Argie HP's ?

[mrming]

Whats the word on the Argie HP clone's that are on the market ? Anything in specific to look for or avoid? I've handled a belgium before, and my only grief with it was the sights were off by about 8" at 25 feet.

Am in need of a good 9mm plinker, and it seems to have strong potential as such. Other (non-glock) ideas are welcome as well.

Thanks for any responses.

 

[Croyance]

Cruffler had a review. Hope you find it useful.

 

[Acolyte]

I've heard good things. The price is right, and their parts are supposed to interchange with 'genuine' Hi-Powers.
And if your use is plinking, even better, because cheap hicap mags are readily available.
Cruffler's review is of the current 'FM' series, but Argentina has made them in years past as well.
You should be able to search for good info here: http://www.fnhipower.com/modules.php?name=Forum

 

[AK103K]

I have an older FM high power. Its a good shooting gun. Has always worked well. The only difference I've noticed is the mags for the FM dont want to go into my Browning HP. The Browning mags work well in the FM. Not a biggie, but you do need to seperate them.

 

[MessedUpMike]

FEG makes a rough clone of the HP that's very similar to the real thing, for about $200. Personally I wanted the option of a DA/SA pistol and eventually found myself with the much compared CZ-75. Both are excellent guns, and I've heard some say that a good FEG can be almost as good or better than the real thing. Comparing the CZ-75 to the HP though is something akin to the "less fillng/tatses great" argument.

Check out www.CZForum.com

Mike

 

[agony]

I own an Argentinian police surplus pistol, FN (not FM) Hipower made in Belgium, with the Herstal marks. It is an older model, made in the 1960's with the Argentinian crest on top of the slide. A great and accurate shooter, it is 100% interchangeable with commercial HPs. The blueing had to have been redone, as it looks pristine. Two downsides: Cruddy and small sights, blade-type. And the internal extractor, which keeps it from being 100% reliable. Otherwise a great plinker....haven't seen them on the market for a while, but I picked this one up for~$200 three or four years ago.

 

[Zip06]

I have an older FM. Its a Mark II. Very crude with many tooling marks and a couple of instances of "slag" or spots of unfinished metal. Operation is first rate and I believe it has never missed a beat but it looks like it lost the Falklands war. Unlike AK103K, mine has no problems with the magazines.

 

[buttrap]

Agony I share your pain on the really pee poor sights on the FN old argy guns. they are as bad as my 1918 made colt 1911.

 

[stans]

From what I have heard, they are good pistols, although the finish is not always nice and some tooling marks may be visible.

 

[para.2]

I have owned and enjoyed 4 or 5 over the years. Most FM, one FN. FM's, in particular, were ugly. Tool marks,"painted on" looking finish, tiny sights, etc. But all fed, functioned, and fired reliably and accurately. When I owned them, I relied on them for personal protection. Ended up trading each one for something "nicer" along the way.

 

[mrming]

Suppose that brings up the other question. Are either part of the sight on a HP replaceable/adjustable?

 

[HIPOWER]

As my username suggests, I'm a big HP fan. Although I don't have much experience with the Argie clones, the ones I have seen seem to be lesser guns than the Brownings, and probably on par with the less expensive FEG. For what it's worth, I'd say save up for a Browning or FN Hi-Power and you'll have the best. It will be several hundred more pesos, but well worth it if you really want an HP. If you're short on cash and don't figure on coming into any more disposable funds, the FEG might be the ticket. They are decent clones at a bargain price. Just my .02

Good luck, and good shooting.

 

[HIPOWER]

Oh, BTW, you might want to solicit the advice of a member named Stephen Camp. He's been shooting HP's and clones for many years and has informative opinions.