WWII Browning Hi-power failure to eject

Jayne

Jayne

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Hi all,

I recently purchased a 1944, WW2, Fabrique Nationale, German Occupation manufactured, Browning Hi-Power.

The pistol istelf is matching, all original and in beautiful shape. However, the magazine is a modern 10-rd replacement.

I took it to the range on Saturday and fired about 60 rounds. Unfortunately, I suffered about a dozen double feed / failure to eject malfunctions. In almost all cases, the issue was that the expended round failed to eject and the new round collided with it (either with the casing still in the chamber or with the empty and full rounds both in the slide at the same time).

My first thought is that possibly the spring that tensions the extractor is weak and not gripping the casing well enough.

The second thought is that is could be a magazine problem.

Does anyone else have experience with WW2 FN Brownings? Is this a common problem? Is it easy to fix?

When the pistol does operate correctly (which it did for 5 - 8 rounds at a time), it is very pleasant to shoot and fairly accurate.

Thoughts and opinions are welcome.

I didn't take any pictures of the malfunctions, but here are a couple of picture of the pistol.

P_640_b_1_zpszjodgo5l.jpg


P_640_b_2_zps1jjvmkf3.jpg


TTYL

- Jayne
 
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I'd check the tension on your extractor. Mags do cause issues with these pistols but since it fails to extract from the chamber, I'd start there.
 
Hi,

gewehr76 said:
Most likely its the mag, if you getting double feeds. Try different mag if possible?
Click to expand...

The pistol only came with one mag, so I am looking to buy some new ones. Once I get a different mag, I will compare them.

gewehr76 said:
I would not abuse or overuse occupation made guns, they were made by non sympathizers to Nazi cause so be ware. If you really need to shoot hipower get post war gun.
Click to expand...

I never abuse my guns :) I am friends with Clive Law (who literally wrote the book Inglis Diamond on the Canadian Brownings and is quite knowledgeable about other variants). He told me that when the Germans occupied the FN plant in Herstal, Belgium, most of the Belgian workers fled. Apparently, the Germans brought in German workers to operate the plant and replace some of the Belgians. However, your point is well taken, given that this is a 72 year old gun, a lot of TLC is warranted. I don't intend to put thousands of rounds through it. However, I buy guns to shoot (even my historical ones), so it will see some use (if I can sort out this double feed issue).

wood973 said:
I'd check the tension on your extractor. Mags do cause issues with these pistols but since it fails to extract from the chamber, I'd start there.
Click to expand...

My first thought as well. I think I will see of Jason from GunCo can check it out.

Thanks

- Jayne
 
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I have used Inglis Hi power for over thirty in the CDN Army great gun ,easy and cheap fix try a new mag.

IMAT
 
I'd say try fixing it yourself before you pay someone to do it. I'm guessing it has too little tension so the extractor claw is slipping off the casing rim. That would cause the casing to stay in the chamber. Either that or the extractor claw is damaged.

Look on YouTube on how to adjust it. The browning hp uses the same style extractor as the 1911 so those videos will help you also. I had a weak extractor recently on my 9mm 1911 and was a quick fix. Hope this helps.
 
Early Hi powers do not use a claw extractor.
The problem is likely that the little hook on the extractor is snapped off.
Happened on my 1936 version.
Replacements are virtually extinct.
Made one from scratch, but welding and shaping the hook is an alternative.
 
Hi

oldstarfire said:
Early Hi powers do not use a claw extractor.
The problem is likely that the little hook on the extractor is snapped off.
Happened on my 1936 version.
Replacements are virtually extinct.
Made one from scratch, but welding and shaping the hook is an alternative.
Click to expand...

Hmmm... I will have to take a look at my pistol tonight when I get home from work. I have a sinking feeling you might be right.

As you can see from the pictures above, my 1944 Browning doesn't have the slide mounted extractor now standard on the more recent Browning Hi-powers. As I understand it, failure of the extractor was one of the reasons for the change.

- Jayne
 
I ment the claw on the tip of the extractor. Hook, claw... same thing. Lol your pistol has an internal extractor like the 1911. Tuning this is very easy. I'm only about 1.5h from you so if you don't get this fixed soon, I'll more than gladly take a look for you next time I'm in Ottawa.
 
Sounds like a magazine problem, replace/ upgrade to factory FN browning mag or a proven HP mag, Inglis or FN that works well in another pistol, next check ejector and last extractor, it may be difficult to track down an early FN internal extractor but the MK 1 Inglis ones I believe would be compatible or try a MK 2 after you machine the mid section down a bit to slide into the slide extractor hole, also recoil spring, if it is a new Wolff spring you may have to measure and cut it as they seem to be longer than originals. Hope this helps.
 
It's not the magazine.

According to Anthony Vanderlinden, an expert researcher of these pistols, and author of FN BROWNING PISTOLS:

"The chamber diameter is too small. This was done on purpose and so was the brittle extractor. That is why I never recommend firing a WaA140 (or E/N) High Power as the resistance was very active and successful in those years."

He outlines this in his book. Contact him for a fix.
h**p://www.fnbrowning.com/
 
Hi all,

So, I pulled my internal extractor last night and took a couple of pictures (the lighting isn't the greatest). It looks pretty good, but Wood973 has offered to take a look at it to confirm.

IMG_20160404_220650_zpscrwhpe3q.jpg


IMG_20160404_220712_zps8bltfnai.jpg


I am going to do a very detailed cleaning of the extractor shaft in case it was the "crud" that restricted the extractor movement.

I am also thinking it could be an undersized chamber.

- Jayne
 
Hi all,

Well, I finally got two new magazines and time to get to the range. I think the new magazines might have partially sorted out the problem. I shot three ten-round magazines (Seller & Bellot 115 grain) in a row without a single malfunction.

There may still be some truth to the "small chamber" theory, as the more I fired it, the more failure-to-ejects that I got (averaging one or two per ten-round magazine). I shot an additional five magazines worth of 9mm 115 grain. When the gun was very clean and the chamber finely oiled, I had no problems. But as the gun got even slightly dirty, the problems returned.

On a positive note, the extractor seems to be performing well.

I may do some very light polishing of the chamber with fine steel wool to see if that helps at all.

I don't intend to make it a daily shooter (I have my two CZ-75 pre-Bs for that), as it is too rare and fine condition for that, but I would like to know it will operate smoothly when I want to use it.

TTYL

- Jayne
 
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