Argentine Hi power barrel

[birdman]

I'm in need of a new barrel for my Argentine hi power. Mine has developed a circular crack around the front of the chamber. It is so uniform that at first I thought it was just a mill mark but upon closer inspection I noticed it went right through the "C" of "Cal 9MM" that is stamped on the barrel. Since this is a fairly inexpensive handgun I want to keep it that way and find a stock replacement barrel somewhere. I'm assuming that any FN or FM barrel will drop in. Am I wrong?

Thanks

 

[RON in PA]

Before you run out and waste your money, did you know that the barrels of Argentine and FN Hi-Powers were two-piece and brazed together. You are probably noticing this for the first time.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I don't have an FM Hi Power here to look at and see the location of the seam where the two-part barrel is joined, but if it is not that seam, you are correct that an FN/Browning barrel should fit the gun as it's manufactured under license from FN.

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/TwoPieceBarrels.htm

A brand new FN barrel might be more than you want to spend based on your post and while I don't have the current pricing, they usually are fairly high. You might check at gunparts:

http://www.gun-parts.com/index.html/

I'd also look around at the "For Sale" areas on this site as well as at www.fnhipower.com

This company is in Canada, but has a good reputation with American customers:

http://www.marstar.ca/pistols.htm

This site is advertising Hi Power barrels (used) @ $50:

http://www.sarcoinc.com/bhp.html

I saw one "war time" Hi Power barrel here, but there might be more recent ones as well:

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=browning+barrel&newu=1&krd=1

This company sells Hi Power barrels, but I have not used their product and cannot speak to how good it is or isn't:

http://www.efkfiredragon.com/

Certainly, there is Barsto, but their barrel is expensive like the new FN.

Best.

 

[birdman]

Thanks Ron and Stephen. I think you are right and that I'm just noticing where the 2 piece barrel is joined. I had heard of the 2 piece contruction but had never seen it displayed as in Stephen's picture. I believe this is in the same location on my barrel. It's at the foremost part of the chamber where the mouth of the brass would be located. Thanks again for you comments and pictures.

birdman

 

[Josey]

I noticed new barrels for BHPs in 9MM at FAC. $94.95. www.gunsnstuff.net