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I'm looking to buy a FN Hi Power for use as a base gun for an eventual custom build. It looks like I may have missed the boat on the deals out there on the standard SA models. Can the SFS model be converted to SA only? Assuming it can, would it be a good option for a custom build?

Thanks in advance for any help,

Rob

A SFS Hi-Power can certainly be retrofit with the correct parts. You'll need a hammer, sear, sear spring, strut, mainspring, and a safety assembly. Not a cheap fix by any standard. If you can avoid the SFS and buy a properly set up Hi-Power you'll be miles ahead. Nothing wrong with a used MKIII Browning - abuse and neglect is readily apparent in these guns, and you'll find most owners are not shooters. At least not to the degree that there are a lot of trashed Hi-Powers on the secondary market.

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TR

May I offer a suggestion for a neat 'base gun' or, if you want, one to enjoy as it is?

Wayne Novak's site has a LNIB (hard case) Browning Hi Power Competition. I have one already or I'd be on it like flies on honey. The Competition used a longer barrel, has a counterweight, and is generally hand-fit to deliver excellent accuracy. This one is little shot, so it would be a great way to get started, or to shot it as is, the one I own is a real accurate and reliable gun, box stock. Dave

Thanks for the tip on the HP competition. Nice. I will keep in mind, but I am looking for the standard model to start with.

Which brings me to a question on Mr. Yosts suggestion of a used MKIII. I've been looking on line and seen a wide range in price and finish on the used guns posted. I expect to have anything I get refinished during the build, but how much wear and tear can a used HP display before it becomes problematic on a custom project? Will minor scratches be able to be removed or are any dings that penetrate beyond the finish into the base metal a no-no?

Regards,

Rob

Yo Eddy,


For many years I packed a P35 as a CC gun in Arizona and I can attest to the long term abuse an HP can handle. The ONLY thing I ever did NEED to replace was the sear which became peened with age, eventually suffering hammer follow. This was after quite a few thousand rounds. After all of those years ( from 1993 till 2000 when I went back to the 1911 ) the polished blue was eaten away by my alien acid sweat, there were numerous scratches and dings, the poor thing even got BLOWN ( by the wind! ) off of a table at a range in Payson, Arizona....do NOT use your gun as a paperweight in hi winds!!!

Here it is after a full overhaul and refinish. The finish is Dura Coat over Parkerizing, refinish was done by my good friends at Arizona Expert Arms and Novak was kind enought to to the MKII sights for me...and an excellent job, too!!!!



You would be suprised what a healthy bead blast and a repark alone can do for a gun.....when you add a hi quality surface coating, things get even better.

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I wanted to breathe smoke.....

Eddy, I always tell customers to buy the cheapest GOOD platform they can. If you're going to change out or modify the lions share of the gun, it doesn't make sense to me to spend more to get the polished blue and etc, when it's going away anyhow. That said, minor dings and pitting can be dealt with, though depending on their severity, it can come at an extra cost. The MK III matte models are coated with something akin to Gun Kote, and it tends to run a it thicker than, for instance, blue or park. I've found that usually, minor scratches and abrasions on these variants do not get through the finish into the underlying metal. Hope this helps,

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

Thanks for all the great advice. I've sourced a LNIB MKIII, that assuming all goes well should arrive shortly. I'm pretty stoked to get it, shoot it for a while, and figure out what I want to have done to it.

If any of the Hi Power smiths notice the traffic going up on their web sites, that's probably just me checking in about 100 times a day looking at pics and getting some ideas.

thanks again.