ltwguns.com

I guys,

I was at a local gun store this weekend and saw a FM Browning Detective model. It only cost about $400.00 and was a nice small package. I always liked the HP and wished browning would make a smaller one.

So my qustion is would the FN Det. model be a worth while build up or would it be like throwing good money after bad???

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A Browning's a better deal at twice the price. I'd pass on any "clone" Hi - Power.

I've never heard anyone say "Yeah, that Browning is nice, but I wish I'd spent a little less and gotten an off brand"

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TR

I thought FN made the Brownings? How are they different?

FN and Browning are the same. FN is Fabrique Nationale of Belgium and is the parent company of Browning. FN is the original maker of Hi Powers and the only maker to make P35s with the Browning name on them.

Rob asked about the FM Detective model. FM is Fabricaciones Militares (FM) of Argentina and makes Hi Powers under license from FM. I have not owned any but what I have been told is the fit and finish on these guns is rougher than FN manufactured P35s.

In my decidedly not expert opinion, the P35s slide is so slim and the whole package is so easy to carry that the Detective model is not much of an advantage. The frame size is the same, so the only savings in size is the slide is 1" shorter.

If I were to spend upwards of $1000 or more on a custom build, the cost of the base gun is of secondary concern to the quality of the base gun. Add to that that a Browning or FN custom build from someone like Ted Yost will hold it's value whereas a custom build on an FM frame might not be nearly as appealing to the people who would buy them (like the guys on this forum).

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Ted

Unless you are speaking of a model I'm unfamiliar with, I think you are confusing FN (of Belgium) with FM (Fabrica Militar of Argentina). The Detective Model is a short slide full frame hi power clone built in Argentina. I think they were built under license from FN, but they are separate entities.
The FM is in my experience a good quality workable pistol, and I even had Detective model tuned by Ten-Ring precison. Now Im not a Gunsmith, nor do I speak for Ted, but I think for a Custom build, you should stick with the original.
Having said that, if you managed to buy one really cheap and had a good local smith do a trigger job, new hammer, safety, mag disconnect removal, and a set of sights all for about $700 (including cost of pistol, I've seen it done), you will have a nice shooting 9mm.
It all depends on what you want the end result to be.

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Ah I thought FM was a typo in the first post and just read FN. Thanks for all the answers.

Bryan

I have an FM Detective slide and barrel on an FN lower that I am doing a build on. I would say from what I have seen, and how this pistol shoots and handles, that it would not be a bad base gun to work into something custom. I would not spend a small fortune, but they can be built up into something a bit different. Of course the FN frame takes most of the questionable bits out of the picture. This one will be getting Novaks, HP cuts on the slide front, then stippling front and back and then all of the good C&S bits. Should make for a pretty nice little carry package. I have shot the pistol several times and it is every bit as accurate and reliable as any other stock FN or Browning pistols I have shot. The FM slide seems to be pretty well put together and it is pretty accurate.

Jess