Argentine "Detective Special" Hi-Powers

[TripleChris]

These are on sale at Sarco for $299.00 - any input on these? Seems ridiculously cheap for a NIB Hi-Power, I was wondering if anyone has input on the build quality. I asked a few days back on a Hi-Power thread in the C&R forum and got no response. For the price, somebody has to have picked one of these up.

 

[zoostation]

They're supposed to be fairly good. The Argentines have a thriving domestic arms industry and tend to put out a decent product. Their HP clones were built under license from FN and are actual clones, not unlicensed copies like FEG made.

I don't have a HP but I do I have an Argentine Systema, that is a licensed 1911 built in Argentina on Colt machinery. It's very high quality and runs flawlessly.

Bear in mind these are "FM" Hi-Powers, not "FN," you may want to check the roster to make sure you can get it here.

 

[TripleChris]

They're supposed to be fairly good. The Argentines have a thriving domestic arms industry and tend to put out a decent product. Their HP clones were built under license from FN and are actual clones, not unlicensed copies like FEG made.

I don't have a HP but I do I have an Argentine Systema, that is a licensed 1911 built in Argentina on Colt machinery. It's very high quality and runs flawlessly.

Bear in mind these are "FM" Hi-Powers, not "FN," you may want to check the roster to make sure you can get it here.

Thanks for the info! For 299.00, they seem to be a great bargain. I believe "you get what you pay for" so I would not expect Belgian build quality, but they seem to be worth the price and transfer fee.

If anyone knows a FFL in the Baltimore area who will do the transfer for less than 50 bucks, chime in. I may pick one of these up soon.

 

[Adams74Chevy]

If anyone knows a FFL in the Baltimore area who will do the transfer for less than 50 bucks, chime in. I may pick one of these up soon.

Check with Dan @ the Gun Connection

http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=4819

 

[TripleChris]

Check with Dan @ the Gun Connection

http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=4819

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Drmsparks]

vince (gideons guns) in bell air is pretty good as well.

 

[rob b]

why dont you have your c&r ?
if you did $299+shipping shipped to your door

 

[Drmsparks]

why dont you have your c&r ?
if you did $299+shipping shipped to your door

I don't think the detectives are C&R....

 

[nighthawk2099]

I think they were first made in 1970 or 1980, so no....not C&R.

Also, they are not on the C&R list from BATF either. At least I couldn't find them.

 

[TripleChris]

why dont you have your c&r ?
if you did $299+shipping shipped to your door

ATF cashed my check.... green forms mailed in about 11 days ago.

I am not really in the market for a NIB single action 9mm.... its just such a good deal. I priced C&R Hi-powers..... I can get 5 of these for that much.

 

[hole punch]

SOG has some. For $300 they are looking VERY attractive...

https://www.southernohiogun.com/index.php/new-arrivals/walther-pp-32acp-100-jahre-walther-1.html

(thanks bean!)

 

[rob-cubed]

I have an Argentine FM Hi-Power. It is fairly accurate and has fed dependably, though finishing is rough and the fit could be better compared to the FNs. The slide has some slop in the fit to the rails. The mainspring was VERY tight when I got it, so I trimmed a couple coils off.

The only major complaint I have is the trigger pull is still too heavy... it breaks nicely but needs to be lightened. Otherwise you are getting a licensed Hi-Power at half the price.

 

[hole punch]

I want a full-sized pistol for classes, but I don't want to rob a bank just to afford it. Is this to be avoided? Are mags easy to find?

 

[WeaponsCollector]

I've seen hi-powers from Argentina marked "DGFM Argentina" on one side of the slide and stamped "F.N. Browning" on the other side. Would these be considered FN or FM?

 

[rob-cubed]

Mags for Hi-Powers are easy to find and FMs feed from them fine. Since they are built under license to spec, all of the internal parts are 100% interchangeable with a "real" Hi-Power.

I would assume the DGFMs are still considered FM's, built in Argentina. Mine just says "FM Hi-Power, Industria Argentina".

If you plan on using this for a pistol class, consider changing out the safety to a Mark-III extended one. The FM's version is tiny to the point of being dangerous, as it's hard to manipulate into safe. Some classes won't allow SA-only pistols so you might want to consider a DA/SA instead.

 

[hole punch]

...Some classes won't allow SA-only pistols so you might want to consider a DA/SA instead.

Good point. A 92SF might be more my speed (plus I'm already familiar with then a little bit and I know they fit my hand nicely)