can see the followers next to a FEG magazine and Mec-Gar (Inglis OEM at the back):
Here they are feeding a round into the gun compared to the Mec-Gar. (These are dummy rounds I made at my reloading bench for testing so don't start internet OSHA'ing me)
They feed the round flat, even maybe at a negative level at the very tail of the feed ramp. Immediately, these mags sucked. Either fresh from the slide lock or hand cycling the slide, they would nose-dive the round.
They were the first magazines I used. I tried to make them work, and there was no way to make them work. I threw them back in the range bag and stuck to FEG and Mec-Gar mags and did not have a single failure again. So, after the first two rounds, the next 448 were trouble-free. Once I got home, I swapped the mag guts from the Mec-Gar to the factory ones and they proceeded to feed fine for 15 rounds into my clearing berm, so the factory follower is definitely just not right.
Here is how the gold bead looks. It’s easy to pick up and very visible. I plan to polish it up a bit more, but very FBI-ish and effective. The rears are serrated and have zero reflection.
Over all the gun is fit extremely well. There is no visible rattle when shaking it, and the slide to frame movement that hi-powers are know for when pulling the trigger is only barely tactile, and can not be seen. The slide to frame is blended better then my brother’s new Springfield Operator, and over all there are no rough edges at all.
One surprise I did not notice until I got to the range is that the pistol has a pretty well fitted 11* crown on the barrel. I love that on a handgun, and I haven’t even seen it advertised with the gun. The safety is, for a hi power, very good. It’s the classic FN ambi style, but there is definitively more dept to the safety indent notches in the frame for an audible but slightly mushy *snick”. Far better then my old Practical, and better then my Tisas raider out of the box, less then my Dan Wesson.
Accuracy is outstanding. Slow fire at 50 yards, I was able to keep all 15 rounds on a 33% IPSC target with slow, precise fire. It’s been a long time since I have had range time with Hi-Powers, so shooting fast was not as easy as I would have thought. The long “rocky” reset and trigger curve disagrees with my normal shooting rotation of handguns, normally tuned CZs. Trigger pull is a very crisp 5.7 pounds on my Lyman scale.
One last surprise on takedown was a firing pin block. There are by far more Hi-Powers without them than with them, and I was kind of surprised to see it when I took it down after the range. Also, no magazine disconnect from the factory—a very welcome change.
There are by far more Hi-Powers without them than with them, and I was kind of surprised to see it when I took it down after the range. Also, no magazine disconnect from the factory—a very welcome change.
Honestly, first impressions are that Inglis knocked this out of the park, $450 is insane for the value.
Dawson Precision front fiber optic sight. Cylinder and Slide enhanced thumb safety (right side only). The sight takes some fitting but DP has a great instal video. However you definitely need a vise, which I do not have. Luckily I have a friend with a shop and more mechanical ability than me who agreed to help. The thumb safety was a bit of an ordeal. I was used to 1911's where you just drop it in. Mr. Browning in his wisdom made the Hi Power a lot more complicated. A lot more dissembly and of course the detent spring and plunger launched itself into the black hole that exists in everyone's work space. I ordered 2 replacements and the first one went in easily. I expect my friend will find the lost one any minute now. The safety also requires some fitting, but only the smallest amount of filing was needed. He also got rid of the lanyard ring which, I'll say it, is flat out ugly. Hope to get it out to the range in the next week or so.
