FM-90 High Power Extraction Issues (See post #6)

[Robidouxs]

I am curious as to when Argentina made an FM High Power with serial number 386xxx.

[Turbinator]

I don't know, but these were made in two vintages as far as I know. The older model had the slide cuts just like the FN HiPowers. The newer commercial models had straight cut slides, like 1911's. Which model do you have?

Turby

[Robidouxs]

If I can get pictures, I'll post up pictures later on today.

[Turbinator]

Ok, looking forward to your pics.

Turby

[Turbinator]

Perfect, thanks for posting that. I owned the same model FM HiPower you have there. These were made in the early to mid 90's by Fabrique Militaire, the arms maker in Argentina. These are not on the drop list, so if you were thinking of selling it, it should fetch a reasonable amount of money assuming you find the right buyer. Note "reasonalbe" is entirely subjective, but I would say $450 would be fair. My opinion only.

You appear to have a big finish scratch on yours These were matte finished on the outside. You can use a Sharpie or a blue pen to touch that up.

Have you had any work done to yours? How long have you had it? From where did you get it? How many rounds through it?

Turby

[Robidouxs]

I have only had the pistol for 4 days and have only put 40 rounds through it. The pistol is all stock, all serial numbers match; even came with the original FM-90 manual with Spanish and English. Aside from the scratch on the slide, the pistol is in new condition, no carbon build up or wear anywhere on the finish. When firing the pistol though, I have had rounds consistently extract from the barrel but become jammed sideways in the slide; the spring below the barrel is providing considerably more resistance than what I am normally accustomed to in a pistol (I think the tension of the spring is causing the extraction to not fully complete). Any recommendations on how the solve this problem?

The back story on this pistol.

I was in Rangemaster in San Luis Obispo, picking up some dummy rounds for one of my other firearms, doing my usual thing; seeing what new (used) firearms came into the store. Upon checking out I ask the guys behind the counter if they had any brand new consignments that had yet to hit the main floor. They indicated that indeed had some; showing me the FM-90.

The woman who brought in the firearms that day, an SKS, FM-90, and others, had them all loaded with one in the chamber. She new nothing about firearms since they were her father's.

[railroader]

You could try ordering a recoil spring and a extractor spring from wolf. If that doesn't work you can order an extractor from browning that will fit. Mark

[dwtt]

When firing the pistol though, I have had rounds consistently extract from the barrel but become jammed sideways in the slide; the spring below the barrel is providing considerably more resistance than what I am normally accustomed to in a pistol (I think the tension of the spring is causing the extraction to not fully complete). Any recommendations on how the solve this problem?

I have that model pistol. I have found it likes hot ammo. What type of ammo are you shooting? When I reloaded 9mm, I would used the maximum load in the load manual for Winchester 231 and the pistol would work reliably every shot. Using lightly loaded ammo in the gun would produce similar problems with cycling you are seeing. Funny thing was the lightly loaded ammo worked fine in my CZ-75, but not in the FM Hi-Power.
Since the round count on the pistol is low I don't think a worn or broken ejector is to blame, but it won't hurt to check.

[Turbinator]

You could try ordering a recoil spring and a extractor spring from wolf. If that doesn't work you can order an extractor from browning that will fit. Mark

You certainly could try ordering a new spring. My humble suggestion - try breaking it in some more. If the gun otherwise seems new, I think it might need more of a break in period.

Now, you mentioned your serial # is 386xxx. My old serial # was 391xxx. I bought mine in 1995, pretty sure it was made right around that time. Sounds like yours could have been made a few years prior, but most certainly still in the early 1990's.

Here's a picture of what I used to own:



I didn't have to replace the recoil spring in mine. I broke it in using a couple thousand rounds. I didn't have a stovepipe problem as you seem to have discovered for your model, but I am confident if you keep shooting it, the problem should go away.

Turby

[railroader]

I have that model pistol. I have found it likes hot ammo. What type of ammo are you shooting? When I reloaded 9mm, I would used the maximum load in the load manual for Winchester 231 and the pistol would work reliably every shot. Using lightly loaded ammo in the gun would produce similar problems with cycling you are seeing. Funny thing was the lightly loaded ammo worked fine in my CZ-75, but not in the FM Hi-Power.
Since the round count on the pistol is low I don't think a worn or broken ejector is to blame, but it won't hurt to check.

Good point. I was just shooting my kimber and my ruger p97 today with my reloads. The rounds are loaded pretty light and they run fine in in the kimber but they stovepiped in the ruger. Full power loads will run fine in the ruger. Mark