Hi-power knock off barrel failure

[rockhound66]

I was given a hi-power knock off by a friend due to jamming, he asked that I look at it. It appears that someone may have done some clearance mods to the barrel lug with a tool better suited to downing redwood trees. I cleaned the rail mating surface and polished the feed ramp and loaded 3 in the mag. The first fired, the second stove-piped, I cleared it and the third was something like a .50 cal going off next to my head.
The barrel split in half just at the forward lip of the chamber area. At closer inspection it appears that the barrel may have been machined in two pieces and then braised together. There is braising material in the failure area and the failure is perfectly semetrical and recessed to fit.
The gun is an Interarms import, from Hungarian Arms Works, model P9. the barrel SN matches the gun, so it came that way if it is a factory issue.

Any input???????

Any leads on a quality replacement barrel?

I contacted a fellow member that had a P9R lug failure to get the contact info from where he got a replacement.

 

[combatantr2]

From what I know the modern HI-powers, FEG or even the BROWNINGS construct their barrels as a two-piece. I had a FEG before (bought it used) and it was clearly a two piece barrel construction and you can clearly see the seams like a line on outside of the barrel chamber. Fired thru over thousand rounds thru by previous owner and thru me but never had a barrel separation. The barrel lug modification as you have suspected could be the issue and contributed to the failure. Other HI-power experts could soon chime in for you.

 

[Elvishead]

I have seen that happen before in a un gun related situation, but can't recall if it was automotive or motorcycle. It was a clean break like that.

I think it was an auto axle.:banghead: And, it was made on a Monday.

 

[rockhound66]

The work to the lug area was aft of the failure point, no modifications were done in the failure area. The work contributed to the jamming issues, but I think the failure is totally separate.

My email to the oter member was retured, so I need help with a replacement barrel????

Attached is the thred that I was hoping to give me the answers I needed.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=293563&highlight=p9r+barrel

 

[jlmurphy]

My FEG HP clone has an aftermarket barrel, so it is possible. Do more research on your clone, barrels are available.

 

[lechiffre]

the barrel might have been two-piece like a hi-power,but the cam is a different shape

 

[Jim Watson]

Looks like the double action model which is a S&W action faked up to look like a Browning.
Nothing interchangeable with either parent gun that I know of. If you can't find a FEG barrel, the gun is out of action.

 

[jaydubya]

Lechiffre said: "The barrel might have been two-piece like a hi-power,but the cam is a different shape."

I agree. My Browning High Power has a two-piece barrel, as do all that I have seen. But that barrel cam looks unlike anything I have ever seen.

Cordially, Jack

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. The gun pictured is an FEG P9R. It is not a clone of the Hi Power. It is a copy of the S&W line of M39-based 9mm autos. That is why the bbl set-up looks more like the S&W.

Best.

 

[rockhound66]

Thanks Guys, I was able to contact the member from the other post and get his contact for the replacement P9R barrel. At $189 plus shipping it costs more than half what the gun is worth so this may end up as one of thoes never finished projects.

 

[fastlane1986]

Another Separated Barrel

Interesting series of posts. I just had this happen to my hi-power and was wondering if there were any other occurances...now I know. However, mine didn't crack, the two pieces literally separated. It almost feels like a locktite type of material between the pieces. Does anyone know how Browning bonded these pieces together? See posted pictures. I've owned this pistol for 20 years and pumped alot of ammo through it so I'm not too upset but I'm still surprised by this type of problem.

 

[Jim Watson]

Fascinating, never saw one come apart like that.
If you see a glue residue, then that is what they depended on. I would have thought it was furnace brazed like a lot of fabricated rifle bolts are held together.

I would contact Cylinder & Slide and see if he had strong enough glue to put it back together to keep it original.
Otherwise, I am sure Browning will be sufficiently embarassed to replace it.

 

[rockhound66]

You can see the braising residue around the seem on my failed barrel but it came from Hungary so manufacturing would not be the same as the Browning barrel I would assume. Yours has a long sleeve that would lend to strength, mine just had a raised shoulder at the barrel and a grove in the chamber section.

 

[kokapelli]

I had the barrel lug break off on a FEG.

 

[fastlane1986]

I called my local gunsmith, who is also a Browning authorized service center, and he had not seen this type of failure before either. Suggested a new one pc barrel. I will be contacting Browning to get their take on this and will post any replies.

 

[fastlane1986]

I spoke with a technician at Browning and he said that the two pieces are a press fit then silver soldered together and is repairable if the gunsmith is capable to do it. Nothing like sweatin' some pipes together to fix your gun! I might try it but a one pc barrel is probably the best way to go for the long term.

 

[fastlane1986]

Well, I'm on my second gunsmith on this one. Gunsmith #1 said he'd try but was concerned he couldn't get the barrel up to temp with the equipment he had.....he was right. No charge for his service. Gunsmith #2 is a very reputable name in my area and believes he'll have no problem repairing the barrel. Both thought this was very poor quality by Browning, it hardly appears to be soldered at all. But, neither had ever seen it before so I guess Browning can make one bad barrel every 20 years or so. I'll post the final outcome in a couple of weeks.

 

[Shear_stress]

Browning had nothing to do with this gun. It was made in Hungary.

That said, I hope the repair goes well and gets your gun back in service.

 

[Funderb]

you might be able to braze/solder the better looking one back together, i'd go gunsmith on that one.

or just buy a new one if you can.

OP, that sucks, dude.

 

[rockhound66]

Two different guns guys, the first is a Hungarian FEG, the second is a true Browning. The FEG needs a new barrel and the Browning is in repairable condition.

 

[fastlane1986]

Success! The second gunsmith was able to do the repair work and he say's it's as good as new (actually better if you consider that the first job was quite poor!) and at a very reasonable cost. He did caution me not to shoot hot or +P loads in a Belgian made HP however. This could cause this type of failure in the two piece barrel design. I don't shoot hot loads but I think I'll keep my reloads in the low to mid range pressures just to be sure. I'm off to the range tonight!

 

[Dlc43]

It looks like this problem has been solved but I thought I would post just in case someone is looking for this kind of information in the future.
I have an FEG 9hp Mine is the PJK model that I bought in 1998.
I know they changed them some since then but I was at my local gunshop and my friend who worked there showed me some close out stuff they had for sale and there was an aftermarket stainless one piece machined stainless steel target barrel in the pile of stuff they had on sale.
I compared it to the barrel on my FEG and everything seemed to be the same.
This barrel was made for a Browning high power but I bought it for $79 because it was a well made barrel.
It dropped right in to my PJK model and functions flawlessly.
It also really did improve the accuracy so they weren't kidding about the target barrel sales pitch.
Since it was specifically made for the Browning High power but fit and functions in my PJK I would think that any Browning barrel would fit the PJK.
I'm giving the customary disclaimer though that you should have your gunsmith look at it first just to be safe but I know for a fact that the Browning Barrel works in my gun with no modification or fitting