opinions on the FM and FEG Hi Powers

[chaim]

Ok guys, let me try this again. Yesterday I posted a thread asking for advice on which option I'm thinking about to go with (here's that thread ). I was also considering the possibility of an actual FN or Browning but that is a slim possibility because it really is more than I want to spend but I made the mistake of saying I might think about that so all the posts are about why I should only consider the FN.

At least one of the posts seems to imply that the FEG and FM are POC, which is totally contrary to all the prior buzz I've heard about them. So, I guess to get the info I most want I guess I should repost a reworded thread without the FN option.

(slightly reworded and revised thread begins here):

I think I'm finally going to get myself a Hi Power, probably a clone. I need your imput.

I didn't used to be interested in the HP design. However, three things changed my mind. I am a huge CZ fan and one of my favorite things is how well it fits my hand. Well, the CZ is ergonomically based on the HP line so I started thinking about trying one out. Then while thinking it may be worth trying, I started to notice threads here and on the 1911 forum about the FEGs and figured that at $200 or so I wouldn't be risking much to see if I liked the design. Finally, I got a chance to shoot an FEG HP belonging to a fellow THRer (then a fellow TFLer) and I was very impressed w/ both the HP design and the FEG.

So I have a limited amount of money available right now but I've been thinking about buying my first gun since summer. I think I've narrowed it down to one of a few options, all HP designs.

-My favorite store currently has an FM and an FEG.

My options:

-The FM does seem much nicer than the FEG. The finish is nicer and it is based on a more recent HP design (the FEG has the original small safety lever and extremely small military style sights). It costs nearly $100 more than the FEG, but about $300 less than the FNs, and it seems like the quality is up there w/ guns running significantly more than the FM.

-The FEG is a great value. It is a very inexpensive gun and seems to have a good reputation. The sights and finish are very crude though and thus I'd probably be happier w/ the FM (though the cost savings is a big advantage and I think I'd still be very happy w/ the FEG).

-The way I'm currently leaning is waiting for my tax return, and assuming both are still around I could get both. I live in MD w/ a one a month law, but if I buy from the same shop at the same time I can buy two at once and wait two months instead of one before I can buy another gun. If I buy both from the same shop I may be able to negotiate a package deal, especially since I've bought 4 guns there and transfered another (for a bit more than I could have elsewhere) in the past 2 1/2 years and they know I referred my best friend to them about a year ago who bought two guns from them as well. This should still be a little less than buying an FN.

Now I'm taking a gamble because this is what moved the previous thread away from what I actually was looking for but...

There is a slim chance I may use my tax return and just get an acutal FN or a Browning badged HP (there are a couple new Brownings still around here right now). However, around here the cheapest I've seen is $689, and if I'd pay that I think I'd rather get both the FM and FEG and save a couple bucks, get either the FM or FEG and another CZ, or get a 1911 so when I put that up it was just as a wild card- it isn't really a strong option for me right now.

So mainly focusing on the FM, FEG, both or one plus a CZ, options what do you think? Only comment on the FN option if that is truely light years ahead of the FM and FEG since it really is more than I want to spend right now on one gun (and the used guns will always be around in which case I'd rather go w/ something that won't be available in MD once the current stock is gone).

 

[Steve F]

My vote for the CZ75SA,very nice,and an excellant value,and for what it's worth,the local range here in So.Kalif.quoted $599 for a BHP.

 

[chaim]

My vote for the CZ75SA,very nice,and an excellant value,and for what it's worth,the local range here in So.Kalif.quoted $599 for a BHP

I love my CZ and the fact that it is designed after the BHP is why I want to get a HP clone while I still can. The CZs will be around for a little while because they are easy to check the manufacture date (it is stamped by the extractor) so my dealer is still getting them in from his distributor and probably will at least for 6-12 months. I'll be getting one or two more CZs before they're gone.

So I guess I should read your suggestion as one of the clones (either an FM or FEG) plus another CZ?

 

[Steve F]

Yes Sir! Clone plus another CZ,and then I think you have your bases coverd

 

[DerRottweiler]

My vote goes to getting the FM and a CZ. The reason I picked the FM is that it has better Sights as you stated.
I too am in the process of rounding up Funds to buy a P35 but I'll have the funds to get a BHP or FN. It'll just depend upon which I can locate First!
I already have a CZ 75B and love it, just need to round up some HiCap Mags for it.

 

[BLiTzNicK]

I've got the FEG PJK-9HP, and it seems pretty dang good so far. I haven't had one problem out of it, and it only cost around $250, tax included.

To say I'm happy with it would be an understatement.

The things I don't like about it are:

1. The cheesy engraving on the slide

2. The front sight is not dovetailed (so I can't really change to a different one without serious smithing costs)

3. The safety doesn't have a detent, so it could be pushed from "safe" to "fire" fairly easy

4. The mag safety, it was removed promtly

5. It doesn't reproduce asexually.

I'd also like the slide stop to resemble the actual HP. Will a standard HP slide stop fit my FEG? Picture below.

P.S. I have had great luck with the Pro Mag 13 round mags, and they are inexpensive ($20) too!

 

[David Roberson]

Count me as another well satisfied owner of a FEG. I also have a genuine Browning, and while the FEG is not as nice a gun, it's surprisngly close considering the cost difference. I have never owned or fired an FM and can't comment on them, but I have no qualms endorsing he FEG.

Blitznick, the Browning slide release should work on the FEG.

 

[Tecolote]

I spoke to a local gunsmith today about FEGs. He said that in his opinion they were well made and pretty stout. He also said that insides are generally rough. One thing that he did caution me about is that none of the FEGs are true clones. According to him even on the PJK9 that most looks like a HP, some parts aren't 100% interchangeable without major fitting.

 

[HIPOWER]

The Hi-Power design is my all-time favorite (hence my username) so I have formed some opinions that might be of some use to you. I have a Browning HP and it is probably my favorite gun. That said, I also have the FEG PJK-9HP and it is a very very close second to the Browning. It is a great gun for a low price. Just as accurate and shootable as the Browning, even if a tad bit less refined on the inside. I've never had a problem with it. I would buy the FEG in a heartbeat. I don't think you will be sorry, and in my opinion you will have the best of the HP clones. Good luck with your choice!

 

[CZF]

I second the FEG and the CZ75SA. Actually, once you get a
75SA, you will FLIP over the way the SA trigger transforms the
gun into a tack-driver without equal.(well maybe the .45SA)
The long and often gritty/overtravel pull of the 75B is gone.

Like i tell many a already confirmed CZ fan. You owe yourself the 75SA!

"CAN U FEEL THE STEEL?"

 

[DougB]

I just bought one of the FEG PJK-9HP high power clones and fired it for the first time last weekend. I'm very happy with it (though I do plan to remove the magazine safety, as many have suggested, to improve the trigger pull). I only fired about 40 rounds through it, but it worked fine (no problems of any kind). I am also impressed with the deep, polished bluing on the gun - it looks a lot nicer than a $250 gun ought to. I haven't checked (or worried) about internal machine marks, but externally it looks pretty nice. The engraving is a little rough (kind of dot-matrix looking). I also don't have any complaints about the sights - they seem like typical (good) 3-dot pistol sights. Maybe some other models have smaller sights.

Doug

 

[jar]

Well, I own the FEG PJK 9HP, the FM M-95, the Arcus M-94 and a bunch of Browning HiPowers so I can give you some objective comparisons.

My FM gets the most range time of all of them. The finish is not as nics as on the old Browning or FN Standard models (the Standard was actually the top of the line with the best finish, Go figure) or as on my FEG. It is as good as some of my HP Practicals I've owned and most of the HPs made during the war. it's been totally reliable and is very accurate.

My FEG has beautiful glossy finish. The slide to frame fit is the loosest of any of them but it has been 100% reliable and accurate. I changed out the safety that came on it for a larger C&S ambi safety, but it is still the hardest of all the HPs to engage. I believe this is a result of the slide to frame fit and plan on working on that when I get the time.

The Arcus 94 is the sleeper of the bunch. It is also quite different looking, far more angular and hard than any of the others. Function though has been perfect. Great value.

The best of the bunch though are still the Browning distributed Mk III model in the Standard configuration. These are getting harder and harder to find since the extra handwork that was needed to get the beautiful deep blued finish and final fitting simply add too much to the cost. But if you can find one of those and are willing to pony up the $$$, it is one of the finest handguns that was ever made.

From the top, clockwise, Arcus 94, FM M-95, BDM, Browning Standard, FEG PJK 9HP

 

[Kharn]

Chaim: Do you know where to find an FEG or FM with the fired casings? I've been drooling over one, but my dealer said none of the clones came with casings and thus couldnt be sold in MD.

Kharn

 

[chaim]

Well, I don't know if they are guns that came in while the state was allowing the dealers to have the guns test fired at the State Police Barracks by approved "techicians" (a program discontinued some time ago) or if something changed and maybe a few were provided w/ factory test fired shell casings. Anyway, lately I've seen a few FEGs and I know where (as of my posting this thread) there was one FM.

As far as saying where the FM and FEG were, what is proper forum ettiquette (sp?) about such things? I haven't bought yet, the snow of last week delayed mailing out my tax return (or getting out to buy the software to send it electronically) and I haven't bought anything outright after losing a week of work (due to weather) at both of my jobs. However, I am still thinking about both guns (assuming they are still there). So does forum ettiquette (sp?) say that I should tell Kharn where they were or should I keep it to myself in the hopes that the guns don't disappear?

Well, I don't think I can be that cruel, Kharn is a good solid member here, it would be especially mean of me given that I'm still making up my mind for sure and someone else could always pick them up anyway (if they haven't already). Plus, if he does pick them up (after negotiation- the sticker on the FEG is a little high but it should be possible to bring it down) I guess that will just force my hand for either the other one, or if he goes w/both either an FEG at one of the other dealers or a used FN. Anyway, I've seen the FEG at several dealers (don't remember for sure which ones) at the Timonium gun show about a month ago and I saw the FEG and the FM in question at The Gun Rack in Burtonsville.

 

[chaim]

Oh, as you can see from my previous post I'm still deciding.

After the bad snow last week schools were closed for a week so I couldn't work and I lost one week's pay. The plows didn't plow out my court until late Wens and my car didn't have the clearance to get out until they plowed so I couldn't get to my second job which is a Sun, Mon, Tues evening job so I lost my pay there for a week also. I also wasn't able to get out to mail my tax return or buy the software to send it electronically.

So bottom line there is that I'm still deciding. I couldn't pay outright to get just one (due to the lost wages, that money had to go into a car payment). Now I need to either re-save (though for an under $400 gun with my bills paid for the month that won't be that bad if I go for just one) or wait for my tax return. I'll probably only buy one with the return now as well (though I may change my mind on that when it comes).

Now a new option has come up-

I'm not a big .40S&W fan. I don't want to start a caliber war on this thread, it is a decent enough round- it just doesn't do it for me. I'm perfectly comfortable with good quality defensive 9mm ammo and cheap .40S&W is no where near as cheap as practice 9mm ammo, .40S&W is about the same as .45acp and I by far prefer .45 to .40 for either fun or defense. So for me having a decent .45 and 9mm means that the .40 doesn't really serve a purpose.

Anyway, I have a CZ 40B which I do like quite a bit but I don't really use that much. So, in order to get both another CZ (one that will be a better match for me than the 40) and a BHP or clone I was thinking about trading the CZ 40B.

I know, you should never trade a reliable gun that you are happy with. I'm actually usually one of the first to say this. However, I really don't use it much, and I would be trading it on something that would make a lot more sense for me.

I would trade it on either the CZ 100 in 9mm (for another 9mm gun but something a little different- I don't yet have a polymer pistol, plus I might go to a carry state for grad school next year), a CZ 75BD (I love my 75B and I love the SA safety, but I've been thinking about grad school in a carry state next year and even though I can, and sometimes do, lower the hammer on a loaded cartridge I'd prefer the decocker for DA and I already have the 75B for SA carry), a P01 (though, horrors, it didn't impress me as much as I expected and seems a bit overpriced), and a CZ 97 (I've long wanted one). There are one or two non-CZ options I'll think about if I trade, however I don't think I can bring myself to trade a CZ for anything but another CZ.

What do you guys think of that option (and yes, I'll also be posting a thread about it)?

 

[Kahr carrier]

Keep the Cz and save for the Highpower.

 

[Kharn]

Chaim: Thanks for letting me in on the secret (and all the other THR'ers); I'm stuck at college until June, so if its gone when you get there, dont blame me.

Kharn

 

[Al Thompson]

Have you shot a BHP? Just asking as they tear my hands up. CZs are better for me.

 

[chaim]

Al,

Not a Browning or FN. I did get the chance to shoot an FEG clone and it was sweet. Actually, when I do get a used FN (sometime in the next couple years) I'll trim the hammer spur down if I have to but I'll probably have to keep the gun (kinda like my CZ 75B which I would never get rid of).