First Hi Power and Stupid Question of the Week

[1KPerDay]

AIM surplus select grade FN Hi Power close up look. (after vid starts click the "gear" doohickey bottom right to watch in HD otherwise you can't see the detail)

https://youtu.be/wXSeLTPlYdo

Ignore the stuff about "bluing"... apparently it's coated (though if it is it's very uniform and smooth with no obvious "paint ripples."

Stupid question/s:
1. what contacts the mag safety with the slide closed, to make the mags drop free? With the slide forward, mags drop free. Slide back, they don't. I see the tab/mechanism to the right of the chamber. Does the breechface contact something with the slide closed? If so, what's the purpose of this?
2. The OEM/belgium mag doesn't release the slide stop with a loaded round in the mag and the slide locked back, if you slingshot the slide. I assume something weird with follower? Mec-Gar mags work as usual.

Thoughts?

 

[mgmorden]

Can't help you on #2 as I only have Mec-gar mags, but I don't see how #1 is happening.

Based on my understanding of the mag disconnect though, I don't see how #1 is possible. If the disconnect is there and working properly then the mags shouldn't drop free regardless of if the slide is closed or not. If they are, I'm guessing something on the disconnect is worn or not working right.

 

[I6turbo]

I haven't checked to see what causes the mag safety to function as a mag brake when the slide is open and not do so with the slide closed, but that's how my recently acquired 94-model (supposedly Israeli surplus gun) works, as well. I expect they all do. I plan to remove the mag safety and kill two birds with the one stone.

 

[1KPerDay]

That's handsome. Looks a lot better than mine. Extended ambi safety, too. My safety is pretty much useless. You can't really swipe it off with a thumb, it's so stiff.

UPDATE: It locks back with one round left in the mag with the original belgian mag AND with one of the Mec-Gars.

Something has to be wrong... what could it be?

 

[mgmorden]

Check your recoil spring. When it's set into the barrel there is a "correct" and a backwards orientation. The correct way should have the ring lined up flush on both sides. If it's in upside down it'll be offset.

If the recoil spring is in wrong the slide will lock back when it shouldn't.

 

[RainDodger]

I think mgmorden is talking about the recoil spring guide rod. I doubt that's your problem.

 

[1KPerDay]

Yeah, thanks. The guide rod is installed properly. Wondering if there's something weird with the slide stop or something.

 

[WVsig]

OK to answer a few of your questions.

The yellow tape is so that Israeli Civil Defense Forces could tell friendlies from foe on the field.

The gun is not in bad condition. It is a pretty standard epoxy finished gun. The Epoxy used on the contract guns was not great. They were a utility gun finish not the equal of the blue commerical guns and non-contract guns got. The Israelis rode their guns hard and put them away wet. They show a lot of wear but often they are internally excellent and make great shooters.

From the serial number it appears to be a NV gun which would make it 1995 FN Hi Power. That would mean it is a MKIII frame but like many contract guns it has a older MKII single sided safety.

1. what contacts the mag safety with the slide closed, to make the mags drop free? With the slide forward, mags drop free. Slide back, they don't. I see the tab/mechanism to the right of the chamber. Does the breechface contact something with the slide closed? If so, what's the purpose of this?

The magazine safety disconnect is this part.

It protrudes into the mag well. You can see the friction point/spot on the mags that have been used heavily in a gun with the mag disconnect in tact. This is what prevents the mag from dropping free.

I believe that what you are experiencing is the interaction of the slide stop and the magazine. When the slide is close the slide stop is pushing down ever so slightly on the mag. So when you hit the mag release button it helps to push it out. Then the slide is locked back the slide stop is up and does not put any tension on the mag so there is nothing to push it out. With the slide closed there is just enough downward pressure from the slide stop to overcome the friction of the mag disconnect.

If you want your mags to drop free either remove the magazine disconnect or polish it. I personally just remove it.

2. The OEM/belgium mag doesn't release the slide stop with a loaded round in the mag and the slide locked back, if you slingshot the slide. I assume something weird with follower? Mec-Gar mags work as usual.

The mag release should release the slide as long as there is round in the mag. If the mag is empty a slingshot will not release the slide. That is Check the follower. Does it look damaged at all? Does it function 100% otherwise? Without seeing it it is tough to diagnose.

I would not be dissapointed. Yes some people got better guns but you still got a real deal FN Hi Power for the price of a clone. It is hard to find nice BHPs for under $600. If you look at GB at Mach 1 or CDIsales which is Coles Distribution in KY you did not over pay. You did not get as nice a gun as I6turbo but that is the world of surplus guns. Someone has to get the best someone has to get the worst in every grade. I would put yours in the middle.

Tell us how it shoots...

 

[RainDodger]

I have removed my magazine disconnect. Having said that, back in the 1980s, I sent my Hi-Power back to Browning for some work, as I knew one of the Gunsmiths at their Arnold, MO facility personally. He was not allowed to send the gun back to me without a magazine disconnect installed, so he had to replace it. He highly polished the end of the disconnect and made the contact area a LOT smaller. Then he polished the magazine where the disconnect contacted it. In operation, you could barely detect that it was there. Of course I removed it again... but there's one way to do it.

 

[Quentin]

Nice looking Mark III, turbo! I got one last year that doesn't look as nice as yours but internally it's in good shape. It's rollmarked Browning instead of FN which seems unusual for an imported surplus gun. I would expect FN.

Can't answer the OP's questions but would see what Aim Surplus will do about it.

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks guys. VAgunner, there's also apparently another component of the mag safety, or perhaps it's not specific to the mag safety mechanism but is part of the disconnector mechanism. There's an arm or a long tab that extends up along the right side of the chamber area, and can't move upward without the magazine in place. That's what blocks the trigger from moving rearward unless that arm is moved enough. Or something.

I haven't disassembled it yet so I'm not familiar with all the components.

again, thanks all for the history and the info.

Video of shooting if interested, and you can see the last round in mag malfunctions.

click the gear doohickey bottom right after the video starts to watch in HD

https://youtu.be/EOyvX1d0zHE

 

[sevt_chevelle]

I got an AIM High Power last year for about 430, its a MKIII with a MKII safety, that's worthless. The finish is rougher then yours looks like an old lacquer paint job that has cracked. Anyways, the numbers match and internally the gun is spotless and one heck of a shooter!

I plan on sending the gun out to get Cerakoted so the finish to me is a moot point.

I would say the FN mag is suspect and think you got a good pistol for a good price.

 

[bainter1212]

I just bought two FN Hi Powers from CDIsales on Gunbroker. They are consecutive serial #'d pistols that have been parkerized. They are beautiful guns.

OP, sounds like your pistol is a prime candidate for a custom job. You might try replacing that bad mag spring with a new Wolff spring....might fix your issue.
Good luck and happy Hi-Powering!

 

[WVsig]

Are the Mecgar mags new? I am going to guess that the FN mag springs are weak causing the last round to tip up and contact the slide lock.

On the Mecagar which is malfuntioning it is one of three things. Either the spring is also weak and needs to be replaced, the follower shelve that engages the slide lock is just a bit high, some people file the, down on 15 rounders or the followe is tilting because it is shorter than the 13 to accommodate the extra 2 rounds. This is often exacerbated but a weak spring.

If it was the slide stop itself I would think it would do it on every mag. I would try swapping the spring on one of the Mecgars that runs fine with the one that does not and the factory mag and see if it corrects the issue. If it does order some springs from Wolff, Mecgar or Browning.

For the sights I would send the slide off to Novak and and them install HDs on them with a blacked out rear. Sending just the slide saves on shipping. They typically get it back to you within 2 weeks.

 

[HankB]

UPDATE: It locks back with one round left in the mag with the original belgian mag AND with one of the Mec-Gars.

Something has to be wrong... what could it be?

When it locks back, take a look inside through the ejection port and see if the little extension on the slide stop has been "nudged" up by contacting the nose of the bullet, rather than the magazine follower. I found this happened once in a while with my Mk III BHP. I solved it by stoning about 0.010" off the protruding end of the slide stop at an angle tangent to the bullet's ogive and the gun has worked perfectly ever since.

If you try this, DO NOT go in there with a Dremel!! I found just a few - few! - strokes of a fine stone from my Lansky knife sharpener was all it took.

 

[1KPerDay]

Are the Mecgar mags new?

Yes, brand new. I shot it again last night and only the OEM mag did it, after 5 tries. Every time. The mec-gars ran fine.

I shot one-handed with my thumb locked down to eliminate the possibility that I was bumping the slide stop.

When the slide locks back with the Belgian mag with one round left, it doesn't fully engage the stop; it's enough to lock the slide back, but as you can see from the pics it's not as high/engaged as it is with an empty Mec-Gar mag. Good idea about swapping springs and maybe the follower. Aligning the belgian and a mec-gar, the top of the follower (the ridge) is higher on the belgian mag (different type and shape) and the circular cutout for the slide stop is perhaps 1/32-1/16" further forward. I wonder if that's the culprit. First I'll try swapping the spring and follower from a mec-gar with the belgian and see if the problem is due to the follower.

Thanks all for the ideas! It's a fun pistol to shoot... and shooting one-handed I got more hits than usual with my other pistols. The trigger feels pretty dang good, actually, despite being slightly heavy. The sights have to go, though.

I shot a Glock 19 one handed with the same ammo right after just to see if recoil was different; it was. The Glock felt sort of "Kachunky".

 

[SSN Vet]

Chuck Warner at Elite Warrior Armament does a first class BHP trigger job.

Cylinder & Slide also does top notch BHP work and sells very nice hammer and safety upgrades.

Save up you pennies and you can turn that puppy into a first class BHP... knowing that you're not wasting money as you will be building on a good foundation.

I have Navardex slim grip on my 75th anniversary model and it totally changes the feel of the gun in your hand.... very nice!

 

[1KPerDay]

thanks, I'll check it out.

 

[1KPerDay]

Tried swapping the Belgian mag and follower into a mec gar mag body. Ran fine. Mec gar spring won't fit into Belgian body.

 

[WVsig]

Tried swapping the Belgian mag and follower into a mec gar mag body. Ran fine. Mec gar spring won't fit into Belgian body.

I would ask AIM for a replacement mag and then replace the spring and check the width of the followers on the existing one. I think you have a follower or spring issue. If the Belgian mag ran in the Mec Gar body it is got to be the spring or the feeding lips. IMHO

 

[Dentite]

1KPerDay,

You mentioned changing the sights. My first BHP was a mint polished version. So nice I didn't want to beat it up. So I bought a beater BHP. Surplus for $400 similar to yours. Maybe a bit more rough. Anyway, decided it needed new sights. Which required milling new dovetails. And a trigger job. Then I figured why not some custom work on the safety. And bevel the mag well and crown the muzzle. And of course refinish and new grips.

Why do I bring this up? Well I spent more money on all the work than the gun of course. When I was all done, it was nice but I regret not having all that work done on a nicer, newer low mileage BHP. Instead of being a new looking custom, it was an old beater with a bunch of money in it and a new finish which couldn't resolve the deepest scratches, etc.

Just something to thing about if you are considering some modifications.

Congrats on your first BHP. I find them beautiful and they feel awesome in my hands. They do have some weaknesses (trigger mechanism for example) but I still like them.

 

[Ironicaintit]

But then again, theres something to be said for having a gun (or car) that looks like a beater, but runs really sweet.

 

[1KPerDay]

I would ask AIM for a replacement mag and then replace the spring and check the width of the followers on the existing one. I think you have a follower or spring issue. If the Belgian mag ran in the Mec Gar body it is got to be the spring or the feeding lips. IMHO

Thanks, maybe I will.

 

[1KPerDay]

1KPerDay,

You mentioned changing the sights. My first BHP was a mint polished version. So nice I didn't want to beat it up. So I bought a beater BHP. Surplus for $400 similar to yours. Maybe a bit more rough. Anyway, decided it needed new sights. Which required milling new dovetails. And a trigger job. Then I figured why not some custom work on the safety. And bevel the mag well and crown the muzzle. And of course refinish and new grips.

Why do I bring this up? Well I spent more money on all the work than the gun of course. When I was all done, it was nice but I regret not having all that work done on a nicer, newer low mileage BHP. Instead of being a new looking custom, it was an old beater with a bunch of money in it and a new finish which couldn't resolve the deepest scratches, etc.

Just something to thing about if you are considering some modifications.

Congrats on your first BHP. I find them beautiful and they feel awesome in my hands. They do have some weaknesses (trigger mechanism for example) but I still like them.

Thanks for the thoughts. Maybe I'll just paint the rear blocks black and brighten/square off the front block.

I do need to figure out a safety that is functional, though... takes two thumbs to move it on or off now, so it's useless for competition.

 

[I6turbo]

But then again, theres something to be said for having a gun (or car) that looks like a beater, but runs really sweet.

The guns and cars that I have enjoyed the most in my life have been the ones that weren't perfect, cosmetically. FOR MY USE, I don't think I'd trade my slightly worn BHP for a perfect condition mirror-blued beauty queen, and I definitely wouldn't spend money to put it into that type of condition. But that's just me.