HiPower is acting up

[brownfeathermedic]

can someone chime in and advise?
I have an older Browning Hi power that I've taken out of my safe and fired but found it to not reliably feed after FTE, and double feed. I keep her clean and oiled. I've tried different Mags , different ammo but same results. I've read where if springs are bad especially with the firing pin or slide spring , it will retard the timing. Thanks for the help.

[ojisan]

I hate "FTE".
Everyone uses this abbreviation (it's not on you!) but it can mean two different things.
Fail To Extract or Fail To Eject.

Equally bad is "FTF".
Fail To Feed or Fail To Fire.

Was there a FTF before a FTF and then a FTE which led to a FTE?
Or was it just a FTF and then a FTE?
Or was it an FTE and then a FTF?
(See what I mean?)


Please be specific as to exactly what happened and in what order.
Please do not use FTE or FTF unless you identify which one you mean.

[Duck Killer]

Most likely your extractor is bad. Very common problem.

[MarikinaMan]

[Robotron2k84]

[brownfeathermedic]

The slide felt like it was slow to go into battery when trying to eject a round in chamber, then getting caught up with another rnd that was trying to feed from the Mag. Sorry , if I was not clear enough

[Robotron2k84]

Is this a relatively new gun or something that was previously enjoyed? Does it still have the mag safety?

Any idea of the round count? Frame rails look ok? Trigger bar returning and not hanging up? Locking lugs look clean? Is the guide rod installed the right side up? Condition of return spring? Condition of the slide release lever pivot / link?

Lots of little things to check...

[brownfeathermedic]

It is a very Old HiPower, I've had it for some time an have shot it many times with no hiccups. Except for jacketed rnds . It's as clean as one can be internally . I've put new springs on her many years ago. I'm not using damaged mags and clean ammo. She does have the Mag disconnect still present

[Robotron2k84]

Is it MkI or MkII. MkII introduced a throated barrel to the gun. What brand and type of ammo is hanging up?

[ar15barrels]

can someone chime in and advise?
I have an older Browning Hi power that I've taken out of my safe and fired but found it to not reliably feed after FTE, and double feed. I keep her clean and oiled. I've tried different Mags , different ammo but same results. I've read where if springs are bad especially with the firing pin or slide spring , it will retard the timing. Thanks for the help.

I hate "FTE".
Everyone uses this abbreviation (it's not on you!) but it can mean two different things.
Fail To Extract or Fail To Eject.

Equally bad is "FTF".
Fail To Feed or Fail To Fire.

Was there a FTF before a FTF and then a FTE which led to a FTE?
Or was it just a FTF and then a FTE?
Or was it an FTE and then a FTF?
(See what I mean?)


Please be specific as to exactly what happened and in what order.
Please do not use FTE or FTF unless you identify which one you mean.

No complaint with the use of "double feed"?
That's TWO LIVE ROUNDS in the action.

How often you do see that term used correctly?
How many times have you seen that problem when it was NOT user induced?

Most people incorrectly call a failure-to-eject a double feed.
A failure-to-eject leaves a spent case and a live round in the action.

[redcliff]

Best guess is insufficient extractor tension. Does it have an internal or external extractor? Also check the ejector for looseness or damage.

[tmorse]

have a older Israeli surplus hi power that was finicky. every range trip had issues. Finally I replaced all of the springs in the gun and that worked.

[The War Wagon]

Older Hi-Powers benefit greatly from modern springs. If mags & ammo are eliminated as an issue, go with new springs next.

[ojisan]

No complaint with the use of "double feed"?
That's TWO LIVE ROUNDS in the action.

How often you do see that term used correctly?
How many times have you seen that problem when it was NOT user induced?

Most people incorrectly call a failure-to-eject a double feed.
A failure-to-eject leaves a spent case and a live round in the action.

A good point, you're right.
I was trying not to be too old and grouchy.


OP, as mentioned by Redcliff, your extractor is probably to blame.
It is not pulling the fired case from the chamber and holding the fired case to the breech face so the ejector can give it a solid hit as the slide moves all the way back and throw the case clear of the action.
Note that the pressure of firing will often blow the case out of the chamber even if there is no extractor at all, but the case will then stay in the action....your "double feed".

[ar15barrels]

A good point, you're right.
I was trying not to be too old and grouchy.


OP, as mentioned by Redcliff, your extractor is probably to blame.
It is not pulling the fired case from the chamber and holding the fired case to the breech face so the ejector can give it a solid hit as the slide moves all the way back and throw the case clear of the action.
Note that the pressure of firing will often blow the case out of the chamber even if there is no extractor at all, but the case will then stay in the action....your "double feed".

The typical failure-to-eject "double feed" starts with an extractor failure.
Pressure in the barrel holds the case in the chamber while the extractor jumps the case rim.
The action continues to cycle with the case in the chamber.
When the bullet leaves the muzzle, the pressure in the barrel subsides, releaseing the case and residual pressure in the barrel spits the now retracted case into the action where it tangles up with the inbound live round.