Range Report: FEG Hi Power

[BryanP]

As I mentioned recently, I bought a used FEG PJK-9HP imported by KBI. I took it to the range yesterday with 50 rounds of PMC 115grn FMJ, 100 rounds of Winchester White Box 115grn FMJ, and three magazines. The first 13 round mag was whatever came with the pistol, the other two were listed as "Asian Military preban 13rd".

One word: woof.

What a dog.

I'm not going to get in to accuracy problems because I figure that's between me and the sights. However ...

The pin that holds the trigger assembly in place kept drifting out to the right. After each magazine I had to push it back in with my trigger finger.

The first several times I tried to chamber a round using the mag that came with it I was unable to do so. Instead the slide would stop on a round that was only partially fed. I gave up with that mag after 5 attempts to chamber a round and set it aside.

Of the two "asian military" mags one worked perfectly. The other ran about 3 mags before it jammed in a bizarre way. After 7 rounds fired the slide locked back. I dropped the mag and could see the rest of the rounds down inside, top two rounds twisted somehow, holding the rest down.

I continued with the last asian military mag for a while. Then I took out the original mag and tried loading one round from it. Fine. Then two. Fine. Then five. Okay. Fill'er'up. Worked fine. I also had 3 failures to extract during the session.

All of the failures to chamber a round occurred with the 50 rounds of PMC. I had no problems chambering the WWB in any mag. However, the three FTE's all happened with the WWB.

On a positive note I almost no problems with the dreaded "hammer bite" even with the old-style ring hammer. I had one minor bite while firing one-handed. Other than that, nothing. Also, I love the way it fits my hand. I want this to be a good pistol.

If I can fix (or get someone to fix) the problem with the trigger pin I may continue to experiment, but at this point I can't see this being anything more than a range toy and a project gun.

Now excuse me while I go hug my SIG P220. I bought it used as well, but I've never had a single failure of any sort with it, chambering, firing or extraction.


PS - suggestions and solutions are welcome ...

 

[wally]

Is the magazine safety working? Its pretty easy to mess up the trigger if its been removed by a "hack". I recall there is a detent in the pin and a small spring holds it in. Perhaps the pin was put in "backwards" and the detent is now on the wrong side. I could be remembering wrong, its been a long time since I've taken mine apart.

Try a known good BHP mag before doing anyting radical to the gun.

--wally.

 

[BHPshooter]

The pin that holds the trigger assembly in place kept drifting out to the right.

PRECISELY what happened to mine the first time I shot it. Here's how to fix it:

Drive the trigger pin out from the right to the left. You'll then pivot the trigger and the lifter out through the trigger guard.
Take some needlenose pliers and give upward bend in the trigger spring a bit more "oomph." Put the parts back in as they came out, and start the pin back in (from the left to right)... if you did it right, the spring is closer to going OVER the pin than UNDER. It needs to go under the pin.

When you get the pin in, the spring should settle into the "trench" in the pin, keeping the pin in place.

------------------------

I've said it before, and I'll continue to say it: If you want a HP that is truly indicative of what the design is capable of, you need to get an FN or Browning.

I have had MANY issues with my FEG... however, the thing that keeps it from souring me is that I have treated it as a learning experience -- and the fact that I can fix a majority of problems myself.

As for the extractor, I've found that the springs in FEG extractors are fairly weak. Try a replacement from Wolff.

Try taking the slide (ONLY the slide) and pushing a round under the extractor. Shake the slide. My MkIII Browning will hold any weight bullet there all day; my FEG will allow them to rattle a bit, but occassionally lets go of one.

Sorry, but FEGs are tinkerers guns... with very few exceptions, if you want it to be a great gun, you're going to have to give it quite a bit of TLC.

Let me know how your repairs go, eh?

Wes

 

[BryanP]

Wally, Thefumegator,

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try them. I did not buy this considering it to be a serious defensive piece. For that purpose I would reach for my P220 or either of the .357 revolvers. I bought it as a tinkerer / project gun / range toy that is much cheaper to shoot than my .45 with more ooomph than my 22/45. I may order a complete set of Wolff springs for it and replace them all. If I can make it run reliably and learn something in the process without blowing myself up I will be happy.

Oh, and you are correct Thefumegator. I just popped it open and looked - the trigger spring is under the pin instead of over. Oops.

Hmmm. I tried the extractor trick as well. When I shake it side to side the round flies out the ejection port.

Oh well. I guess I'll be ordering a complete set of springs from Wolff for it and go from there.

Does anyone know if Stephen Camp's book on "shooting the High Power" includes detail stripping instructions? Everything I find online seems to have very difficult to see scans of illustrations.

Thanks again guys.

 

[stans]

There may be a reason for this gun being in the used case. Try some different magazines. Poor magazines seem to be the number one cause of malfunctions in semi-automatic weapons.

 

[BHPshooter]

Oh, and you are correct Thefumegator. I just popped it open and looked - the trigger spring is under the pin instead of over. Oops.

Nononono -- that's how it's supposed to be... What I meant was that you need to put a stronger bend into the spring. You have to take the trigger out to do this... when you put the pin back in, the spring wants to go over the pin -- don't let it. That tension is what makes it hold the pin in solidly.

Do you know about how many rounds are through your FEG? I bought mine used as well, but have personally put about 4,000 rounds through it...

The reason I ask: the next time you have yours apart, will you look at the top of the rear, right-side frame rail? Mine has some galling there, where the sear lever hits the rail when the slide cycles... I think it might not have been hardened properly. My Browning, on the other hand, has only a touch of finish wear. But I guess variety is the spice of life, and so on.

If you are looking to tinker and have any questions, I'm here, and I've probably done it already. Maybe I could offer a tip or two.

Wes

 

[BryanP]

Ah. That would explain why no matter how much I tried to get it to go under the spring I couldn't do it. And yes, I will pick your brain, thanks.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I had that pin problem with mine, luckily I'm prone to fiddle with things on occasion. PS once you get it fixed, never mess with it again.

Otherwise mine has been a good shooter, and a solid performer. One thing RE extractors: that's a really short spring making it work, and over time primer and powder residue can build up under the extractor, giving you FTE's... cured with a more robust cleaning.

Rob

 

[BryanP]

After much fiddling I'm pretty sure I'll have to replace the trigger spring to solve the pin problem. That's okay. Wolff sells a spring kit for $13 which includes a new recoil spring, extra power firing pin spring, extractor spring, hammer spring, safety plunger spring and magazine catch spring. A trigger return spring is another $5.

I may have fixed the extractor problem with a simple cleaning. Pouring CLP in to the extractor from both sides (and I mean pouring ) appears to have allowed it to move properly and now it will hold a round in position properly. I'll have to take it to the range again. I don't have any 9mm snap caps and I don't like manually cycling live rounds through a gun at home.

edit: On the other hand, maybe I'll try bending that trigger spring a bit more aggressively just one more time. Dang but that looks like it may have done the job. I definitely need to test this thing again this weekend.

 

[Gordon]

I have an older FEG with the ventilated rib SA 9mm. It has never malfed-never in almost 1000rnds of Ball and 147grain Federal. I'm all for putting in Wolf springs, I was gonna either buy an FM detective slide kit or replace the factory sights by milling the top of slide BUT the damn thing is my most accurate 9mm - 2" at 60 feet and the sights are dead on although hard to pick up quick(but then again the ventilated rib acts like the same on a shotgun) and everything seems tight and high polished! It was imported by CAI in VT. Are the FEGs that are haveing problems this SA model with the rib?

 

[BryanP]

Are the FEGs that are haveing problems this SA model with the rib?

Mine has no ventilated rib. And mine is a used model with an unknown amount of rounds fired and equally unknown maintenance history, so it's not a good example.

 

[BHPshooter]

When I bought my FEG, it had the rib (model FP9). I had some problems with the slide -- the channel for the firing pin retaining plate was machined too big, which would batter the plate.

I bought a PJK-9HP slide and that's what the gun wears now.

Bryan, please do let us know how it does on your next range trip. Remember, look at it like a tinkering hobby and you'll love it.

Wes

 

[Newton]

I have a PJK-9HP that I bought new with original factory hi-caps and it has never, ever missed a beat with any ammo, even after 300 rounds in a single session.

It's accurate, and quite happy with +P.

These guns were manufactured for a Hungarian military contract that was cancelled, and they were made to high standards as a result.

I've handled Hi Powers, and the FEG shoots, feels, and performs as well as any of them.

Having said that, I think you have discovered why the previous owner sold it.


Newton

 

[BryanP]

Well, I finally got out to the range today and had a chance to test my FEG Hi Power after working on the trigger spring and giving it an extremely thorough cleaning. I now take back what I said. I ran several magazines of WWB Value Pack 9mm through it. Not a single failure to feed, fire or extract. All 3 mags functioned beautifully this time as well. No problem with the trigger pin drifting out anymore either. All is well.

I can also highly recommend Stephen A. Camp's book on the Hi Power, as well as his detail-stripping guide even though I'm not doing that yet. They're very thorough and informative - worth every dime.

 

[BHPshooter]

Congrats. I suspect you won't have many problems from here on out... and if you do, you can probably fix them yourself.

As for Mr. Camps books, they are awesome. I have his HP guide, and am just awaiting the day that I have enough disposable income to buy the rest in one fell swoop.

Wes

 

[SouthpawShootr]

Hmmm, I may have to get copies of Mr. Camp's books. Anybody got a link?

I have an FEG HP clone that I bought years ago about a week after the ASW ban went into effect, IIRC. It ran 100% right from the box. Fit&finish seemed above average. Once I got inside, a little bit of tool marks, but ok. One corner of the barrel feed ramp was scortched and uneven. This pestered the hell out of me and I bought an aftermarket drop-in barrel to remedy. One of the grip screws was also stripped (looked like somebody had tightened it with a power tool) - had that rethreaded. Next up, I'm going to have the rear dovetail re-cut to 1911 standard and the front sight replaced with a dovetailed version (although for now the gun is on the back burner as I have several other projects I want to address). Overall, they're good guns and I like mine. It's a shame that these $200 specials are no longer available new. Replaced by the Charles Daley - anybody seen one of those lately? My dealer had one that sat from the time they came out until just about a month ago. He swore he would never buy another.

 

[mbott]

Hmmm, I may have to get copies of Mr. Camp's books. Anybody got a link?

Try here: Stephen Camp

--
Mike

 

[Marshall]

Too bad the Daly HP don't get better reviews, they're one of the nicer looking clones with some good features.