Luger M80 hi-power clone full of sand

[Shuler13]

I got a surplus Luger Hi-Power clone (gunbroker, Great price) but as with any surplus, there is work to do.

Problem: sand. There was sand packed in the guide rod spring. Which of course means there is sand elsewhere. This could explain the very gritty trigger.

Question: what would work best for sand removal? Will it require complete disassembly or could I just repetitively blast the internals with CLP until the grit goes away? I don't know if I'm skilled or equipped for much more than field stripping.

 

[TJx]

When I got my FN from Coles I detail stripped and throughly cleaned it, removed mag safety, sanded sides of trigger, replaced springs, and now have a very nice smooth trigger.
It has been 100% reliable. I had TruGlo's put on it, bought a Crossbreed holster for it and plan on carrying it in the cooler months.

 

[highorder]

Complete disassembly is ideal, but a parts washer and some compressed air will work too.

 

[Dentite]

My Israeli FN surplus BHP had a yellow dust inside it which is typical of the ones from Israel from what I've read.

I stripped it a bit beyond field strip...left the hammer and safeties and slide internals. Removed the mag disconnect feature at the same time (not pictured).

The only part that's really hard of what I did is removing the trigger pin. Had to use a press to get mine out on my two BHPs.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Question: what would work best for sand removal? Will it require complete disassembly

Yes -- for peace of mind, if nothing else. Until it's been detail stripped and thoroughly cleaned, you'll never know if there's some piece of grit in there just waiting for the right time to foul up the works.

 

[tekarra]

The Luger M80 was made by FEG who also made an HP clone with the Mauser marque. I have not seen one, but it would make an interesting conversation piece.

 

[Johannthehorrible]

We use a parts washer in the shop where I work in South Africa.

We also re-assemble a lot of firearms detailed stripped by clients. If you do decide to detail strip, please keep all the parts since it changes a job from a couple of minutes to a couple of hours if any parts do go missing. A digital camera and a lot of photos also helps a bunch.

 

[rcmodel]

surplus Luger Hi-Power clone (gunbroker, Great price)

Couple of miner details.
And a question.

1. The name has nothing to do with Luger, a Luger pistol, George Luger, or anything else about Luger pistols.

2. It is not surplus. It is a new clone made by somebody, somewhere in a 3rd. world country.

3. What do you consider a "great price" on a no-name Browning Hi-Power clone packed full of sand when you get it?

rc

 

[Mizar]

...It is a new clone made by somebody, somewhere in a 3rd. world country...

Rc, as tekarra pointed out, the pistol is made by FEG for Luger which was a German company. Those pistols (Both Luger and Mauser branded) were showing regularly in Franconia catalogs up to the mid 90's. And last but not least - Hungary is not a third world country.

Boris

 

[Shuler13]

Couple of miner details.
And a question.

1. The name has nothing to do with Luger, a Luger pistol, George Luger, or anything else about Luger pistols.

2. It is not surplus. It is a new clone made by somebody, somewhere in a 3rd. world country.

3. What do you consider a "great price" on a no-name Browning Hi-Power clone packed full of sand when you get it?

rc

A couple of "miner" responses:

First: miner is one who mines. Minor is an adjective that means not serious or important.

Second: You were correct in that it was a minor detail as in I don't really care that this firearm was not affiliated with Luger. From what I can tell it was an FEG clone. Regardless, I had never seen one and figured it to be rare in my neck of the woods.

Third: just because it was made third world doesn't mean it wasn't surplus. Could very well have been police issued in some other country. Got it through gunbroker and the seller had tons of hi-power and various clones in various states of wear and refinishing. This particular clone has been refinished and parkerized. Not the best looking piece but I like it.

Fourth: I wanted a hi-power but couldn't afford one. I found a clone that I could afford. And for $200 I got a working clone that just needed to be cleaned. It was a "great price" and very worth it to me. I got to learn how to fully strip a gun that I didn't mine messing up.

 

[One_Jackal]

I would just field strip the gun and go to it with dawn and a soft brush.

 

[txgunsuscg]

Speaking to the surplus side of things, if it is one of the Israeli guns (they had FEG, FN, and Browning marked pistols), then I would say it is definitely a "surplus" gun.

As to taking it down, my personal preference would be to detail strip it. I've had too many problems trying to blast crud out of a gun with CLP or some other pressurized cleaner, only to find it merely migrated to a new spot. Maybe my technique sucks, I don't know, but it's easier to get clean when there are fewer places for gunk to hide...

 

[millertyme]

I believe I looked at that exact same gun and almost bought it out from under you. I bought one of Cole's Israeli Kareen's several months back. Like you I wanted a Hi Power but funds kept me from obtaining what I wanted. Plus, I figured if it worked out well enough I could just buy two or three more for the same price as a new HP. I can tell you this much: With the exception of the sights, I am very pleased with the pistol. I removed the magazine disconnect and did a little hobby gunsmithing to the hammer and sear as well as gave the ring hammer the Detonics treatment and reshaped it. It has fired everything I have fed it in the past few months and is what I would gladly call a shooter, not a looker. I'm going to sell my little Beretta 84FS to buy another one.

They might not be real-deal FN's, but in my hands that kind of stuff doesn't matter if they can do the same job for less. I'm not a collector and I'm not real concerned if any of my guns (with the exception of my Wingmaster) aren't going to win any beauty pageants.