WheelMan
Member
I have an old (WWII) HiPower made by FN. Are modern hicap browning mags interchangable with this gun? Thanks
Quick HP question
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Stephen A. Camp
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Hello. Yes. You can also use surplus military Inglis magazines.
Best.
Best.
I believe that those made specifically for the new FN HiPowers do not work in Browning HiPowers. In the United States, those magazines would have LEO markings, so that is probably not relevant to you.
As for HiPower magazines you see in gun shows and websites, you are fine. All the Browning HiPower magazines are compatible.
As for HiPower magazines you see in gun shows and websites, you are fine. All the Browning HiPower magazines are compatible.
Stephen A. Camp
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Hello. The magazines for the Browning and FN Hi Powers are the same, both being manufactured by Mec-Gar of Italy. FN makes both of the guns with different markings depending upon if the importer is Browning or FN-USA. The FN pistol will have the serial number on the frame dust cover rather than the front strap as does the Browning version. The only magazine difference is in the "LE/Gov't Use Only" stamp on Hi Power magazines made after Sept. 13th, 1994. Pre-Ban Hi Power magazines will work fine the WWII Hi Power as would the Post-Ban LE magazines....IF legal to do so. Being a retired officer, I used the Post-Ban magazines in various Hi Powers as I could get them inexpensively at the time. Worked fine in all that I tried from a early '60's right on up to a '94 Mk III and a buddy's Inglis Hi Power.
Now there is another pistol being marketed by FN that resembles the old single-action Hi Power, but it is a DA/SA pistol. It does not use the same magazines and only the ten-round ones are available for private US citizens.
Could that be the pistol you're thinking of?
Best.
Now there is another pistol being marketed by FN that resembles the old single-action Hi Power, but it is a DA/SA pistol. It does not use the same magazines and only the ten-round ones are available for private US citizens.
Could that be the pistol you're thinking of?
Best.
ACP230
Member
CDNN in Texas has 17 round South African magazines that should fit your gun too. I bought a couple for my Argentine FM HP and they work OK in it.
With work you can still find 13 round HP mags for about a dollar per round. It isn't as easy as it used to be but it can still be done.
With work you can still find 13 round HP mags for about a dollar per round. It isn't as easy as it used to be but it can still be done.
WheelMan
Member
Wow
Thanks for all the quick information guys. What I have here is most certainly a single action only highpower with one 13 round mag. Some years ago I did some research about this gun and although I don't remember too well I believe I discovered that it was made during the period where the produciton facility was occupied by the germans. All the markings are Danish (that's what they speak in Belgium right?) The finish is so rough that it has no collectors value so I thought I'd make a shooter out of it.
Thanks for all the quick information guys. What I have here is most certainly a single action only highpower with one 13 round mag. Some years ago I did some research about this gun and although I don't remember too well I believe I discovered that it was made during the period where the produciton facility was occupied by the germans. All the markings are Danish (that's what they speak in Belgium right?) The finish is so rough that it has no collectors value so I thought I'd make a shooter out of it.
WheelMan
Member
While I'm at it some questions from somebody new to hicaps.
I'm looking at the CDNN magazine page and I see 13 and 15 (and 30 haha, no thanks) round mags that claim they are "new." Are these mags legal? I was under the impresson that the mag had to be manufactured prior to the ban otherwise LEO only.
I'm looking at the CDNN magazine page and I see 13 and 15 (and 30 haha, no thanks) round mags that claim they are "new." Are these mags legal? I was under the impresson that the mag had to be manufactured prior to the ban otherwise LEO only.
Stephen A. Camp
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Hello. I know what you mean, but so long as there is no "LEO Only" or similar marking to indicate to you that it's post ban, you're in no trouble. With Hi Powers, there are reportedly tons of unused magazines made before the cut off date from many foreign sources that do or did use the Hi Power. Essentially,these are new even though made several years ago before Sept 13th, '94. Should someone be making post-ban magazines w/o the marking and selling them as pre-ban, they could be in trouble.
Best.
Best.
WheelMan
Member
Thanks Stephen. I'm amazed at how (relatively) cheap hicap mags are for this gun, I should have dusted this thing off a long time ago.
-edit: to spell your name correctly.
-edit: to spell your name correctly.
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Dave Markowitz
Member
The 17 round mags South African mags from CDNN are a great value. They work great in my BHP Practical.
bubbygator
Member
Yeah, the 15 round mags from CDNN for $19 work just fine in my BHP. It's hard to believe that some people pay $45-$60 for full-cap mags. They're very stiff-springed though & need to sit partially loaded awhile before you can load them fully.
I have yet to get those KRD mags to work properly. But really 13 rd mags are plentiful and cheap, thats the beauty of a high cap that been in production since 1935.
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