Tell me about the FEG HI Powers.

[KevininPa]

I was also unaware of this. Interesting.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

FEG has a long history of high-quality gunmaking. Yes, they were run by commie policy for a long time, but their stuff is usually pretty high quality in general. Here’s mine. It’s my favorite shooter, and i hope to have it worked over, if there are any guys left willing to do it.

 

[ontarget]

I think if it's still there tomorrow I will see about picking it up.
My Girsan "Hi Power" came with 5 Mec Gar magazines so hopefully they will work with the FEG.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

If not, Mec-Gars are great choices. They made OEMs for the hi-power for many years.

 

[kopcicle]

First off this is not the FEG you are looking for. This is the P9R. The bastard stepchild of the Browning Hi-Power and the S&W Mdl. 59



I have yet to experience a failure that wasn't directly related to ammunition or me. The caveat here is that I'm a bit more than a kitchen table gun plumber and a bit less than a gunsmith. That said I understand feed geometry and was once saddled with the 59 S&W against my better judgement and sanity.

I just applied what I know of feed lip and ramp geometry to this bastard stepchild, and it will feed all but empty cases.
The double action pull is not materially different from my "N" frame revolvers although not nearly as refined. The single action break is, after a true radius treatment, near perfect. The issue again is me. I have never quite been able to crunch and tick a double tap.

These pistols can be not only serviceable but exemplary. When carrying a duty or service piece this is my backup. I trust it that much.

This isn't so much to argue a point but to provide an alternative opinion about the FEG P9R. You can PM about feed and extraction details if you wish.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Ahhhhhh, avert your eyes, it may take on other forms!

They made an upscaled .45ACP version of the DA gun as well. I very briefly considered buying one, but then I snapped out of my insanity.

It was an interesting design study, however- if S&W had ever made a .45 out of the M39, it would have looked very similiar.

 

[drobs]

I picked up 2 MK3 FN Hi Powers back when that huge importation of Surplus Israeli FN's came in (2011ish). FN's were going $300 to $500. Feg HP were $200 to $400. I should've snagged a couple Fegs as well. Note Israel standardized on Glock pistols. Seeing the huge variety of handguns, I now have a better understanding of why the carried chamber empty - Israeli Carry.

A friend of mine, who is a Marine AFG vet talked me out of the reparkerized FN. The MK2 I bought off a friend.

 

[drobs]

The ones made exactly like the Browning HPs were actually made under license. They werent just knockoffs.

https://highpowercollectors.proboards.com/thread/1013/feg-factory-references-informations?page=1

Interesting and I'm reading through it now.
How did Hungary get licensing from Belgium in the middle of the Cold War?

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

Not sure, but it was done in full view of and with approval from Hungarian communist party. Almost assuredly the Kremlin knew the whole time. I mean, even north and south korea have an on-again/off-again cross-border industry program. Strange bedfellows, and all that.

re: cold war, anything was possible if the soviets okayed it. Sometime back a friend acquired a BMP-style amphibious vehicle that had been captured in Iraq. The engine was surprisingly easy to work on as it was just a reverse-engineered Chevy 350 small block!

 

[Mizar]

How did Hungary get licensing from Belgium in the middle of the Cold War?

Business relations between Eastern bloc (Communist) countries and the Evil Capitalist West were limited and strongly sanctioned by the Soviets, but not completely halted during the Cold War. By that time the Hi-Power was already an ageing design, so I suppose it was not a big deal, even for a firearm. For example, car manufacturers bought licenses from the ECW - Poland from Fiat, we (Bulgaria) from Renaut (but we blew it off shortly after, thanks to our stupidity), West Germany imported USSR's own SUV - Lada Niva and etc. A good trade is a good trade after all, even for a communist...

 

[IWAC]

I found a clean FEG Hi Power, but I already have a Girsan. What do you all think of the FEGs?

Sooo...how do you like your Girsan?

 

[Jim Watson]

There are a few FEGs out there branded by Mauser too, but they were just bog-standard Hungarian guns with different markings. They WERE available in factory nickel, however.

I was tempted when I saw one of those “Mauser Banner” FEGs but was discouraged by old style small sights and safety. I ended up with a CZ75. Or was that a substitute for a P88?

 

[ontarget]

Sooo...how do you like your Girsan?

So far so good. Only 100 rounds through it so far. Smooth action, no hiccups. It shoots small groups. Glad I bought it.

 

[PCFlorida]

So far so good. Only 100 rounds through it so far. Smooth action, no hiccups. It shoots small groups. Glad I bought it.

I have a Girsan with about 1000 rounds through it, so far it has been flawless.

 

[kopcicle]

They made an upscaled .45ACP version of the DA gun as well.

there was also a 41AE drop in for the P35. I had one. It worked. Fascination and curiosity done with I shelved it.
Then I remembered I had the P9R. So I looked at the P9R and then I looked at the 41. Then I looked at the 41 and back at the P9R and then...
The parts fit within good enough tolerance and would cycle dummies. Somehow I never fired it. I guess it was the price and availability of 41AE.
I know what happened to the P9R, I still have it.
What I don't know is what happened to the 41AE. Not the kit, I sold that to a, a, ahhh, one of them. I mean the 41AE as a viable cartridge. Seen a new offering in 41AE? Seen ammunition in 41AE?
Yeah ...