Cosmetically Challenged Hi Power

ir3e971 · Aug 15, 2009

I picked up an FEG Hi Power today. It was rusty, and somewhat cosmetically challenged. Sprayed some Rem Oil in it, and took it to the range prior to even cleaning it up.

Fired 200 rounds without a hiccup. Then I took it home and went after it with Hoppes, Kroil, and scrub brushes.

It is no longer rusty, however, it is still no raving beauty. It was fun to shoot though, and acts like it will be reliable.

Couple of notes: There are a lot of machining marks inside of the FEG. It seems well built, but fit and finish is rough.

The pin the trigger pivots on scooted about an 1/8 inch out while shooting. Never came further out though.

Seemed like it had cosmoline, or some type of heavy grease in some locations.

General Geoff · Aug 16, 2009

It is no longer rusty, however, it is still no raving beauty.

I think it's gorgeous. All well-worn but cared-for guns are, to me.

tprice · Aug 16, 2009

Great character or, as a watch collector would say, "wabi"

How's the bore?

Drgong · Aug 16, 2009

since it no beauty, you should ship it to my local FFL.....

ir3e971 · Aug 16, 2009

tprice,

The bore is perfect. I disconnected the magazine safety last night, and the trigger pull improved a bunch.

Now I need to get a couple more magazines for it.

Eightball · Aug 16, 2009

Look at it as a perfect candidate for whatever refinish you want.

tprice · Aug 16, 2009

Great find then, IR! I think the only issue with "wabi" is that I believe the slide metal is not inherently corrosion resistant, so keep it protected with oil (FP-10). Good shooting!

sidheshooter · Aug 16, 2009

I had one of these once and sold it.

Not one of my best moments.

--
Nice finish work, Infractioner.

ir3e971 · Aug 16, 2009

Drgong

since it no beauty, you should ship it to my local FFL.....

Thanks, but I think I will get to know her better. I think she probably has a good personality...

ir3e971 · Aug 16, 2009

TheInfractioner,

That durakote looks great. I was considering that. Your pictures show it as a viable option.

Unfortunately I don't have access to a bead blaster. Is it necessary?

Landpimp · Aug 16, 2009

well just be thankfull this wasnt done to it :fire:

damn T series! I had to save it(evidence gun), but there aint much I can do(the gold is gone now) but it shoots like a dream.......man

should have takin it to hempfest.........

if anyone has any idea's on saveing it, let me know......it was done with an electric pencil.

earlthegoat2 · Aug 16, 2009

Was the person who did that a tatoo artist or something, they were obviously into smoking that wacky stuff.

Dr_2_B · Aug 16, 2009

oh that thing looks fine

Landpimp · Aug 17, 2009

well its truely a HIGH Power

what really hacked me off was the same numbnut use the Browning as his 1st atempt, his 2nd was a Taurus......and I gotta say he did a much better job :fire:

BHPshooter · Aug 17, 2009

The pin the trigger pivots on scooted about an 1/8 inch out while shooting. Never came further out though.

My FEG did that too. Make sure the trigger spring goes under the pin -- it turned out that mine was installed incorrectly. Still worked, but the pin walked out.

The Hi Power clones are great beaters. My current one is an FM Argentine one. It also needed a little TLC, but I'm not afraid to take it anywhere.

The roughness inside can be helped with some gentle stoning, or you can shoot the crap out of it -- I like a combination of the two.

Wes

BHPshooter · Aug 17, 2009

damn T series!

It's probably good I don't know who did that. What a crime.

Wes

mljdeckard · Aug 17, 2009

I like the suggestion of Duracoat, as well as the shown example. I would do it in a flat black, and I would also switch out the grips for black rubber. (I do that a lot, I know a lot of people don't like it.) I like to think that I would appreciate the history and appearance of an old gun, but if that much of the finish is gone, it needs to be fixed.

ir3e971 · Sep 8, 2009

Update and Range report on cosmetically challenged Hi Power

Thought I would give a follow up range report. I have shot about 500 rounds through this Hi Power, and it has not jammed or failed once.

Good

Very reliable so far.
Exceptional feel to the pistol. It seems like the right size and heft, and is very controllable.
It seems consistently accurate. (not exceptional but consistent, though I suspect that is the shooter more than the weapon)
I am really becoming fond of this handgun, and will be keeping my eyes open for an actual Browning in the future.

Bad

Not much but minor quibbles.
The rear site could be more open for easier target acquisition.
The grips are kind of fugly, and the safety does not click.

However, I like this pistol so well that I thought I should put it into service. So I called Garrity Leather to see if I could get an IWB holster for it. As luck would have it, an order from another customers Hi Power for the same holster I was considering had been canceled, and a 90% complete one was awaiting final finish. Should ship in two weeks (way better than the 6 month wait).

Also picked up some spare Mec Gar magazines and some thinner grips.

So in two weeks I will have a new holster, thinner Navridex grips, and some additional magazines. The cosmetically challenged Hi Power will augment my 642 for carry purposes.

This decision was not made without a lot of consideration, as I have several other pistols. This one felt like it should be a carry gun though.

Cosmetically Challenged Hi Power

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