The Hi-Power: Parts Interchangeability and Rimfire Conversions

Among the most popular handguns of all time is the Browning Hi-Power. This 9mm pistol is popular for many reasons, including reliability, accuracy, combat efficiency, and quality of workmanship. The basic pistol remains the same, but over the years there have been numerous variations. Most of the variations are relatively slight deviations from the standard, including changes in the extractor, hammer, and sights.

But there are also clones and license-built copies that differ significantly from the original Belgian template. Recently, I had the opportunity to extensively test variations of the Hi- Power, including the FMs in both the Detective and full-sight Classic version, and the FEG variants. The experience was interesting, and I learned a bit about parts interchangeability. The FM is a license-built variation. The others are simply copies. The FM has been built in Argentina for more than a generation.

The originals were true to the Hi-Power template, but the modern version differs considerably. For example, market pressure and liability issues have mandated the introduction of a positive firing-pin block into practically all pistol designs. The FM features such a "drop safety" or firing-pin block. Also, the slide differs from the Browning in that there is no pronounced step in the slide, which is along-time Hi-Power trademark.

Purists prefer the original, but engineers probably regard the modern monolithic slide of the FM as an improvement in strength. The full-size FM is a Hi-Power in all mechanical aspects, and all the same rules and takedown procedures apply. A considerably different variant is the FM Detective.

In order to shorten the slide of the Hi-Power and insure the pistol functions properly, the recoil rod and guide were changed from the captive system of the original Browning to a SIG-like system that allows the guide rod to protrude from slide when the pistol fires. This has proven to be a reliable system. I’ve 22-caliber conversion unit gives the Hi-Power a completely different profile. Shown here with a wood chip holding the bolt open, you can see how the conversion unit recoils.

It operates much like the Ruger Standard Model. personally fired several thousand rounds in various FM Detective pistols with excellent results. Compact Conversions A conversion unit exists that allows the conventional Hi-Power to be converted to the more compact Detective format. I bought the one I installed from The Dea Modesto, California It’s interesting ton ersion worked without difficulty in every Hi-Power I tried, but the older Hi-

Power slides will not fit a modern FM Detective. The reason is that the ejector of the Detective is taller in order to work more forcibly with a short slide with greater velocity. So, the slide has a larger cutout for the taller ejector. This is fine when mounting the Detective slide on an older gun; the original ejector easily clears the larger slide cutout. But the older slide will not fit over the new, taller ejector found on the FM Detective.

As I see it, this is a minor problem; I don’t think many shooters will purchase anew Detective and then want to swap slides with a vintage Hi-Power. But the problem could come up, and gunsmiths should be aware of this difference. When you mount a Detective short slide on the older frame, you also immediately gain a modern set of high-visibility sights. As for parts interchangeability, there are no hard and fast rules.

The majority of parts made for the Hi- Power fit the FM without a problem; grips, magazines, aftermarket sights, and other parts seldom present a problem. The FEG is a different story. While well made, the FEG is rougher internally than the FM, and is more a product of reverse engineering than license-built efficiency. Parts such as extended safeties often require at least some fitting.

Usually, high-quality Cylinder & Slide Inc. extended safety will versized, and fitting is needed to properly use these parts in the FEG. On the other hand, these same parts have fit all the vintage Hi- Powers and FMs I’ve worked with.

They work well with the FEG, too; just be aware of the potential need for additional fitting. .22-Caliber Conversion Units Most of us are familiar with the .22caliber conversion units for the Colt 1911, but only recently have such conversions been generally available for the Browning Hi-Power and its clones. While the conversions are usually straightforward affairs, I’ve discovered there are tricks and procedures that make the conversions more efficient.

Since there are two distinct and very different types available, I thought it would be wise to take a hard look at both. The unit my rthur Ciener, Inc. is quite an interes d unit, made of T6 aircraft aluminum. The finish is black anodized in the standard version, but I’ve also seen them with what looks like a matte stainless steel. The Hi-Power conversion is a bit more involved than the 1911 version, but the procedure is as follows. First, remove the magazine and clear the pistol of ammunition.

Lock the slide to the rear by moving the safety into the slide notch and pressing the slide stop out of the frame. Next, the slide is grasped in one hand and the safety released. The slide comes forward and off the frame along with the barrel, recoil rod, and spring. The Ceiner unit comes with a barrel and spring as well as a recoil buffer. The recoilspring guide must be removed from the centerfire top end and is used with the .22 caliber rimfire conversion.

The recoil-spring guide can be worked off the spring by holding the spring and rocking and twisting the guide. A plastic recoil buffer supplied with the Ceiner unit must be placed over the guide rod. Next, the guide is inserted into the .22-caliber rimfire spring, and the spring and guide locked into place on the conversion unit. The slide is then placed on the frame of the Hi-Power and the slide locked to the rear. The slide stop is then positioned in place and the slide can be released.

Certain cautions apply here. Never dry-fire a conversion unit, as the firing pin will play hob with the rimfire chamber, and aluminum is simply not as rugged as steel. I would be leery of allowing the slide to slam shut when unloaded as well. My Ceiner unit has digested thousands of rounds’t rouble free’but, just the same, I prefer to err on the side of caution. The Hi-Power is a bit more complicated in trigger action than the 1911, and this can contribute to poor accuracy with these pistols.

The trigger bears against a pivoting trigger bar that rises out of the frame. This lever presses the sear and fires the handgun. It all works fine with the .22 conversion, but without a nice trigger, the accuracy potential of these units will not be realized. The Hi-Power trigger action depends to an extent on slide and frame fit, because the various parts are in the slide and frame, while the trigger action of the 1911 is contained in the frame.

The Hi-Power has a reputation as a quirky pistol, and this is certainly a quirk. But more about that later. As for firing the Ceiner conversion, it’s a joy. The aluminum slide is lighter by a margin than the steel slide of the 9mm pistol, and the unit comes off well. Due to the stepped slide, the conversion still looks like a Hi-Power, and this is important to many shooters.

Accuracy is not quite as good as the 1911 versions, but my platinum version, a high-end conversion with excellent sights, is practically the equal of a high-grade target gun. Modern post-ban magazines now hold 14 rounds of .22-caliber ammunition. This adds up to good practice and lots of fun on the range. A completely different and more complicated approach has been tak-

22-caliber conversion from FM is easily pulled apart and reassembled with finger pressure, although the neat curved tool in the photo is also included with the kit. The knurled nut at the end of the slide can be tightened and adjusted to give best results. en by the folks producing the FM pistol. (Again, I purchased mine from The Dealer Warehouse.) This conversion is similar to a number of early attempts at .22-caliber conversions but is much more refined. This is an all-steel unit.

Surprisingly well made and robust in appearance, this unit gives the Hi-Power a completely different appearance, which some will find quite interesting. When designing a conversion unit for the .22 cartridge, most attempts have centered upon an aluminum slide in order to allow the slide to recoil with a minimum of energy. This gives the pistol a reciprocating slide like the centerfire version. The FM version is much different.

This steel slide is stationary and there is an internal bolt that recoils from the rear of the slide. In other words, the idea of practicing with your centerfire pistol remains, the trigger action is the same, but the pistol is converted to a blow-back operation like the Ruger Standard Model and the Browning Buckmark. To convert the FM pistol to .22caliber operation, the 9mm slide is removed in the conventional manner. But the steel FM conversion demands a different procedure than the Ceiner.

The slide is placed on the frame, but it stops and butts against the dust cover. The original slide stop cannot be used; there’s a slide stop supplied with the unit. Since the barrel does not pivot and the slide converts the pistol to blow-back action, the new slide stop must be used. The bolt design is interesting, as it covers only a half inch or so of the slide. Interestingly, this conversion allows the pistol to be loaded and unloaded with the safety on, since the slide does not recoil.

Simply install the unit, place the safety on, and rack the bolt to load. When unloading, place the safety on and clear the bolt. Next, the slide is tightened to the frame. This is quite an interesting feature. Remember my comments on slide-to-frame fit and trigger action? There is a large knurled nut on the end of the slide at the front that tightens the barrel and the barrel-to-slide fit. When loose, the piece functions, but trigger action and accuracy can suffer.

There is a definite "sweet spot" that allows the best trigger action and also the best accuracy. Trigger action affects practical accuracy; tightness of the barrel affects intrinsic accuracy. Either can be affected by barrel-toframe and slide fit. This simple knurled nut was a major accomplishment, designed by someone who understood the nuances of the Hi-Power very well. Disassembly of the FM-type conversion is more difficult than the Ceiner, but easily understood.

With the slide upside-down, the knurled nut that holds the barrel to the slide is completely loosened and removed. Next, the barrel bolt and recoil-spring assembly are removed intact from the rear of the slide. The bolt simply pulls out and is disassembled by hand, with no need for tools. The conversion unit is easily field stripped for cleaning. Reassembly is simple, as there aren’t many parts in this conversion.

The extractor is of sheetmetal and will not show wear in normal use, but if it does it is easily pried out. Whether or not replacement parts will be available is another question, as this unit is a purposedesigned changeover not common to any other maker. Still, the conversion is well worth its modest price. Conclusions With a bit of experimentation, the experienced gunsmith will be able to produce excellent accuracy with the FM conversion.

It’s fairly simple to install and use, and, in my opinion, a gunsmith experienced with the Hi- Power will be able to wring better results from the FM conversion than from the Ciener. I