FTE Hi-power 9mm

ammo.crafter · September 16, 2017, 09:00 AM

Recently my Hi-Power has failed to extract fired rounds and the hammer is in the half cock position after firing the a round.

Apparently, the slide is not traveling completely rearward as noted by failure of the hammer to be in its proper position subsequent to firing a round.

If anyone out there has any alternate thoughts, let’s hear ‘em.

Hun Shooter · September 16, 2017, 09:04 AM

Is this an older surplus Hi Power? I would start with the extractor and recoil springs, Wolff has a spring pack for Hi Powers for cheap.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Browning-193...0AAMXQxKxR9Xrb

ammo.crafter · September 16, 2017, 09:19 AM

Thanks.

This is a 1980'ish Belgium made/Portuguese built two-tone HP purchased new.

Extraction and feeding work perfectly by hand manipulating the slide.

I have never had the hammer fail to fully cock before.

I’ll be getting a spring kit from Wolff ASAP.

Bartholomew Roberts · September 16, 2017, 10:09 AM

Is the empty casing still underneath the extractor claw when this happens?

T. O'Heir · September 16, 2017, 12:38 PM

Change ammo before you do anything else. Except a really good bath. Then think recoil spring directly from Wolff. 9mm has a 17 Lb. factory recoil spring. E-Bay is evil.
https://www.gunsprings.com/

James K · September 16, 2017, 07:58 PM

Spring failure always involves a spring becoming weaker, not stronger. I don't see how a weak spring would cause an auto pistol slide to not come back all the way. More likely it would cause the slide to not return to battery, but that is apparently not what is happening. I think the OP needs to look elsewhere for the problem.

Jim

WVsig · September 16, 2017, 09:42 PM

Take the extractor out and clean it as wells as the extractor channel. On the BHP it has a tendency to get dirty and bind. Also check the face of the extractor.

Most of the time if you have a weak recoil spring the gun does not return to battery and will eject caves further than normal.

Depending on round count of the gun and if it has had any "tweaking" the hammer follow could be the mainspring but I would clean and inspect the extractor first.

ammo.crafter · September 16, 2017, 11:06 PM

Thanks everyone.

ammo.crafter · September 17, 2017, 09:00 AM

Going over my HP issue I recall that all cases did eject and next round from magazine did feed.

But the hammer returned to 1/2 cock when the slide returned to battery.

Tried several magazines and brands and weights of ammo.

Same issue.

jonnyc · September 17, 2017, 11:25 AM

Check your sear spring and sear engagement. The spring might be out of its spot or need replacement.

WVsig · September 17, 2017, 12:09 PM

Do the click test to check your seat to hammer engagement. Has the pistol been modified in anyway? Trigger job? Has anyone lightened the hammer spring?

Something is causing the sear to let go of the hammer.

ammo.crafter · September 18, 2017, 07:34 PM

The slide does not retract fully retract to the rear and apparently this is why the hammer fails to cock fully.

When manually retracting the slide, the slide hold open safety is unable to engage the slide.

Ibmikey · September 20, 2017, 09:58 AM

If you are unable to manually retract the slide fully you have an entirely different situation than originally described. First check the spring guide to see that it is assembled correctly (not up side down) then check the recoil spring for crimps or other reasons to bind the slide. Will the slide move far enough to remove it from the frame?

larryh1108 · September 20, 2017, 08:30 PM

I think mikey is on to something. It is easy to put the guide rod in upside down after reassembling the gun. Simple mistake, simple cure.

WVsig · September 20, 2017, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibmikey

If you are unable to manually retract the slide fully you have an entirely different situation than originally described. First check the spring guide to see that it is assembled correctly (not up side down) then check the recoil spring for crimps or other reasons to bind the slide. Will the slide move far enough to remove it from the frame?

If that is what has happened here the OP needs to carefully inspect the guide rod for damage. If it is deformed at all he needs to replace it. No shame here. He would not be the first one to make this mistake.

jonnyc · September 21, 2017, 01:41 PM

Sounds like he has too much motion for an upside-down slide stop.

Ibmikey · September 26, 2017, 01:42 AM

Ammo crafter, Did you ever get the blasted thing apart? Running correctly? Share the findings.

September 16, 2017, 09:00 AM	#1
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 1,970	FTE Hi-power 9mm Recently my Hi-Power has failed to extract fired rounds and the hammer is in the half cock position after firing the a round. Apparently, the slide is not traveling completely rearward as noted by failure of the hammer to be in its proper position subsequent to firing a round. If anyone out there has any alternate thoughts, let’s hear ‘em. __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

September 16, 2017, 09:19 AM	#3
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 1,970	HP Thanks. This is a 1980'ish Belgium made/Portuguese built two-tone HP purchased new. Extraction and feeding work perfectly by hand manipulating the slide. I have never had the hammer fail to fully cock before. I’ll be getting a spring kit from Wolff ASAP. __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

September 16, 2017, 12:38 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Change ammo before you do anything else. Except a really good bath. Then think recoil spring directly from Wolff. 9mm has a 17 Lb. factory recoil spring. E-Bay is evil. https://www.gunsprings.com/ __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

September 16, 2017, 09:42 PM	#7
WVsig Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2010 Location: NC Posts: 5,309	Take the extractor out and clean it as wells as the extractor channel. On the BHP it has a tendency to get dirty and bind. Also check the face of the extractor. Most of the time if you have a weak recoil spring the gun does not return to battery and will eject caves further than normal. Depending on round count of the gun and if it has had any "tweaking" the hammer follow could be the mainspring but I would clean and inspect the extractor first. __________________ -The right to be left alone is the most comprehensive of rights, and the right most valued by free people.-Louis Brandeis -Its a tool box... I don't care you put the tools in for the job that's all... -Sam from Ronin -It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle

September 16, 2017, 11:06 PM	#8
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 1,970	Thanks everyone. __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

September 16, 2017, 09:04 AM	#2
Hun Shooter Member Join Date: September 11, 2017 Location: Hillsboro, OR Posts: 23	Is this an older surplus Hi Power? I would start with the extractor and recoil springs, Wolff has a spring pack for Hi Powers for cheap. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Browning-193...0AAMXQxKxR9Xrb

September 16, 2017, 10:09 AM	#4
Bartholomew Roberts member Join Date: June 12, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 8,462	Is the empty casing still underneath the extractor claw when this happens?

September 16, 2017, 07:58 PM	#6
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Spring failure always involves a spring becoming weaker, not stronger. I don't see how a weak spring would cause an auto pistol slide to not come back all the way. More likely it would cause the slide to not return to battery, but that is apparently not what is happening. I think the OP needs to look elsewhere for the problem. Jim

September 17, 2017, 09:00 AM	#9
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 1,970	more HP Going over my HP issue I recall that all cases did eject and next round from magazine did feed. But the hammer returned to 1/2 cock when the slide returned to battery. Tried several magazines and brands and weights of ammo. Same issue. __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

September 17, 2017, 11:25 AM	#10
jonnyc Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,731	Check your sear spring and sear engagement. The spring might be out of its spot or need replacement. __________________ 2024 PA Cartridge Collector Show; Aug. 16-17, 2024!!! Buy...Sell...Trade All Types of Ammunition & Ordnance PM or email me for 2024 show details.

September 17, 2017, 12:09 PM	#11
WVsig Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2010 Location: NC Posts: 5,309	Do the click test to check your seat to hammer engagement. Has the pistol been modified in anyway? Trigger job? Has anyone lightened the hammer spring? Something is causing the sear to let go of the hammer. __________________ -The right to be left alone is the most comprehensive of rights, and the right most valued by free people.-Louis Brandeis -Its a tool box... I don't care you put the tools in for the job that's all... -Sam from Ronin -It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle

September 18, 2017, 07:34 PM	#12
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 1,970	...and more The slide does not retract fully retract to the rear and apparently this is why the hammer fails to cock fully. When manually retracting the slide, the slide hold open safety is unable to engage the slide. __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

September 20, 2017, 09:58 AM	#13
Ibmikey Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2013 Location: Now relocated to Texas Posts: 2,943	If you are unable to manually retract the slide fully you have an entirely different situation than originally described. First check the spring guide to see that it is assembled correctly (not up side down) then check the recoil spring for crimps or other reasons to bind the slide. Will the slide move far enough to remove it from the frame?

September 20, 2017, 08:30 PM	#14
larryh1108 Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2008 Location: NC Posts: 813	I think mikey is on to something. It is easy to put the guide rod in upside down after reassembling the gun. Simple mistake, simple cure. __________________ Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

September 21, 2017, 01:41 PM	#16
jonnyc Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,731	Sounds like he has too much motion for an upside-down slide stop. __________________ 2024 PA Cartridge Collector Show; Aug. 16-17, 2024!!! Buy...Sell...Trade All Types of Ammunition & Ordnance PM or email me for 2024 show details.

September 26, 2017, 01:42 AM	#17
Ibmikey Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2013 Location: Now relocated to Texas Posts: 2,943	Ammo crafter, Did you ever get the blasted thing apart? Running correctly? Share the findings.