BHP Clone

H

Hutch

New member
I have a question about an Argentine (FM) HiPower clone I handled. The trigger pull was rather long and gritty, and it seemed to displace the slide a bit on the frame. That is to say, during the trigger travel before letoff, the slide seemed to creep a bit to the side. I realize the slide-to-frame fit is a bit loose on this piece. Can the slide be tightened to prevent this? Is it the sign of poor workmanship? Does this happen on FN-built or FEG clones?

Thanks...
 
I have an FEG clone and have no such problems. The gritty trigger will resolve itself with shooting. Smoothing the face of the mag safety/disconnector will help a great deal. My clone shoots very well. Extremely accurate.

[This message has been edited by ak9 (edited April 30, 2000).]
 
Hello. As you know the Argentine FM is a licensed HP made with FN's approval. The ones I have handled and shot have been good performers. I'm told that the slide-to-frame fit can be bettered through tightening, but may not hold too long; I don't know why. The long take-up before the trigger linkage engages the sear is common to the HP design.
For what it's worth, none of the Argentine HPs I've shot did badly and were reliable. For hand-held shooting, I don't believe the looser slide-to-frame fit is nearly so detrimental to accuracy as is loose barrel-to-slide fit. The FM HPs are generally not so well finished as the FNs, but then one pays less for them, too. For the money, I think they are very nice, dependable pistols. Best.
 
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"The trigger pull was rather long and gritty, and it seemed to displace the slide a bit on the frame. That is to say, during the trigger travel before letoff, the slide seemed to creep a bit to the side."

I've never heard of this. The slide will be loose on the frame because it's a military pistol and as such it will have looser tolerances. You're holding the pistol and when you pull the trigger the slide shakes?

Can the slide be tightened to prevent this?

A qualified smith can mate the slide to the frame, but I don't know if this piece is even worth such an expense. It might be best to pass it up entirely.

Is it the sign of poor workmanship?

It might be the sign of a major problem. FM HPs are getting harder to find thanks to the ban on importing them. While they used to be bargains, $300 for one with two 13 rounds mags, I've now seen them for $350 with one after market ten rounder. You might be better off getting a FEG.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
You may want to discuss the gun with TFL member 4202. A couple of weeks ago I shot his FEG Hi-Power clone. He had done his own "smithing" improvments and it was an excellent piece. So excellent in fact I am now looking for one for my own collection.

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Gunslinger

TFL End of Summer Meet, August 12th & 13th, 2000
 
Tecolate, as the trigger is pulled, the slide actually moves laterally (not along he axis of recoil), and perhaps a bit UP. I forget, exactly. I'll probably go handle this piece again, and see if I can develop a more informative description of what goes on during the trigger-yank (You know, the muscular spasm that occurs just before the big noise happens).
 
The play you see in the slide indicates the slide is too darn loose. I believe the trigger pushes on a lever in the slide to trip the sear, so the trigger is pushing on the slide as you pull it.

Because the magazine safety rides on the magazine as the trigger is pulled, you may get a different feel from the trigger when you use different magazines. I have the FEG Hi-Power clone, with 3 mags: 1) the one that came with it, 2) an aftermarket hi-cap, 3) a used Browning mag--the area the mag safety touches is well-polished, either by use or "smithing" by the previous owner.

With that Browning mag, the trigger is a lot nicer that either of the other mags. They both make the trigger feel gritty.

I'm going to polish the other two mags and see if I can get the same result.
 
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