Yea or Nea on FN Mk III?

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HMMurdock

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I found an FN Herstal Hi-Power Mk III new in the box for $419 and I'm thinkin about snatching it up. But what is the consensus on it?

I know the world famous browning hi-power design is a force to be reckoned with (quite popular amongst civilian contractors in Iraq, I also hear). But is the Mk III a good improvement? Or are the originals the way to go?

Thanks for the knowledge!

TRL
 
Good gun

Good gun. if you don't buy it, please PM me, I will.
TIA
 
The FN and Browing Hi Powers are the same gun with a different roll mark. I have a MK III Browning Hi Power and its my favorite pistol. That is a GREAT price for arguabley the best 9MM on the market. BUY IT.
 
I've got three MK III's in .40 S&W (just picked up a Practical model today)and they are my regular carry gun. Accurate enough, and 70 years of military experience to show they are reliable.

That's a good price, CDNN is $399 ea. then you have shipping and transfer fees on top of it.
 
I picked up an excellent Israeli FN Mk III for $289 some years back--but that was highway robbery on my part. Very nice gun. the only things I did to it was to remove the mag safety, replace the original small safety with a C&S one with a shelf, and put on Spegel delrins.

The FN is the real deal and the Mk. III is the best of the breed. IMHO it is still the principal reason to own a 9mm.
 
FN and SFS

I am relatively new to the BHP, but have done alot of homework on it..
I found that if the FN Herstal 9mm is new, that it only comes in SFS (Safe fast shooting)..It is a DA that shoots in SA...When you have the safety engaged, the hammer is down..When you release the safety it automatically cocks the hammer for you...To me I didn't want that feature, so bought the Browning Mklll instead, because it is only SA..
The only FN that you can buy new in SA is in .40 cal..
Also, the hammer on the FN 9mm SFS looks really DINKY..:eek:
You can go to http://FNHUSA.com and check it out..
Then go to http://browning.com
Good luck,
 
I have a BHP that I have been carrying since 1962. Also got a MK III, had both of them worked over by Novaks last year, and got the SFS model from CDNN. 3 of the best handguns ever, and I have been carrying professionally since 62.
The hammer on the SFS does look dinky, but it gets the job done. I have 600+ rounds through mine and it just keeps getting better, even the "with the mag safety trigger pull". I will have Novaks remove the mag safety, and put on his sights. Add a set of slim grips and you have one of the best 9s of all time(or 40s if that is your choice).



Beware of the man with only one gun, he probably knows how to use it.
 
Definite YEA ! I have the FN. Good fit and finish,100% reliable with a variety of ammo, heavy, but relatively clean, trigger pull, certainly as accurate as I am able to hold. I would not hesitate to pay $419, were I in the market for another.
 
Buy it!!! I had one that I sold to a friend a couple years ago. It was a great shooter and I still regret the sale.

The trigger is definitely better with the magazine safety removed.
 
tombstone
It is a DA that shoots in SA...
Click to expand...
Not to be picky (but I will), it is not a DA. It is still a SA only that is safe with the hammer down. I suppose it has the appearance of a DA, but it has nothing to do with how the pistol fires.

Back to the original question. $419 is a very good deal, whether it is 9mm, 40S&W, traditional SA, or SFS.
 
tombstone
It is a DA that shoots in SA...
Click to expand...
I'm sorry, I should have elaborated alittle more...

FN Herstal http://FNHUSA.com
It combines the performance advantages of both single action and double action pistol mechanisms without any of their disadvantages
Click to expand...

It may be a great gun, and I'm sure it is..
And for the price you probably aren't gonna beat it!
Please no one take this wrong, speaking just for MYSELF, I just like the idea of cocking the pistol myself, and not having modern technology do it for me...
I (like some others) think that it looks safer but what's the point if it is going to be a CCW anyway???
But different strokes, for different folks..
What ever floats your boat..
If you like it, then go for it...
That's the beauty of the forums..
Alot of different opinions..
So good luck, HMMurdock...
Tell us how it goes...
 
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Love it!

I have a 9mm FN HP with the SFS, my first Hi-Power. I carried a Lightweight Colt Commander for several years so am used to cocked and locked and prefer it over the SA/Da of my old Beretta, or DA only.
I adapted to the SFS in no time and the trigger pull was much better than I expected from the reports I've read about H-Ps. It has about a 7 pound, clean pull. I'll have to pick up a second one for the home.
North"wet"
 
What I don't like about the SFS system is that you can't put it on safe by flicking the safety up with your thumb -- you have to push the hammer forward.

Very unnatural to me, I'm a SA guy and thumb down to shoot thumb flicking the safty up when not shooting is a reflex for me, the SFS system breaks this!

--wally.
 
Thanks, everyone. Assuming it is indeed single action only then I've made myself a nice purchase. I'll ask to see if thats a regular price for them. If so I'll post the contact information for everyone. Thanks again!

TRL
 
I found that if the FN Herstal 9mm is new, that it only comes in SFS (Safe fast shooting).
Click to expand...

Simply not true. FN is still making HPs in good ol' single action.

As for the original question, BUY IT!!! Around here, buying an FN HP for that price would be robbery. :D You won't regret it.

Wes
 
tombstone
Thefumegator

Quote:
Simply not true. Fn is still making HPs in good ol' single action


Hey, go to http://FNHUSA.com and check out the HP-SA, and tell me if it doesn't say
Quote:
9mm model out of production
Click to expand...
Go to browning.com and you will see that the SA HP is still very much in production. FN is not putting the FN markings on HP's for the US market, only Browning markings, but they are the same pistol made by the same company.
 
Poppy is correct. I don't know who does the FN webpage, but the Hi Power in SA is still being made, FN just doesn't import them into the US under their name anymore. That's why CDNN had such a huge supply of them that they let go for an insane price ($399 for mine).

Hi Powers will still be imported (in Single Action) by Browning Arms Co.

Fear not! They continue to exist. :) ;)

Jaxnovice, Yes -- if you have a .40-cal HP, it can be converted to 9mm. It requires buying a conversion barrel in 9mm (different from standard 9mm HP barrels because it needs that third locking lug, as well as the larger external barrel diameter), as well as getting 9mm magazines. Reportedly, 9mm will work fine without any modifications to the breechface.

Oh, and I've heard rumors that you have to change the ejector, but I can't verify that.

Wes

P.S. You can get those barrels from Bar-Sto. ;)
 
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